Best Nature and Parks (RV, National, Dog, etc) in Moab

"I wrote an entire guide to Moab if you want a an extensive look into the area, but the main things that you need to know are: Arches National Park and Canyonlands. Wake up early at Monument Valley to drive up to Moab so you can do a tour through Arches the same day. There are tons of formations to see that are easily self-drivable. Skip any strenuous hikes you want to do and save them for the following morning at dawn when the temperature will be cooler."

"After breakfast head for Arches National Park. Plan on a full day so go prepared with drinks, a lunch, snacks and ‘sundowners’. Many of the hikes to the various arches are short but if you want something longer and very beautiful but with fewer people choose the Devil’s Garden – Primitive Trail Hike. I also recommend choosing a spot to enjoy the sunset."

"Continue on to Arches National Park. Or, better yet: stop to explore Spooky Canyon and/or Peek-a-Boo Canyon in Grand Escalante National Monument, then continue to Arches. I wish we had given the slot canyons more time–they deserve it."

"Day 3: Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park Start the day early so you can catch the sunrise over the Colorado River at Dead Horse Point State Park. Check ahead so see when the sun is rising and plan to be there 20 – 30 minutes beforehand. Dress warmly as desert mornings are cold."

"Day 1 - Dead horse Point State Park & Canyonlands National Park Wake up early to drive the 4 hours from Salt Lake City to Moab, UT. As you approach Moab, you can either head right into the parks or stop at Sweet Cravings Bakery + Bistro for a great sandwich to fuel your afternoon."

"See the sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park There are few places as beautiful at sunset as the Dead Horse Point State Park."

"Make sure to plan accordingly because you do not want to miss Mesa Arch. Stop at the Visitor Center on your way in to pick up a map if you weren’t given one upon entry. Canyonlands has three distinct areas that you cannot access all at once because of the canyons (duh, right?). If you’re only in the area for a couple days, I suggest sticking to the Island in the Sky area to hit all of the main attractions."

"If temperatures aren’t too hot and you have a full day, the hike to Landscape Arch & Devils Garden (7.8-mile loop) is a must. If you arrive in the late afternoon head straight to Delicate Arch (3 miles roundtrip) for a sunset hike you’ll never forget. Or if this is your second visit to Arches or you’re looking for something off the beaten path, try to grab a permit to explore the Fiery Furnace. For more information on hiking in Arches National Park check out our Arches Hiking Guide."

"After Private Arch, the trail gets more rugged and harder to follow, although with the steady flow of traffic and the AllTrails map, we pretty much always knew where to go. While most of the previous parts of the trail were considered primitive, this is when things start to get slightly more difficult. A couple of the major obstacles are walking across a sandstone wall, which doesn’t have a ton of space for your feet."

"Landscape Arch is the star of the show along Devil’s Garden and is the easiest Arch to reach on this trail. Even if you only hike to Landscape Arch before returning, it is worth it to see the longest free standing arch in the United States. There are warning signs about primitive hiking on this trail but it in truth – the hike is not difficult as long as you don’t mind a bit of scrambling on uneven rocks."

"We started off the day with a full breakfast at House of Pancakes (bad idea – I was too full to hike!), then explored many of the viewpoints/short hikes to Sand Dune Arch, Landscape Arch, and Balanced Rock. We saved the hike to Delicate Arch for the next morning because I could not bear to see it up close on a cloudy day."

"Sand Dune Arch sits within the shadows of two large sandstone fins. The trail up to Sand Dune Arch becomes quite narrow for a few hundred yards, a small slot canyon. It continues past the arch for a little way before choking up and becoming impassable."

"Your first stop should be Sand Dune Arch, about a 10 minute walk from the parking lot. Hiking to Sand Dune Arch"

"From the spur trail of Private Arch back to the spur trail for Pine Tree and Tunnel Arch you will hike 2.2 miles without stopping. This is the most exciting and adventurous part of the trail for those who enjoy carving their own routes through wild land. However, as open as this part of the trail is to your own interpretation, you will find plenty of obvious path blocking objects to keep you on a ‘rough’ trajectory."

"Take a day hike to see several of the Arches that most appeal to you–our favorites were Pine Tree Arch, Landscape Arch, and, of course, the famous Delicate Arch. Is this outdoor travel itinerary rushed?"

"It hasn’t exactly got a pine tree, but it’s still got a nice view through the arch. You’ll find this one at the beginning of the Devil’s Garden Trail."

"Without a doubt, a restaurant with “watering hole” in the name must be a welcoming and easy-going place, and Zax is just the place. This restaurant attracts locals and visitors with uncomplicated food and great beer. Using a wood-fired brick oven, pizzas are made to order with a variety of fresh ingredients."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Helder Ribeiro used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Zax Restaurant & Watering Hole boasts a relaxed atmosphere that is family friendly. Choose a meal off of their extensive menu, or opt for the All-You-Can-Eat Pizza, Soup, and Salad Bar."

"This place had great vibes so we decided to check it out and we were not disappointed. The service was a little slow, but we were willing to look past th..."

"Without a doubt, a restaurant with “watering hole” in the name must be a welcoming and easy-going place, and Zax is just the place. This restaurant attracts locals and visitors with uncomplicated food and great beer. Using a wood-fired brick oven, pizzas are made to order with a variety of fresh ingredients."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Helder Ribeiro used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Zax Restaurant & Watering Hole boasts a relaxed atmosphere that is family friendly. Choose a meal off of their extensive menu, or opt for the All-You-Can-Eat Pizza, Soup, and Salad Bar."

"This place had great vibes so we decided to check it out and we were not disappointed. The service was a little slow, but we were willing to look past th..."

"$Coffee & Tea, Cafes, American Food. “We were in Moab over the weekend and went into the Moab Garage after dinner for their wonderful Cryocream.” See all Moab Garage reviews"

"Here they serve up coffee and ice cream a little differently. Their ice cream is frozen with liquid nitrogen after you order it and they call it Crytocream. If you think that’s crazy, you should try their flavors."

"Get your 'cryocream' on, ice cream made with liquid nitrogen and tasty flavors such as s'more and salted caramel crunch. This hip cafe also does strong coffee, sandwiches and innovative breakfast burritos."

"After your fun day experiencing Moab you’ll want to sit back and relax a bit while grabbing something good to eat. Moab might not be the food capital of the world, but it has its fair share of good food."

"Breakfast: Eklecticafe (American) or Sweet Cravings Bakery + Bistro (American) Lunch: Milt’s Stop (American) & Eat Quesadilla Mobilla (Mexican food truck) or 98 Center (Asian)"

"Absolutely the BEST brunch we've had on our two week road trip. Southwest breakfast quesadilla 10/10 highly recommended. If I could give it more sta..."