Hiking
Moab National Parks
Moab, Utah · 3 days · Moderate
About This Trip
Moab puts two world-class national parks within 45 minutes of each other. Three days, three park experiences — Canyonlands, Arches, and Dead Horse Point's 2,000-foot overlook above the Colorado.
Highlights
- Druid Arch deep in Canyonlands Needles District
- Chesler Park Loop through sculpted sandstone spires
- Delicate Arch at sunset — the iconic shot
- Landscape Arch — the world's longest natural arch
- Dead Horse Point State Park — 2,000-ft overlook over the Colorado River
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1
Canyonlands — Needles District
- Druid Arch — 11 mi RT, a massive freestanding arch deep in the backcountry
- Chesler Park Loop — 11 mi, weaves through towering sandstone spires and slot canyons
- Confluence Overlook — 10 mi RT, where the Green and Colorado Rivers meet far below
Day 2
Arches National Park — Full Day
- Landscape Arch + Double O Arch loop — the longest arch in the world, then a rugged extension
- Delicate Arch — 3 mi RT, time arrival for golden-hour sunset photography
- Devils Garden Primitive Loop — the full 7-mile circuit past 8 named arches
Day 3
Dead Horse Point + Canyonlands Island in the Sky
- Dead Horse Point rim trail + Canyonlands Syncline Loop — big mileage, sweeping canyon vistas
- Murphy Trail Loop — sustained desert hiking with 360° views of the Colorado Plateau
- Grand View Point overlook — shorter option, still one of the Southwest's best panoramas