I’m going to attempt to put together a list of things to do/places to go in Moab. This is only meant as a resource. I want to stress again that attendees are absolutely welcome to do as much or as little as they want in terms of outdoor recreation, sharing meals with others, etc. Napping, lazing by the pool, reading a good book at the library, and hanging out at the evening campfires are totally legit activities!!
Need
info/maps/souvenirs? Moab Information Center is at 25 East Center Street (.8 miles north of our campground)
Need
groceries? City Market is just a block away. Oh, and this natural food store is great:
https://moonflower.coop/Need
firewood for evening campfires? City Market sells it, as does the Texaco station right at the entrance to our campground.
Rent a bike:https://poisonspiderbicycles.com/moab-bike-rentals/https://moabcyclery.com/rental-bikes/https://chilebikes.com/(That’s just a sample. There are other bike shops as well.)
Paddle board! (I’ve heard it’s a lot of fun!)
https://www.paddlemoab.com/https://www.moabwatersports.com/paddleboards.phphttps://www.wildwestvoyages.com/rentalsTake a Jet Boat ride on the Colorado River!https://www.moabjett.com/https://www.moabadventurecenter.com/moab-jet-boat-tours(
@Embok and her hubs did this last year, and they really enjoyed it)
Scenic Drives:Travel upriver on 128
Drive through Arches National Park, and stop for short hikes/photo ops
Drive to/through Dead Horse Point State Park
Drive to Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky district)
Drive to Newspaper Rock to see amazing petroglyphs
Drive to Canyonlands National Park (Needles district) (warning: as I write this, part of the access road is closed because of recent flood damage, and there is a significant detour)
Want a leisurely stroll?Check out the Mill Creek Parkway (as I write this, portions of this are closed because of recent flood damage, but hopefully, it will reopen before our event)
https://moabcity.org/297/Mill-Creek-ParkwayLooking for a tasty breakfast?https://lovemuffincafe.com/ (VERY popular, so get there early!! There is usually a line, but it moves pretty quickly. Getting a table might be a challenge…)
Other eatery recommendationshttps://www.miguelsbajagrill.net/ (according to their website, they don’t take reservations, so try to get there early and be prepared to wait (while sipping a margarita!))
https://www.moabfoodpark.com/ (a variety of food trucks!)
Looking for Rock Art?**Please be respectful of this amazing ancient rock art. Do not touch it, as oils from your skin will damage it. Please remind your inquisitive friends and children to be very careful in any of these areas. Also, should you see any ancient pottery pieces, corn cobs, etc., please do not touch them and leave them right where they are. Thank you!!**
At the Moab Information Center, pick up a free brochure which will tell you where to find several spots right in/near Moab. Or ask me. :)
Also, for anyone driving in from I70, consider taking the Thompson Springs exit (#187), driving north for 4.3 miles and checking out the Sego Canyon Rock Art. I have not yet been there, but I’ve heard that it’s a very impressive site.
Drive south to Newspaper Rock.
HikingThis is just a small sample!
https://www.blm.gov/visit/portal-trail (If you look at this description, you’ll see a mention of a very exposed part of the trail. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do that part. You can stop before you get there, enjoy the view, take a few photos, and then turn back.)
@oneday and
@ToTheMoon and others have done this hike
https://www.blm.gov/visit/moab-rim-trail (You’ll see in this description that Jeeps, ATVs, hikers, and cyclists all use this trail. For a portion of the trail, the hiking trail is separated from the Jeep track. Also, the motorized traffic is usually pretty sparse and is moving VERY slowly because it is an extremely gnarly “road”, attracting only expert 4WD drivers. So, my point is, it is usually still a very pleasant trail for hikers, even if a few Jeeps are encountered along the way.)
https://girlonahike.com/the-fisher-towers-moab.html This is a great hike. But it begins a significant distance (up the Colorado River (128)) from our campground, so you’d want to start early.
https://www.blm.gov/visit/grandstaff-canyon-trailhead This is a pleasant hike, ending at the impressive Morning Glory Natural Bridge, which is the 6th longest natural rock span in the United States.
@Dicey and her hubs joined me on this hike last year
https://www.blm.gov/visit/corona-arch-trail Nice hike, featuring Corona Arch and Bow Tie Arch. It can get hot, so it’s best to start this hike early.
@Dicey and her hubs joined me on this hike last year
https://girlonahike.com/looking-glass-rock-arch.html I have never stopped to see this arch, but I might be interested if others want to check it out. Looks pretty cool, but I wonder if it gets crowded…
https://www.blm.gov/visit/hidden-valley-trail I think a few folks did this hike during our inaugural Moab Meetup, but I was not one of them. I might be interested in doing it this year.
Arches National Park—lots of great hiking trails! With lots of cool arches!! ($ entrance fee)
Dead Horse Point State Park (I have spent literally about 5 minutes there (several years ago), so I know almost nothing about it, except that the views are supposed to be amazing. Costs $ to enter this state park.)
Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky district, and Needles district (Maze district is VERY remote)) lots of amazing trails!!!
https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/fiery-furnace-hike.htm I have done this hike twice. It’s pretty cool. You do need reservations.
@ToTheMoon has also done this hike
Want to see Dinosaur Tracks?https://www.blm.gov/visit/mill-canyon-dinosaur-trailhead-interpretive-site Want to get your Art fix?https://www.redrockartsfestival.com/There are also plenty of galleries on the main drag in Moab.
Whew. That’s a good start. I will keep adding to this list as I think of things. Other Moab Meetup Mavens, feel free to chime in with your ideas/comments!