Itinerary: Retired Scenery-Seekers
You earned the right to take your time. Moab agrees.
Our recommended itinerary for retired visitors covers Moab at a pace that works. One big adventure each day, and short, accessible hikes to the viewpoints you can’t see from the car windows. Breathing room is built in, so you can really take your time with these impressive landscapes.
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 along Main Street, then swing by a local outfitter for more sunscreen (or other last-minute gear you’ll need for the week). Stop by the Moab Information Center to purchase a National Park pass and pick up field guides, and Back of Beyond Books for novels by locals and rare history.
Evening
Spend your first evening of the trip at Dead Horse Point State Park. Wander along the Overlook Trail to stretch your legs after a long travel day, and stay long enough to watch the sunset.
Morning
Drive the main park road and stop for short hikes along the way. Park Avenue Trail, Balanced Rock, and the trails in the Windows Section of the park offer beautiful viewpoints and easy mileage.
Stop at Devil’s Garden at the very end of the park road to see Landscape Arch. The ribbon of stone is accessible along a 1.9 mile round trip loop that’s relatively flat.
Afternoon
Take an in-town break for the remainder of the afternoon before grabbing an early dinner and heading back into the park.
Evening
Join a ranger-led stargazing program, or book a guided astro-photography tour. To see the night sky on your own terms, areas off the main park road will offer the best views: We recommend settling in at Balanced Rock, the Windows, Garden of Eden, or Panorama Point to see the night sky show off.
Day 3: 128 River Corridor
Morning
Drive Scenic Byway 128 for stunning scenery of red rocks, sandstone towers, and the Colorado River. Break up the drive by stopping at pull outs and day use sights, where you can look for birds: Great Blue Herons, Canyon Wrens, and Bald Eagles call this stretch of the river home. Make your way to the historic Dewey Bridge Recreational Site before turning around.
Afternoon
Step into the galleries in downtown Moab to peruse paintings, photography, and more inspired by the desert you’ve been immersing yourself in all week.
Evening
Wrap up the day with dinner and drinks in town: you can enjoy locally-made beverages at the Spanish Valley Vineyards & Winery or Moab Brewery.
Morning
Drive to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, about a 40 minute drive from Moab. Pick up a picnic lunch on your way out of town. Explore the visitor center to get yourself acquainted with the park, then hike the 0.6-mile roundtrip trail to Mesa Arch.
Continue on to see impressive viewpoints, like the Grand View Point Overlook and Green River Overlook, and enjoy your picnic.
Afternoon
Head back into town and explore the Moab Museum, a local natural and cultural history museum with rotating exhibits. Or, see if local art is on display at Moab Arts.
Evening
Catch the canyons at golden hour on a scenic flight over Canyonlands National Park. You’ll load up at the Canyonlands Regional Airport, then see the park from a whole new perspective while your pilot provides details on the geology below. Grab dinner and drinks in town to close out the evening.
Morning
Take to the skies again: Start the day with a sunrise hot air balloon ride, so you can see all the places you’ve explored from above.
Afternoon
Stock up with provisions in town for your scenic drive along the La Sal Mountain Loop Road. You’ll drive the loop counterclockwise, starting up Scenic Byway 128. Expect spectacular views of the forest and red rock landscape below. The 60-mile loop takes about three hours to complete, but plan a little extra time for stops.
Make a quick detour along Gateway Road to the Fisher Valley and Bull Canyon overlooks for views of the Fisher Towers, Bull Canyon, and dinosaur tracks. Your next stop is an alpine lake: Grab a picnic table under the aspens and pine trees at Warner Lake or Oowah Lake for a refreshing lunch stop. Then, you’ll begin the descent down the other side of the La Sals back into Moab. Stop at the large overlook just before you finish the descent for an impressive view of the Moab valley.
Evening
These have been big days, so enjoy an easy dinner back in town.
Day 6: Hidden Gems
Morning
This morning you’ll explore Kane Creek Boulevard to see petroglyphs. Your first panel is at the mouth of Moonflower Canyon, where you can also take a short walk. Then, continue to Birthing Rock, a huge sandstone boulder carved with a depiction of a birthing scene.
Afternoon
Continue down the road to Hunter Canyon, which has a nice picnic spot and serves as your turn-around point.
Evening
Treat yourself to a final, fancy dinner in town, and check Discover Moab’s event calendar for evening events.
