MOAB

Moab isn’t just a stop—it’s an adrenaline-fueled life decision. If your trip doesn’t involve dust in your teeth and yelling “is this even a road?” from inside a wildly tilted vehicle, you’re doing it wrong. We’re talking slickrock scrambles, backcountry loops that feel like the surface of Mars, and enough washboard road to rattle your fillings loose.

Bring extra water, extra patience, and something with four-wheel drive that doesn’t mind a few scratches. This place is not peaceful—it’s loud, rocky, chaotic, and absolutely worth every dusty second.

Kane Creek Canyon – OHV

Kane Creek Canyon is where your suspension goes to cry and your GPS gives up out of pure respect. It’s part of the infamous Chicken Corners Safari Route, and yes—that name is earned. There are cliffs. There are drop-offs. There are moments where your passenger will make sounds no human should make outside of a horror film.

But the canyon itself? Absolutely ridiculous—in the best way. Rust-red walls tower overhead, the trail winds through narrow sandstone corridors, and there’s just enough water crossing to keep things “interesting” and possibly make you question your tire choices.

It starts chill enough near the creek, then quickly escalates into rock ledges, tight turns, and occasional flashes of “should we have brought a second vehicle?” paranoia. And don’t worry—there’s always someone coming the opposite way at the worst possible time.

Kane Creek Canyon isn’t the kind of off-roading that lets you zone out. This one demands attention, a decent rig, and preferably a co-pilot who doesn’t mind yelling “you’re good!” while secretly clenching every muscle in their body. It’s gorgeous. It’s chaotic. And it’s exactly why we come to Moab.

Potash Roadside Petroglyphs

If you’re into ancient rock art but not really into hiking, the Potash Road petroglyphs are your kind of lazy archaeology. These thousand-year-old etchings are just chilling on the cliffside, right off the road, like they’ve been waiting for someone to invent the drive-thru museum.

No entrance fee, no guided tour, no uphill suffering—just pull over, squint up at the wall, and boom: you’re looking at authentic, fascinating symbols carved by the Ancestral Puebloans. They’ve got bighorn sheep, hunters, weird abstract shapes, and possibly the first-ever attempt at a group selfie.

There’s no gift shop, no snack stand, no interpretive signage that explains what anything means. You get the petroglyphs and whatever wild guesses your imagination can throw at them. Honestly? That’s part of the fun.

This is one of those spots that feels like a bonus level. You’re already on your way to something else—maybe Canyonlands or Dead Horse Point—and suddenly, ancient art just appears on a rock face. So pull over, take a few blurry photos you’ll definitely misidentify later, and appreciate the fact that history here doesn’t require a parking fee or a 4-mile hike.

• Location:

  38°32’40.4″N 109°36’00.2″W

Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks

Somewhere along Potash Road, just past the point where your tires start to question your life decisions, there are actual dinosaur tracks embedded in the rock. No gate, no gift shop, no dramatic music—just prehistoric footprints stamped into the sandstone like a Jurassic RSVP.

They’re shockingly easy to miss. No flashing sign, just a tiny pull-off and a tilted slab of rock that looks like every other tilted slab of rock in Moab… except this one’s got toe marks from a creature the size of a small SUV.

You’ll need to scramble up a short, mildly sketchy slope to really see them, but they’re worth it. Once you spot that three-toed print, your brain short-circuits for a second. That’s not a replica. That’s not a reenactment. Some lizard monster stomped there, and then wandered off before it was cool.

Potash Road is already stacked with weird wonders—petroglyphs, cliffs, wild off-roading—but the dinosaur tracks? That’s the real flex. History you can literally step in. Just don’t fall on it.

Arches National Park

We’ve been to Arches twice and have still never hiked to Delicate Arch. That should tell you exactly how many humans pile into that trail. The traffic. The parking. The mobs of selfie stick jousters. No thanks.

Instead, we found something way better—dirt roads. Real, dusty, underused back routes that led us to wide-open desert, red rock playgrounds, and exactly zero crowds. There are sections of the park that feel like your own personal Mars mission if you just leave the paved loop and wander off into the backcountry.

Not knocking Delicate Arch—it’s iconic for a reason. But if your idea of a good time doesn’t involve elbowing your way to a sandstone window, there are so many quieter corners of Arches to explore. Towering fins, tucked-away arches, rock formations that don’t need a line of influencers to be impressive.

We’ll get to Delicate Arch eventually. Maybe. Until then, we’ll be out on some forgotten trail, chasing lizards and wondering how this place even exists.

Willow Springs Trail – OHV

Willow Springs Trail is an unpaved, bumpy road that runs from HWY 191 to Balanced Rock Trailhead—no paved entrance, no honking lines of minivans, and definitely no timed entry gate.

It’s about 7 miles of whoops, ledges, sand pits, and the occasional “was that a dinosaur track?” moment. You’ll want high clearance, four-wheel drive, and maybe a co-pilot who doesn’t cry when things tilt.

This trail rewards you with total silence, weird rocks, and zero crowds. Not a trail for low-clearance sedans or indecisive drivers. Once you’re in, you’re committed.

Double Arch Trail – Hike

Double Arch is the kind of rock formation that makes you feel like you wandered into a fantasy movie set… except it’s real, and you didn’t even have to work that hard to see it. The trail is short, flat, and full of confused tourists trying to figure out how something this big exists.

We’re talking two massive sandstone arches connected at the base, towering above like nature’s version of showing off. You can see them from the parking lot, but walking right up and standing underneath them? That’s when your brain starts glitching.

Honestly, it feels like cheating. You barely hike, and you still get one of the best views in the entire park. Just try not to trip over a camera tripod or a scrambling kid on the way up.

Trail Info:

• Distance: 0.6 mile round trip

• Elevation Gain: 30ft-90ft

• Difficulty: Easy

• No shade, no water, and no peace if you show up at peak time.

• Nearby sights: Windows, Turret Arch, Balanced Rock, Parade of Elephants

• Popular area = lots of people. Go early or very late for fewer photobombers.

Cove of Caves

Right behind Double Arch is a hidden little cove that most people completely miss. Tucked just out of view, it’s quiet, echoey, and feels like Arches’ secret backstage. No signs, no crowds—just wind, sand, and stone walls doing their dramatic curve thing. If you’re already there, it’s absolutely worth the few extra steps to check it out.

Garden of Eden

This place sounds peaceful—until you realize it’s mostly rock towers, no shade, and the occasional terrified tourist trying to boulder without slipping. But the views? Unreal. Wild formations in every direction and barely any trail, just freedom to explore. It’s more “choose your own adventure” than hike.

Sand Dune Arch – Hike

Sand Dune Arch is tucked between tall sandstone fins like nature built a fort just for weird red sand and dramatic lighting. The short walk in feels like sneaking into a hidden slot canyon—cool, shady, and wildly different from the rest of the park. It’s the perfect spot to cool off, kick off your shoes, and question how the sand got so soft.

Great for kids, tired adults, or anyone who needs a break from blazing sun and long trails.

Trail Info:

• Distance: About 0.3 miles round trip

• Difficulty: Easy, short trail

• Elevation Gain: Less than 50 feet

• Trail Type: Out and back, with deep sand and narrow passageways

• Time to Complete: 15–30 minutes