Moab, Utah is home to not one, but TWO of my favorite National Parks! Arches and Canyonlands are both fascinating landscapes that will draw you in and keep you coming back. The best part is that being only about 30 minutes from each other you can easily to both in one trip!
We truly loved everything about both parks but these are the things that stood out most to us and what we have been recommending to our friends and family!
Arches National Park
Let’s start with Arches because I feel like it is a little more well known. It is in fact home of the arch on the Utah license plates! But it has so much to offer and is home to some of the most wonderful hikes on the planet. We have always loved ever hike we have done in Arches but these are our top 3 favorites for sure!
Delicate Arch
Obviously, let’s start with the license plate arch! Not only is this arch iconic, it is one of my favorite hikes! It is different from other hikes in the sense that it is very open with little shade or covering. This does make for a hot hike but the views are so worth it.
Along the way there are many cool things to see including a little window arch that highlights Delicate Arch and a few spots to stop in some shade at the right time of day. Sunsets are sunrise hikes are very popular on this trail but it is pretty much busy all day long! Plan to encounter many other hikers and possibly a few animal friends as well.
At the bottom of this trail are actually some pretty cool relics and rock carvings! I think we spent majority of our first day in this area of the park and I am so glad we had the time to explore.
Landscape Arch
Landscape Arch is HUGE! Like it looks big in pictures but to hike to it and see it in person is another thing. I was in awe the entire time we were here. It is one of the world’s largest arches of its kind and it is so impressive.
This is a fairly easy hike but definitely one worth taking. It could definitely be done before or after a more strenuous hike without feeling overly exhausted. There are also a few smaller branches of this trail you can take to see a few extra sights along the way!
The Windows
The Windows are a part of the park I feel like you just cannot pass up. From here you can see multiple arches are stroll around to many view points. An easy hike that is so rewarding! There is so much to see and you simply cannot miss these views while in Arches.
We did this hike in the evening after hiking all day long. It was a nice place to relax and just simply enjoy the view. It is a bit hilly but not anything crazy. We definitely recommend this area of the park to people if it is their first time so that they can truly get a feel for the land!
Canyonlands
Okay I tell people all the time that if you want to see an amazing canyon, go to Canyonlands and skip the Grand Canyon. We have been to the Grand Canyon a couple of times and it is fine.. but Canyonlands beats it every time. There is more to see and honestly way better hikes and views!
Grand View Point
Probably one of my favorite hikes I’ve ever been on in terms of views! Meandering along the edge of the canyon you will see colors online anything you’ve seen before. And at the end you get the the most epic viewpoint looking out over the Islands in the Sky section of the park.
We did this hike just before sunset and we sat at the viewpoint awaiting sunset with about a dozen other people. I will never be able to put into words how magical the colors of the sky looked over the colors of this canyon! It is truly breathtaking.
If you do one thing that I have recommended, let it be hiking to Grand View Point at sunset. You will not be disappointed!
Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch is a very short out and back hike but it has an extremely iconic view. With views of the La Sal Mountains it is one of the most photographed places in this park.
We ended up spending quite a bit of time here just exploring and enjoying the view but the hike itself does not take long at all. It is great place to stop and capture some amazing pictures and then continue on your way!
White Rim Road
While technically not a hike this road deserves to be on this list because it is essentially the heart of Canyonlands! We did not have time to drive the entire trek as it can take about 2 days to go the 100 mile distance but we did cover a little bit of it and plan to go back soon and see the entire stretch!
It is not just a paved road that goes through the park but a fairly rough and rugged drive around and down through the Island in the Sky section of the park. Be prepared for some rough terrain but views that you will never forget!
Have you been to Canyonlands or Arches?! What are your favorite hikes to do?
