Utah Travel Guide
3 Days in Utah
If you’ve ever wished you could travel to Mars, I highly recommend a trip to Moab, Utah.
Utah is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorite states. After seeing Zion and Lake Powell last year, a trip to Moab climbed to the top of my travel bucket list. Known for it’s incredible rock formations, red desert landscapes, and off roading adventures - it’s a place you definitely do not want to miss! Ry, Astra, and I chose to start in Denver and rent an RV to turn the adventure into a bit of a road trip. The drive was about 6 hours including stops, and Ry got a chance to see the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado along the way.
We rented the sickest little RV from Outdoorsy (check them out HERE, it’s like Airbnb for RVs!) - complete with a king size bed, sink, refrigerator, and more - it was perfect for us, and made the long days exploring the parks much more comfortable. Especially traveling with Astra, it was nice to have somewhere climate controlled for her to stay while we explored
Days
Day 1: Arches Nat’l Park, Delicate Arch hike, & Corona Arch hike
I researched a bit before hand and it seems that sunset is the most popular time to visit this spot, and while the light is probably incredible then it seems it’s also very, very crowded. We were more than happy with out decision to go at sunrise, as there were very few people around and made for a much more peaceful experience. We were also easily able to get photos without anyone else in the background! We wanted to make sure Astra had a fun activity each day, and we heard from many different people that Corona Arch is a must hike for dogs. I would HIGHLY recommend this, dogs or no dogs! It’s a beautiful area, and we only saw two other people the entire time. It was super fun, and the dogs had no problem at all with this. Astra was having the time of her life and loved this hike!
Visit
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Arches National Park
The very first and most important suggestion I can make for anyone exploring a national park, is GET UP BEFORE THE SUN! -
Hike to Delicate Arch
Pro tip: pack a blanket, a small breakfast and some coffee in insulated travel mugs (we love the Yeti ones) and park yourself on one of the rocks for awhile after you’ve made the hike in. Take in the beauty of this incredible place! -
Rest
Every day we took a couple hours between 12-3pm to rest and recharge before heading back out for an afternoon adventure. -
Corona Arch
This is a moderate hike, about 2.5 miles out and back, and while there isn’t a ton of elevation gain… there are some places where you have to climb up the rocks.
Eat
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Doughbird
Transit
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Hike back to the Trailhead and drive back to the town of Moab
Photos
Day 2: Canyonlands Nat’l Park, Mesa Arch & Highway 128 scenic drive
The first stop was of course, the famous Mesa Arch. This spot was much more crowded at sunrise than Delicate Arch, and we could see why. As the sun rises it casts a gorgeous golden light through the window of the arch! There were several people with very nice cameras already set up when we arrived, but a little patience paid off and the crowd thinned quickly. We were still able to get photos with stunning light just after the sun came up! I have to say, for me this was my favorite landmark we saw on the trip. We spent the rest of the morning driving through the ‘Island In The Sky’ section of the park. Ry really enjoyed the view at the Buck Canyon Overlook - we spent a good 45 minutes here just enjoying the silence and taking in the vastness of the canyon. We also stopped at the Green River Overlook on our way out! We spent the last half of the day driving the scenic Highway 128 that soooo many people recommended as a must-do, and they were sooo right! There are several spots to pull over and enjoy the scenery, including many campsites if you’re looking for a spot to camp. We packed some food and coffee in the RV and found a nice spot by the river to have an early dinner and enjoy our surroundings. On a warm day, the river would be the perfect place for a swim!
Visit
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Make your way to Canyonlands National Park
We kicked off our second day with another up-before-the-sun alarm and made our way into Canyonlands National Park. -
Mesa Arch Trailhead
The hike is easy and very short, about 10 minutes, but make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get here before sunrise... it is so worth it! -
Buck Canyon Overlook
We spent a good 45 minutes here just enjoying the silence and taking in the vastness of the canyon. -
Green River Overlook
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Fisher Towers Hike (Optional)
The popular Fisher Towers hike is about 35 minutes down this route from downtown Moab and could easily be added into a day exploring this area.
Eat
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Lunch at Sorrel River Ranch Resort and Spa
Transit
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Cruise down the scenic Highway 128
Although Moab is a small town, there are so many different surrounding areas you can spend time exploring. Each one is really something unique and special, but this one was my favorite. There’s nothing better than a drive along a river, and the green waters of the Colorado River make a stunning contrast against the red-orange rocks that make up the southeastern border of Arches National Park.
Photos
Day 3: Hunter Canyon hike, trail ride with Moab Horses
Hunter Canyon was another highly recommended trail to do with dogs, but again this hike is a must for anyone! We absolutely loved it. Where the Corona Arch hike had us climb high for stunning views, this trail starts down in the bottom of the canyon, and takes you along a creek running through the narrow slot the entire way. Astra loved this trail just as much as the first one, and believe it or not we didn’t see a single soul the entire time. Maybe we got lucky, but I think this is a good hike for anyone looking for something away from the crowds. There are also loads of camp sites in this area that looked beautiful too. If we had come at a warmer time of the year, it would’ve been a great place to land. This trip would not have been complete without seeing Moab from horseback. We took a trail ride with Moab Horses at Hauer Ranch, which is located down scenic Highway 128, and the area looks like something out of a movie! Which is appropriate, considering they’ve actually filmed countless movies & tv shows here - including Westworld and Rio Grande!
Visit
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Hunter Canyon Trailhead
Keeping our early morning routine, we decided to start out last full day in Moab with a sunrise hike. Alltrails states it as a 3.2 mile hike, but we hiked in for about 90 minutes and it seemed as if the trail would just keep going! -
Horseback Riding at Hauer Ranch
We chose a sunset ride, and it was just gorgeous. True to backcountry fashion, you’ll ride through creeks, the river, climb up & down sand dunes, and stop for an epic photo with Fisher Towers just behind you.
Photos
Notes
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RV RENTAL
We rented the sickest little RV from Outdoorsy (check them out HERE, it’s like Airbnb for RVs!) - complete with a king size bed, sink, refrigerator, and more - it was perfect for us, and made the long days exploring the parks much more comfortable. Especially traveling with Astra, it was nice to have somewhere climate controlled for her to stay while we explored inside the national parks, as dogs aren’t allowed on the trails. There are plenty of dog friendly hikes outside the park though, and we packed quite a lot into our four days! I thought i’d lay out our itinerary for each day for you guys below… so much to see, so little time! -
WHERE TO STAY
There are LOTS of options when it comes to accommodations in Moab - from camping, to budget motels, and even luxury boutique ranches. I cannot say enough great things about our adorable Airbnb… the Wayward Desert Casita! It’s a cozy 2br condo just south of downtown Moab, and the decor is what desert dreams are literally made of. I found myself obsessing over all of the little details - the pink Pendleton towels, the Native American art, the Chemex pour over (hallelujah!), and the hammock on the back patio which quickly became my favorite spot. Every nook is super Instagrammable, and it was the perfect place to rest and recharge in-between adventures. Major plus that it’s dog friendly and even comes stashed with toys for the pups!BOOK YOUR STAY at Wayward Desert Casita, and tell them I sent ya!
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Brandi Cyrus is a DJ and fashion influencer with a passion for travel and a love for animals.
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