Moab, Utah · Trail Guides
64 Moab trails. Honest numbers on every one.
Distances that match your GPS, difficulty ratings that account for slickrock and heat, and clear guidance on which trails to skip in July. Two national parks, a state park, BLM land, and the La Sals — indexed and filterable.
Late July: exposed slickrock exceeds 140°F while the air reads 100°F. Delicate Arch, Corona Arch and Fisher Towers should be started before 7:00 AM or skipped. Cooler alternatives below.
Where do you want to hike?
Five distinct areas, each with different fees, rules, and crowds.
See the full index →Arches National Park
Delicate Arch, Devils Garden, the Windows — plus the quiet ones most visitors drive past.
13 trailsCanyonlands National Park
Island in the Sky rim walks, Needles loops, and the Maze for the truly committed.
31 trailsBLM Land Near Town
No fee. No reservation. No shuttle. The trails locals actually hike.
2 trailsDead Horse Point
The gooseneck overlook, and the only park near Moab where dogs are welcome on trail.
3 trailsLa Sal Mountains
Alpine lakes at 8,800 feet. Roughly 30°F cooler than town — the summer answer.
Professor Creek / Mary Jane Canyon
ModerateYou walk up the creek itself, wet feet the whole way — the canyon narrows and the temperature drops with it. Nearly eight miles though, so start early even with the water helping.
Mill Creek
EasyThe local swimming hole, minutes from downtown. Waterfall and plunge pool at the end. Go early; it fills up by mid-morning on hot weekends.
Oowah Lake to Clark Lake
ModerateAt 8,800 feet in the La Sals it runs about 30°F cooler than town. Aspen and spruce, not slickrock. The honest answer to a Moab heat wave.
Anniversary Arch
EasyShort enough to finish before the heat arrives, with an unmarked trailhead that keeps the crowds off. Dogs welcome on leash.
Mesa Arch
EasyThirty minutes at sunrise for the most photographed view in Utah. Be at the trailhead in the dark and you will beat both the heat and the tripods.
Corona Arch
ModerateA 140-foot span that rivals anything in Arches, with no entrance fee and no reservation. Cables and a ladder on the slickrock. Start at first light in summer.
Moab by season
The single biggest factor in whether a Moab hike goes well.
March – May
The best window
Warm days, cold nights, water in the canyons. Also the busiest — Arches fills early and trailhead parking is the real constraint.
June – August · Now
Dangerous on exposed rock
Triple digits with no shade. Hike before 7:00 AM, or move to shaded canyons with water and the La Sals. This is not a season to improvise.
September – October
The local favourite
Heat breaks, crowds thin, light turns gold. Arguably better than spring, and the cottonwoods in the canyons turn in late October.
November – February
Quiet and underrated
Empty trails and clear air. South-facing slickrock is pleasant at midday. Watch for ice in shaded canyons and on north-facing routes.
Some hikes are better with a guide
Not every trail needs one. But route-finding on unmarked slickrock, timing a summer hike so it stays survivable, and getting a mixed-ability group through a long backcountry day are all things a local does better than a map app.
See guided hikes in Moab- Cairned routes with no marked trail
- Summer hikes that need real heat planning
- Long days where pacing and water decide the outcome
- First visits and mixed-ability groups
- Backcountry districts like the Needles and the Maze
Before you go
The logistics that decide how a Moab trip actually goes.
Sample itineraries
Three, five and seven-day plans that account for driving time between the parks.
Driving to Delicate Arch
Turn-by-turn from downtown, plus when the Wolfe Ranch lot actually fills.
Slot canyon timing
Light, temperature and flash flood risk — the three things that decide the day.
Moab weather
What the forecast means on slickrock, which is hotter than the number you read.
Dead Horse Point
The overlook, the rim loop, and the only nearby park that allows dogs on trail.
Seven days in Moab
The full week, including the districts most visitors never reach.
Common questions
What is the best hike in Moab?
Delicate Arch is the most famous, but Corona Arch is the better first hike for most visitors — a comparable 140-foot span on BLM land, no entrance fee, no timed entry. If you want a national park hike, Delicate Arch or Mesa Arch at sunrise.
When is the best time to hike in Moab?
March through May and September through October. June through August is dangerously hot on exposed trails — hike at dawn or choose shaded canyons and the La Sal Mountains. Winter is quiet and genuinely good on south-facing routes, with ice the main hazard.
How many days do you need in Moab?
Three days covers Arches, Canyonlands Island in the Sky, and one BLM hike. Five to seven lets you add the Needles, the La Sals, and the quieter canyons without rushing. See the sample itineraries or the seven-day plan.
Can I bring my dog?
Not on trails in Arches or Canyonlands — national park rules, no exceptions. Dogs are welcome on leash at Dead Horse Point and on most BLM trails, which is 35 of the 64 trails here. Slickrock burns paws in summer; check the rock with your hand first.
Do I need a reservation for Arches?
Arches has used a seasonal timed entry system in recent years and the rules change annually. Check the National Park Service page before your trip rather than trusting any third-party site, including this one. BLM trails never require a reservation, which makes them a reliable fallback.