Moab enjoys a reputation as an adrenaline junkie's playground. With two rugged, desert National Parks and endless miles of red rock landscape all around, it's a natural spot for some truly epic off-roading. As you drive these roads that are less taken, you'll discover a whole new side to the region... one that's filled with thrills, and tons of heart-pounding adventure.
Adrenaline junkies, rejoice! White Rim Road is a 100-mile experience for 4-wheelers and bikes alike. The road provides beautiful views of Canyonlands National Park and offers a challenging, but worthwhile ride. A trip along White Rim typically takes two to three days on ATV's, and three to four days on mountain bikes.
You'll need a permit and all of the gear to do some backcountry camping if you plan on doing the whole thing, which adds an air of ruggedness to the adventure. During peak season, it can be difficult to obtain a permit for your trip, so make sure to reserve well in advance. If you're planning on camping and bringing along ATVs or bikes, Thor Industries offers some great RV options that let you bring along all of your favorite equipment.
A great home base for your Moab desert adventure is Archview RV Resort and Campground. This park has a great location, with easy access to both Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. The campground offers accommodations for all adventure levels- from RV hookup sites to tent spots to comfy cabins!
The resort has a plethora of amenities, including a general store and even free WiFi. Our favorite feature is the on-site swimming pool, where you can swim under the desert sun (or glimpse the stars on a clear night).
"Arches National Park"
One of Earth's most amazing geologic wonders lies right on the path of your trip. Arches National Park is home to over 2,000 natural stone arches, as well as monumental balanced rocks and beautiful sandstone pinnacles. The park is an adventurer's haven, with miles of hiking trails, bouldering, scrambling, and even a scenic drive if you'd like to stay in your car.
The park has a 50-site campground if you can't bear to leave the park's rugged beauty once the sun goes down, otherwise, the town of Moab is a 10-minute drive away and can accommodate all of your personal needs. It costs $25 per vehicle to enter Arches, but we guarantee it will be worth every cent.
Right near Moab lies Golden Spike Off Road, a 17-mile ATV trail that is waiting for you to brave the route... if you dare! The trail is a true challenge, but it offers unmatched views of wildflowers and the sweeping red rock formations. The trail is the most famous in the Moab area, and there's definitely a reason why!
If you're up for even more of a challenge, many experienced drivers choose to do the "Trifecta" journey, which includes Golden Spike and two other trails: Poison Spider and Gold Bar Rim.
Sand Flats Recreation Area offers biking and jeep trails, along with some amazing desert views. The park covers more than 9,000 acres and features more than 40 miles of trails, as well as some reasonably priced camping. Sand Flats scenery is made up of colorful mesas, giant rock domes, and the peaks of the La Sal Mountains. It's extremely popular with mountain biking enthusiasts, as the trails are truly unprecedented.
The most famous trail at Sand Flats is Hell's Revenge Off Road, which as the name suggests, is extremely challenging. Rated a 6/10 on the difficulty scale by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers, this trail is not for the faint of heart. Hell's Revenge runs 6.5 miles in length and is marked by yellow flame symbols painted on the rocks. It's considered a world-class off-road route for a reason, though... be on the lookout for obstacles with names like "The Black Hole", "The Elevator", and "The Hot Tubs". Hell's Revenge also happens to cross over Slick Rock Trail, which any mountain biker should definitely check out.
With adrenaline-inducing trails, beautiful campsites, and endless rock formations, you'll be enjoying the trip of a lifetime in the Moab desert. The beautiful red rock landscape is truly a geologic wonderland, and you'll be conquering the terrain as you rip it up on your ATV or bike. Get ready to head on an adventure of infinite excitement!
