Things to do in Southeastern Utah
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Goblin Valley State Park
A Salvador Dali-esque melted-rock fantasy, a valley of giant stone mushrooms, an otherworldly alien landscape or the results of an acid trip the creator went on? No matter what you think the stadium-like valley of stunted hoodoos resembles, one thing’s for sure – the 3654-acre Goblin Valley State Park is just plain fun. A few trails lead down from the overlooks to the valley floor, but after that there’s no path to follow. You can climb down, around and even over the evocative ‘goblins’ (2ft- to 20ft-tall formations). Kids and photographers especially love it.
reviewed
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Canyon Rims Recreation Area
The BLM Canyon Rims Recreation Area to the east of Canyonlands National Park has two interesting overlooks, undeveloped hiking and backcountry driving. Turn west off Hwy 191 (32 miles south of Moab, 27 miles north of Monticello); a paved road leads 22 miles to Needles Overlook and a panorama of the park. Two-thirds of the way to the overlook, the gravel Anticline Overlook Rd stretches 16 miles north to a promontory with awesome views of the Colorado River.
reviewed
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Dead Horse Point State Park
A tiny but stunning state park, Dead Horse Point has been the setting for numerous movies, including the opening scene from Mission Impossible II and the finale of Thelma & Louise. Located just off Hwy 313 (the road to Canyonlands), the park has canyons rimmed with white cliffs and walloping, mesmerizing views of the Colorado River, Canyonlands National Park and the distant La Sal Mountains.
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Love Muffin
- Moab, USA
- Restaurants › Other
You gotta grab your love muffin fast at this breezy new bakery, because early-rising moms, gnarly adventure chicks and on-the-ball seniors nab the best ones - raspberry-blueberry, chocolate vegan - before most people get out of bed. But no worries: the breakfast menu also offers burritos, waffles, and honey yogurt with granola. Gourmet salads and sandwiches are served at lunch.
reviewed
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Arches
One of the Southwest's most gorgeous parks, Arches boasts the world's greatest concentration of sandstone arches. Just 5 miles north of Moab on Hwy 191, the park is always packed in summer. Consider a moonlight exploration, when it's cooler and the rocks feel ghostly. Many arches are easily reached by paved roads and relatively short hiking trails.
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Center Café
- Moab, USA
- Restaurants › Café
Ready to trade your spandex and bike clips for a sundress and strappy shoes? Leave Main St behind and stroll over to stylish Center Café, consistently named southern Utah's best restaurant. The chef-owner cooks with confidence, drawing inspiration from American, Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. Lighter tapas menu ($4 to $12) served 4pm to 6pm.
reviewed
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Natural Bridges National Monument
Forty miles west of Blanding via Hwy 95, this monument became Utah's first NPS land in 1908. The highlight is a dark-stained, white-sandstone canyon containing three easily accessible natural bridges. The oldest, the Owachomo Bridge, spans 180ft but is only 9ft thick. The flat 9-mile Scenic Drive loop is ideal for biking.
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Desert Highlights
Half-day canyoneering or climbing adventures run around $95 per person for two, full-day $150 per person. Locally owned Desert Highlights leads outstanding canyoneering and climbing trips high on personal attention. It’s also the only outfitter with a permit to canyoneer in Arches’ Fiery Furnace.
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Anasazi Restaurant
Primary access to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is 70 miles south of Hanksville. At the end of the road is Bullfrog Marina. Landlubbers can eat at Anasazi Restaurant. The restaurant serves pretty standard all-American fare, but it does try to use local produce and sustainable practices.
reviewed
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Miguel's Baja Grill
- Moab, USA
- Restaurants › Grill
Dine on Baja fish tacos in the sky-lit breezeway patio lined with brightly painted walls. Fajitas, chilis rellenos and seafood mains are good sized, and the portobello salad is excellent. Refreshingly honest staff will tell you yes, they do have margaritas, but they may not be the best in town.
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Buck’s Grill House
Upscale contemporary Southwestern specialties, such as duck tamales with adobo and elk stew with horseradish cream, are what Buck’s does best (there are veggie options, too). Don’t miss the buffalo chorizo and cheese quesadilla. This is white tablecloth service for down-home food.
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Moab Brewery
- Moab, USA
- Restaurants › Other
At Moab's only on-site microbrewery restaurant you can see the vats just behind the bar area. It serves a range of burgers, seafood, steak and chicken, all to better accompany a pint of Derailleur or Dead Horse Ale. Natural, house-made gelato is sold on the front porch.
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Milt’s
- Moab, USA
- Restaurants › Diner
Pull up one of only a handful of stools at this tiny 50-year-old diner, or order through the screen window and eat under the tree. Locals come back often for the chile cheeseburgers, hand-cut fries and boffo milkshakes (try butterscotch-banana).
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Horney Toad Bar & Grill
Primary access to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is 70 miles south of Hanksville. At the end of the road is Bullfrog Marina. Inland 12 miles or so from the marina, the Horney Toad Bar & Grill is the local fave.
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Bar-M Chuckwagon
A night of unapologetic tourist fun at Bar-M Chuckwagon, 7 miles north of Moab, starts with a gunfight in a faux Western town. A cowboy dinner and Western-music show follows. Reservations recommended.
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Tag-a-Long Expeditions
- Moab, USA
- Activities › Skiing
The La Sal Mountains, which lord over Moab, receive tons of powder, just perfect for cross-country skiing, and there’s a hut-to-hut ski system. To book the huts contact Tag-A-Long Expeditions.
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Matheson Wetlands Preserve
The Nature Conservancy oversees the 890-acre Matheson Wetlands Preserve just west of town. Bring binoculars and bug spray. Guided birding walks begin at 8am Saturday, March to October.
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High Point Hummer
For a guided two- to four-hour thrill ride up the slickrock in a Hummer, call High Point Hummer. It sets the standard for helpful service and also rents ATVs and leads ATV tours.
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Coyote Land Tours
Coyote Land Tours offers similar group outings in Hummer-like 4WDs, but it uses the very open, bright yellow Mercedes Benz Unimog off-road vehicles; you can’t miss them.
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Dan O’Laurie Museum
Between breakfast and dinner there’s not much activity in Moab. On a rainy day, you might check out the dinosaur and mining exhibits at the Dan O’Laurie Museum.
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Desert Bistro
Twinkling lights hang in the trees outside this old ranch-house-turned-restaurant. Inside, stylized preparations of game is the specialty; everything is made in-house. Great wine list, too.
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Hovenweep
Beautiful, little-visited Hovenweep, meaning 'deserted valley' in the Ute language, contains six sets of prehistoric Ancestral Puebloan sites, five accessed by long hikes.
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Hatch Trading Post
The closest store to Hovenweep National Monument is the Hatch Trading Post, an atmospheric white-brick building that sells a few sundries and some Native American crafts.
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Canyonlands by Night & Day
Great fun for kids and grandparents, Canyonlands by Night & Day runs a two-hour sunset boat trip on the Colorado with an optional barbecue beforehand.
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