Itinerary: Nature-First Explorers
This view took 5 million years. Take your time.
If you enjoy taking in the sights more than knocking out big-adventure days, building in an extra hour to the hike so you can stop at every wildflower, and bringing your binoculars everywhere, you’re a nature-first explorer. In this itinerary, there’s no rush to cover ground — the goal is to notice more of it.
Day 1: Arrive in Moab
Morning
Fly directly into Moab at Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY) and rent a car to get into town (20 minutes), or drive 2 hours from Grand Junction, 4 hours from Salt Lake City, or 6 hours from Denver or Las Vegas.
Afternoon
Get checked into your accommodation and head into town. Grab a bite to eat from a local restaurant, then stop by the Moab Information Center to purchase a National Park pass and pick up trail maps, and Back of Beyond Books for local field guides and rare ephemera. Spend some time checking out the shops around town to pick up any necessary gear for the week ahead.
Evening
Spend your first evening at Dead Horse Point State Park for excellent sunset views. Check the park’s website to see if you can join a ranger program, or start at the visitor center to hike to the mixed-use Intrepid Trail System. Make your way to the main overlook at sunset and stay just long enough to watch the stars start to peek out.
Day 2: Potash Road
Morning
Potash Road offers a unique drive with towering red cliffs on one side and the Colorado River on the other. Start at the roadside petroglyph panel — you’ll see a BLM interpretive sign on a pull off a few miles in — and the Poison Spider trailhead, where you can see more petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks.
Afternoon - option 1
Hike to Corona Arch, a massive sandstone arch with a 140-foot by 105-foot opening. The 2.4-3 mile trail is described as moderately challenging and features a ladder and safety cables to navigate the sandstone.
Afternoon - option 2
Continue the drive to the Potash Boat Ramp, which has shaded tables for a scenic picnic lunch. If you’re in a 4WD vehicle (and you’ve got the skills to match) keep driving the gravel road until you reach Thelma and Louise Point, where the final scene in Thelma & Louise was captured.
Evening
Wrap up the day with dinner and drinks in town, then catch live music at the Backyard Theater or the Blu Pig.
Morning
Grab breakfast and a picnic lunch in town: You’re spending the day in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, a lesser-seen district that’s about an hour and a half away from Moab. As you drive, make stops at Looking Glass Arch, Newspaper Rock (a massive petroglyph panel), and the cliffs of the Indian Creek climbing area, where you might spot nesting raptors.
Afternoon - option 1
Stop by the visitors center for maps, then hike the 2.4 mile Slickrock (Foot) Trail (not to be confused with the iconic mountain and dirt bike trail of the same name back in Moab) with expansive views into Big Spring Canyon and Little Spring Canyon.
Afternoon - option 2
Up for an adventure? Chesler Park Loop showcases the iconic needles that give this district its name. Just over 10 miles in length, the loop winds through narrow fractures in the rock, sandstone towers, and grassy meadows.
Evening
Consider staying to watch the sunset before heading back into Moab for a late dinner.
Day 4: 128 River Corridor
Morning
Take Scenic Byway 128 from Moab to Grandstaff Canyon Trail. This 4-mile meandering trail leads to the impressive 243-foot Morning Glory Natural Bridge: along the way, you’ll find multiple water crossings and lush vegetation within the deep sandstone canyon.
Afternoon
Cowboy up and ride horseback beneath the cliffs that once served as John Wayne’s backdrop. Book a guided trail ride with a local outfitter who knows this canyon country intimately and who will regale you stories about Moab’s frontier past.
Evening
Enjoy an easy dinner in town, then head to Lions Park to walk along the Moab Canyon Pathway for sunset.
Morning
Arrive early to experience Arches at its most peaceful and explore several short hikes off the 18-mile drive through the park. Park Avenue Trail and the trails in The Windows provide a couple quick hits of awe with plenty of views between. Sand Dune Arch, accessible along a 0.4 mile round trip hike, is one of our favorite off-the-beaten-track trails.
Afternoon
Take a mid-day reset back in town (the hotel pool is calling) and grab an early dinner before heading back into the park for a night under the stars.
Evening
After the sun sets, the park’s other side reveals itself. As an International Dark Sky Park, this is one of the best places in the world to stargaze. Book a stargazing tour with a local guide, or check the park’s website for ranger-led astronomy programs. If you’d like the night to yourself, we recommend setting up at Panorama Point.
Day 6: Dinosaurs + Alpine Desert Ecology
Morning
Drive to the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite and nearby Dinosaur Bone Trail. At the tracksite, you can explore one of the largest and most diverse dinosaur tracksites in North America. Continue your adventure at the Dinosaur Bone Trail to see bones embedded in the rock.
Afternoon
Grab lunch on Main Street and browse local galleries for souvenirs to keep the memory of the trip alive.
Evening
Walk the Juniper Trail in the Sand Flats Recreation Area to see new landscapes and watch the sun go down. Then, treat yourself to a fancy dinner back in town to celebrate the trip.
