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Basic Information: Moab area including Arches and Canyonlands
national parks
 Miles
from major airports:The closest major airports are at Salt Lake City and Denver, and automobile rentals are available in these cities. Shuttles, charter plane and commercial van services are available from Salt Lake City to Moab. See www.utah.com/transportation for details. Moab is not served by bus or train. Travel considerations• Many scenic features in Arches National Park can be seen while auto touring or day-hiking from paved or maintained dirt roads that are suitable for family cars. However, dirt roads in the park can become impassable during wet weather. Parking areas often fill up early in the day and vehicles parked outside designated areas will be cited. • Canyonlands is generally divided into four distinct districts. The Island in the Sky makes up the northern portion, consisting of a vast plateau that is accessible via one paved road and numerous 4X4 routes. The Needles District lies to the east of the Colorado River. Its namesake geologic feature is a cluster of towering spires that from a distance resemble a red and white-banded Manhattan skyline of stone. Again, access is via one paved road and numerous 4X4 routes. The Maze lies to the west of the Colorado and is a literal maze of stone corridors. All roads in the Maze are extremely rough. The fourth district consists of the Colorado and Green rivers. Travel between the districts is very difficult if not impossible. • Bicycles are restricted to established roads within the national parks. There are innumerable single-track and double-track bike trails in the Moab area outside the parks. ClimateMarch, April, May, October and November are ideal months to visit this area if you plan hiking, biking and other strenuous activities. Summers are very hot and dry, with daytime temperatures occasionally climbing above 100 F. Summer mornings and evenings are pleasant times for short hikes. May and June are usually prime months for whitewater river rafting because air temperatures are warm and water flows are at their peak. Conditions usually remain favorable for rafting through September. Winter months usually bring mild days (40-55 F) and cold nights (often below 20 F). However, cold fronts can keep daytime highs from climbing above freezing. Fee and permitsThe entrance fee at both national parks is $10 per vehicle, good for seven consecutive days. Access to Arches’ Fiery Furnace requires a ticket for a ranger-guided hike or a hiking permit from the visitor center. Slots often fill up 1-2 days in advance. Reservations must be made in person and can be made for up to seven days in advance. Canyonlands requires permits for overnight sojourns in the backcountry. Permits are also required for day use by horses, bikes and vehicles in Salt Creek/Horse and Lavender Canyons in the Needles. Dead Horse Point State Park charges an entrance fee of $7 per vehicle. Sand Flats Recreation Area offers the popular Slickrock Bike Trail. A day-use pass must be purchased as you enter the area and it is good for three consecutive days. The pass costs $5 for those entering via private vehicle and $2 for those entering on a bike or in a shuttle. Utah.com Travel and Adventurewww.Utah.com provides travel services to help with travel planning and reservations. Call us at 888-881-1120 or visit www.utah.com/trips for assistance. Lodging and servicesThere are no lodging facilities or services inside Arches or Canyonlands national parks. Moab offers a wide variety of accommodations and services, 24-hours a day. Nearby Green River and Monticello also offer lodging and services. See www.utah.com/lodging for current information. Guides and outfittersArea businesses offer fully guided trips and provide equipment and information for a wide variety of activities. Trips can range from short and easy to multi-day extreme adventures. See www.utah.com/guides for current information on guide services. Popular guided activities include:
Camping• Arches offers one campground, Devils Garden, located 18 miles from the park entrance. Facilities include tables, grills and flush toilets. Campers much pre-register at the visitor center before proceeding to the campground from mid-March through late October. Pre-registration is not required during the winter. Devils Garden Campground fills daily mid-March through October, often by 10 a.m. — get there early and stake your claim. • Canyonlands has two developed campgrounds: Squaw Flat in the Needles District offers water and toilets. Willow Flat in the Island in The Sky offers vault toilets but no water. Both are open year-round, with sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis both fill up quickly during peak months. Group sites are available in both Arches and Canyonlands. Requests for reservations are accepted only by mail or fax. Requests can be made beginning January 1 for that calendar year. See the respective park websites for details. As workloads permit, staffers answer questions when people call 435-259-4351. • Dead Horse Point Utah State Park offers a developed campground with individual and group sites. For reservations call 322-3770 from the Salt Lake City calling area or toll-free 800-322-3770, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. • Sand Flats Recreation Area offers 110 campsites, open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping is limited to designated sites. Facilities include picnic tables, metal fire rings and pit toilets. Water is not available at these sites so bring plenty. The camping fee is $8 per night per car. Sand Flats also offers group sites for 11-16. The base fee is $24 per night. To reserve a site call 435-259-2444 between 8-9 am or 5-6 pm, seven days a week. • BLM maintains 20 campgrounds in the Moab area. Individual sites are first-come, first-served. Many are located along the Colorado River close to Moab and Arches, and can accommodate RVs. Group sites are also available and can be reserved in advance by calling 435-259-2100. For more information: www.blm.gov/utah/moab. • The Forest Service manages a campground at Warner Lake in the La Sal Mountains east of Moab. For reservations: 877-444-6777 or www.reserveusa.com. Visit www.utah.com/campgrounds for a complete list of campgrounds. Potential hazardsWater is scarce in this region and lack of water is the most common problem encountered by visitors. Hikers, bikers and off-roaders must carry enough drinking water to meet their needs – there are very few opportunities to replenish supplies. Equipment failure is another common problem. Make sure boots, bikes and vehicles are in good working order before venturing into this harsh country. Lightning and flash floods occur occasionally, particularly during the month of August. Avoid exposed points and the bottoms of washes and canyons if forecasts indicate a chance for storms. Contact InformationArches National Park Canyonlands National Park Dead Horse Point State Park Grand County Travel Council BLM Moab Field Office Allen Memorial Hospital Moab, UT 84532 Grand County Sheriff |
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