The Ultimate Guide to Moab, Utah
Get ready to plan your BEST trip to Moab, Utah
Moab, Utah is one of the all-time adventure destinations. In fact, I am a firm believer that everyone needs to experience it at least once in their life. Being a Utah native I have been to Moab countless times, but I didn’t really fall in love with the place until I worked as a corporate trainer. As part of that job, I was tasked with planning and facilitating a high adventure retreat in 2011, 2012, and 2013 for 20+ executives/managers. And where did we go? You guessed it – Moab, Utah.
That is when I really got to see Moab in all of its glory. I packed every possible adventure we could fit into those trips. It was 5 days of pure adrenaline. And recently had the opportunity to plan a similar trip (July 2023) for a group of 20 of my close family members. Today I want to share with you all my hard-won knowledge on planning a truly epic adventure to Moab. While most of what I will be sharing will be geared toward a group trip, it can easily be adapted to a small group. I will be sharing my tried and true itinerary, my go-to guides, and much more!
Index
When to Go to Moab
With Moab being located in Southern, Utah the ideal time to visit is the spring or fall. While you can honestly visit any time of year, the activities I am going to recommend are best done in the spring due to water levels. But here is the deal. If you can’t make it in the spring please don’t write off going to Moab. The truth is that for the four years I have taken large groups to Moab every single trip has occurred in JULY. Going to Moab in July is not ideal given the high temperatures, but it can be done. For tips on how to survive Moab in the summer months check out this post: 5 Tips for Adventuring Safely in the Heat.
My Tried and True Moab Itinerary
Moab is a veritable adventure mecca. Not only are there two national parks (Arches and Canyonlands) but there are endless outdoor adventures you can do. In addition to the 4 large group trips I have planned to Moab, I have enjoyed countless individual trips there as well. During that time I have tried all the things and have slowly curated the perfect itinerary for experiencing the best that Moab has to offer. And today I am excited to share it with you!
If you want to have the ultimate Moab vacation I would recommend the following itinerary.
Monday – Arrive in Moab
Tuesday – Cataract Canyon Express
Wednesday – Cataract Canyon Express + Sunset Hike to Delicate Arch
Thursday – Canyoneering (morning)/Rock Climbing (afternoon)
Friday – You-Drive Jeep Tour (morning)/Mill Creek (afternoon)
Saturday – Mountain Biking (morning)/Head Home
The itinerary above closely matches the corporate retreats I used to plan and I can tell you from personal experience it is an action-packed week!
But in all honestly, it would be difficult to find a one-size-fits-all itinerary. A lot depends on the age range of your group members, your budget, time availability, activity preference/interest of group members, and the time of year you will be visiting Moab. That is why below I am going to dive deeper into each of the top high adventure activities of Moab so that you can determine what would work best for your group.
High Adventure Activities of Moab
Now let’s take a deep dive into the top high-adventure activities you can do in Moab. While there are endless things you can do in Moab, I have chosen to focus on the 4 most popular activities + a couple of fun side adventures for you to consider. So buckle up and get ready for a lot of awesome information!
Whitewater Rafting
There are a variety of whitewater rafting trips you can take while in Moab. Below is a brief description of the most popular ones for your reference.
Cataract Canyon
If you are looking to do some legit whitewater rafting then Cataract Canyon is the trip for you. Cataract Canyon is a 46-mile canyon along the Colorado River located within Canyonlands National Park. It begins at the Colorado River’s confluence with the Green River and contains 14 miles of rapids ranging in difficulty from class III to class V.
There are a variety of ways in which you can experience Cataract Canyon. Most river companies offer a 4-day Cataract Canyon trip and a 2-day Cataract Canyon Express Trip. Both trips are epic, though I prefer the 2-day trip so I can pack in some additional adventures during my time in Moab.
Minimum Age Requirement: 10-16 depending on water levels
Westwater Canyon
If you are looking for a shorter trip or a trip more accessible to younger ages then I would recommend Westwater Canyon. Westwater Canyon is the first whitewater stretch on the Colorado River. The canyon is 17 miles long and has rapids ranging in difficulty from class I to class IV rapids. This trip can be done as one long day or as a two-day trip. Both trips are awesome, however, if you have the time I would recommend doing the 2-day trip. Camping on the river is a really neat experience and it can be fun to take a slower pace and have plenty of time to play in the water.
One thing to be aware of with Westwater Canyon is that when the water gets too high the rapids get washed out. This means that heavy spring runoff doesn’t necessarily equate with big rapids (as it does with Cataract Canyon). For example, in 2023 the river got so high that river companies didn’t start running the river until the second week of July.
Minimum Age Requirement: 8-12 depending on water levels
Additional Trips
Desolation Canyon – If you are looking for a longer trip then Desolation Canyon is a great option. The trip includes a scenic flight from Moab to the river put in spot and ages as young as 5 can attend (depending on the water level and outfitter you use). Desolation Canyon is typically done as a 4 to 5-day trip. This trip is also a great trip to take if you want to get your teenagers off their cell phones and out in nature for an extended period of time. The entire trip is 84 miles long and includes 60 rapids. Most rapids are in the class II range.
Fisher Towers – If you are looking for an even shorter trip then check out Fisher Towers. This can be done as a full day or half day and ages as young as 4 can attend. The trip length is about 13 miles and includes 7 class II rapids.
NOTE: River trips can be done with a smaller group; however, if you have a group of 20-25 people your trip will become a chartered trip. That means there will be no other groups mixed with yours. Chartered trips are SO FUN!!
Rock Crawling
One thing Moab is well known for is rock crawling. There is an abundance of slick rock in the area that attracts jeeping enthusiasts from miles around. If you don’t own a Jeep but would like to try your hand at rock crawling you are in luck. There are a variety of outfitters in Moab that are equipped to help you enjoy the best rock crawling Moab has to offer.
Jeep Tours
Depending on your preference you can participate in a You-Drive Jeep Tour or a Ride-Along Jeep Tour. As the names indicate You-Drive Jeep Tours are where you get behind the wheel and drive the jeeps yourself and a Ride-Along Jeep Tour is where you enjoy the slick rock trails as a passenger. Everyone is different, but if your budget allows it I would recommend doing a You-Drive Jeep Tour. Trying your hand at famous slick rock trails like Hell’s Revenge or Fins and Things is truly epic. Some things to be aware of: Jeep tours typically cost more than UTV tours (which I am going to talk about in a second) and You-Drive tours typically cost more than Ride-Along tours. If you decide to do a You-Drive tour make sure to bring your driver’s license and proof of insurance.
UTV Tours
If you don’t have the budget for a jeep tour then try doing a UTV tour. These tours are only offered as You-Drive tours and they go on the same trails that the jeep tours go on. Some positives about UTV tours are 1) they are generally cheaper than Jeep tours and 2) some people find driving a UTV on the slick rock trails less intimidating than driving a Jeep because it is a bit easier to see over the hood on the big features. In my most recent trip to Moab, we opted to do a UTV tour vs. a Jeep tour because there was an option to do a sunset drive. This meant it would be a bit cooler than doing an afternoon ride and the cheaper price allowed us to do some of the other activities we wanted to do.
Mountain Biking
It would almost be criminal to go to Moab and not mountain bike. Not only is Moab home to the famous Red Bull Rampage but is home to thousands of mountain bike trails. If you aren’t sure where to ride I would recommend trying Slickrock Trail. It is one of Moab’s most iconic rides and offers beautiful scenery. Just be aware that the trail is also open to motorized dirt bikes, is very exposed, and can get very crowded. To beat the heat (and the crowds) I would recommend going later in the evening just make sure you can get back before dark. The trail is 11 miles long and is single track.
Canyoneering/Rock Climbing
I may be a bit partial but I don’t think anyone should go to Moab without doing some rock climbing and canyoneering. There are endless options when it comes to these types of activities so I am going to just talk about some of the most popular destinations.
Canyoneering
For those of you not familiar with what canyoneering is, it is an awesome activity that combines a variety of activities, namely, hiking, rappelling, and sometimes boulder-hopping to descend through a canyon. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE canyoneering. It is not only exhilarating to rappel, but it allows you to go places you wouldn’t otherwise be able to explore. Below are the two most popular half-day canyoneering routes in Moab.
Morning Glory – This half-day route is a great one for beginners. It includes a 4-mile hike through a petrified sand dune desert and includes two rappels. The first is 100′ and the second is 120′ next to a natural bridge that is 243′ long. The approaches to both rappels are fairly straightforward and there is very little scrambling required on the route.
Entrajo Canyon – This half-day route is great for those that are looking for a bit more adventure and can handle some more technical scrambling. For this route, you rappel into a slot canyon that is frequently filled with water. Depending on the time of year it may require swimming or wading so prepare to get wet. It includes two rappels, the first being 20′ with a more tricky approach and a second rappel of 100′ with a very easy approach. Overall you hike about 2 miles and the scenery is GORGEOUS!!!
Minimum Age Requirement (for both routes): 8
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing in Moab is amazing as it offers distinct types of climbing that aren’t frequently found in other parts of the country or the state of Utah. You can try your hand at slab climbing, crack climbing, or even multi-pitch tower climbing. There is a little bit of something for everyone. If you are not a climbing enthusiast or have never climbed before I would recommend focusing on single-pitch slab climbing. If you have some climbing mileage under your belt then you will definitely want to try crack climbing or tower climbing.
Minimum Age Requirement: 8
Additional Activities
Arches National Park – If you still have time on your hands you can check out Arches National Park. Canyonlands is beautiful but it is a bit farther to drive and is a HUGE park to see in a short period of time. There are loads of hikes you can do at Arches with one of the most popular destinations being the hike to Delicate Arch. It is a very doable hike being only 3.2 miles long.
Arches has instituted a timed entry reservation system, which means from April 1st to October 31st you need a reservation to enter. You can get a ticket HERE but what I would recommend is going during the times when a reservation is not required – BEFORE 7 AM or AFTER 4 PM, especially if you are going to be there during a full moon. There is nothing quite like exploring Arches National Park by the glow of a full moon.
Mill Creek – If you are going to be in Moab during the summer heat then you need to make sure to check out Mill Creek. This is considered the local swimming hole. Personally, my favorite place to play is in the stream right at the trailhead (below the dam). Depending on the time of year you go there are pools that are deep enough to swim in and natural slides to enjoy. You also have the option to hike up to the natural waterfall (about 1.5 miles RT), though with all the spring runoff this year (2023) you can no longer jump off the waterfall as the pool below it has filled with silt making it significantly more shallow.
My Go-To Outfitters!
White Water Rafting: There are a lot of options when it comes to picking an outfitter for a river trip. But of all the companies my preferred outfitter is Adrift Adventures. The owner Myke Hughes is a legend in the river rafting community, he is great to work with, and he has always given me a group discount when I have booked with him.
Rock Crawling: When it comes to scheduling a you-drive jeep or UTV tour my preferred outfitter is Outlaw Adventure Tours. They are great to work with, have beautiful jeeps, and friendly guides.
Mountain Biking: If you don’t have your own mountain bike or are in need of a shuttle service I would recommend using Moab Cyclery. They even have day tours or multi-day tours if you want to go out with an experienced mountain biker.
Canyoneering/Rock Climbing: A lot of the bigger guide companies also offer canyoneering or rock climbing tours, but my favorite outfitter to use is Windgate Adventures. I am VERY picky about safety when rock climbing or canyoneering and the owner, Eric Odenthal, is the epitome of safety. He also has a great knack for helping even the most timid of guests through their first rappel or climb their first route.
Where to Stay
There are a lot of accommodation options in Moab: hotels/motels, Airbnbs, VRBOs, glamping, and of course camping. If you will be traveling to Moab with a large group I would recommend the following options.
Mainstay Suites Moab
Of all the hotels in Moab, I personally like Mainstay for larger groups because you can fit 6 people per room instead of just 4. This significantly reduced the cost when putting up 20 people this past July. And with a mixture of kids and teenagers in our group there were plenty of people that didn’t mind sleeping on a pull-out bed. The other nice thing about Mainstay is all the rooms have a kitchenette and they serve a wonderful continental breakfast.
Goose Island Campground
If you are camping my number one recommendation for a group campsite is Goose Island Group Campsite A or B (depending on the size of your group). The campsites are near the river, conveniently located, and the high cliffs put the entire site into shade by 5 pm. Just be aware that there is NO potable water. You can find water at Lion Park which is located on the north side as you enter the canyon (UT-128). It is also possible (depending on the time of year you visit) that the mosquitos may be bad being so close to the river. Every time I have gone in July we have never had any issues with mosquitos. There are also first-come first-serve spots if your group is not large enough to warrant a group site.
Ken’s Lake Campground
If the group campsite you want to book at Goose Island is not available you can look at staying at Ken’s Lake Campground. Ken’s Lake is not as conveniently located as Goose Island and there is absolutely NO shade so it would not be my first choice. However, there is a faux waterfall that can be fun to play in and it is located close to Ken’s Lake Reservoir (hence the name). There is also no potable water at Ken’s Lake so be prepared to haul in water.
Adventure Awaits
Now that you know the ins and outs of planning an epic adventure to Moab what are you waiting for?!
If you have any questions while planning your Moab adventure, please comment below. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Enjoy!!
