Moab Journals

Moab - A gateway to adventure

A travel journal to Moab by AnaMH

Skyline Arch Photo - Arches National Park, Arches National Park, Utah

Quote: I've been to Moab several times and I know I will return a few more times! The town is growing and provided more services for the traveller. I love the town because of its proximity to all the areas natural wonders.

16 Photos

Moab - A gateway to adventure

Overview

Balanced Rock in the winter Photo - Moab, Utah

Quote:

While in Moab, here is my list of places to visit...Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park (Islands in the Sky and The Needles areas), Colorado River Scenic Byway SR-128, Dead Horses State Park, Natural Bridges and if you want to travel a bit more, there is Four Corner Monument. Moab offers excellent tours for all activities, including several 4-wheel drive (one uses Hummers), night cruises, with dinner included, on the Colorado River, mountain biking, white water rapid tours from one day to a week are available. Quick Tips: Moab are can have temperaures close to the 100's during the summer months, so watch your fluid intake, use a sunblock, wear a hat and hike preferrably during t...Read More

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Beste Western Canyonlands Inn

Hotel | "Best Western Canyonland Inn"

Quote:

I like staying here because it has suites, which make travelling with kids much easier. There are regular rooms, which we used this time around. There is a heated pool, which is bubbled during winter so it is still usable. There is a bike storage available.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 18, 2000

Beste Western Canyonlands Inn
16 South Main Street
Moab, Utah 84532
(435) 2592-300

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Moab Brewery

Restaurant

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I wasn't feeling well when we ate here so I'll give you my husband's opinion. The service was great, the menu varied and the prices were reasonable. They offer outside patio dining. They brew a few different ales but we didn't sample any. He had the wings followed by a spicy chicken sandwich and ended it with carrot cake. I had soup (baked potatoe)and salad, which I can't really judge but he tasted them and said they were good.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 18, 2000

Moab Brewery
686 S Main Street
Moab, Utah
(435) 259-6333

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Arches National Park

Attraction

Quote:

The park is located 5 miles north of Moab. Arches National Park features the largest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. There must be a minimum of a three foot opening in order for it to be considered an arch; the largest in the park 306 feet from base to base at a height of 105 feet.

There are over 1,500 cataloged arches in the park, and most are accessible via road, hike or unpaved road. The paved road (21 miles) takes the visitor through the Windows Section, Skyline Arch, Fiery Furnace, Double Arch, Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock and Park Avenue. Delicate Arch can be reached by a 3-mile round trip but an observation area is within walking distance from the parking lot.

A great area to hike is through Devil’s Garden, which has a great number of arches. The hike is 2 miles from the parking lot to Double O Arch. The drive right after the entrance gates is absolutely wonderful. It is a winding road cut into the sheer sandstone wall. Once at the top, there is a pullout area, which has tremendous views. Once you turn the next stretch of road, the road opens up to an almost flat red desert scene. This desert scene is broken by dramatic vistas of arches, balanced rocks, spires and pinnacles.

There is no food or lodging in the park, but there is a campground in the Devil Garden area. Reservations are only taken for parties over 10 people. There is no water or chemical toilet from November to mid-March, but once the water is turned off the campsites are free.

Some of the activities in the park other than hiking are backpacking, technical rock climbing and biking. Pass for overnight hiking are free and must be obtained at the visitor center. The park and visitor’s center is open year round. One of my visits to the park was a few days after the Christmas holidays and the images were almost surreal. The snow nestled on the red rocks made for dramatic views. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 18, 2000

Arches National Park
5 miles North of Moab on 191
Boulder Mountain, Utah

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La Sal Mountain Loop

Attraction | "Scenic Drive U-128 and LaSal Mountain Loop"

Quote:

The scenery of red rocks, mountains and rushing river is amazing on these two drives. U-128 travels out of Moab, northeast for 21 miles along the Colorado River to Fisher Towers, rising 1500 from the valley floor. The highway ultimately meets I-70, which makes for a wonderful shortcut if you’re coming from the Colorado side of the highway. These highway scenes have been used in many movies and TV commercials. Most of the commercials are for automobiles, which are fitting because this road is a dream to drive. There were many westerns filmed in this area, including a few starring John Wayne. The LaSal Mountain Loop passes through Castle Valley, past the gigantic rock formations known as Castle Ro...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 18, 2000

La Sal Mountain Loop

Moab, Utah

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Canyonlands National Park: Visitor Center

Attraction | "Canyonlands National Park – Island in the Sky area"

Quote:

This section of Canyonlands National park is 36 miles northwest of Moab. The 'island' is a high, broad mesa (around 6000 to 6500 feet in elevation) connected to the 'mainland' by a narrow neck of land. The park lies between the Colorado and Green rivers. On a clear day you can see for miles and miles into the other sections of Canyonlands National Park, The Needles and The Maze. The park only has primitive campgrounds. The park offers three viewpoints. My favorite is the Grand View Point with the impressive Monument Basin area. The White Rim and Green River are the other viewpoints.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 18, 2000

Canyonlands National Park: Visitor Center
Highway 211
Moab, Utah 84532
(435) 259-4711

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Dead Horse Point State Park

Attraction | "Dead Horse State Park"

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The park so named because old-time cowboys used this point as a natural corral for wild horses and on one occasion inadvertently left a band of horses trapped so long that they perished due to thirst.
This almost isolated island-mesa offers a wonderful view of the LaSal Mountains, into Canyonlands National Park and 2,000 feet below you will see the Colorado River. There is a campground in the park.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 18, 2000

Dead Horse Point State Park
off of Highway 313
Moab, Utah
(435) 259-2614

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Canyonlands National Park: Visitor Center

Attraction | "Canyonlands National Park – The Needles Section"

Quote:

This section of the park is located 40 miles south of Moab on US191 (look for Garcia Arch and Wilson Arch on this road) and 35 miles west on State Hwy 211. Along Hwy 211, stop at Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument. This monument displays petroglyphs covering over 1,000 years. The drive into the park through Indian Creek Canyon is spectacular. The park has rock formations of wonderful shapes and colors. Its name comes from the wealth of redrock spires and fins. The Needles are rock pinnacles banded in orange/red and white. There are arches (Wooden Shoe is so true to its name), petroglyphs, potholes, Indian ruins and amazing canyon scenery. The paved roads lead to many areas but 4-wheel dr...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 18, 2000

Canyonlands National Park: Visitor Center
Highway 211
Moab, Utah 84532
(435) 259-4711

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Natural Bridges National Monument

Attraction

Quote:

The park features three Natural bridges and Indian ruins. The bridges can be seen from the overlooks or close up via trails. The bridges have Hopi Indian names ans are as follows, Owachomo (round mounds), Sipapu (place of emergence) and Kachina (dancer). Sipapu is the second largest natural bridge in the world, with Rainbow bridge on Lake Powell being the largest. You can see Indian cliff dwelling and pictographs in many places of the park.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 18, 2000

Natural Bridges National Monument
Entrance at end of Hwy 275 35 Miles West of Blanding
Blanding, UT 84532
(435) 692-1234