Moab, Utah is an area with an amazing red rock landscape for as far as the eye can see, filled with colorful canyons and mesas. The Colorado River snakes through the area, including Dead Horse Paint State Park, famous for the closing scene in Thelma and Louise when they drove off the cliff to the water 2,000 feet below. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to this area year-round, enjoying off-road thrills, biking, water adventure, and so much more!
Having grown up in the Midwest, I’ll admit I hadn’t heard of Moab until a few years ago, shortly after we moved to Colorado. But ask any Westerner, and they all rave about its beauty and appetite for thrills. So we planned an extended family vacation to Moab over Memorial Day Weekend. Shortly before we left, we added an extra day and night to our trip with the hope we’d be able to hit many of the adventures but it was not enough time!
WHAT TO KNOW
Moab is about a six-hour drive from Denver via I-70 and surrounded by nothing… literally… except its red rock beauty. It’s located in Grand County, which is 90% federally owned, allowing the area to be preserved and enjoyed. It is high desert and only receives 7-9” of precipitation a year. It was near 90 over Memorial Day and zoomed above 100 a week later. So the most popular time to visit is in the Spring and Fall.
WHAT TO DO
- Parks. The well-known Arches and CanyonlandsNational Parks as well as Dead Horse Paint State Park are located within this area. We visited Arches, home to over 2,000 naturally-formed arches as well as gingerly-balances rocks and souring pinnacles. Tons of hiking options are available to reach many of the arches. We hiked 3+ miles (roundtrip) to the Delicate Arch, which included a nerve-wracking walk along the edge. The Fiery Furnace Tour is an extremely popular hiking attraction for enjoying Arches but it books out months in advance (we were too late :)
- Hummer and ATV Tours. MOAB Adventure Center set us up for a Hummer Safari Tour. Awesome! Highlight of our trip! We explored Hell’s Revenge in the Sand Flat Recreational Area from the back of a Hummer. This area has a difficulty rating of 4+ out of 5 and it did not disappoint, with its drop offs and edgy terrain.
- Jet Boat Tours. The Jet Boat Tour on the Colorado River was quite enjoyable. The river was calm but the boat went quite fast as we zoomed within the canyons. We stopped several times to learn about and see historical facets in the area, including American Indian Drawings, famous movie locations (Thelma and Louise), and mountain climbers.
- Biking. We took our bikes and peddled down the Moab Canyon Parkway, which winds along the Colorado River. There are also numerous single-track trails and scenic biways around the area that we, unfortunately, did not have a chance to try.
- Other Adventures. Also available are Horseback Riding, White Water Rafting, Zip Lining, Ballooning, and Scenic Flights.
WHERE TO STAY
We rented a condo in Rim Village through VRBO, located just minutes South of downtown Moab. We took our dog along and the accommodations were perfect for both family and pooch!
RV and camping sites were abundant, as well as smaller hotels and rentals.
PLACES TO EAT
- The Blue Pig. BBQ at its finest.
- Moab Brewery. The only microbrewery in town and Moab's largest restaurant. Popular destination with a diverse and tasty menu.
- Jailhouse Café. Touts itself as the only breakfast-only restaurant in town. It is locally owned and housed in an original building from the late 1800s. And yes, it once served as the jailhouse.
