Field Notes: Moab , UT

Moab is an absolute candy store for the outdoor-obsessed. Boasting an incredible amount of dispersed camping on BLM land, there are many places you can make home for night, a week, or a month as you enjoy all that Southern Utah has to offer.

WELCOME TO MOAB! MEET YOUR GUIDE

CAMP

Porcupine Rim Campground – Iconic, with some of the best views around. This spot will fill up, but if you can score a perch on the canyon rim—there isn’t much better. Best For: Biking the famed Porcupine Rim.

Castleton Tower – Remote spot, protected by Utah Open Lands, surrounds one of the most famous chimney climbing routes in the US. Best For: Climbing. You will see a lot of fellow climbers in the dispersed camping area, so don’t be afraid to go it alone. 

Manti-La Sal National Forest – About 20 miles outside of Moab, give or take depending on where you camp, the La Sals are the mountain range that looms tall over the Moab river valley. More remote than the spots in town, so fewer people. Best For: Staying cool. A ponderosa pine forest at 7,000 feet to help you beat the desert heat.

Gemini Bridges - A cool offroad route that takes you up to the Mag 7 and Horsethief trail system. There are plenty of places to camp on BLM land throughout the route. 

FOOD + DRINK

Moab Garage Co: For coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Fuel up before heading out. You will see plenty of bikers here ready to Captain Ahab.

Desert Bistro: Old school Moab institution. Definitely the finest food in town in a white tablecloth setting. Just next door to the Hoodoo hotel, so hit the lobby bar there afterwards for live music.

El Local: Yes. It’s a taco truck. But it is THE taco truck in Moab. Almost every local I know eats there daily – for good reason.

BEST RIDES

MTB: Mag-7 Trail System

Named for the seven trails it links together into one spectacular traverse: Getaway, Bull Run, Arth's Corner, Little Canyon, Gold Bar Rim, Golden Spike, Poison Spider, and Portal. 

Just a note to mortals. Portal is one of the deadliest mountain bike trails in the world. People (yes, plural) have died here. If the rocks don’t get you, the sheer 1,300 ft cliffs will. I walked a lot of it and was still terrified. The good news is you don’t have to ride it—there are alternative routes. Otherwise, Mag 7 is a dream. I could loop Bull Run for days. 

ROAD: Arches National Park

Moab isn't known for its road riding. However, I love the epic views you get riding into Arches. Be prepared to climb and check the winds - as they can howl in the afternoons here, but when you're staring up at Courthouse Towers—the miles just slip away. 

From town, take the Moab Canyon Pathway to the park entrance and head up for a 30-40 mile out-and-back ride. 

BEST RUNS

TRAIL: The Run the Rocks Routes

Our good friends at Transrockies organize a fantastic trail run event in Moab in early March called Run the Rocks. The course is split into three stages, making it a perfect long weekend adventure. The routes are challenging but offer a great picture of the variety of Moab terrain on two feet. There is no need to reinvent the wheel —they did the work.

ROAD: Moab Canyon Pathway

Moab has spent a lot of money recently on paved paths, and you’re spoiled for options. The Canyon pathway is now 13 miles of pristine paved trail from the north end of Moab proper all the way out to Gemini Bridges. 

BEST HIKES

Grandstaff

I love hiking the Grandstaff Trail. It is relatively popular, but the towering rocks and water crossings keep it pretty cool into the early summer.

Corona Arch

While the Delicate Arch trail gets all the press (and its own Utah license plate), I prefer the Corona trail to avoid the Park traffic and the hassle. The three-mile out-and-back hike features three arches, including the Corona, the largest in the Moab area. 

ON MY VAN AND IN MY VAN

Now you know where to go—here's what you need to know. All BLM land is pack-in, pack-out, and there are few facilities in this area. I bring my Trelino toilet and trail trash to make sure I leave no trace. 

Also, I am frequently in Moab alone, so I prepare for self-rescue when (not if) I get stuck. We just launched a great tech series email on how to winch. The van in the video is my van, and here are the upgrades that ensure I'm trail-ready.