Free
Corona Arch Trail
A moderate hike of about 3 miles return, with safety cables and a short ladder, to a 140-foot-wide arch west of town on the Potash Road.
Canyon Country, Utah
Moab
A red-rock town on the Colorado River, with a free hike to Corona Arch, Arches National Park at the edge of town, and a mesa-top view of the river a thousand feet down at Dead Horse Point.
Photo: The Colorado River gooseneck from Dead Horse Point, Fsendek1904, CC BY-SA 4.0
Moab sits in a green fold of the Colorado River, under walls of red sandstone. Arches National Park begins just north of town. A short drive west, a free trail with cables and a short ladder leads to Corona Arch. Up on the mesa, Dead Horse Point and the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands look down on the same river.
You can fill a day without a park pass: Corona Arch, Grandstaff Canyon, the river at Lions Park, and the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway. The national and state parks take a pass and reward an early start.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Grandstaff Canyon
A stream-side canyon hike of about four miles return, ending under Morning Glory Natural Bridge.
Free
Lions Park and the Colorado River
A riverside park at the junction of U.S. 191 and Utah 128, with shade, a footbridge and paved paths along the river.
Free
Moab Brand Trails
A trail system about ten minutes north of town, with loops for walking and riding and views toward Arches National Park.
Free
Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway
Utah 128 follows the Colorado River through red walls east of town, with pulls and picnic spots along the water.
Cheap
Arches National Park
A national park of sandstone arches, fins and viewpoints just north of town, including Delicate Arch. An entrance pass is required.
Season Open year-round. In 2026 no timed-entry reservation is required; an entrance pass is still needed (check before you go).
Cheap
Dead Horse Point State Park
A mesa-top overlook of a Colorado River gooseneck, a short drive from the Island in the Sky road. A state park entrance fee is required.
Season Open year-round, roughly 6 a.m.–10 p.m. (check before you go).
Cheap
Canyonlands, Island in the Sky
A high mesa in Canyonlands National Park, with rim trails and long views over the Green and Colorado rivers. An entrance pass is required.
Paid
Colorado River rafting
Guided half-day and full-day trips on the Colorado River near town, including the Fisher Towers stretch.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Downtown Moab
A short, walkable Main Street of shops, outfitters and cafés, with red cliffs at the end of the street.
Cheap
Moab Museum
The geology and human history of the Moab Valley, in a downtown museum on Center Street.
Season Open Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (check before you go).
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Main Street shops and galleries
Independent shops, outfitters and galleries along Main Street.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Arches National Park entrance pass
A valid entrance pass is required. In 2026 the park is not using timed-entry reservations.
Adrift Adventures day tours
Guided jeep, hiking and van trips from Moab, including a morning tour of Arches National Park.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
Part of our Utah canyon country guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Arches and the mesa parks are better at the edges of the day, when the lots empty and the light hits the walls.
- A hike to Corona Arch and a day in Arches need a night in between, especially in the summer heat.
- Dead Horse Point at dusk is not something you squeeze in on the way out of town.
Nearby and worth the drive
Ready-made trips with Moab
Good to know
- Arches National Park: A valid entrance pass is required. In 2026 the park is not using timed-entry reservations; you can enter during operating hours. Parking at popular trailheads still fills, especially from March through October. Check conditions at nps.gov/arch before you go.
- Heat: Summer trail surfaces can be far hotter than the air. Start early, carry more water than you think you need, and save exposed slickrock hikes for morning or evening.
- Corona Arch: The trail uses safety cables and a short ladder. It is a moderate hike, not a walk in town.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: The Colorado River gooseneck from Dead Horse Point, Fsendek1904, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Corona Arch west of Moab, Whitimeg, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Utah Scenic Byway 128 along the Colorado River, Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, “Jon Zander (Digon3)”, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: View from Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, DXR, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Main Street in downtown Moab with red cliffs behind, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0