Don't miss this one! When we first arrived in Fruita, Colorado. The Colorado National Monument was…read morenot on our list of things to visit. We would of totally missed it if it hadn't been for some people we met at a restaurant. Colorado National Monument is not a National Park; it is a National Monument managed by the National Park Service. It's name doesn't portray the beauty and magnitude of this gorgeous park. It is a 23 mile drive and is often called the mini-grand canyon. The towering red rock monoliths and the Canyon views were absolutely incredible.

What bliss this is…read more Colorado National Monument is basically the smaller in scale sandstone-stacked cousin of the Grand Canyon, but without all the horrific traffic and crowds upon crowds, especially at the start of summer. This place has miles of views with gorgeous towering cliffs, dramatic canyons and many trails for walking and hiking. You can also see the Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat-topped mountain) and the Book Cliffs from the monument. And it has that Grand Canyon feeling when you look at its depth -- as though you are looking directly into a painting. Along about a 20-mile highway (with an east and west entrance) you can enjoy the full views. There are plenty of places to pull over and park to take a look or to plan for a hike. And be very, very careful. The main drive is very deeply beloved by cyclists, so be sure to drive slow and keep eyes on the road. Do not miss Independence Monument. This is a glorious rock spire. also, the Kissing Couple is adorable. The Coke Ovens are these beautifully shaped domes -- some of my favorites in the area. Also, be aware of wildlife. I did not get lucky, but there are regular sights of bighorn sheep, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, eagles and many other animals. I did see a pretty spectacular aerial fight between a hawk and a raven during a recent visit, though. Also, be sure to check out the visitor center on the west side. It has some natural history exhibits and a gift shop. There is also the Saddlehorn Campground, which is very well maintained and has a good number of spots, but not all with sprawling city or canyon views. All told, there are three loops with nearly 80 sites. Some are small and best for a pair and others that are good for a couple of tents on one site. Overall, bring lots of water and snacks, because it is dry and sometimes feels desert like. And do not over rely on cell service, as there are a number of dead zones.

Impressive hike to go to the Morning Glory Natural bridge through Grandstaff canyon. 4.5 miles…read moreround trip. Only to be careful is poison oak. I'm very sensitive to it, so I was extra cautious not to touch any plants and had long sleeve and long pants. The natural bridge was very cool. The canyon is gorgeous. Worth the visit for sure.

Great early morning hike. Truly beautiful nature! Watch out for the poison ivy although it wasn't a…read moreproblem for us.

Top Rated Hike in Moab! This trail is a gem. I felt it was a moderate hike overall... maybe even…read moreeasy for experienced hikers. Parking is free, mostly dog-friendly, and outside of the National Parks. We did this 5 mile hike on a partly cloudy morning in June 2024. We got to the trailhead around 7am and took our time heading up to the Lookout. It sprinkled a little about a half hour in, so we found a cave like overhang to take a break. This trail is mostly uphill on the way in, and has at least two, very steep sections, rock stairs, one ladder, and you have to be sure not to lose the trail as some sections are not easily identifiable. We took about an hour and half going in, spent about 30 minutes at the lookout, and powered through the hour back in partial sun. It was the perfect length hike for me, with the right incline. Like any trail in Moab, be sure to bring lots of water and dress for the climate.

Great hike. Impressive towers and cool to see those towers in close distance. Around 4.5 miles with…read more750 feet elevation change. Easy trails. A day before the hike we camped at BLM site at the trailhead which was convenient. $20. In the end of December only us hiking there. Solitude was nice.

I had most incredible experience solo camping and canoeing out here. The peacefulness, the awe of…read morebeauty, the sheer magnitude of it all, it's really something quite special. Photos and videos do not do it justice. You have to experience it for yourself, seriously! Every new bend around the corner was even more breathtaking than the last. If you get a chance, definitely paddle the river. It's a whole new perspective down there!!

Dead Horse Point State Park is absolutely stunning--and pet friendly! The overlooks alone are worth…read morethe stop, but there are also several trails to choose from. We hiked the East Rim Trail, which connects to the West Rim Trail, for a total of about 3.9 miles. I'd rate it as easy to moderate: mostly flat with a few sections of light climbing. The views throughout the hike are breathtaking, and when we went, it wasn't crowded at all. Keep in mind that the park is very hot with almost no shade, so bring plenty of water. If you're traveling with a dog, be mindful of the ground temperature to avoid burning their paw pads. The visitor center itself isn't pet-friendly, but the bathrooms are located outside and accessible. My only complaint is that the trail markers could be clearer--since some trails overlap, it can get confusing. Entry is $20 per vehicle, paid at the gate. We spent about 2.5 hours exploring, though you could easily stay longer if you want to sit, relax, and take in the scenery. Overall, this is a must-visit stop in Moab.

Who knew that a bike park could also provide some great hiking and trail running?…read more My partner is a serious mountain biker and enjoys black and double black routes and this was mainly a mountain bike trip that he organized and I tagged along with the doggie. This was a great bike park for hikers and trail runners too and dogs are allowed and make sure they are leashed. I did see plenty of dog owners have their dog(s) off leash, which can be great for the dogs, but can be more trying for little dogs who may not want to deal with that. There is a parking lot here with plenty of spots, restrooms and air pump for your bikes here. I was able to hike this bike park for 3+ hours and really enjoyed it. I started on Tabegauche Trail and made it up to Eagle's Connector and finally to Eagle's Wing and then back on Tabeguache Trail back to the parking lot. This was about a 6 to 6.5 mile hike and with some portions where there is a bit of climbing (around 800 to 1,000 feet ascent). I really enjoyed the views and could do a bit of trail running also, and my companion, an 18 pound Shiba Inu was great! I was on the Eagle's Connector Trail and there were so many blue colored birds and I was able to ID them and they are Pinyon's Jay, which is a new species for me! Awesome! Definitely check this bike park out, but also if you have folks in your group that aren't bikers, this would be fun for them too! Lots of great trails, very well marked (can't get lost as I usually do) and some awesome views from the top and just an overall cool place to hang out for a couple of hours!

Travis was prompt and flexible in picking our group up and transporting us to Grand Junction from…read moreMoab. A great service! Dave F.

Desert Mountain Shuttle was the perfect service for a ride back to Fruita from Moab after my wife…read moreand I finished a self-supported Kokopelli Trail trip. Travis was easy to work with and was flexible with our arrival time. If you are in need of a shuttle in the region, he's the way to go. Professional and timely service, clean and spacious vehicle, and good conversation to boot. Will definitely use again next time we need a shuttle in and around Fruita.

Nice short walk on the trail from the parking area up to the Double Arch. Such a beautiful area…read more Everything inside Arches National Park is beautiful. There was even a proposal that happened when we were there. There is a couple of pit toilets on site that weren't too bad.

Super quick and easy hike that leads to an amazing view of Double Arch! This arch is unique in the…read morefact that it's literally two arches in one. It's one of the most photographed arches within the park. The hike is really a short walk from the parking lot and is only about a half mile round trip. I combined this hike with another short hike to the Windows loop and Turret Arch trail. All of these trails are located within the same staging area and are easy to connect without having to move your car. Speaking of that; parking is available inside but it fills up super quickly! This part of the park is extremely popular and they will most likely have someone directing traffic and pointing you to the next open parking spot when you arrive. When Double Arch gets too crowded, they will restrict access until enough people leave. Although this hike along with the others nearby are relatively short, it's important to make sure that you have water on you since there are no drinking fountains nearby and there's no shade. Since it's a short jaunt, I recommend combining it with the Windows Loop and Turret Arch. I'd also recommend doing the loop first and then saving Double Arch for last since it's closer to the parking lot than the other trails. If you are planning on visiting Arches National Park, I'd highly suggest a stop at Double Arch while you're here. It is truly a remarkable sight.

The climb is located eastern rib ( 38°16'30.37"N 109°24'11.85"W). Extremely fun, and easy climb…read more Just as stated, 3 pitches to the summit, and accurate information. All solid bolts with the exception of the second bolt on the second pitch are slightly loose but unfortunately didn't have the equipment to fix. Just bolts on third pitch anchors, no chains or rings. A 60m rope runout on a double rap on the third pitch, but it's walkable to pitch 2 anchors --make sure you close the system. Climbed on 06-22-2018. Didn't see any rattlers on this climb --though their holes are everywhere.

We decided to check out Looking Glass Arch for a quickie climb before we headed back to CO. I had…read moreread about an easy 3-pitch bolted route (Regular Route) that tops out on the summit followed by an ~115 ft free hanging rappel. We were a bit thrashed from climbing Honeymoon Chimney the day prior in nasty winds and my climbing partner was sick, so this seemed like the perfect objective. The amphitheater/arch are quite spectacular and it's worth the short hike even if you don't want to climb. We were there on a Sunday and it wasn't a zoo like some areas in Arches. The arch is ~5 min from the parking lot. No water/bathrooms so plan ahead. DIRECTIONS The easiest way to get to the arch is to turn right on Looking Glass Road (23 miles from central Moab on Hwy 191 south). If you hit Wilson Arch you've gone too far. Once on Looking Glass Road the side road to Looking Glass Rock is signed. The road is passable with 2WD or low clearance vehicles.

This is a great hike. Longbow Arch is impressive! Not only the arch. This hike includes very big…read morepetroglyph panel! Also dinosaur track can be seen. Short hike with not much elevation gain. Much less crowded compared to Corona Arch in the same area. Recommended.

This hike is a hidden gem within the Moab area. The hike begins as rocky and incoproates steep…read moreinclines (but no equipment required). Then, the hike becomes desert-like; flat and sandy. Then, the hike becomes jungle-like; humid and full of trees until you reach the arch. We saw no one on the way up and only a few people on the way back (in mid-afternoon). If you want to avoid the massive crowds at other hikes, check out this trail!