---
title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Moab, Utah | Wimup"
description: "Delicate Arch, Island in the Sky and Dead Horse Point at sunrise. The 10 best things to do in Moab, plus the hikes, drives, river trips and bike trails."
url: https://wimup.com/city/moab
type: City guide
updated: 2026-10-13
publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com)
---

# Top 10 Things To Do in Moab

Moab, United States · North America · By Wimup Editorial, 14 min read

Moab is a small river town with two national parks at its door: Arches five miles north, Canyonlands half an hour beyond. Everything worth doing here is outdoors, so plan around the light and the heat, not the town.

## Quick answer

Give Moab three days. Day one is Arches: Delicate Arch early, then the Windows and Devils Garden. Day two, drive to Island in the Sky for Mesa Arch at sunrise and Dead Horse Point on the way back. Day three belongs to the river: a raft trip on the Colorado, then Corona Arch or the Fisher Towers before dark.

## Quick facts

- **Best months:** Apr · May · Sep · Oct
- **Ideal length:** 3 days
- **Budget per day:** $160–320
- **Language:** English
- **Getting around:** Car essential
- **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://www.discovermoab.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## The 10 best things to do in Moab

### 1. Hike to Delicate Arch

Hike · Wolfe Ranch Trailhead, Arches National Park

The arch on Utah's licence plates, at the end of a 3-mile round trip up open slickrock with no shade. Start at first light in summer and carry more water than seems sensible; at sunset the trail is a procession.

- **Time:** 2–3 hrs
- **Cost:** $30 park pass
- **Best at:** Sunrise
- **Tip:** No shade on the climb

Links: [Website](https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 2. Island in the Sky and Mesa Arch

Park · Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park

A mesa 1,000 feet above the White Rim, and Mesa Arch on its edge frames the sunrise over the canyons below. The loop is half a mile; stay on for Grand View Point at the far end of the road.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** $30 park pass
- **Best at:** Sunrise
- **Tip:** Arrive before dawn

Links: [Website](https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 3. Dead Horse Point State Park

Park · State Route 313, Dead Horse Point

The overlook hangs 2,000 feet above a gooseneck of the Colorado, and it is the best single view in the region. Day use is $20 a car and needs no reservation; it sits on the road to Island in the Sky, so pair them.

- **Time:** 1–2 hrs
- **Cost:** $20 per car
- **Best at:** Sunset
- **Tip:** Pair with Canyonlands

Links: [Website](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 4. Devils Garden and Landscape Arch

Hike · Devils Garden Trailhead, Arches National Park

The road's end in Arches, and an easy 1.9-mile round trip to Landscape Arch, the longest span in the park. Past it the trail turns to fins and ledges; the full primitive loop runs 7.9 miles.

- **Time:** 1–5 hrs
- **Cost:** $30 park pass
- **Best at:** Morning
- **Tip:** Primitive loop is unmarked

Links: [Website](https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/devils-garden.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 5. Fiery Furnace

Hike · Fiery Furnace Viewpoint, Arches National Park

A maze of sandstone fins with no marked trail, entered only on a ranger-led hike or a $10 self-guided permit. Permits sell out in busy months and must be collected in person, the whole party present.

- **Time:** 2–3 hrs
- **Cost:** $10 permit
- **Best at:** Spring
- **Tip:** Book on Recreation.gov

Links: [Website](https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/fiery-furnace-permit.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 6. Scenic Byway 128 and the Fisher Towers

Drive · State Route 128, Moab

SR 128 follows the Colorado upstream through a red canyon, and the Fisher Towers stand at its far end: mud-coloured spires topped by the Titan. The trail winds under them for about two miles each way.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Late afternoon
- **Tip:** No shade on the trail

Links: [Website](https://www.blm.gov/visit/fisher-towers-recreation-site?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 7. Corona Arch

Hike · Potash Road (SR 279), Moab

A 3-mile round trip on BLM land to a 140-foot arch, with cables and a short ladder over the slickrock. It costs nothing and sees a fraction of the Arches crowds; the Potash Road petroglyphs are a mile away.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Morning
- **Tip:** Cables and a ladder

Links: [Website](https://www.blm.gov/visit/corona-arch-trail?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 8. Slickrock Bike Trail

Bike · Sand Flats Recreation Area, Moab

The ride that made Moab a mountain-bike town: grippy sandstone humps marked with white paint dashes, minutes above Main Street. First-timers should try the 2.3-mile practice loop before the main circuit.

- **Time:** 2–4 hrs
- **Cost:** Day-use fee
- **Best at:** Spring
- **Tip:** Ride the practice loop first

Links: [Website](https://www.blm.gov/visit/sand-flats-recreation-area?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 9. Raft the Colorado River

River · Hittle Bottom, State Route 128

The Moab Daily runs about 13 miles from Hittle Bottom to Takeout Beach, Class I to III rapids under the canyon walls. Private boaters need no permit; outfitters in town run half and full days.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** Outfitter fee
- **Best at:** May–Sep
- **Tip:** Flows peak in late spring

Links: [Website](https://www.blm.gov/visit/hittle-bottom-recreation-site?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 10. The Windows and Double Arch

Hike · The Windows Section, Arches National Park

Four big arches within a mile of one car park, and the easiest way to see Arches at its most monumental. The Windows loop is a mile; Double Arch, across the road, is a 0.6-mile round trip.

- **Time:** 1–2 hrs
- **Cost:** $30 park pass
- **Best at:** Sunset
- **Tip:** Walk the connector trail

Links: [Website](https://www.nps.gov/places/the-windows-section-trailhead.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best hikes in Moab

Eight walks beyond the famous arches, from flat washes to canyon rims.

1. **Park Avenue** (Easy · 1 mile one way · Arches): A canyon walk between sandstone walls named for Manhattan's skyline. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Grand View Point** (Easy · Rim views · Canyonlands): A flat rim walk to the end of Island in the Sky. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Grandstaff Canyon** (Moderate · Wet feet · SR 128): A creek walk off SR 128 to Morning Glory Natural Bridge.
4. **Tower Arch** (Moderate · Dirt road · Arches): A quiet route through Klondike Bluffs in the park's far north.
5. **Upheaval Dome** (Moderate · Overlooks · Canyonlands): A crater of twisted rock whose origin geologists still argue over.
6. **Hunter Canyon** (Easy · Shade · Kane Creek): A shaded side canyon off Kane Creek Road with a small arch.
7. **Portal Overlook** (Moderate · Climb · Potash Road): A steady climb to a ledge above the river and the town.
8. **Mill Creek** (Easy · Swim · Moab): Moab's own swimming hole, a short walk from the edge of town.

## Best scenic drives in Moab

Five roads, two paved for any car and three that reward a high-clearance one.

1. **Arches Scenic Drive** (Paved · Park pass · Arches): The park road to Devils Garden, 36 miles out and back. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway** (Paved · Free · SR 128): SR 128 upriver through red canyon to the Fisher Towers.
3. **Potash Road** (Paved · Free · Potash Road): SR 279 past petroglyphs, dinosaur tracks and the Corona Arch trailhead.
4. **La Sal Mountain Loop** (Paved · Seasonal · La Sal Mountains): A climb into alpine forest above Castle Valley; snow closes parts in winter.
5. **Shafer Trail** (Dirt · High clearance · Canyonlands): Dirt switchbacks off Island in the Sky down to Potash Road. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/driving.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best mountain biking in Moab

From learner loops to an all-day descent off the La Sals.

1. **Moab Brands Trails** (Easy · Loops · US 191): The beginner network north of town, with short linked loops.
2. **Intrepid Trail System** (Easy · State park · Dead Horse Point): Flowing singletrack inside Dead Horse Point State Park. [Website](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Klondike Bluffs** (Intermediate · US 191): Slickrock and singletrack north of town, with dinosaur tracks on the way.
4. **Navajo Rocks** (Intermediate · SR 313): Rolling slickrock loops off SR 313 with views to the La Sals.
5. **The Whole Enchilada** (Expert · Shuttle · La Sal Mountains): A full-day descent from the La Sals to the Colorado; book a shuttle.

## Best river trips in Moab

Four stretches of river, from a half-day float to a week through Cataract.

1. **Moab Daily** (Half or full day · SR 128): Class I to III water on SR 128; no permit for private boats. [Website](https://www.blm.gov/visit/hittle-bottom-recreation-site?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Westwater Canyon** (Whitewater · Permit · Westwater): 17 miles of Class IV rapids; a BLM permit is required all year. [Website](https://www.blm.gov/visit/westwater-canyon-river?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Cataract Canyon** (Multi-day · Outfitter · Canyonlands): Multi-day trips through Canyonlands' biggest whitewater. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Labyrinth Canyon** (Flatwater · Multi-day · Green River): A flatwater canoe trip on the Green River through deep meanders.

## Best rock art & dinosaurs in Moab

Petroglyph panels and dinosaur tracks, most a short walk from the road.

1. **Potash Road petroglyphs** (Roadside · Free · Potash Road): A long panel beside SR 279, signed and visible from the car.
2. **Wolfe Ranch petroglyphs** (Short walk · Arches): Ute horse-and-rider carvings on the Delicate Arch trail. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Birthing Rock** (Roadside · Free · Kane Creek): A boulder covered in figures on Kane Creek Road.
4. **Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail** (Short walk · Free · US 191): More than 200 Early Cretaceous tracks, 15 miles north.
5. **Copper Ridge tracks** (Short walk · Free · US 191): The first sauropod tracks documented in Utah, with theropods beside. [Website](https://www.blm.gov/visit/copper-ridge-dinosaur-tracks-interpretive-site?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best restaurants in Moab

Six tables for after the trail, from a 1954 burger stand to a canyon-view dinner.

1. **Desert Bistro** (Fine dining · Book · North Moab): Moab's most serious dinner, game and Southwestern flavours.
2. **Sunset Grill** (American · Views · North Moab): Dinner in a uranium millionaire's hilltop house above town.
3. **Antica Forma** (Pizza · Casual · Main Street): Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza on Main Street.
4. **Milt's Stop & Eat** (Burgers · Since 1954 · Mill Creek Drive): A burger stand open since 1954, on the way to Slickrock.
5. **Moab Brewery** (Brewpub · Groups · South Main): The town's own brewery, with a big menu for hungry riders.
6. **Jailhouse Cafe** (Breakfast · Seasonal · Main Street): Breakfast only, in the old county jail; closes for winter.

## Best day trips in Moab

Five drives for a fourth day, south and west of town.

1. **The Needles** (About 1.5 hrs by car · Canyonlands): Canyonlands' southern district, about 90 minutes south. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Newspaper Rock** (About 1 hr by car · SR 211): A dense petroglyph panel on the road to the Needles.
3. **Goblin Valley State Park** (About 1.5 hrs by car · Emery County): A valley of mushroom-shaped hoodoos to wander among. [Website](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Capitol Reef National Park** (About 2.5 hrs by car · Wayne County): Orchards, petroglyphs and the Waterpocket Fold. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Castle Valley** (About 30 min by car · SR 128): Castleton Tower and the valley floor off SR 128.

## Festivals & annual events in Moab (2026)

- **Skinny Tire Festival** (March): Moab's charity road-cycling festival, with guided rides on the scenic byways.
- **Canyonlands Half Marathon** (March): Run since 1976 down SR 128 beside the river; the road closes for it.
- **Easter Jeep Safari** (March–April): Nine days of Red Rock 4-Wheelers trail runs; rooms go early.
- **Grand County Fair** (July): Rodeo, 4-H exhibits and a Fourth of July parade, free to attend.
- **Moab Music Festival** (September): Three weeks of chamber music, some reached by jet boat down the Colorado.
- **Moab Pride** (September): A week in mid-September, with a visibility march and a Pride 5K.
- **Outerbike Moab** (October): Demo bikes, shuttles and group rides at the Bar M trails north of town.
- **Moab Folk Festival** (November): Folk and Americana at Star Hall and the city ballpark, early in the month.

## Must-try food and drink in Moab, Utah

- **Fry sauce**: Utah's pink mix of ketchup and mayonnaise, served with every fry.
- **Navajo taco**: Taco fillings piled on fry bread, a Four Corners staple.
- **Dutch oven cooking**: Utah's official state cooking pot, used at cowboy dinners.
- **Utah scones**: Fried dough, not the British bake, served with honey butter.
- **Funeral potatoes**: A cheesy potato bake from Utah's church suppers.
- **Green River melons**: Cantaloupe and watermelon from the town an hour north, in late summer.
- **Burger and shake**: Order both at Milt's, the stand that has served them since 1954.
- **Moab draught beer**: Brewed on Main Street; Utah draught tops out at 5% alcohol.

## Moab transport & airports

- **Canyonlands Regional Airport** (CNY): About 18 miles north on US 191. United Express flies to Denver year-round from 7 October 2026; Delta Connection to Salt Lake City is seasonal. [Website](https://www.discovermoab.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Grand Junction and Salt Lake City** (GJT · SLC): Grand Junction, Colorado, is the nearest larger airport, under two hours east. Salt Lake City has the most flights, about four hours north. [Website](https://www.gjairport.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Amtrak at Green River** (Rail): The California Zephyr stops once a day each way at Green River, about an hour north. The platform is unstaffed, so arrange a car. [Website](https://www.amtrak.com/california-zephyr-train?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Car and park passes** (Car): A car is the only practical way to the parks. Arches and Canyonlands each charge $30 a car for seven days; a $55 annual pass covers both. [Website](https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/fees.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Moab at a glance

- **Country:** United States
- **Region:** Utah (seat of Grand County)
- **Population:** 5,366 (2020 census)
- **Founded:** Settled 1878; incorporated 1902
- **Elevation:** 4,026 ft (1,227 m)
- **Language:** English
- **Currency:** US dollar (US$)
- **Time zone:** MST · UTC−7, daylight saving in summer
- **Calling code:** +1 435
- **Airports:** CNY (30 min) · GJT (under 2 hrs)
- **Power:** 120V · Type A/B
- **Emergency:** 911

## Interesting facts

- The town takes its name from the biblical land of Moab, east of the Jordan.
- Charlie Steen's 1952 uranium strike at the Mi Vida mine turned Moab into a boomtown.
- Arches National Park holds more than 2,000 documented natural stone arches.
- Copper Ridge has the first sauropod tracks scientifically documented in Utah.
- The Canyonlands Half Marathon was first run in 1976, with 22 finishers and a dog.

## Moab travel FAQ

### Do you need a reservation to enter Arches in 2026?

No. The park service dropped timed entry for 2026, so you can drive in at any hour. The Fiery Furnace still needs a permit, and queues at the gate build from mid-morning in spring, so arrive early.

### How many days do you need in Moab?

Three. One for Arches, one for Island in the Sky and Dead Horse Point, and one on the river or a bike. Add a fourth for the Needles district or Goblin Valley.

### When is the best time to visit Moab?

April, May, September and October, when days are warm and nights cool. July and August regularly pass 100°F, so hike at dawn. Winter is quiet and cold, with the odd dusting of snow on the arches.

### Do you need a four-wheel drive in Moab?

Not for the highlights. The roads through Arches, Island in the Sky, Dead Horse Point and SR 128 are all paved. The Shafer Trail and the backcountry routes are where high clearance matters.

### Arches or Canyonlands: which comes first?

Arches, because it is five miles from town and the trails are shorter. Canyonlands is bigger and emptier; give Island in the Sky a full day and combine it with Dead Horse Point on the same road.

## Nearby guides

- [Sedona](https://wimup.com/city/sedona.md): United States · 10 picks
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- [All of North America →](https://wimup.com/north-america): 38 cities

Part of the [United States guide](https://wimup.com/country/united-states.md) · [North America](https://wimup.com/north-america.md)

## Sources

- [Moab tourism board](https://www.discovermoab.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Hike to Delicate Arch (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Island in the Sky and Mesa Arch (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Dead Horse Point State Park (official site)](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Devils Garden and Landscape Arch (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/devils-garden.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Fiery Furnace (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/fiery-furnace-permit.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Scenic Byway 128 and the Fisher Towers (official site)](https://www.blm.gov/visit/fisher-towers-recreation-site?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Corona Arch (official site)](https://www.blm.gov/visit/corona-arch-trail?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Slickrock Bike Trail (official site)](https://www.blm.gov/visit/sand-flats-recreation-area?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Raft the Colorado River (official site)](https://www.blm.gov/visit/hittle-bottom-recreation-site?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [The Windows and Double Arch (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/places/the-windows-section-trailhead.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Shafer Trail (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/driving.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Westwater Canyon (official site)](https://www.blm.gov/visit/westwater-canyon-river?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Copper Ridge tracks (official site)](https://www.blm.gov/visit/copper-ridge-dinosaur-tracks-interpretive-site?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Goblin Valley State Park (official site)](https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Capitol Reef National Park (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Grand Junction and Salt Lake City (official site)](https://www.gjairport.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Amtrak at Green River (official site)](https://www.amtrak.com/california-zephyr-train?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Car and park passes (official site)](https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/fees.htm?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.