Popular Family Hiking Trails in Moab, Utah
Easy Hikes in the Moab Area for the Whole Family
Dec 17, 2008
Moab is a city of incredible beauty in southeastern Utah that is famous for its slickrock mountain bike trails, extreme off-road jeep trails, and endless hiking opportunities. Don’t let your exploring end with visits to Canyonlands and Arches National Park. The greater Moab area has incredible hiking trails that offer more solitude than the parks and are suitable for any experience level.
The hikes listed below are all located within a half hours drive from Moab. Hike times are approximate and are an estimate of the time taken for a leisurely hike. This is a high desert environment so don’t forget to use sunscreen and pack plenty of water (always have available 1 gallon per person per day when traveling in the desert). Remember to pack out all garbage and to not touch rock art sites or enter ancient ruins.
Negro Bill Canyon
An incredible trail for the whole family, Negro Bill Canyon Trail passes through an impressive sandstone gorge on the way to the sixth longest natural rock bridge in the US, Morning Glory Arch. The trail is straightforward but the feet might get wet since a few shallow stream crossings are required.
This 4-mile round-trip hike to Morning Glory Arch takes around 4 hours to complete. This hike is best done in the spring and fall but the cooling from the perennial stream and the shade offered by the towering cliffs and cottonwoods trees make this trail one of the better options for the summer months.
To get there, take US 191 north out of Moab and turn left onto Utah Scenic Byway 128, that parallels the Colorado River. Look out for a parking lot on the right side of the road 3.1 miles on Utah 128. Pay attention to your mileage to avoid missing the turn out.
Fisher Towers Trail
Fisher Towers Trail is a great trail for any family because unbelievably amazing views are seen right from the parking lot. You don’t have to complete the entire trail to see incredible sights. The Fisher Towers Trail passes through an amazing array of rock formations from 4-foot tall goblin like formations to the 900-foot Titan. The Fisher Towers are frequented by rock climbers – so cast your eyes high up the tower and see if you can spot some climbers in action.
The 4.4-mile round-trip hike takes about 3-4 hours to complete. The hike can be done year round but expect high temperatures with very little shade in the summer months.
To get there, take US 191 north out of Moab and turn left onto Utah Scenic Byway 128. Follow the Colorado River Scenic Byway 21 miles and then turn right onto an improved dirt road ending in the trailhead parking lot. The road is well marked off of Highway 128.
Corona Arch Trail
The trail to Corona Arch is marked with breathtaking vistas and a couple of the most impressive arches in the area. The trail is well marked with cairns (small rock piles that mark the trail). The trail begins with a rather steep slope, but this is the most strenuous part of the entire trail. Near the end of the trail, a series of footholds are carved into the rock and a length of cable is drawn to help aid in getting up a steep section of the rock. This may sound difficult, but it is a rather safe and easy way to ascend a steep slope. Bowtie and Corona Arch can be viewed at the end of the trail.
This 3-mile round-trip hike takes about 2 hours to complete. This trail is great in spring and summer but is very hot with little shade in the summer.
To get there, take US 191 north out of Moab and turn left onto the Potash Road (about 4 miles north of town). Continue down Potash Road about 10 miles until you see a sign for the Corona Arch Trailhead on the right side of the road.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
