MOAB: A SOUL-SHAKING GUIDE TO THE RED ROCKS
DEVILS GARDEN • TOWER ARCH • THE RIVER
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| Crystal Arch Arches National Park |
Welcome to the desert. This isn't just a travel guide; it’s a permission slip to get dusty, tired, and absolutely awestruck. Moab, Utah isn't just a place on a map—it's a landscape that demands your attention. Whether you are staring into the abyss of Canyonlands or standing beneath the impossible physics of Arches, this place changes you.
I’ve compiled my absolute favorite spots—the ones that are worth the sweat and the early alarm clocks—to help you conquer this red rock wonderland without the stress. Let's go.
⚠️ THE GOLDEN RULE OF MOAB
DON'T BUST THE CRUST!
The soil here is alive. It's called Cryptobiotic Soil, and it holds the desert together. One footstep kills it for decades. Always stay on the trail, or walk on solid rock (slickrock) or dry wash bottoms.
Jump to a Zone
ZONE 1: ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Devils Garden: Walking the Fins
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Hard (Scrambling & Exposure)
- Distance: 7.5 miles (Full Primitive Loop)
- Best For: Thrill seekers, seeing 7-9 arches, bragging rights
- Location: Arches National Park (End of the paved road)
The Experience
If you have an adventurous spirit, the Devils Garden Primitive Loop is the trail you will absolutely LOVE. It has it all: heart-pumping challenges, views that will wow you, and the chance to see up to 9 unique natural arches in one hike.
🧠 The Science of Nature
I recently read "The Nature Fix," which discusses how getting out into nature—especially on a trail with a "WOW" factor like this—boosts your immune system and creativity by astonishing amounts.
Highlight: Walking the Fins 🌟
The most memorable part of this loop is "walking the fins." The trail literally takes you along the narrow, rounded spines of sandstone fins with drop-offs on both sides.
Immersive 360° Devils Garden Hike:
Tower Arch: The Quiet Giant
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Moderate (Sand & Route Finding)
- Distance: 5.2 miles Round Trip
- Best For: Solitude, seeing the "Marching Men," getting away from crowds
- Location: Arches National Park (Klondike Bluffs Area)
The Experience
Nature has a wonderful power of boosting your positive "feel goods," especially when you find a moment of awe like this. Tower Arch is tucked away in the Klondike Bluffs section of Arches National Park. It is massive (92 feet span!), but because it requires a drive down a dirt road, you will often have it all to yourself.
⚠️ Critical Driving Warning
Don't trust Google Maps blindly! There are two ways to get here. One is a brutal 4x4 road that breaks cars. You want the Klondike Bluffs Road (Salt Valley Road). It is a washboard dirt road, but passable for most vehicles.
Delicate Arch: The Classic and Why Not Search out the Gems!
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Moderate (Strenuous in heat)
- Distance: 3.2 miles Round Trip
- Best For: Bucket listers, sunset chasers, photographers
- Location: Arches National Park (Wolfe Ranch Trailhead)
The Experience
You’ve seen it on license plates, but seeing it in person is a spiritual experience. The hike begins deceptively flat, passing the historic Wolfe Ranch cabin, before tilting upward onto the infamous "slickrock" slab. It’s a steady, calf-burning climb with no shade, but the anticipation keeps you moving. If you are like me and like to search out the unique, I would recommend searching out Ring Arch, Tapestry Arch, and Crystal Arch, and an arch off The Highlands Road. Most don't know about these, and they are lovely!
⚠️ Safety Warning
Do not underestimate the heat. People get rescued here constantly. Even if it's 80°F, the rock radiates heat making it feel like 100°F. Bring at least 2 liters of water per person.
Don't Miss This 🌟
Just before the final ledge to the arch, look for a small opening in the rock wall above you. It's called "Frame Arch." You can scramble up there for a unique photo looking through Frame Arch at Delicate Arch!
ZONE 2: THE HIGH MESA
Island in the Sky: The Floating City
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
- Distance: Grand View (2mi), Mesa Arch (0.5mi)
- Best For: Feeling like you are in a movie, Sunrises
- Location: Canyonlands National Park
Walking the Edge of the World
It is perfectly named "Island in the Sky," for that truly is what it feels like. Walking along the rim at Grand View Point feels like a scene straight out of a Studio Ghibli movie.
Mesa Arch
You cannot visit Island in the Sky without seeing the famous Mesa Arch. The cool thing about Mesa Arch is that as the sun comes up, it lights up the underside of the arch, making it glow like a burning ember.
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| Mesa Arch Island In The Sky Canyonlands Utah ShaunasAdventures |
Dead Horse Point: The Big View
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Easy (Paved paths)
- Distance: Varies (Drive-up viewpoints)
- Best For: Panoramas, picnics, Hollywood moments
- Location: Dead Horse Point State Park
The Experience
This isn't a National Park, but it might be the best view in all of Utah. You drive out onto a narrow neck of land with 2,000-foot sheer cliffs dropping off on both sides.
My "Movie Magic" Morning
The best time to visit is sunrise, but be ready for anything! One morning, we showed up early to catch the light. I was just sitting on the bumper putting my shoes on when a black helicopter rose silently up over the ridge right in front of us! We had no idea they were filming a movie.
ZONE 3: THE DESCENT & POTASH ROAD
The Shafer Trail: Conquering the Edge
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Technical Driving (4x4 Required)
- Route: Connects Island in the Sky (Top) to Potash Road (Bottom)
- Wow Factor: 💎💎💎💎💎 (White Knuckles Guaranteed)
White Knuckles on the Edge
There's a certain thrill that comes with a road labeled "dangerous." The Shafer Trail switchbacks are legendary. I was on the precipice, hanging a camera out the window to capture the drop! Even with my husband constantly using engine braking, we could smell hot brakes by the time we reached the bottom.
The Electric Blue Ponds 🌟
After the dramatic descent, you turn a corner and see bodies of water so vibrant blue you wonder what planet you are on. These are the Potash Evaporation Ponds. They add blue dye to the water to help it absorb heat and evaporate faster!
Long Canyon Road: The Shortcut to the Sky
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Moderate (4x4 High Clearance Required)
- Best For: Epic drives, "Fallen Rock" photos, Geology lovers
- Location: Connects Potash Road (River) to Dead Horse Point (Rim)
The Drive: "Pucker Pass"
Long Canyon Road is more than just a dirt road; it is a geological journey. The most famous feature is a massive fallen boulder that creates a natural tunnel. You have to drive your car underneath it, and it is a tight squeeze!
Corona Arch: The "Bootleg" Delicate
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 3 miles Round Trip
- Best For: Dog owners, avoiding crowds, adventure lovers
- Location: Potash Road (Outside the National Parks)
The Experience
Want to see a massive arch without fighting for a parking spot at Arches National Park? Corona Arch is your answer. The hike begins deceptively simple but becomes an adult jungle gym with cables to hold onto and a ladder to climb.
Bonus: The "Jeep Arch" Scramble 🌟
Just before Corona Arch, you'll see "Bowtie Arch" (a cool skylight in the rock). But for expert navigators, there is a secret off-trail scrambling route that connects Corona to the nearby Jeep Arch. It's a fun challenge for those who know the way!
Mineral Bottom: Chasing the Green River
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Activity: Watching BASE Jumping (Spectator)
- Best Time: Thanksgiving Week ("Turkey Boogie")
- Location: Mineral Bottom Road (Switchbacks)
- Wow Factor: 💎💎💎💎💎 (Adrenaline even just watching!)
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The Turkey Boogie
I'll be honest: I am keeping my feet on the ground! But watching the Turkey Boogie—an annual gathering of BASE jumpers that happens around Thanksgiving—is one of the coolest things you can do in Moab. The drive down the switchbacks is thrilling enough, but standing at the bottom watching humans leap from the cliffs is surreal.
The Colorado River: Nature Therapy
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Very Easy (Relaxing)
- Best For: Nature therapy, meditation, picnics, future paddle boarders
- Location: Highway 128 (River Road) & Highway 279 (Potash Road)
Nature Therapy at the Bridge
Need a lift today? This is wonderful "Nature Therapy" to lift your spirit. The area around the Colorado River Bridge is especially stunning because of the contrast between the deep green of the water and the bright reds of the cliffs.
ZONE 4: THE RIVER ROAD (HWY 128)
Fisher Towers: Giants from the Past
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Moderate (Continuous climb)
- Distance: 4.4 miles Round Trip
- Best For: Epic views, solitude, photography
- Location: Scenic Byway 128 (The River Road)
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| Fisher Towers, Utah |
The Experience
Every time I visit Fisher Towers, I'm blown away by their monumental scale. These are unlike anything else in Utah. The hike winds through a canyon shaped like a "W," and around every bend, the towers seem to grow larger, making you feel tiny in their presence.
🧠 The Geology Lesson
These aren't just pretty rocks; they are the remnants of the ancestral Rocky Mountains! The flow of ancient rivers combined with fault lines shaped these dramatic towers. In fact, the same forces that created these giants also helped form the famous fins in nearby Arches National Park. It is a living geology lesson!
Look for the Ants! 🐜
The "Titan" is the tallest tower here (and one of the tallest in the US!). Stop and look closely at the sheer walls. Those tiny specks of color moving up the rock? Those are rock climbers! It is the best way to truly grasp the massive scale of these giants.
💡 Pro Tip: Dogs & Ladders
This trail is dog-friendly, BUT there is a small metal ladder section. If you have a large dog that you can't carry, this might be a dealbreaker (or require a tricky scramble around). Also, hike this early or late—the deep purple-red mudstone glows at Golden Hour!
Join me on a hike through the "W" canyon in 8K VR!
Grandstaff Canyon: The River Hike
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Moderate (4.3 miles Round Trip)
- Elevation Gain: ~400 feet (Gentle incline)
- Best For: Hot days (lots of shade/water) or Winter (with spikes!)
- Location: Highway 128 (River Road) - 3 miles from town
The Experience
This canyon truly lives up to its name—it feels GRAND. The sheer height of the canyon walls makes you feel small and humble, in the best way possible. Unlike many dry Moab hikes, here you walk along a lush stream, surrounded by willows and tall cliffs.
⚠️ Winter Warning: Spikes Required!
If you hike this in winter, do not attempt it without traction spikes (crampons) for your shoes. I learned this the hard way—I slipped on hidden ice right out of the parking lot and broke my tailbone!
ZONE 5: THE ESCAPES (MOUNTAINS & DAY TRIPS)
Oowah Lake: The Alpine Escape
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 1.5 miles (Lake Loop)
- Best For: Escaping the heat, Fishing, Picnics
- Location: Manti-La Sal National Forest (40 mins from town)
The Experience
When the red rocks get too hot (and they will!), look up. See those snow-capped peaks in the distance? That is your escape. We left the scorching heat of Moab and drove up into the Manti-La Sal National Forest.
The Fisherman's Dream 🌟
My husband Todd fished here for just one hour and caught 13 beautiful trout! The reflection on the lake is so still it is almost disorienting.
Chesler Park: The Broken Plains
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Difficulty: Strenuous (11 miles loop)
- Location: Canyonlands National Park (Needles District)
- Best For: Fantasy lovers ("Stormlight Archive" fans!), Geology nerds
- Must Do: The Joint Trail (Slot Canyon)
A "Stop & Go" Story
My husband Todd and I went down to the Needles District with big plans to conquer the infamous Elephant Hill 4x4 road. But the land had other plans. We faced a narrow, slanted chute that threatened to smash our vehicle, "Orvilla," into the wall. It was a hard "STOP."
But a stop is just a pivot. We turned back and instead hiked into the Giant's Kitchen and Chesler Park.
⚠️ Vehicle Warning: Elephant Hill
Do NOT attempt the Elephant Hill 4x4 road in a stock vehicle. It is technical and dangerous. Getting towed out of there isn't a tow; it's a "recovery" that can cost over $3,000.
Bonus Day Trip: San Rafael Swell
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- Location: ~1.5 hours from Moab (Near Goblin Valley)
- Best For: Slot Canyons, escaping the National Park crowds
Ding & Dang Slot Canyons
Not a canyon to head into without a buddy or if you are not a confident hiker (Level 4). This trail is tough and involves stemming and scrambling, but you will never forget it if you conquer it.
Explore the "White Ghost" and slot canyons of the Swell.
ZONE 6: FUELING THE ADVENTURE (FOOD & WATER)
Where to Eat & Drink in Moab
After hiking miles in the desert, you earn your calories! Moab has an incredible food scene. Here are our absolute favorite stops.
Thai Bella Moab
Todd's Pick: If you are an Asian food fan like my husband, this is the spot. Authentic and delicious.
Moab Food Truck Park
Crowd Pleaser: Can't decide what you want? The food truck park on Main Street has something for everyone.
Dewey's Restaurant
Must Try: The Drunken Noodles here are fantastic after a long day on the trail.
Bonjour Bakery
Breakfast: This is our go-to for an amazing breakfast before hitting the parks.
Hidden Gem: The Event Board 🌟
Keep an eye out at the local gas stations and quick-stop delis! We found a "fast food" spot inside a station that had a huge chalkboard listing all the local events. It made us realize that whether it's Spring or Fall, there is always something cool happening in Moab (live music, festivals, etc.)!
💧 Free Water Secret: Matrimony Spring
Do not buy cases of plastic water bottles! Locals fill up at Matrimony Spring. It is a natural spring located right on the side of Highway 128 (River Road), just a few hundred yards after you turn off Main Street. The water comes right out of the red rock wall and it is ice cold and delicious!
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