We visited Arches National Park with our 2.5-year-old and were blown away by how accessible it was…read morefor a toddler. If you're worried about bringing a little one to the desert, don't be! The park offers several manageable hikes and a fantastic "giant sandbox" experience. Top Tips for Parents: Time: Budget 2 full days. This allows you to see the sights without rushing or risking a mid-day meltdown. The Best Hikes: We highly recommend Balanced Rock, Sand Dune Arch (it's a massive hit with kids because of the deep sand play), and The Windows Section. Where to Stay: Stay in Moab. It's incredibly convenient to the park entrance and has plenty of family-friendly amenities. The Visitor Center: Don't skip it! We spent 2 hours there exploring the exhibits; it's a great way to introduce kids to the environment. Essentials: It gets incredibly hot. Pack twice as much water and snacks as you think you'll need.

Arches National Park is absolutely breathtaking. The scale, the colors, and the natural formations…read morefeel almost unreal. We arrived midday, and the heat was intense, so we weren't able to hike to many of the arches. Even so, we still saw a lot just from the viewpoints and shorter walks, it's stunning no matter how you experience it. One thing to note: parking at Devils Garden is very limited and can be difficult, especially later in the day. That area is one of the most popular spots in the park. Travel tips: * Go early--ideally at sunrise--and start at the far end (Devils Garden), then work your way back toward the entrance * Bring plenty of water (more than you think you need) * Wear proper shoes--the terrain is uneven and sandy * Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses are essential--the sun is strong and there's little shade * Check if timed entry reservations are required during peak season * Don't rush--plan stops and take your time at viewpoints, even if you're not hiking far Even with the heat limiting our hikes, this was an unforgettable experience. We'll definitely come back--next time earlier in the day!

Back in June 2022, I went to Canyonlands National Park (NPS). I dropped by their visitor center to…read morepick up some magnets as I always do. It's a very nice visitor center with tons of souvenirs. The center wasn't that big, but organized and clean. Staff was friendly and very helpful. Tons of people looking around and shopping. They have lots of goodies and souvenirs. Restrooms are outside... they have actual little potty stands in a building. So do drop on by and check them out when you're at Canyonlands NPS. You may find something nice to bring back home as a remembrance of your lovely visit. Happy Canyon'ing!

Nice little visitor center with a video you can watch since you probably didn't do much research…read morebefore coming to Canyonlands.

This visitor center is on the smaller side, but packed with information about points of interest…read moreand great hikes. There is a small gift shop area that is standard through all the NPS visitor centers. The parking lot is small and many people had to park on the side of the road. Pit toilets - as this is a water scarce area, I can see why they would want to avoid the water usage from all of the visitors they receive. If you need potable water they do have a spigot out in front to refill water bottles. It's the only place to get water in the park.

One of Utah's awesome 5 national parks and one that you should check out…read more Also located in Moab along with the much busier Arches, this is still worth a visit for sure. You'll likely be able to get in pretty easily and park at each of the trails and viewpoints. There are some great sights and plenty of easy trails. I'm not much of a hiker but there are some easier trails that even beginners should be able to handle at a reasonable pace. Good facilities throughout and places to stop for a quick bite. Check this place out.

Fear of heights/ cliffs will be nerve wracking for the person. But it's doable in an AWD vehicle…read more IF you continue on Potash Rd you will need a full SUV type clearance and 4WD vehicle. Ranger gave inadequate advice re:vehicular clearance for this road. We went to Gooseneck overlook ( think Thelma and Louise end of movie) and back up to enjoy the rest of the Canyonlands.

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.

We took this as a side trip and we really should have given this more time. If you are thinking of…read morecoming here, I recommend looking at all the activities offered to see how much is here to do so you won't feel as though you missed out on some of what makes this park FUN! As for us, we ran around the valley, played hide and seek, marveled at how these "goblins" were made and just had a great adventure with the time we had.

A triumph of both western topography and federalism. This is one of those awesome parks that would…read morein some ways be less special if it were "upgraded" to a national park. It's great the way it is. Just a few notes: -- the campsite is just amazing; you are nestled in among caves and washes, and your kids can merrily wander off "to the kids cave" or climb up onto a crest and watch the sunset or the rhythm of the campsite. They do have a shared bathroom with running water, which keeps the place just civilized enough for moderately experienced car campers. -- at the same time, this place is really remote. If you realize at campside that your propane stove doesn't work, you would have to drive an hour each way to Green River to get more. Instead, you will just have to figure out how to boil coffee and macaroni and cheese over a campfire. -- the stars. The city lights are far far far away, and the desert sky is clear, so you can see so so many stars. And if you sit and stare at them you see more. The only place I have ever seen so many stars in my life is standing on the side of the road outside Marfa, TX. -- two decades ago this was one of the first camping trips of my life, and it remains a special place in my heart.

The hike was a lot longer and strenuous than we felt it was billed as. Give yourself 40 minutes to…read moreget up there, 30 minutes to check it out, wait for pictures ( there is a line). 25 minutes to hike down. Bring a headlamp for the sunset time. It gets dark quickly

Delicate Arch is the face of this national park, maybe for the entire park service, Moab, UT, and…read moreeven the American West. The first known photo of this arch was taken in 1906, and it appeared in LIFE magazine in 1953.  We climbed up to the top of the hill, which is opposite the arch. The Green Rock signifies the change of time. The green sediments come from a humid era in Archer's Jurassic past, which included braided rivers, floodplains, and a nearby volcano. Volcanic ash full of iron settled atop clay, silt, and other sediments here.

Stopped in here for info on the riverfront trail. The gentlemen at the center were knowledgeable…read moreand helpful and were enthusiastic about Grand Junction. For sure stop here for info if you are in the area

So we are on our way to Maine from Southern California and got stuck and couldn't go through the…read moreVail pass. We were directed to go back to Grand Junction and the north. We got lost so thought we'd try and stop and get an idea. Not only did we get assistance to get back on track but we also got maps and highlighted as to where to go! It was over the top help that was not expected but greatly appreciated.

I had friends in town from out of state. I took them to the Eastern Utah Tourism and History…read moreAssociation to get some ideas on where to go. They helped us so much! They gave us so much good information! They know so much about the area and they really helped make our visit great! My friends even got some great books and rocks from them to remember their trip!

From the owner: We are your one-stop shop for all things Eastern Utah. We carry a full line of brochures to help…read moreyou plan your trip and our Interpretive Bookstore features great titles in local and regional history, prehistory and geology. We also carry a wide variety of maps and guidebooks.

The tour was unforgettable! Our guide Ethan was incredibly knowledgeable about the trails and…read morehistory of the area. We'll definitely come back the next time we're in Moab!

We've done dozens of ATV/ side by side tours and this was by far one of our favorites. It was just…read moreso exciting colorful and a huge adrenaline rush. Joey our guide was so knowledgeable about the area and just the greatest guy. Thank you so much.