Everyone who loves adventure must, at some point, make a pilgrimage to Moab, Utah. Just don’t be surprised if one trip turns into many. Cradled in a sprawling, three-dimensional garden of spiraling towers, sandstone arches, plunging canyons, and wind-polished slickrock, Moab is the hub of a 20 million-acre desert playground. The landscapes are otherworldly. The sunsets are second to none. And the opportunities for adventure, solitude, and self-reflection are virtually limitless.
Just be an informed pilgrim. While the area’s marquee national parks—Arches and Canyonlands—grab most of the headlines, they encompass only a fraction of the region’s trails and campsites. Dead Horse Point State Park and Bears Ears National Monument together encompass millions of acres of world-class hiking and camping. In Bears Ears, you’ll trace emerald rivers hemmed in by soaring mesas and sheer cliffs. In Dead Horse, a network of wildflower-fringed trails connects cliffside campgrounds. Just a few minutes out of town, Corona Arch offers an uncrowded alternative to the postcard-famous Delicate Arch. Potash Road is littered with dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs as pristine as anything you’ll find on national park land.
If you prefer to do your exploring on two wheels, you’re still in the right place. Moab is a bucket-list mountain biking destination with more than 150 miles of trail accessible from downtown. Hit the world-famous Slickrock Bike Trail and ride through canyons and sage-lined arroyos. Or knock out a section of the Kokopelli Trail, a legendary ribbon of singletrack that climbs from Moab to the riverside town of Loma, Colorado.
While spring and fall are peak seasons for hiking and biking, early summer brings a surge of alpine snowmelt, topping up the Green and Colorado rivers and drawing paddlers from across the continental United States. Here, you’ll find everything from calm, cool stretches of flatwater to demanding Class V rapids. Load up your raft for a weeklong excursion, or target a half-day route for a leisurely afternoon on the water. If you don’t have your own boat, dozens of local companies can take you out on the river, providing all the necessary gear, food, and expert guidance.
The expansive desert terrain also makes Moab the country’s off-roading and overlanding epicenter, with rugged jeep tracks, vast swaths of BLM land, and countless remote campsites. Rent a 4×4 vehicle in town, bring your own rig, or book a guided tour to experience the raw beauty of the desert with someone else behind the wheel.
One word of advice as you plan your next adventure in Moab: While you’ll find an infinite number of things to do here, be careful not to pack your itinerary too full. The desert has a quiet magic that only comes in moments of stillness. Leave time to watch the stars come out or the sun rise amid the junipers. Times like these, stitched together with all the adventure action, make it clear why Moab is a sacred place for so many.
Moab is Utah’s most iconic adventure epicenter. It’s a place to look inward and experience the beauty of the desert. Every traveler has an edge. In Moab, you find yours. Moab calls to those drawn to raw beauty, challenge, and connection. Come with intention and leave changed.
