Red dirt, a history of cowboys, landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see, and sandstone towers reaching towards the sky are all iconic concepts of the American West. However, there are few cities that demand the respect of adventurers alike more than Moab, Utah. It is here, in this desert oasis, where you will find an adult playground that will blow your mind when you visit for the first, or the 10,000th, time.
Hiking, rock climbing, canyoneering, and adventure photography are just four, of the many reasons, to road trip to Moab, Utah. Moab is an adult playground where you can seek out new adventures daily, for an entire lifetime, and never cover all that Moab has to offer. Because of the ample amounts of adventures, you should pack your car and start a road trip to Moab today.
Read on to discover where to hike, which rock climbs to try, which landscapes to no miss, and so much more about Moab, Utah.
Castletone Tower glowing bright red in the sunset light of Moab, Utah. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
Hiking and Trail Running
Whether you are into short hikes, or ultra marathons, Moab has it all. When I say that, I truly mean you can run the Moab 240 (yes, that is a 240 miles race) or you can hike .4 of a mile to the base of the Windows arches in Arches National Park. Of course, there is everything in-between as well. As the topography of Moab is relatively level, most hikes do not have significant climbs.
Another beautiful part of adventuring around is the trail system. As the desert environment is fragile, the trails often follow erosion-resistant paths such as slick rock. At times, the slick rock trails can be difficult to follow for those not accustom to cairns, but you will learn quickly.
For myself, I found packing a day pack, ideally one with a hydration system like the Arrio 24, to be the best way to hit the trail. Often, these hikes are gorgeous and the trails have offshoots that take you to great views not listed on the maps. If you have that curiosity and want to explore deeper, the desert can be a hot place, so make sure to have water with you at all times!
Trail Run Suggestions:
Landscape Arch in Arches National Park
Aztec Butte in Needle District of Canyonlands
Canyoneering
Do you have a fear of heights or tight places and are looking to outgrow that? If so, you should look into canyoneering! Canyoneering is one of those awesome adventures where the difficulty ranges from non-technical canyons to very-technical canyons where you will be repelling in waterfalls using not-the-most-inspiring natural anchors.
Sometimes you need a wetsuit to endure the cold, while there are canyons that get sun for most of the day. Regardless of the adventure you chose, you are bound to have a great time and get a new perspective on the outdoors.
Canyoneering Suggestions:
Elephant Butte
U-Turn Canyon
Not Tierdrop
Rock Climbing
As if Utah didn’t already have enough to offer in terms of climbing, but between Moab proper, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Joe’s Valley, and Indian Creek there are over 2,500 routes to choose from.
Now, the question is, “what do you like to climb?” If you want to plug gear and summit a few towers, then Indian Creek is your spot. If you want to pull hard, but stay close to the ground, check out Joe’s Valley for some bouldering. Are you a bolt clipper? If so, check out Potash road just outside of Moab. Luckily, there is climbing for all… even those aid climbers!
Rock Climbing Suggestions:
Neat on Optimtor Wall
Blue Sun on Way Rambo Wall
Spaghetti Western on Pistol Whipped Wall
Astro Photography in Arches National Park
As Arches National Park is a registered International Dark Sky Park, meaning the light pollution from the surrounding cities is so minimal (a combination of low-population and blue-light regulation) that the possibilities with astro photography is literally out of this world!
While Arches may get the fame for the area, if you venture into Castle Valley or down to Looking Glass Road, the skies are equally as clear and there are less people.
Astrophotography Ideas:
Behind an arch
Next to a desert tower
In a slot canyon
A massive rappel from the center of Hourglass Arch to set up a rope swing near Moab, Utah. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
Now that you have discovered where to hike, which rock climbs to try, and the landscapes not to miss in Moab, Utah it is your turn to get out and discover the wonderful adventures that Moab has to offer. Please, drop a comment below to share additional information with other readers that could be helpful to them!
