Moab June 2026
- Rick D
- Jul 30
- 4 min read
We had so much fun on our 2024 Utah trip, I decided to go again, this time with some wheeling buddies and really try to tackle as much of Moab as we could squeeze into 7 days. The rough details: 4,974 miles traveled over 13 days. 6 days of road time (3 out, 3 back) and 7 days of offroad bliss. I managed to make the most of my time and tackled 13 trails and did a couple twice! We saw arches, petroglyphs, wildlife, and countless natural wonders as well as did some world class wheeling.
Days 1-3 were just driving, driving, and more driving. Something rather exciting, and scary as hell happened on day 2, though. Driving through KS, we got stuck on I-70 directly under an active tornado. We pulled under an underpass and basically waited out a storm that would eventually touch down about 10 miles to the south of us. We looked at the radar and were listening to the radio and we were literally directly under the tornado prior to touchdown. Absolutely the scariest thing I've experienced. Hail was blowing horizontally through the underpass and our trucks were rocking back and forth like they were going to lift off and fly away.
Colorado is amazing. Even just driving through is stunningly beautiful. One day I'll spend a good amount of time there exploring and hiking. I should have taken a lot more pictures from the road, but, managing to drive with a trailer over the Rockies sort of requires full concentration. I'll add some pictures of the drive when I download them from the dashcam.
Moab.......Let the fun begin.
Day 1 of our Moab adventure was fairly benign. We started off going to see the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, 7 Mile Rim, Uranium Arch, and eventually heading into Arches via UtahRaptor State Park (the back way into Arches).
7 Mile Rim is an awesome trail with diverse terrain. From sand to steps, to some mild rock crawling, and then some slickrock climbing at Uranium Arch. The views are absolutely stunning. From the top you can see down 191 all the way into Moab and across the valley into Arches. If you come in from 191 and go past the tracksite and continue on to the M&M trail, you'll see into the valley and see the Monitor and Merrimack buttes along with countless other amazing sights. We saw a few jackrabbits and lizards along the way. From 7 Mile Rim we drove south a bit on 191 and entered into UtahRaptor Park to head the back way into Arches and see the Eye of the Whale Arch and see a part of Arches that not many people get to see without a 4X4.
Day 2 - Saturday - We woke up early and headed out. It turned out to be a busy day as we did Potash Rd/Shafer Trail from the bottom up, then grabbed lunch and headed out to do Kane Creek Rd, Hurrah Pass, and Chicken Corners. Along the way we got to see all the cool and beautiful sights. Potash Ponds shimmering blue, Thelma & Louise Point, the views from Canyonlands, the Shafer Trail, the Wind Caves on the way to Chicken Corners, and of course, Chicken Corners.
And for your listening pleasure:
Sunday - Day 3:
We did Fins and Things and Onion Creek to the bottom of Rose Garden Hill (we did not do the hard stuff, but it was tempting). Onion Creek is absolutely beautiful and can be done in 2WD or a SUV if the water isn't high in the creek. Take your time and enjoy the everchanging geography along the road and the abundant wildlife. If you go, make sure you stop at see Fisher Towers.
Pictures of Onion Creek Rd:
Fins and Things:
I'll upload the videos at some point. SOOOOOO much fun.
Day 4 was a revisit to the wind caves and Eye of the Whale, and a hike up to Delicate Arch. Absolutely amazing.
Day 5 - Gemini Bridges and Long Canyon Trail. Two very cool trails. Not terribly technical, but the scenery along the way is, like everything in Moab, breathtaking.
The best for last - We re-ran a few trails like Potash/Shafer and did some sightseeing before we tackled our final trail - Top of The World. What an AWESOME trail. Technical, rocky, long, and FUN. From the top, you look down about 3000 feet to the valley where Onion Creek Rd passes through. Amazing. And yes - I had a lil trail damage.....Oops. Everything and everyone is fine. Enjoy the pictures.
Sunsets, Sunrises, and Scenery:
These needed their own place in my blog. Moab is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. If you'd like an actual copy of any of my pictures, some will be for sale on the website. If there is something you want that's not available, please ask. Enjoy.
Lastly - The history. Dinosaurs and ancient people left their mark on the landscape.
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