100% human-written. No AI was used in the creation of this guide.
Day 0: Arriving in Moab in Style
There’s not a bad direction to drive into Moab from. And if you’re coming from the west or the south, you don’t really have an efficient choice.
But if you flew into Grand Junction, the closet regional hub, then your mapping app is going to give you an aesthetically sub-optimal route. It will tell you to drive 70 West to 191 South. The 10 miles on 191 as you descend to the Colorado River and Moab are exceptionally beautiful, and I can’t knock them. But you will drive this 10 miles at least once during your stay, so best to experience something else (and maybe even more spectacular)?
If you want to maximize the wow factor and drive into Moab in greatest style, force your mapping app to “Recalculate” as you take the Hwy 128 Scenic Byway off of 70. It takes less than 15 minutes longer than the standard route, but you’ll send me a thank you message later.
Here is a link to the directions.
Day 1: Make the Most of Your Day in Arches
Summary of Day 1 Itinerary:
- Delicate Arch hike from Wolfe Ranch parking lot. 3 miles round trip. Get there early or later in the day
- Windows Arch complex. Drive up roadside attraction.
- Panorama Point: Drive up roadside attraction with gorgeous views.
- Optional: If you can get Fiery Furnace permits, do that! And Delicate Arch.
Details:
Arches National Park is worth at least two days to get the most out of it. But with 3 days in Moab, I think that you really need to maximize one day in the Park.
Maximizing a day in Arches requires hiking to Delicate Arch either early or late in the day.
If you’re traveling to Moab, Delicate Arch needs no introduction. It is the most famous arch in the world, one of the most famous geological features in the world, and, as can be seen by the local license plates, a symbol for the state of Utah itself.
And if you want to see Delicate Arch I’d recommend you decide whether you want to see it in the morning or the late afternoon, or even sunset if you’re particularly adventurous (and have a headlamp).
Delicate Arch is a 3 mile round trip hike from the Wolfe Ranch parking lot. This parking lot can fill up as early as 7:30 am during the peak season from mid-March through mid-June, and Labor Day through October 31. I have been the absolute last car when I arrived at 7:30 during Spring Break. If you’re a morning person, I’d plan on getting to the parking lot by 7:30 (please don’t curse me if there are a lot of spots open on your day :). Given that most folks are spending 2-4 hours on this hike, spots do not open quickly. So if you’re not able to get here first thing in the morning, then I’d recommend coming later in the day (after 2pm) when the parking lot scramble has eased up.
Delicate Arch is at its best at sunset, but the last 100 yards of the hike have some exposure that can make the uninitiated anxious, so don’t come at sunset if you’re afraid of heights, and bring a headlamp even if you’re not.
Given the beauty and incline, I’d recommend budgeting 2-4 hours for this hike.
For the rest of your day in Arches, I’d recommend the following roadside attractions:
- Windows Arch: Beautiful set of arches
- Panorama Point: Gorgeous views
- Whatever else strikes your fancy as you’re driving by
If you were lucky enough to get Fiery Furnace permits, do Delicate Arch, Fiery Furnace, and the Windows Arch complex.
And if you’re some kind of badass who can comfortably hike 10 miles, do Delicate Arch and then do Devils Garden. But download a satellite map of Devils Garden in town because the pathfinding on the primitive portion of the hike can be a bit rough.
Day 2: Canyonlands National Park
Summary of Day 2 Itinerary:
- Grand View Point Trail
- Mesa Arch
- Aztec Butte
- Upheaval Dome
- Shafer Trail Overlook
Details:
It’s worth spending your second day in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park.
If you’re in a light SUV, SUV, or truck, the absolute best way to drive into Canyonlands is the Shafer Trail. You can drive this road in a Honda CRV or a Subaru. But the last mile is pretty intimidating. Be sure to look up videos of the trail to make sure it won’t cause your group too much anxiety. But please note that the road is much wider than it seems with regular turnouts, particularly once you are in the Park. Be prepared for 2-3 hour drive if you enter the Park this way. And you and your passengers will be telling stories about it for years to come.
Shafer Trail directions from 191 to Canyonlands.
Your first destination after entering Canyonlands should be the Grand View Point Trail at the end of the road. It is a 2 mile round trip hike on a narrow mesa and it is quite grand! There are no guardrails, so exercise caution near the edge. It’s 1000′ all the way down to White Rim Road.
Mesa Arch is one of the most photographed arches in Moab, particularly at sunrise. It is about 1/4 mile from its parking lot.
Aztec Butte is a 1.5 mile round trip hike to ancient stone granaries, and gives you an idea of how Native Americans survived in the Island in the Sky.
Upheaval Dome is a unique dome at the center of a crater. Geologists are divided on how the dome formed, but the current consensus is a meteorite caused the dome. A 1.3 mile round trip hike takes you to two views down into the crater.
On the way out, stop at the Shafer Trail Overlook and wonder at what madman thought this road would be a good idea?
If you’re a seasoned hiker and you have 3-4 liters of water per person, and it’s not the summertime, take a look at my second favorite hike in the Island in the Sky District: the Syncline Loop. It’s the hardest hike in Canyonlands, but it is worth every step.
Day 3: Dead Horse Point State Park
Summary: Hike the rim at Dead Horse Point State Park.
Details:
3 days in Moab results in some compromises. Three worthy contenders for your last day in Moab include the Corona Arch hike, which is many people’s favorite arch in the area, and the Needles District of Canyonlands which is about 1.5 hours away but is just otherworldly. But I think the 3rd best thing to see in Moab is Dead Horse Point State Park.
Dead Horse Point itself is gorgeous and offers spectacular views into the potash mines.
If you want to put some miles on your shoes, my top recommendation is a 5.5 mile loop that spends most of its time on the rim.
And unlike the national parks, Dead Horse Point’s trails are dog friendly!
If Dead Horse Point doesn’t sound interesting after a day at Canyonlands and you want a shorter hike, drive the amazing Potash Rd to Corona Arch trailhead, and hike the 3 mile round trip to Corona Arch.
And if you want something tough, head to the Needles District of Canyonlands and hike the Chesler Park loop or Druid Arch.