Moab, Arches & Canyonlands

Moab is the base for two of Utah's Mighty Five national parks, Arches and Canyonlands, as well as some of the best-known mountain biking, four-wheel-drive routes and river trips in the American West.

Moab sits on the Colorado River in eastern Utah, a small town with a large supply of outfitters, motels and restaurants. It is about four hours by road from Salt Lake City, and many visitors combine it with western Colorado. Arches National Park, just north of town, protects more than 2,000 natural stone arches. The best known is Delicate Arch, reached by a three-mile return hike, while the Windows Section and Devils Garden have shorter walks among arches and fins. Because of crowding, the park has used a timed-entry reservation system in the busy season; check the National Park Service website before visiting. Canyonlands National Park is larger and more remote, divided by the Green and Colorado rivers into separate districts. Island in the Sky, a mesa top about 40 minutes from Moab, has overlooks such as Grand View Point and the short trail to Mesa Arch, while the Needles district to the south has longer hikes among striped sandstone spires. Next to Island in the Sky, Dead Horse Point State Park looks down on a gooseneck of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below. Around town, Utah Scenic Byway 128 follows the river through red-rock canyon to Castle Valley, the Slickrock Trail draws mountain bikers, and Moab's jeep trails and day rafting trips on the Colorado fill the rest of the itinerary.