Moab is a city located in the Southeastern region of Utah. It is a city synonymous with adventure, with incredible national parks and the great Colorado River a stone’s throw away, the city has become a gateway to adventure and exploration. Type Moab into google images and you will be greeted with a plethora of captivating images! Incredible natural rock formations, breathtaking vistas, 2000 year old rock carvings, all just a few a few miles away from this hidden gem of a city in the dessert.
It is somewhere I am looking forward to revisiting, hopefully sooner rather than later. I was there around 8 years ago, for a short two day stopover to see Arches national park. I enjoyed hiking the trails, seeing Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock, but my short timeframe meant I missed out on a great deal of what this epicentre of adventure had to offer. That is not a mistake I will make again.
The national parks that border Moab are Arches national park and Canyonlands national park. In Arches you will find amazing natural rock formations like, Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock and North Window which make for some majestic views. There are a variety hiking trails in Arches, ranging from short walks to challenging and demanding hikes. The main attraction of Arches are the many remarkable natural rock formations scattered across the park. All of these natural marvels are extremely impressive and very photo worthy. In my humble option Delicate arch is at the top of the list.
In Canyonlands you will find hiking, rock climbing and camping as well as some awe inspiring vistas.The park is made up of 3 districts, The Needles, Islands in the sky and The Maze. There are a number of trails throughout the park, varying in difficulty from easy, moderate to challenging. Stick to The Needles and Islands in the sky for walking and day hiking. If you’re looking for something a bit more off the beaten track then head to The Maze, its remoteness means backpacking and possibly camping.
Along with the national parks, another big draw of Moab is UTV driving along the slick rocks on the outskirts of the city, in particular Hell’s revenge trail. As I’m sure you can guess from the name this is not a laid back, relaxing, peaceful, contemplative drive amongst the slick rocks, it is an edge of the seat adrenaline ride with steep climbs, sheer descents and sharp turns to navigate. The effectively descriptive names of obstacles along the trail such as “Tip over challenge” and “Hell’s gate” help to paint a vivid picture of what is in store for anyone willing to take on this adventure.This trail is definitely not for the faint hearted.
The list of of extreme sports you can find around Moab reads like an adrenaline junkies bucket list! The aforementioned UTV driving, white water rafting and climbing to name a few. If the extreme sports stuff isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options Moab has to offer, like day hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and walking amongst slot canyons.
On the more relaxed side of things to do in Moab is a visit to Newspaper Rock. This arrangement of rock faces are covered in over 600 petroglyphs (rock carvings) dating between 650 and 2000 years old. I did get a chance to see this historical site and it is definitely worth a look.
I don’t know when I’ll be heading back to Moab, but when I eventually get back, Canyonlands national park will be the first thing I do. I want to spend some time hiking and exploring the districts, especially the Islands in the sky, apparently the views are nothing short of spectacular! Hell’s revenge trail is definitely on the list as well. I’m looking forward to going back.