Sitting
near the Colorado border, south of Arches National Park,
and just south of the Colorado River, Moab has a rich
history dating back at least 10,000 years, when native
Indians lived in and roamed throughout the Canyonlands,
painting pictures on the rocks that are now seen along
several fascinating backcountry byways. Much later, the
Old Spanish Trail crossed the area.
The
town was permanently settled in 1880, receiving its name
from the Bible. Following mineral discoveries, the town
boomed during the 1950s and is now devoted to both mining
and tourism. The town's location in the midst of several
national parks and monuments makes it a popular place to
stay for vacationers who are visiting the area's
attractions.
In
addition to the major national parks and monuments
covered on other pages, there are several
points
of interest around Moab that add to the pleasure of a
stay in the Canyonlands region.
What
to See & Do
Dead
Horse Point State Park
From
an overlook at the 6,000-foot level, the Colorado River
(2,000 feet below) winds through the Canyonlands on its
way to the Grand Canyon and on to the Gulf of California.
One can see a series of formations on the canyons dating
back 150 million years. This state park is named for the
wild mustang herds that ran free on the mesas near Dead
Horse Point. The cliffs provided a convenient corral for
pioneer cowboys who herded the horses, which were then
roped and broken. Legend has it that a band of horses
were left corralled at the point. A gate was left open,
but, for some unknown reason, the horses stayed there and
perished of thirst, within sight of the Colorado
River.
To
get to this 7,000-acre park, take Utah Highway 313 south
from U.S. Hwy. 191, north of Moab. The visitor center is
just off Hwy. 313, on the way south to the point. There's
a picnic area with shaded tables and grills near the
point.
The
Kayenta Campground is nearby. There are 21
campsites, modern restrooms, covered picnic tables,
electrical hookups, and dump stations. Water is hauled to
the campground from Moab. Reservations may be made in
advance by phoning (435) 259-6511. Although the park is
open year-round, the campground is open only from April
through October. Because of the elevation, summer
temperatures reach a low of 40 degrees and can climb to
over 90 degrees during the day. There is a self-guiding
nature trail, and the Shafer Trail winds along the top of
the escarpment with fine views of the river far below.
Canyon
Rims Recreation Area
The
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) operates this superb
canyon area located south of Moab and north of the town
of Monticello. It can be reached by taking U.S. Highway
191. The area includes much of the public land along the
eastern and southern boundaries of Canyonlands
National Park.
Access
through the area is by a series of paved and gravel roads
leading west from Hwy. 191. Canyon Rims Backcountry
Byway leads to the Needles Overlook. Utah Hwy. 211 is
another scenic byway that leads west, to Needles Outpost,
following the flow of Indian Creek. This road continues
into Canyonlands National Park, where there is a Parks
Service visitor center and campground.
There
are several campgrounds within the Recreation Area,
including three developed facilities. One is the Wind
Whistle Campground, which has 17 sites and is off the
road to Needles Overlook, about 6 miles from Hwy. 161.
Another campground at Hatch Point has 9 sites, off the
road to Anticline Overlook (24 miles from the highway via
the Needles Overlook Byway and a dirt road leading
north). There are several campsites in Newspaper Rock
State Park (see below). There are picnic tables and
pit toilets at the primitive campsites near Indian Creek,
near the road to Needles Outpost (Utah Hwy. 211).
Backcountry camping permits are available at the Needles
Visitor Center in Canyonlands National Park.
Newspaper
Rock State Historic Monument
Located
off Utah Hwy. 211 (in the Canyon Rims Recreation Area),
this park features an outstanding panel of rock art,
along with interpretive exhibits. Prehistoric Indians of
the Anasazi culture occupied the lands along Indian Creek
for a short period before the 1200s AD. Remnants of their
rock dwellings and art exist throughout this area. Ute
Indians later hunted in the region, but these nomadic
natives did not establish permanent settlements
here.
River
Recreation
The
Colorado River and the Green River to the south offer
river adventures, including white water canoeing and
kayaking. Motorized rafts and jet boats are also used on
the Colorado from Moab, with organized trips taking from
a half-day to several days. For information, contact the
Moab Information Center (800-635-6622) or
Adrift Adventures (800-874-4483).
Forest
and City Camping
Manti-La
Sal National Forest is located in the La Sal
Mountains, southeast of Moab. There are several forest
backroads in the area, and two lead to forest
campgrounds. To reach these rustic campsites, take
Highway 191 south from Moab and turn east onto the La Sal
Mountain Loop Road, which leads through the mountains to
Castle Valley and ends at Utah Hwy. 128. Backroads lead
off this loop route to Oowah Lake Campground and
Warner Lake Campground. Farther south, past
Monticello, another section of the same national forest
is located in the Abajo Mountains. There is camping in
this area as well. Several private campgrounds and RV
parks can be found in and around Moab.
