A few years ago, we spent two wonderful weeks seeing Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks. Recently we had the chance to revisit Moab with our friends, Steve and Joan, and jumped at the opportunity to go back to the area again. You can never see it all in one visit, so we were excited for the opportunity to return to two of Utah’s national parks located nearby. Moab is an adventurer’s paradise full of raw beauty, rugged landscapes, and diverse terrain.
Two of the most exhilarating pursuits here are jeeping and hiking. Many of our RV friends have jeeps, so as word spread of our plans our little group of 4 quickly ballooned to 30 people! It was fun to have so many friends and family members meet up at Spanish Trail RV Park for a week of adventure and outdoor fun. Mike and I rented a jeep for a few days to experience what everyone tells us we have been missing.
The Thrill of Off-Roading
Moab is renowned for its challenging off-road trails, making it a mecca for jeep enthusiasts. The red rock canyons and slick rock domes offer an ideal playground for those seeking an adrenaline rush. Some of the true jeepers in our group drove the famous Hell’s Revenge trail, which I am told is both technically challenging and exhilarating.
Those in our group who were not as experienced at four wheeling chose to do more family friendly trails like Onion Creek and Shafer Basin. The drive still offered some challenging areas as we traveled through towering cliffs and stopped at breathtaking overlooks. We felt a sense of accomplishment as we navigated the trails …well, Mike drove and I held on! It was an unforgettable experience as we oohed and aahed at the natural beauty that surrounded us. (but, NO, we are not getting a jeep).
We also stopped at Dead Horse Point State Park which has some dramatic overlooks of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. Many of the vistas have been in famous movies, like the spot where Thelma and Louise drove their car off the cliff. We had a nice picnic lunch, braved some photo ops on big rocks and near steep overhangs, and then drove back along narrow, winding roads as we descended over 3000 feet down to the valley floor.
Hiking Spectacular Trails
The hiking opportunities in Moab are just as diverse as its off-road trails. The region boasts a myriad of trails catering to different fitness levels and interests. My sister, Kelli, and brother-in-law, Tim, joined us in Moab for a few days to go hiking and it was fun to explore some great trails with them.
Arches National Park, with its iconic sandstone arches and unique rock formations, is a “can’t miss” destination. This red rock wonderland has over 2000 arches and many other formations and trails to explore. I love the main road through the park, Arches Scenic Drive, where you can stop at numerous pull-offs to see and walk among the most popular landmarks.
I was excited to do an early morning hike to the Delicate Arch, which we missed on our first visit. It was a moderate 3.2 mile out and back hike to the most widely recognized arch in the park. Its picture is even on the Utah license plate! The opening beneath the giant arch is 46 feet high and 32 feet wide making it the largest free-standing arch in the park as well. It is very peaceful in the early morning before the crowds arrive and the view of the surrounding landscape is stunning.
Nearby Canyonlands National Park, with its expansive vistas and deep canyons, provided a different but equally captivating hiking experience. The Island in the Sky district has the most accessible and popular trails. Mesa Arch is my favorite viewpoint with its amazing stone arch that overlooks a sea of deep canyons and sandstone structures. We also hiked out to the Grand View Point Overlook which skirts the edge of the canyon providing breathtaking views over the vast valley.
Between Arches and Canyonlands national parks, there is another canyon along the Colorado River where you can hike to Bowtie and Corona Arches. This 3-mile round trip route is usually less crowded than the parks and offers a more challenging trail with red rock cairns, safety cables, and a ladder climb along the base of a sandstone cliff. Once you arrive at the massive Corona Arch you will feel dwarfed by the immense formation.
A final hike was to Hidden Valley Trail right at the base of the mountains south of town. This 6.9 mile out-and-back trail starts off with a strenuous climb leading to a spectacular hanging valley hundreds of feet above Moab. We were rewarded with a large, secluded meadow full of flowers, some petroglyphs and a beautiful view of the town below.
Unforgettable Adventures and Fun
Of course, we also made time to cruise the souvenir shops and eat pizza at our favorite spot, Antica Forma. They have delicious wood fired pizzas and, best of all, Nutella pizza for dessert. I also enjoyed a round of golf with the guys on a spectacular course nestled among the red rocks.
The whole week in Moab was great fun, especially since we shared it with so many friends and family members. We had the chance to connect with nature in its most majestic form, to challenge ourselves with a new experience in jeeping, and to soak in the beauty of the rugged terrain on many hikes. It’s no wonder that visitors return to this remarkable destination again and again. I know we will be back!
Moab is one of my go to ofter spots as well, partly because that’s where a few scenes in my favorite movie Galaxy Quest was filmed.
Once again, Robin has written an outstanding travel log.
If only she new what a great wordsmith she is.
Kudos, my good friend!!
Thank you for the kind words, Stu. Moab is definitely a beautiful place with so much adventure to offer!
Great recap of a wonderful trip! I can’t wait to go back.
Yes, it was so much fun and having a big group to do things with was very cool! I’m glad you got it on our spring itinerary😊
Great article and beautiful photographs. Looked like you had a great time with all of your friends. 🌻
Yes, it was so fun to explore with Steve and Joan and so many others. You can’t miss with photos there because everywhere you look the scenery is so stunning!
Such breathtaking views! What a thrill to go Jeep riding there and you took some stunning photo op pictures. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Utah is one of the most beautiful places we’ve been. The red rocks, tall mountains, and deep canyons all take your breath away and make easy subjects for the many,many photos I took. I think the Delicate Arch was my favorite, but everywhere had so much beauty it’s hard to choose!