Got Moab?
Moab is an active, popular town (pop. 6,500) in the heart of the beautiful red rock canyon country of southeastern Utah (interactive map). It plays host to the thousands who visit southeastern Utah to take advantage of the area's great recreational opportunities.
From Moab, one can conveniently hike in Arches and Canyonlands national parks, mountain bike on the famous Moab Slickrock Trail, whitewater raft the Colorado River, tackle the thousands of miles of rugged canyon roads in four-wheel drive vehicles or horseback ride amidst the alpine beauty of the La Sal Mountains.
I try to make it to Moab every spring for a great new adventure. It's truly a beautiful and awe inspiring place.
View a few photos of Moab taken from previous visits.
Great bike trails
Slickrock
The trail that made Moab the center of the mountain biking universe needs no introduction. Today, Slickrock is perhaps the most popular mountain bike trail in the world, boasting over 100,000 visitors per year. But did you know that the Slickrock Bike Trail was first developed by motorcyclists in 1969? They still use it periodically, but mountain bikers have long since adopted and dominated the trail.
Gemini Bridges
This route's namesake attraction, Gemini Bridges, is a massive rock span that has been cleaved down the center into two parallel bridges. But what makes this ride so unique is that the trail dumps you on to their flat tops, where you peer over the edge into the 250-foot void of Bull Canyon. No neck craning required; rather, tolerance for heights. Naturally, the vistas from this elevated perch are sublime. The sandstone stumps of Monitor and Merrimac Buttes guard the northern horizon, features of Arches National Park can be seen to the far east, and the 12,000-foot tall La Sal Mountains float in a sea of red rock.
Porcupine Rim
This trail leaves the graded Sand Flats Road above the Slickrock Bike Trail and drops down to a ledge above Negro Bill Canyon. It crosses the headwaters of that canyon and is the only vehicle access into the vicinity of Coffee Pot Rock, a prominent landmark seen from several other trails. The climb is gradual to the cliff rim, called Porcupine Rim, above Castle Valley. The trail has good variety with some challenges for stock or slightly modified vehicles and some of the best scenic vistas around. Be advised that much of the trail is continuously bumpy. There is a fee for the Sand Flats Recreation Area. Approximate mileage: 32 total, 28 off highway.