Moab: The Condensed National Park Guide That Even Your Pup Can Enjoy

Each year, my best friend and I pack our bags and find one another somewhere in the wilderness and embark on a slightly planned but mostly spontaneous trip to somewhere completely epic. As we’ve “matured” into the 26 and 25 year olds that we are, we’ve come to love the intoxicated wanderings less and the 9, 10, whatever you have it, mile treks through places we’ve yet to adventure with nothing but awe, our pups, some water, and a couple celebratory PBR’s in tow more.

This year, we set our pins on Moab, Utah. While we went back and forth on this destination (due to our dogs) quite a bit, we finally set it in stone and set out to find those little pet friendly gems of Moab that we knew we could.

While we were unfortunately only there for 5 days and weren’t able to jam pack everything we wanted in, we were able to discover the “spots” to camp, canyon hike, play, and gawk over during our week long adventure in Southeast Utah.

Now, for those of you who have visited Moab, this next section can be skipped over if you don’t want to be reminded of how utterly epic and breathtaking coming in and seeing Moab for the first time is. But if you’d like to imagine again or you’ve never been – what I’m about to tell you isn’t any sort of an exaggeration.

Moab is in my book and should be, one of the greatest wonders of the world. Going south from Salt Lake City, you travel through the Salt Lake Valley until you wind up and down fir and birch blanketed mountainsides and come out onto desolate flats that seem to go on for days with the mountain lines just outside your reach and surrounding your every move. Down the state and then a sharp left to the East, you start to see the dark outlines of the castle-like sandstone contrasting against the soft blue, orange, pink, and white sun-setting skies.

You’re almost there but you haven’t even began to image what you’re about to come over to hill to. You start to creep over the ends of the flat, barren land until more and more and more red and deep orange sandstone comes into your eye line.

I kid you not, Meridian by Odesza comes over the stereo just as I’m descending the hill into Moab and I start to cry. Moab is everything I thought it would be and I soon discovered, so much more. The massive red sandstone walls that surround you, the warm orange figures in the rock at Arches National Park, the vast, deep and winding canyons of Canyonlands, the green of the Colorado river that cuts the town and parks in two – it’s like no other place you’ll experience.

I won’t spoil it too much and in all honestly, places like this can’t be properly imagined in books, articles, stories, or even photographs – you have to visit for yourself. Experience all that you can, ride the vibe that comes with the land and the people within it, and just have a damn good time in the greatest gift we've ever received, wilderness.

Now, for the details you all came for.

The Guide to Moab – that even your pup can enjoy

Camping:

 This is the one thing I wish I had researched more prior to booking our site within Arches National Park. THERE ARE SO MANY SPOTS TO CAMP FOR FREE. Besides the obvious National Parks that engulf Moab, there is BLM land and where there is BLM, there is free camping. Coming into Moab, about 9 miles north of the town are a few roads that many campers find themselves for a night or two. I’d consider these spots primitive to say the least. There may be a fire pit; you may have to build one. There might be a pit toilet within walking distance; you may have to dig a hole.

I took note of a few of these off roads where I noticed campers as we made our way into town for dinner. They were easy enough to spot and explore in the dark, post dinner, and find a spot for the night.

Willow Flats Road Campsite

Willow Flats Road is a perfect example of an off-road that you’re able to drive down and pitch a tent or park your trailer. For two nights, we made this our base camp. Leaving our tent and supplies within, we came back to everything as we left it. That being said, we made sure to pack all our valuable belongings in our cars to prevent any unwanted snooping.

The rest of our trip we stationed ourselves in Arches at the Devils Garden Campground at the very end of the park.

Both of these places are dog friendly but do note a few things; there is little to no shade in Moab and specifically at these two spots. If you’re not a fan of the heat or have a couple dogs in your crew, be sure to pack an awning or some sort of shade providing structure to stay safe from the hot sun. At Devils Garden Campground, there are designated sites, fire pits, and even flush toilets and a dish washing sink but your dog must be leashed at all times and nothing can hang from the trees.

Besides these two spots, there are plenty of sites to camp out at along the Colorado River but be mindful that they are first come, first serve and in all honesty, I don’t think there is a downtime in Moab during the summer.

Hikes:

This was the trickiest part of our trip to Moab because while we wanted to see the touristy spots in the National Parks, we had to plan strategically with our dogs. We’d wake up early with the sun and keep the windows down as we did 1-2 milers before the sun rose fully and warmed up the car. This being said, if we kept the air off and windows up and felt any sort of heat, we’d forgo the plan and take the dogs elsewhere. Thankfully, my friend  had the ability to leave her car on and running with the AC and doors locked if we ever thought down windows wouldn’t be enough.

Below is a list of great hikes to do before the sun rises and your car isn’t hot:

·         Devil’s Garden – you can see 5 of the 7 arches/landmarks within this park and walk/run less than 3 miles. The easier portion of this hike is great for early morning or late afternoon on a cooler day. Crowds are light early morning because it is the furthest trail in the park.

·         Delicate Arch – 2.1 miles of serious incline but relatively easy stroll to one of the parks most popular arches. We kept the car on for the pups as we did this right before sunset.  Prepare for hordes of people.

Delicate Arch an hour before sunset. 

Now for the best hikes, the ones where you can bring your dog along! 

·         Grandstaff Canyon – A little over 4 miles round trip, this canyon follows beside a creek until you get to an open area with large, rounded sandstone walls and Morning Glory Arch at the end of your trek up.

·         Mary Jane Canyon – Almost 9 miles of following a creek through sanded paths and tall canyon walls to the end where you meet a double head waterfall. Bring water shoes that do well in distance, you're walking or splashing in the creek the entire route and there's nothing worse than wet trail shoes or short distance sandals to ruin a good time.

·         Corona Arch – A shorter hike but maybe a bit more technical 3 mile round trip. There is a point in the hike (about half way) where you have to climb the sandstone using a wire railing and dug out spots for your feet. This is about a 12 foot climb and then you meet another small obstacle; a small metal ladder to your right, so if you can’t pick your dog up or trust it off leash – I’d suggest viewing the arch from afar. 

·         Dead Horse Point Rim Walk – Within Canyonlands, is Dead Horse Point. While dogs aren’t allowed on the dirt trails, they are allowed on the paved trail that lines the canyon and this easy stroll provides all the Canyon view your dog and eyes will need.

Essentials:

I won’t sit here and tell you how to pack your car or backpack for your next trip but I will suggest a few things to definitely bring along.

·         Water and lots of it. Between the dry heat, the elevation gains, the sun rays, and absence of water on the hikes, you and your pup will need to refuel often. I have an Australian Shepard/Lab mix and between her being a puppy that isn’t used to the heat and her dark coat, she needed water often and always.

·         Sunscreen & something to offer shade. Whether it be an awning, a hat, sunglasses, or a tarp/blanket to shade you; the heat can take it out of you and your dog. If you’re looking for that deep, dark tan – be my guest and forget a few of the things in this section but for the sake of your dog, bring something they can hide from the sun under.

·         A map. There are so many canyon roads, bike paths, and unmarked lefts and rights that having a map while in Moab is a sure fire way to keep you safe and get you places you may have missed by just following the paved roads and road signs. Pick up the water and tear proof maps of North & South Moab in town at any of the gas station convenient stores.