Visit Moab Utah’s National Parks | Arches & Canyonlands National Park Lodging

America’s Most Unique National Parks

America’s Most Unique National Parks

Utah’s Arches and Canyonlands National Parks are undoubtedly some of the most unique National Parks in the United States. Each year, more than one million travelers make the trek to the remote Moab area, lured by the majesty of the desert landscape and by the red rock sculptures carved nature over the past 150 million years. With ample hiking opportunities and some of the most incredible arches and scenic overlooks in the nation, we think you’ll agree that travelers to the remote Moab area are richly rewarded with the one-of-a-kind beauty and uniqueness of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Whether passing through on a tour of the Grand Circle or visiting Moab, Utah for an extended adventure vacation, Arches and Canyonlands are two parks everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.

For up-to-date information, weather conditions, and hiking suggestions, we recommend speaking with the rangers on duty at the visitor centers as you enter each park.

Arches National Park, Moab UT

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Although Delicate Arch, made famous during the Salt Lake City winter Olympics, is this park’s most visited attraction, more than 2,000 other arches, as well as spires, domes, pinnacles and fins provide visitors with countless awe-inspiring experiences.

Although Arches did not receive its designation as a National Park until 1971, adventurous travelers have marveled at its wonders for hundreds of years. Today, the park is open year round and is easily accessible to all guests. Many of the most famous attraction can be seen by car or with short, easy hikes. For the adventurous, moderate to strenuous hikes offer additional opportunities for discovery.

Recommended easy hikes:

Delicate Arch Viewpoint
Balanced Rock
Skyline Arch

Recommended moderate hikes:

Delicate Arch
North & South Windows
Landscape Arch and Devil’s Garden Area

For more information visit http://www.nps.gov/arch/

Canyonlands National Park, Moab UT

Citing its “superlative scenic, scientific, and archeological features,” President Lyndon Johnson established Canyonlands National Park in 1964 “for the inspiration, benefit and use of the public.” Today Canyonlands remains without question Utah’s largest National Park, consisting of 337,570 acres carved over millions of years into three topographically distinct districts by the Green and Colorado Rivers: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. The park’s most accessible (and therefore most visited) district, Island in the Sky, is located approximately 45 minutes from Sorrel River Ranch, and with its incredible canyon overlooks, Canyonlands distinctly resembles the Grand Canyon. In fact, movies such as Thelma and Louise were actually filmed in Canyonlands, yet passed off for the Grand Canyon.

With its many overlooks, Island in the Sky is easily seen by car. A few easy hikes provide an even greater sense of awe. Mesa Arch, one of the most accessible and most astounding arches in the area, is perched on the edge of a cliff, perfectly framing the view of the immense canyons below. Longer hikes, such as Upheaval Dome, offer further examination of the area’s colorful and sometimes baffling geology.

Adventure seekers should consider a white-knuckle four-wheel drive descent down the steep Shafer Canyon Trail. Or, for those with enough time to venture beyond Island in the Sky, consider visiting the towering spires of the Needles district. Although the entrance to Maze district is even more remote, visitors with four-wheel drive access will marvel at the human-sized petroglyphs rarely seen by tourists today.

When planning your trip to Moab, be sure to plan some extra time to visit Canyonlands National Park.