It may be hard to steal the spotlight from Moab’s two headliners: Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. But beyond these parks’ boundaries, a red-rock playland spills out trails, rivers, climbs and drives that showcase even more arches, towers, wildlife, canyons and sandstone.
Dead Horse Point State Park
Some visitors claim Dead Horse Point State Park to be more captivating than the Grand Canyon — many of the park’s overlooks unveil Utah’s vast canyon country, including Canyonland’s Island in the Sky District and the Gooseneck of the Colorado River. Campsites offer front-door access to mountain bike trails and majestic desert landscapes.
Sand Flats Recreation Area
Home to the famous Slick Rock Trial, the Sand Flats Recreation Area isn’t only for mountain bikes and OHVs. The campground lays claim to a sensational scene of sunsets, stars and desert landscape against a backdrop of the La Sal Mountains (note: Ken’s Lake and Moonflower Campgrounds are nearby if Sand Flats is booked).
Colorado River and Green River
There’s something magical about not just one, but two, mighty rivers carving their way through Moab’s jagged and meandering canyons. The juxtaposed water offer stand-up paddleboarding, river rafting, riverside camping or even a quick dip from the side of the road.
Potash Road
Potash Road — also known as Wall Street — is a 17-mile journey along the Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway. It showcases sandstone cliffs, petroglyphs, dinosaur tracks, arches and views of the Colorado River. There’s plenty to explore on and off the road for road bikers, climbers and hikers.
Corona Arch, Bowtie Arch and Pinto Arch
While on Potash Road, stop and take the 3-mile out-and-back hike to Corona Arch, also known as the Little Rainbow Bridge (but with fewer crowds than Delicate Arch). Along the way, enjoy Pinto Arch and Bowtie Arch, too.
Wilson Arch
Wilson Arch is a large Entrada Sandstone arch accessed by an easy scramble up red dirt. If you don’t have the time or energy to hike to the arch, the view from the pull-off is pretty spectacular — the sandstone structure frames the blue, Utah sky in picture-perfect fashion.
Kane Creek Road and Moonflower Canyon
Kane Creek Road takes a little finding and sees less traffic than Moab’s main thoroughfares. Moonflower Canyon (about three miles in) is a lush green little side-canyon oasis carved into the surrounding red rock bluffs and the site of some amazing remnants of ancient Native American life.
Downtown Moab
The town of Moab is less of a downtown and more of a walkable main street, good news for those seeking food trucks, fine dining, rentals, tour guides, luxury resorts or RV campsites all within a short distance.
