Moab in 3 days

Red-rock adventure capital with Arches, Canyonlands and slickrock biking. Best time to visit: March-May & September-October. Average daily budget: $120 to $300 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Downtown Moab, Main Street strip of outfitters, motels, breweries and gear shops.

Morning: Arches National Park. Delicate Arch at sunrise, the Windows section and Devil's Garden among 2,000+ natural arches.

Afternoon: Explore Downtown Moab, Main Street strip of outfitters, motels, breweries and gear shops.

Evening: Slickrock or Moab Brand trails. Ride the sandstone that made mountain biking famous, or hike it if wheels aren't your thing.

Eat: Green chile breakfast burritos at Love Muffin Cafe

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: North Moab (Hwy 191), Larger hotels and campsites near the Arches turn-off.

Morning: Canyonlands Island in the Sky. Mesa Arch at dawn and White Rim views over a mile-deep canyon labyrinth.

Afternoon: Explore North Moab (Hwy 191), Larger hotels and campsites near the Arches turn-off.

Evening: Colorado River raft or jet boat. Float calm red-walled stretches or push into whitewater at Westwater Canyon.

Eat: Wood-fired pizza and local beer at Moab Brewery

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Spanish Valley, Quieter southern end with vacation rentals and dark skies.

Morning: Corona Arch trail, a 3-mile hike to a massive arch outside the park with no entry fee. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Spanish Valley, Quieter southern end with vacation rentals and dark skies.

Evening: Dead Horse Point State Park at sunset, rivaling the Grand Canyon's drama. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Sorrel River Ranch's riverside dining for a splurge night

Hidden gems

Corona Arch trail, a 3-mile hike to a massive arch outside the park with no entry fee
Dead Horse Point State Park at sunset, rivaling the Grand Canyon's drama
Fisher Towers at golden hour, a short hike beneath skyscraper spires
The dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs at Poison Spider trailhead

Getting around

A car is essential; the parks are 10 to 40 minutes from town with no shuttles. Arches requires a timed-entry reservation from April through October, booked months ahead. Rent bikes, UTVs or Jeeps in town rather than bringing your own. Fly into Grand Junction (90 min) or Salt Lake City (4 hours).

Safety

Moab's dangers are environmental: summer heat over 38°C, dehydration, flash floods in slot canyons and cliff edges with no railings. Carry a gallon of water per person per day, start hikes at dawn, check the forecast before entering any canyon, and tell someone your route. Cell coverage vanishes outside town.

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