Utah Travelers Recommend

From precarious looking rock arches to smooth slickrock trails, Moab’s red rock terrain has an otherworldly appeal. Whether you rumble over the sandstone in a 4WD vehicle, ride mountain bike trails, or plot the ultimate sightseeing route through the desert, there’s a lot to see and do. These are Moab’s top red rock destinations.

Arches National Park

Just 5 miles (8 kilometers) from downtown Moab, this park has the highest concentration of natural sandstone arches on earth. There’s a scenic drive that takes in the park’s main areas, but it’s worth parking the car to visit places you can’t see from the road. Many of the most iconic arches, balancing rocks, and fins can be reached on short, family-friendly trails. 

Canyonlands National Park

It would be easy to spend an entire vacation exploring Canyonlands, Utah’s largest national park. The Island in the Sky area, with a scenic drive that takes in sheer cliffs dropping from a bare mesa, is the most accessible portion. There are 4WD and hiking options in the region, which is about 32 miles (51 kilometer) from Moab.  

Dead Horse Point

For endless views of buttes and pinnacles, look down from this high mesa onto the twists and turns of the Colorado River in Dead Horse Point State Park. A series of mountain bike loops makes this park a favorite with cyclists, and the trail system includes pet-friendly and wheelchair-accessible options. At about 33 miles (53 kilometers) from Moab, it’s easy to visit on a day trip or combine with a visit to nearby Canyonlands. 

Sand Flats Recreation Area

Home to the famously difficult Slickrock Bike Trail, this area is a swooping landscape of bare, rocky slopes, bowls, and domes. In addition to mountain biking, there are 4WD roads and dirt bike trails. While the Sand Flats Recreation Area is not known for hiking, bring your sneakers for a stroll on one of the short loop trails with interpretive signs. 

Fisher Towers

Eroded stacks of rock form the maze-like Fisher Towers, where you also see fins, deep canyons, and sheer cliffs. While driving to Fisher Towers means braving a sometimes rough dirt road, it’s worth the trip: Hiking trails loop through the spires, you can spot rock climbers, and there are views from the parking lot picnic tables. About 26 miles (42 kilometers) from Moab on Interstate 70, Fisher Towers makes a good first or last stop.

With three days in Moab, you’ll have plenty of time to see both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, enjoy a couple of outdoor adventures, and head out on a day trip to see even more of the Colorado Plateau. Here are some ideas for making the most out of your three-day trip to Moab. 

Day 1: National Park Highlights

On your first day, start by ticking off the major sights in the national parks: Start with an early-morning visit to Canyonlands National Park to catch the sunrise under the low-sloping frame of Mesa Arch. Next, take in the views of dizzyingly steep mesa drop-offs from the Shafer Canyon Overlook, and enjoy the views from Grand View Point and the Green River Overlook. If you’re feeling brave, you can even take a 4-wheel-drive vehicle down the Shafer Trail switchbacks. 

Next, head over to Arches National Park for a hike to Delicate Arch—a cherished symbol of the state of Utah. Other highlights include the massive towers in Park Avenue, the plethora of arches in the Devil’s Garden, and the curious Balanced Rock formation. If you’re looking for more adventure, you can also take the ranger-led tour of the Fiery Furnace. 

Day 2: Multi-Sport Tours

With endless trails, a raging river that runs right through the center of town, and an enthusiastic outdoor culture to boot, Moab has earned the nickname the Adventure Capital of the West. Dedicate your second day in Moab to outdoor adventures, and choose from a wide array of activities for all ability levels, including hiking, biking, climbing, and rafting. 

Biking enthusiasts can opt for small-group bike tours or a private mountain-biking lesson, both good ways of enjoying Moab’s famed slickrock trails. Families can enjoy rafting trips down the Colorado River and 4-wheel drive adventures through Kane Creek Canyon. Adrenaline seekers can choose to kayak through the class four rapids in Cataract Canyon or even go skydiving over canyon country. Other options include hikes in Moab’s less-visited sites—like Fisher Towers, Corona Arch, and Hidden Valley—flightseeing tours, and canyoneering adventures. 

Day 3: Backroads and Canyons

After two days visiting popular attractions, head out to explore the backroads and the area’s more remote sites. For a bird’s eye view of the greater Moab area, take a flightseeing tour of Monument Valley, Natural Bridges, and beyond. You could also consider a road trip down to the Needles District of Canyonlands, passing Newspaper Rock and the picturesque Indian Creek. Continue on to the famous views of Monument Valley, which is often used as a location for filming Westerns. 

Visitors looking for a bit more adventure can enjoy a canyoneering adventure to Goblin Valley State Park or the Robbers Roost area of the San Rafael Desert. In the evening, head out for an astronomy tour or check out one of the ranger-led stargazing and telescope viewing programs in Arches or Dead Horse Point State Park. The parks of southeastern Utah enjoy some of the darkest skies in the nation, offering a brilliant view of the heavens for your final night in Moab.

Few wilderness areas can compete with the spectacular scenery of Utah’s “Big Five” national parks. From the ancient canyons of Zion to the soaring rock formations of Arches, these five outdoor areas are sure to impress. Here’s how to visit.

Zion National Park

Relatively small in area compared some of Utah’s other parks at 229 square miles (593 square kilometers), Zion packs a stunning range of scenery into a compact package. Visitors flock to The Narrows, a scenic gorge with walls as tall as 2,000 feet (609 meters) high, and thrill seekers love the hike to Angels Landing, a towering rock formation with dizzying views of the valley below. Zion is included in a number of multi-day tours that explore nearby hot spots such Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park derives its name from the more than 2,000 natural sandstone spans found within its borders, including the famous Delicate Arch, a favorite subject for many photographers. But there’s much more to this scenic area than just arches. The Balanced Rock, a massive boulder perched precariously on its base, is another highlight, as are the Courthouse Towers, a well-known assortment of tall stone columns. Many travelers visit arches on a multi-day excursion focusing on Utah’s main outdoor areas.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is best known for its iconic collection of hoodoos, tall rock spires that stick out of the landscape like a stone army. The park is also known as one of the best locations in the continental US for stargazers and astronomy lovers thanks to its dark night skies. You can visit Bryce as part of any number of multi-day tours of Utah’s national parks or on a broader tour of the western US that also visits other famous parks like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. 

Canyonlands National Park

Situated near the mountain biking mecca of Moab, Canyonlands is a favorite national park among outdoor adventure seekers and nature lovers alike. An area known as “The Needles,” found in the park’s southeastern section, is popular with visitors due to its hiking trails and strangely shaped sandstone spires, while kayakers head to stretches of the Green River and Colorado River to enjoy some paddle-powered fun. You can visit Canyonlands during a multi-day tour of Utah’s national parks.

Capitol Reef National Park

Though it may not be as well-known as Zion or Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef has earned a growing reputation for its scenic landscape of canyons, cliffs, and rock domes. Formed partially by a geological “wrinkle” in the earth called the Waterpocket Fold, the area is loved by hikers and backpackers looking to explore the park’s unique topography. You can visit Capitol Reef on a multi-day trip focusing on Utah’s national parks.

The iconic red sandstone arches and canyons around Moab, Utah, beckon outdoor adventurers with a craving for exploration. With two national parks—Arches and Canyonlands—sitting within a quick drive of town, visitors to Moab should be sure to bring their hiking boots. See below for the area’s best hiking trails. 

Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail — 1.8 miles (2.8 km)

Hiking along a river, paleontology enthusiasts can travel back 150 million years to view Jurassic-age fossils. Interpretive signs point out petrified plants, dinosaur tracks, and bones of animals like the sauropod. This easy, short trail is ideal for families traveling with kids. 

Corona Arch — 3 miles (4.8 km)

One of the best sites in the area, Corona Arch sweeps over a captivating wall of mountains and red rock. At sunset, the entire area appears to glow, and the arch perfectly frames the landscape. Climbers can scramble up ladders and cables and rappel down rock walls to reach even better views.

Delicate Arch — 3 miles (4.8 km)

Iconic Delicate Arch, which graces the Utah license plate, is a moderate trail packed with views of the Colorado plateau. The route hugs cliffs and traverses stretches of layered sandstone before arriving at the grand finale. 

Fisher Towers — 5.2 miles (8.3 km)

Don’t forget the camera on this hike. The Fisher Towers are among the most photographed spots in Utah, thanks to their brilliant red hue and striking rock formations, which stand in testament to the incredible erosive power of water. The area is popular with rock climbers, too, which can make for fun people-watching.

With two national parks, endless hiking trails, and the mighty Colorado River flowing right through town, Moab earns its nickname, the Adventure Capital of the West. Seeing Moab in only one day is a challenge, but it can be done if you plan ahead. Here are a few ideas for how to make the most out of one day in Moab. 

Morning: National Park Highlights

Your best bet for seeing Moab in a day is to book an all-day parks tour. This way you’re guaranteed to see all the top highlights in Moab’s three main parks, which would be a daunting task on your own. Alternatively, you can focus your energy on just seeing Arches National Park and leave time for an afternoon outdoor adventure: Start your day by hiking to Delicate Arch—the quintessential symbol of Utah—in the early hours to beat the crowds and the midday heat. Spend the rest of your morning exploring the arches in Devil’s Garden and roaming around the towers in Park Avenue. 

Afternoon: Choose Your Own Outdoor Adventure

No trip to Moab, no matter how short, is complete without an exhillarating adventure of some kind. The options are endless and vary from gentle river floats to red dirt mountain bike descents and skydive jumps. If you’re not on an all-day parks tour, head out for a half-day rafting trip through the red rock canyons, an exciting mountain bike tour on the slickrock trails, or a paddle board lesson on the Colorado River. Other options include a flightseeing tour of the national parks or a rock climbing and canyoneering adventure. 

Evening: Dinner Cruises and Desert Sunsets

Enjoy the desert sunset on a Colorado River dinner cruise with either a small-group dinner jetboat tour or a lively light- and music-show cruise. Tours often include a cowboy-style feast of BBQ meats, cowpoke potatoes, baked beans, and homemade rolls. Alternatively, pack your own picnic dinner and watch the sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park, or hit up an Old West shoot-out show at the Bar-M Chuckwagon. If you’re still not tired after all that, head down to Moab Brewery for a sampling of Utah’s microbrews.   

WIth massive red rock cliffs, stunning arches, and vistas as far as the eye can see, Moab is a nature lover’s dream. Having two days in Moab gives you enough time to explore both Arches and Canyonlands national parks and also have an outdoor adventure or two. Here are some ideas for making the most out of a two-day trip to Moab. 

Day 1: National Parks

**Morning:**Start your morning off early with a trip to see the sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. Then move on to the other major viewpoints in the park, like Grand View Point and the Green River Overlook. If you’re looking for adventure, take a 4x4 tour of the White Rim Trail or hike the Whale Rock Trail. 

**Afternoon:**Arches National Park, just a few miles away, is great in the afternoon (even in the midday heat) as trails are short and several scenic views can be enjoyed from the car. Don’t miss the hike to Delicate Arch, the massive towers in Park Avenue, and a wander through the Devil’s Garden.  

**Night:**Wrap up your first day with a scenic sunset cruise down the Colorado River. Tours often include a cowboy-style dinner and a lesson in the history and geology of the Colorado Plateau. If you’re traveling with kids, you may also enjoy the ranger-led stargazing programs offered in the national parks.  

Day 2: Hiking, Biking, and Rafting

**Morning:**Spend your second day in Moab on an array of outdoor adventures: To make the most of your time and pack in a range of activities, opt for two half-day tours or book a tour that includes a combination of two or more adventures. Choose between mountain biking, canyoneering, and hiking excursions. 

**Afternoon:**A half-day white-water rafting trip is the perfect way to keep cool in the midday desert sun. Alternatively, you could take a 4x4 tour or a scenic flight, go skydiving, or explore one of the scenic areas outside the parks, like Corona Arch, Onion Creek, or Fisher Towers. 

**Night:**Spend your final evening in Moab browsing the galleries, cowboy craft shops, bookstores, and gear shops on Main Street. For dinner, choose from a huge range of restaurants, from high-end bistros to brew pubs, pizza joints, and Mexican grills. Nightlife is minimal in Moab, but a handful of bars host live music and local acts on the weekend. 

With three days in Salt Lake City, there’s plenty of time to see all the main attractions in and around the city, from the historic sights and museums to Olympic venues, ski resorts, and the Great Salt Lake. Here are some suggestions for how to make the most out of three days in Salt Lake City.  

Day 1: Salt Lake City Sightseeing

Get a quick introduction to the history of Salt Lake City with a tour of Temple Square, the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (formerly known as the Mormon Church). Explore the gardens, religious buildings, and visitor centers on your own, or opt for a guided tour. You can also enjoy a free organ recital in the Tabernacle (performances occur every day of the week); if you’re visiting on a Sunday, make sure to catch a live performance of the Tabernacle Choir. Afterward, stroll over to the Lion House Pantry, in the former home of Brigham Young, and enjoy some traditional ‘Mormon comfort food.’ 

In the afternoon, take a hop-on hop-off bus tour of the city to see other notable attractions, like the Utah State Capitol, Red Butte Garden, and This is the Place Heritage Park. In the evening, return to the downtown area for dinner or a brewery tour.

Day 2: Natural History and Art

Spend your second day exploring Salt Lake’s vast selection of arts and cultural museums. If you want to learn more about Mormon history, check out the Church History Museum near Temple Square. The museum is dedicated to the Mormon pioneers' trek to Utah and contains artifacts related to church history as well as a collection of art by Mormon artists.  

Alternatively, head to the Natural History Museum of Utah to see life-size dinosaur displays and explore a fascinating archaeological collection, or spend some time admiring the huge collection of American Indian art at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. If you’re visiting with children, spend the day at the Leonardo (a museum dedicated to creativity and innovation), Discovery Gateway, Clark Planetarium, or Utah’s Hogle Zoo for some family-friendly fun. You can also opt to spend the afternoon visiting Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake.  

Day 3: The Wasatch Mountains and Park City

On your final day, head up into the Wasatch Mountains and see why Salt Lake City is one of the country’s top outdoor recreation destinations. Depending on the season, you can ski, snowshoe, hike, mountain bike, or just enjoy the views of the Wasatch Range. For some of the best vistas, take a scenic ride on the Snowbird Aerial Tram to the top of Hidden Peak. 

Next, visit Park City, a former ghost town turned resort town that is home to the annual Sundance Film Festival. You can also take a tour of nearby Utah Olympic Park to see many of the venue’s used in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Visitors can stand on top of the world’s largest ski jump and even book a bobsled ride. Browse the high-end galleries and boutiques on Park City’s Main Street, and enjoy dinner in one of the town’s famed restaurants. 

Two days in Salt Lake City gives you enough time to explore the main tourist sights and venture out into the natural beauty that surrounds the city. You learn about the town's history and sample some of the best outdoor recreation spots in the country. Here’s how to make the most of your two-day trip to Salt Lake City. 

Day 1: Salt Lake City Highlights

**Morning:**Get acquainted with the history of Salt Lake City on a quick tour of the headquarters of the Mormon Church at Temple Square. Opt for a guided tour or explore the gardens and museums on your own. Don’t miss the free organ recital offered daily in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. 

**Afternoon:**After lunch in the former home of Brigham Young, the Lion House, head out to Antelope Island on Great Salt Lake. Antelope Island is the lake's largest island and is accessible via a causeway from the mainland. Hike, bike, or horseback ride and see the buffalo that call this island home.   

**Night:**Stay on Antelope Island for sunset to see the colors of the sky reflect off this vast lake. Back in Salt Lake City, explore the dining options downtown. If you visit on a Thursday, listen to a choir rehearsal at the Tabernacle. 

Day 2: The Wasatch Mountains and Park City

**Morning:**If you visit in winter, opt to spend the entire day skiing in one of the nine resorts within an hour’s drive from the city. Alternatively, take a scenic drive up Little or Big Cottonwood Canyons and enjoy a hike or mountain bike ride. 

**Afternoon:**From Big Cottonwood Canyon, make the spectacular drive over Guardsman Pass Scenic Byway (closed in winter) to Park City, a former mining town and home to the Sundance Film Festival. View the venues for the 2002 Winter Olympics, tour the Olympic museum, and even take a bobsled ride at Utah Olympic Park. 

**Night:**Spend the evening browsing the glitzy shops, galleries, and high-end boutiques on Park City’s Main Street. Visit one of the distilleries, breweries, or ski town pubs for happy tour and then choose to have dinner at one of the area restaurants, which range from gourmet bistros to burrito spots and pizza by the slice shops. 

Having three days to spend in Zion National Park is ideal. You’ll have plenty of time to see all the main sights and also venture into the less-visited Kolob Canyons and take a day trip to Bryce Canyon National Park. Here are just a few ways to make the most of your three days in Zion National Park. 

Day 1: Zion Canyon Highlights

Spend your first day in Zion ticking off the main park highlights. Get acquainted with the park’s layout and see exhibits about the park’s unique geology at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, then hop on the shuttle bus, which hits all the main roadside viewpoints. If you’re setting out on your own, make sure to stop at the Court of the Patriarchs, take the short hike to the Emerald Pools, and stop at Weeping Rock. You can also opt for a guided park tour to ensure you see all the main attractions.

If you’ve come to Zion for adventure, skip the day hikes and head straight to the trailhead for Angels Landing. Not for the faint-hearted, the hike to Angels Landing involves traversing a knife-edge ridge with chains to hold onto for safety. The ascent is harrowing, but the views from the landing are worth the climb. Make sure to do this hike first thing in the morning during the summer months; it gets hot quickly on the exposed ridge. 

Day 2: Zion’s Kolob Canyons

Use your second day in Zion to experience some of the areas of the park that are missed by visitors coming on just a day trip from Las Vegas. Kolob Canyon is a 45-minute drive from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, in the northwestern corner of the park, and offers a quieter, more subdued experience than the park’s visitor-filled main canyon. 

The highlight of a visit to Kolob Canyon is the hike to Kolob Arch, a 14-mile (22.5-mile) round-trip trek that takes you to one of the world’s largest and most impressive natural arches. If you’re looking for a shorter hike, you can enjoy the Timber Creek Overlook Trail, which leads to panoramic vistas of Kolob Canyon, or the Taylor Creek Trail, which takes hikers through a narrow box canyon to the Double Arch Alcove.

Day 3: Day Trip to Bryce Canyon

On your last day, head out of Zion National Park and make a visit to neighboring Bryce Canyon National Park, which is only an hour and a half away. Bryce Canyon’s colorful hoodoos and otherworldly rock formations give it the feel of a magical land. The views from Inspiration Point alone would make a trip worthwhile. Spend the day hiking among the hoodoo formations on the Queen’s Garden Trail, or enjoy a leisurely walk along the Rim Trail. 

To see Bryce Canyon and Zion together, you can also opt for a full-day tour from Las Vegas or book a multi-day tour that also includes the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, and other sights, all on one trip.

With just one day in Salt Lake City, you have plenty of time to tour the city’s historic sights, enjoy a trip into the mountains, and experience some of the evening culture. Here’s how to get the most out of Salt Lake City in just one day. 

Morning: Explore Temple Square

Take a crash course in Salt Lake City history with a tour of Temple Square. See the largest Mormon temple in the world and hear the story of how Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers built a city in the desert. Stroll through the gardens of Temple Square and tour the Salt Lake City Tabernacle, known for its remarkable acoustics and impressive pipe organ. Visit on a Sunday to see a live performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or come any day for the free organ recital offered daily. Enjoy lunch at the Lion House, the former home of Brigham Young. 

Afternoon: Head to the Mountains

No matter how short your trip to Salt Lake City, a trip up into the mountains is a must. Take a scenic ride to Big Cottonwood Canyon and stop for a short hike around Silver Lake. For the best views in the Wasatch Mountains, head up Little Cottonwood Canyon and take the Snowbird Ski Resort Tram to the top of Hidden Peak at 11,000 feet (3,353 meters). Alternatively, hike to the top of Ensign Peak, located just behind the Utah State Capitol, and enjoy panoramic views of the Salt Lake Valley. 

Evening: Brewery Tours and Sporting Events

Salt Lake City is often thought of as a dry city (it's not; the laws have changed). As part of that change, small craft breweries are popping up all over downtown. Visit Salt Lake’s first microbrewery, Squatters Pub, or take a guided brewery tour and learn about Utah’s burgeoning craft-beer scene. Other evening options include watching the sunset over the Great Salt Lake, catching a Utah Jazz basketball game downtown, or heading back to Temple Square to tour the festival holiday lights in winter. City Creek Center, across the street from Temple Square, offers restaurants with plenty of kid-friendly options.

When it comes to hiking in Zion National Park, the word “paradise” doesn’t do it justice. Zion is a hiker’s utopia, filled with day hikes and backcountry adventures that set the scene for adventure in Mother Nature no matter the season. Here are a few of the park’s best trails. 

Angels Landing via West Rim Trail – 5.4 miles (8.7 km)

Arguably one of Zion’s most famous hikes, the Angels Landing trail leads to a dramatic viewpoint 1,500 feet (457 meters) over the valley below. The strenuous hike isn’t for everyone, but those who tackle the major elevation gain, steep switchbacks, narrow ridges, and long drop-offs will be rewarded with some of the park’s most spectacular views.

The Narrows – 9.4 miles (15.1 km)

The Zion Narrows, one of the world’s best slot canyon hikes, follows the Virgin River as it winds through Zion Canyon. You might find yourself trekking through ankle- to waist-deep water at some points (making it a popular summer hike), but you can tailor the hike’s length and difficulty to your ability level.

Canyon Overlook Trail – 1 mile (1.6 km)

While relatively short, the Canyon Overlook Trail offers a big payoff in the form of spectacular views of Pine Creek Canyon and lower Zion Canyon. It’s a favorite among photographers and a must for first-time visitors.

Lower Emerald Pool Trail – 1.2 miles (1.9 km)

The gently sloping Lower Emerald Pool Trail offers easy access to Zion’s iconic towering rock formations. The relatively short one-way hike leads to the first of the park’s emerald pools and waterfalls. If you’re looking for something a bit longer and more challenging, this trail connects with the Kayenta and Upper Emerald Pool trails.

Kolob Arch via La Verkin Creek Trail – 14 miles (22.5 km)

This lengthy day hike takes you along the La Verkin Creek Trail to Zion’s famous Kolob Arch, the second-longest arch in the world. The trail isn’t overly strenuous (aside from the length) and winds through Zion’s desert, forest, and mountainous terrain.

Settled in 1847 by Brigham Young and his band of Mormon pioneers, Salt Lake City is renowned for its Mormon legacy, which forms an important part of Utah’s heritage. Today, Salt Lake City is home to a number of significant Mormon sites. Here’s what you need to know to explore the capital’s Mormon past.

Mormon History

Salt Lake City is the well-known center of Mormonism, the official religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Temple Square is the site of LDS world headquarters and features the Salt Lake Temple and Assembly Hall. But the Salt Lake Valley’s immigrant history really begins on what is now the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, a 1,300-mile (2,092-kilometer) route used by Mormons to escape religious persecution in the 19th century.

Ways to Experience Mormon History in Salt Lake City

• Start your discovery at the Church History Museum, where exhibits chronicle the arrival and settlement of Mormon pioneers in Salt Lake City.

• At the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Temple Square, see the award-winning Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform accompanied by the impressive Tabernacle Organ.

• Sightseeing tours typically visit This Is the Place Heritage Park, which features a re-created pioneer village. 

• Just outside the city, Pioneer Park marks the location of Salt Lake’s first pioneer campsite, while Ensign Peak is a striking lookout where the pioneer leaders first surveyed the city.  

• Hiking parts of the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail is also a popular choice. Nearby landmarks include Emigration Canyon, the point where the pioneers entered Salt Lake Valley and now a National Historic Landmark.