Moab

Magazine cover views abound at the end of this short out-and-back trail to the Kane Creek Canyon Overlook. The rocky, bumpy, 1.5-mile-long slow-going trail offers continuous unobstructed views of Behind the Rocks and the La Sal Mountains before ending at a spectacular viewpoint overlooking Kane Creek Canyon. This 360° panoramic view is like no other in Moab.

During the drive, you will encounter 6-8" rock steps mixed with loose dirt that can be completed in stock-type 4x4s with durable tires and high-ground clearance. At the end of the trail, you cross an old drill platform area that is large and flat, suitable for several vehicles camping with offroad trailers, rooftop tents, or ground tents. The overlook can accommodate 4-6 vehicles safely and offers a small, level spot used for camping but has little shelter from the wind.

D1031 is a straight-through, lightly used sandy two-track that follows a high ridgeline between Mineral Bottom and Big Draw. The sandy trail has short sections of bumpy slickrock up to 10" ruts. The trail passes through extremely tight brush and trees where branches are likely to scratch your paint. The trail provides scenic views of the La Sal Mountains and has two great campsites with amazing cliffside views. Although the road is rough, any high-clearance vehicle will easily handle this trail in 2WD. Airing down is highly recommended to smooth the ride.

Bridging the gap between D1136 and Mineral Bottom Road, D1122A is a moderate trail that drives through typical Moab desert scenery. Sandy and smooth dirt stretches give way to rocky patches that may concern beginners and stock 4WD vehicles. The most challenging section is right where it branches off D1136, so you will quickly see if you are comfortable driving this trail. There are several dispersed campsites with plenty more opportunities on nearby spurs.

Branching off D1136 is a fantastic, moderately rated loop offering incredible North Fork Mineral Canyon views. Take a break and enjoy the peace and solitude at the end of this loop. Spanning 4 miles in length, this trail has a few minor bumps but should not require 4WD. Sadly, there is no camping on this trail, but many nearby spurs have good options for dispersed camping.

A short section of graded road leads to Oil and Gas activity in the area. It leads to a portion of the Secret Spire Route run for Easter Jeep Safari.

The Fallen Peace Officer Trail is a rugged 14-mile loop north of Moab, Utah, between Highway 191 and Arches National Park. It climbs to a high ridge with sweeping valley and La Sal Mountain views. The southern section pushes the harder end of the moderate rating. Expect steep, rocky climbs and technical ledges up to 18 to 24 inches. About 3 miles of the northern section overlap with the Copper Ridge Safari Route. There are stretches of rolling hills and several sandy wash crossings.

The project of creating this trail began following the 2010 shooting of Utah State Parks Officer Brody Young, who was critically wounded in a shootout at the Poison Spider Mesa trailhead. Dedicated in 2013 by the Utah Peace Officers Association, the trail serves as a living memorial to Utah law enforcement officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty. The trailhead is located on Utah State Trust land and is accessible from Highway 191, approximately 13 miles north of the Colorado River bridge outside Moab.

There is a large camping area at the trailhead, suitable for big RVs or trucks towing trailers. In addition, a popular dispersed camping area can be found nearby along Klondike Bluffs Road. There are also a few small, undesignated campsites scattered along the trail itself for those seeking more secluded spots.

Set deep in the Rainbow Terrace area, 2538 is a short, sandy dead-end spur off Rainbow Rocks. The trail has exemplary views of the surrounding sandstone buttes. The trail abruptly ends at the Enduro Loop motorcycle trail. The trail is all soft sand with a couple of off-camber wash crossings.

A very short part of the Dead Cow network of dirtbike trails, D2766 is a full-size vehicle crossover trail between D2761 and D2800. The trail is a bumpy, sandy, straight cut across the scrub brush. Be aware of the hidden boulder under the sand. There are no campsites along this route. Camping is available along 10 Mile Point and other trails.

This short spur off Spring Canyon Point leads to a small campsite with big views down into the Green River Canyon. The spur isn't difficult, and the camping area is large enough for a single vehicle. 

Hidden away in the Labyrinth Rims region of Moab is a network of seldom used trails. D2703 is one of the many spurs offering great views and a bit of solitude. This easy spur is 2 miles long and easy for any high clearance vehicle, with only sandy patches to worry about. The trail dead ends at Trough Canyon, a small, pretty canyon typical in this area of Utah. A motorcycle trail continues, but full-size vehicles must turn around on the rocky rim. There are no campsites along this trail, although many nearby spurs have great dispersed camping opportunities.

D1290 is a 2.5-mile out-and-back trail to an overlook of the North Fork Mineral Canyon. This trail's remote isolation adds to the peacefulness while you are out here. This is not an overly difficult trail, so new drivers and stock high-clearance 4WD vehicles will enjoy this trail. There are only a handful of small rocky obstacles to conquer. There's no campsite along the trail, but many nearby spurs offer great dispersed camping.

Traveling to a lookout point over the broad and colorful Rock Canyon, D2664 makes for a perfect stop for lunch or a leg stretch when doing other trails in the area. On your way out to the viewpoint, a mild obstacle is just at the starting point near the start from D2662, requiring high clearance. It is important to note that base maps will show this road continuing as a loop to where you could eventually look down into Tenmile Canyon. However, that section of the trail was closed in 2023. Suitable camping does not exist along this route.

The first legal primitive camping you'll encounter when entering from Highway 191 is this short out-and-back sandy two-track. The trail leads up to a turn-around campsite with room for 3 to 4 vehicles with tents. The trail is soft sand and requires high clearance and AWD. It's ideal for overland camper vans, far enough off the road for privacy, and the sunrise wake-up views of the La Sal Mountains are fantastic.

D1494 is a short, out-and-back camping spur off of Spring Canyon Bottom. There are 7 well-spaced campsites along this trail, all offering great views and plenty of personal space. The trail surface is a mix of hard-packed dirt and slickrock. The slickrock makes the drive bumpy at times but not difficult. Any vehicle with decent ground clearance can make the trek back to the farthest campsites. A few of the campsites look back towards Spring Canyon Bottom Road, while a few others overlook Hell Roaring Canyon. The campsites here are suitable for any type of camp setup, but long trailers should use caution due to some of the raised slickrock in sections that could snag underside stabilizers.

Named after the 1970's missile and the popular mountain bike trail that begins along this route, Athena Trail also has one of the last standing relics of the Green River Missile Launch Complex. In dry conditions, the trail can be completed in 2WD with high clearance and durable tires. The trail winds through rugged rolling hills with a couple of small campsites with stone fire rings. The trail leads out to an old launch site that has been left standing after 50 years. In 2024, the BLM removed all the old structures from the area. There is a turnaround area at the launch site where you can explore.

D1821 is a short, dead-end spur off the 7UP trail that leads past a few small campsites to a fantastic overlook of the Sevenmile Canyon area. The trail is rough, rocky, and slow, with a few 10" slickrock steps requiring careful tire placement for vehicles with smaller tires. The ending provides a nice campsite for one or two vehicles and views of 7 Mile Point, Merrimac Butte, and the La Sal Mountains. The trail is suitable for any high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle.

D2036 can be driven in any direction and follows a portion of the Easter Jeep Safari Secret Spire Route. The road is a mix of sandy two-track, with one slickrock climb/decent on the northern edge. To the south side of the slickrock climb are a few 1' to 2' tall ledges to manage, but any high-clearance stock SUV can handle them. There are no dispersed camping opportunities along the route.

D2718 is a jumper trail between Duma Point Road, and D2700. At just over 1 mile, this moderate trail takes no time in any high clearance vehicle. 4WD helps with the deep sand and small hills. The views around this region are consistent with the Moab desert with Dubinky Point to the south. Unfortunately, there are no campsites on this trail.

A wide, graded road with several designated dispersed campsites set against Entrada Sandstone or shaded by cottonwoods. Roberts Bottom Road transitions into Triangle Road, making it a common east–west corridor for overlanders traveling between Grand Junction and Moab. With multiple well-spaced sites, it’s an ideal place to stop for a night of camping.

Jumping between Duma Point Road and Rainbow Rocks (Rainbow Terrace), D2629 is a sandy 2.3-mile trail with good views of the surrounding valley and Dubinky Point. Although not a destination trail, this moderately rated trail is an excellent chance for beginners to tackle minor rocky obstacles and deep sand in stock 4WD vehicles. There are no campsites along this route, but many nearby trails have options for dispersed camping.

Acting as a halfway jumper between D2700 and B338, this moderately rated trail provides scenery typical of the Labyrinth Rims region of Moab, with sagebrush, junipers, and Mormon tea dotting the golden sand. There are no difficult obstacles, although a few rocky patches may slow down new drivers and stock vehicles. Due to the patches of soft sand, 4WD is recommended. There are no campsites on this trail, but many nearby spurs have great dispersed camping opportunities.

D1266A is a 1.75-mile straight-through connecting trail between Spring Canyon Bottom and Tibbetts Arch that follows a rusty pipeline its entire length. The trail is part of the Hell Roaring Rim Jeep Safari route and is most commonly run from north to south. The trail surface is a mix of sand and slickrock, with one long sandhill climb approximately halfway through and scattered slickrock ledges 8"-12" tall. The sandhill is deep, soft sand and offers a complete bypass route. However, any high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle should easily conquer the hill with a little momentum. There is no suitable camping along this trail, but several wide areas of trail where you can pull over and enjoy the views.

D1473 is the primary access road to the Jewel Tibbetts Arch hiking trailhead. The arch is located in Hell Roaring Canyon and is named after Jewel Tibbetts, a Moab rancher who lived about 10 miles away from the arch with her husband Bill in the 1950s and 1960s. They often took ranch visitors to see the arch.

Starting at Highway 313, the road is well-marked and traverses a mostly hardpacked sand surface with occasional sections of bumpy slickrock. You will find a cluster of dispersed campsites near the western terminus suitable for any vehicle or camp setup. The sites are large enough for multiple vehicles. Once the trail ends and intersects with Mineral Point Road to Spring Canyon Bottom Road, head southwest for another 0.3 miles to the official arch trailhead. The hike from this point is 2.1 miles roundtrip and takes about 2 hours to complete. If you have a capable, high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle and want to skip the hike but still see the arch, continue south another 0.83 miles, where you can jump on D1463, which leads to a viewpoint of the arch that only requires a few hundred-yard hike.