This 4-Day Itinerary for Moab, Utah is a great way to see Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and the greater Moab area.
There is so much to do and see in Moab, Utah! Nestled between 2 National Parks, it is the home of world-class hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and more. With a half dozen Moab visits under my belt, I feel like I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of activities and destinations in the area. With so many possible activities and so little time, I’ve outlined my “Moab essentials” itinerary below to help you spend less time planning and more time playing! If you have more time, be sure to check out my full 7-Day Moab Itinerary here!
Day 1: Canyonlands
The Grand View Trail: An easy 2 mile out and back on the gorgeous overlook trail of the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands.
Newspaper Rock: Some great petroglyphs located inside the park.
Mesa Arch: Coming in at just over a mile, Mesa Arch was a great addition to our Canyonlands expedition! We decided to tack this on at the end of the day and it was well worth it. The arch is pretty and gives a fun perspective of the park from above.
Day 2: Canyoneering near Wall Street
Long Bow Arch Rappel:
An amazing adventure, however you do it! It’s about a 2 mile out and back to Longbow Arch. It can be an out and back trail of 2 miles round trip if you choose to see the arch and not continue with the rappel. Following the arch, there are 2 smaller rappels and 1 large rappel.
Day 3: Arches National Park
If you haven’t done Arches National Park before, there are dozens of hikes to be bagged. The main arch attractions, like Delicate Arch, Windows Arch, Double Arch, and Balanced Rock are all worth the visit and can be easily explored in a day. (See a breakdown of these hikes in my 7-Day Moab Itinerary.) With the park map at your side, you can navigate to all the big-ticket items with little effort for a great first experience.
If you’ve done the “classics,” (or if you have multiple days planned in Arches), I highly recommend the Devils Garden Loop. It’s an 8-mile showcase of 8 different arches, including Landscape Arch, one of the longest arch spans in the world.
Aside from the real golden arches, you get to hike over fins, spines, slick rock, and more! In my opinion, it’s a great way to take in the park without jumping in and out of the car for all the shorter stuff.
Arches featured on Devil’s Garden Loop: Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Private Arch, Dark Angel Arch, Double O Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, and Landscape Arch.
Day 4: Corona Arch and Wall Street
When it’s trip time, it’s full speed ahead for me. I realize that for some, there is a point where it stops being fun and just becomes exercise- that’s okay! Some people need some goo R&R before returning back to normal life so you do you.
If you’re more apt to take things slow (at least a little), never fear! I’ve paired this hike with day 4 as a flexible option for your way out.
At the very least, take a quick jaunt down Wall Street! Because you don’t often have such sheer walls so close to the road, it’s a fun street even just to drive down.
Potash Road Petroglyphs (another name for Wall Street) features some aboriginal rock art about 25 feet up the wall. A sign clearly indicates the wall art about a mile before the turnoff, a hard-to-miss pullout near the side of the river.
Corona Arch: 2.5 mile out and back (plus scramble time 🙂 )
Set outside both of the National Parks, Corona Arch is the equally beautiful, yet lesser-known sister arch to Delicate and the Arches fam. The arch is accessible and pretty easy to get to, featuring 2 small ladders that make ascending the slick rock easier in areas. Leaving the trailhead you will cross the railroad tracks and make your way up Bootlegger Canyon towards the arch.
And there you have it! This is a gorgeous and adventurous area that is full of surprises at every turn. If you are looking for more to do in the area, check out my 7 Day Moab Itinerary for more fun, including Aztec Ruins, more rappels, and what to do with another day in Arches National Park!
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