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.

Seriously one of my favorite place on earth. Beautiful red rock canyons and solitude. The…read morehighlight for me is the "reef". A sandstone feature that shoots up out of the earth. You drive right through it on I-70. There're are endless camping spots. From the established spots like Goblin Valley and The San Rafael River. But the true gems are the little spots that you will find down a bumpy dirt road. Grab a map or check Google earth. There's tons of area to explore. Summers can be brutally hot, so I recommend the spring and fall. Also come prepared. Unless you are near 70 there's not much for cell service. Enjoy your public lands!

Fantastic rest stop with beautiful views of the San Rafael Swell right off the 70…read more Ample parking for cars and even saw a couple semi trucks resting. Interesting informational pieces explaining the area. Great place to stretch your legs and get some sun on this long stretch of highway.

This week's adventure took us through the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park,…read moreand every stop seemed to top the last. Stop #1: Island in the Sky Visitor Center Started the day with incredible views overlooking the famous Shafer Trail, with its dramatic switchbacks winding down the canyon walls. It's an amazing introduction to the park's vast landscape. Stop #2: Aztec Butte A short hike led us to ancient Puebloan granaries tucked into the sandstone cliffs. Standing where people lived and stored food hundreds of years ago adds a whole new layer to the scenery. Stop #3: Upheaval Dome One of Canyonlands' biggest mysteries! Scientists still debate whether this enormous crater-like formation was created by a meteorite impact or the collapse of an underground salt dome. Whatever its origin, it's a fascinating place to explore. Canyonlands is massive, rugged, and absolutely unforgettable. Every overlook makes you feel tiny in the best possible way.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Canyonlands National Park was another fascinating stop in our Utah adventure. Canyonlands is a park of enormous scale. It is hard to truly understand the size of this landscape until you are standing at the viewpoints looking out over endless canyons, mesas, and cliffs carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers over millions of years. The views are dramatic and humbling. Located close to Moab, Canyonlands has a very different atmosphere from some of the quieter parks we visited. Moab itself is like an outdoor playground, especially for people who love off-road adventures, mountain biking, dirt bikes, four-wheel drives, and exploring the backcountry. That energy definitely carries into the park. Of all the parks we visited on this trip, Canyonlands was probably the busiest and, personally, not one of my favorites. That does not mean it was not beautiful. It absolutely was. It just has a different feeling. Much of Canyonlands is experienced from above, looking down into the incredible maze of canyons below. Getting into the deeper parts of the canyon system requires more time, preparation, and often specialized equipment, especially if you want to explore beyond the main viewpoints. Since we only had two days, we focused on hiking and exploring the more accessible areas. I enjoyed several beautiful trails, including the hike to Mesa Arch, one of the park's most iconic viewpoints. Seeing the arch framing the vast canyon landscape beyond it was spectacular. We also explored other overlooks and trails where the views seemed to go on forever. One challenge for us was accessibility. My husband has mobility limitations, and Canyonlands does not offer as many easy, accessible trails or paved perimeter paths compared with some other national parks. Many of the experiences are geared more toward people who want longer hikes, rugged trails, or backcountry adventures. That said, Canyonlands is still an impressive place. The sheer size, the geology, and the views are unforgettable. Standing above those massive canyons gives you a sense of the incredible forces that shaped this land over millions of years. For visitors who love hiking, off-road exploration, backpacking, or seeing landscapes from dramatic viewpoints, Canyonlands is definitely worth visiting. For us, it was not the emotional favorite of the trip, but it was still an important piece of the incredible diversity we experienced across America's national parks.

Amazing lucky find passing through Moab!…read more New parking facilities equipped with new & clean restrooms. Grassy picnic areas. Bikers frequently pass by on the paved pathway along the Colorado River. Walk over to the bridge and gaze up closer impressive red rock features especially with a blue sky backdrop. A peaceful rest break. *An underground spring is across the street from the parking area to fill your water jugs with; careful of passing cars.

Nice park. We went to walk on the bridge and look at the river. Restrooms were clean and electric…read morevehicle chargers available. Two sets of parking - lower and upper level. Nice biking trail. Cool metal and rock sculptures. Connects Moab to Arches National Park and other trails.

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!

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.

Free, fun, and worth the easy mile hike in. A new Moab tradition for our family! Top 5 places to…read moreexperience Moab! Deep pools.

This lesser-known hike is perfect! It has rocks, trees and water. There is plenty of shade to…read moreshelter hikers from the hot summer day and a beautiful river that will cool you off. And it's dog friendly! At the trailhead, there is a small parking lot with a sign that tells visitors to come back later if the lot is full. We arrived just after 8am on a Sunday and found only 3 other cars there. The trail is very clearly marked so you know right where to go. Be sure to stop at the bathroom on your way up if needed. There is also a dog waste station to get poop bags, but you'll need to carry it out with you as there are no garbage cans along the way. The first few minutes of the hike are out in the open-lots of sun and no shade. But quickly you'll find yourself along the river with trees all around you. There is sandstone that you'll hike through-it can be a little slippery. A little further in you'll find that the trail crosses the river. Plan on getting wet even though there are rocks that you can walk across. Keep going and you'll end up at a beautiful waterfall and pool. I'm told there is another further on, but we turned around after this point. We will come back again and see what surprises await us beyond this point.

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.

By recommendation a must stop for springwater fill before adventuring…read more Missed it the first time and passed by, no signage, small pullover. At first the small puddle does not look inviting. Green algae growth had me hesitate. But calling my buddy again he reassured this is the bottle fill stop. Taste ~ pure, so pure, tasteless. No hard minerals and refreshingly cold. What's in the name? IDK but drinking there by myself... Pretty amazing find and a nice start in exploring Moab!

The best (and only) drinkable natural spring I've ever been to. It's located just outside of town…read more Park at the Lions Park trailhead parking lot and walk a quarter mile down the bike trail. Or, you can chance it by driving right up to the spring. There is room on the side of the road for about 3 cars. The taste is just a tiny bit minerally and much better than most municipal tap waters. Enjoy!

On October 15th, the only timed entry available to Arches National Park, was 3pm. From the main…read moreentrance and visitor's center, we drove through and saw at least 5 different arches before reaching this one. Essentially, Sand Dune Arch was our last stop in the National Park before the sun went down. I can't imagine hiking through this section in the dark, so plan your visit according to the sunlight available. The parking lot is small and we were lucky to find a spot. From the parking lot, it's an easy, short walk in the sand. Please note, there's a narrow passage way to get to the Arch so you'll want appropriate shoes. The ankle high hiking boots worked great for me. My friends said that sand got into their regular tennis shoes. Once you reach the Sand Dune Arch, please be respectful of the time and others around you. Naturally, we all want selfies without photo bombs. As a courtesy to others, snap your pictures and keep it moving:)

Sand Dune Arch, easy trail with lot of sand. This is a kid friendly trail. Like walking on beach…read morewith red sand. It's cooling with lot of giant stone as shade. So far the most comfy trail in the NP. you get 2 kissing birds arch.