Moab, Utah is the ultimate place to do some off-roading and is probably the place most known for it in the US. The trails are legendary and provide an array of obstacles for avid off-roaders. It’s basically an extreme sport here. If you want to test your vehicle’s capabilities, off-roading in Moab, Utah is where to go.
Before heading out west, we watched a few off-roading videos and looked up some of the trails in the area and they were insane. The limits of driving are pushed in Moab. There are slick rocks to climb, steep inclines and rocky ledges to drive along. It’s a little intimidating if you’ve never gone before, but the off-roading culture in Moab is big. You can always ask questions and get tips from the locals–which I suggest you do!
About Moab
Moab is a rather small town surrounded by orange and red rocks. There’s really about one main road that goes through the town (highway 191) so traffic can get a little backed up. There’s plenty of places to stay, eat, rent from and so on.
It’s a popular town not only because its insane landscape and off-roading adventure capabilities, but also because there’s a lot to see and do in the area. For starters, two of the Big 5 National Parks are nearby: Arches National Park and Canyonlands. You also have a few state parks as well. Dead Horse State Park is near Canyonlands and if you don’t mind driving a little further out of the way (an hour and a half), another interesting place is Goblin Valley State Park.
Renting a 4×4
You definitely will need a 4X4 to go off-roading in Moab, Utah.
Moab is out of the way from any big cities or airports, so you’ll be driving into the town no matter what. We flew into Vegas before heading out to Utah, so we rented a Jeep Wrangler from Sixt as soon as we arrived. Our Jeep was about $50/day, which isn’t bad since regular cars can be $35. Our jeep had a hard top roof that could be removed and a backseat.
If you don’t rent from a major city and drive over with your 4X4, Moab has a lot of rentals available and you’ll have a wide array of options. You can rent jeeps, ATV’s and whatever else can drive over rocks and things.
If you don’t want to rent a vehicle and would rather be apart of a tour, you best believe there are plenty of those too. Advertisements and shops are all along the main road. This would be a great option for first-timers, afternoon adventures, or people who’d rather have someone familiar with the trails leading.
I’ve never taken any of the tours, but I think they’d be awesome. It’s also a great way to have some fun and not be liable for a rental car. (Ours made it back in one piece but we had to take it to a car wash before returning it because it had 2 inches of mud caked on it! We didn’t think they would like that too much.)
Types of Trails
There are so many different trails to take in Moab, but you definitely want to know what you’re getting into before going. My husband made sure to look up some trails prior to going to make sure we weren’t getting in over our heads. There are easy trails, moderate, difficult and I’m sure extreme. Some trails also have extreme areas that are optional. You don’t want to do anything more than what your vehicle is capable of or what you are capable/comfortable with as a driver.
The easier trails will have dirt roads and rocky spots that your 4X4 will be capable of. The extreme trails will be dangerous and definitely require experience and knowledge. Steep rock inclines and rocky cliff ridges require skill and sometimes add-ons to your vehicle. I repeat: do not do anything you or your vehicle are not capable of!
My husband found a fun, mostly easy trail to do that had good views and a stop along the way:
Gemini Bridges Trail
Trail length: about 13 miles long
Type: Easy to moderate
This off-roading trail is located just a little outside Moab and starts off with a fun incline that wraps around a ridge. The road is pretty narrow and the drop off gets a little high. We did see cars driving the other way once we got off the ridge so I think it might be 2-way?!
Once you’re off the ridge, you have a lot of bumpy dirt road that winds you around the area. It’s pretty easy for the first half and fun to drive along.
Mid-way through is a short hiking trail that leads to the Gemini Bridges. There’s an area to park and green lines painted on the ground to help you find them. It takes you across the arch itself. Once you’re on the arch, you realize that the place you walked up to is actually cave-like and the ground not so thick! It’s fairly short to hike…maybe 15 minutes or so, and then back up to the parking.
When we were at the parking lot, we talked to a local guy who actually recommended another trail to us and said it was a fun, scenic drive. We weren’t sure if we should spend the time doing it or not but we ended up going and it was definitely worth it (read on for that one!).
The second part of the trail was a little more rocky with some fun inclines to do. They were all still doable for a beginner but a little more adventurous.
Long Canyon Road
Trail length: about 15 miles
Type: Easy to moderate
For almost not going, this trail ended up being our favorite! It starts out driving along a fairly normal road surrounded by trees. We were skeptic at first but we started to decline and the view in front of us was really cool. As we got closer, we realized the road had taken us right up to the edge of a deep canyon! We got out to look around and take some pictures and it was very unexpected. It’s crazy that you can be driving along on a seemingly normal road and you end up right next to a canyon.
The road takes you right up to the edge and then winds you down into the canyon. There is a steeper decline with some pretty decent bumps that you’ll need to take slow.
We also drove along rock ledges that even took us underneath a massive boulder! That was a pretty cool part to the trail.
We came out into the canyon and rode along with the rock walls jutting out around us. The scenery is beautiful and Long Canyon Road was a highlight.
We came right up to some railroad tracks and a stop sign, so we stopped while we decided where to go next. My husband commented that it would be cool if a train went by and literally 3 seconds later, a train horn blew and came tumbling by!
The road ends right in front of the Colorado River so you can drive alongside it. We stopped along the way to have lunch at some picnic tables right next to the river.
Know Before You Go
Before you head out to go off-roading in Moab, Utah, there’s some preparations you should take!
Trip Notes:
- Research the trails. Know what to expect and how easy/difficult they will be.
- Make sure you have some supplies in case anything happens! Spare tires, tools, rope, WATER, food, cell phones, etc.
- There is safety in numbers. If something were to happen (you get stuck, blow a tire, whatever it may be), going with other people ensures you have help if you need it. You won’t have to worry about getting stranded. We were on our own so we opted for easy trails and made sure to have supplies with us.
- Don’t attempt anything you or your vehicle can’t do!
Where to Stay
Moab is a small town and if you go during a peak time of year for off-roading, I’d make sure to book a hotel well in advance, as the options are a little limited. We stayed at a little hotel for about $60/night that wasn’t anything fantastic, but it had the basics.
Camping in Moab, on the other hand, is plentiful. Lots of people take RV’s and campers out this way so campgrounds with amenities can fill up quickly. There’s lots of primitive camping nearby, so if you don’t mind having that wilderness experience, you’ll definitely be able to find some. The two trails mentioned above also offer free camping!
Our first time in Moab, we opted to stay at the Sand Flats Campground which was actually really cool. It has camping spots with fire pits and picnic tables among rocky mounds. There are also toilets available. It was quiet and the scenery was really pretty.
Off-roading in Moab, Utah was a highlight of our trip. I knew my husband would have fun but I had a great time as well! Off-roading is a great way to see more of the surrounding area and explore places further. We loved the scenery and it was a fun adventure to have. It’s a place both of us would return to and we’d definitely check out more trails next time!
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