Moab, Utah: Adventure Capital of the West

The best time depends on what brings you to Moab. Spring and fall offer comfortable weather for hiking and sightseeing, but they are also popular seasons in the national parks. Summer brings hot days, long evenings, and more time to enjoy the river.

For rafting, choose your trip first, then compare its departure dates. Cataract Canyon offers spring departures, when snowmelt can create bigger whitewater. Desolation Canyon and the Southwest Sampler run during a shorter summer season. If you want both rafting and park visits, plan hikes for the cooler parts of the day and leave time to relax between adventures.

Yes. Moab offers short walks beneath sandstone arches, guided off-road adventures, and river trips you can choose around your family’s ages and interests.

The 4-Day Southwest Sampler combines a guided Arches tour, a Hummer safari, two hotel nights, and an overnight Colorado River trip for ages 5 and up. The 5-Day Desolation Canyon trip, also for ages 5 and up, gives families more time for sandy beaches, camping, and milder whitewater.

For families with teens who want bigger whitewater, compare the Cataract Canyon trips. Rapids and minimum ages vary with the trip and water levels. Calmer stretches on many river trips also allow time for swimming when conditions permit. No previous rafting experience is required.

Start with the length of your rafting trip, then add time for arrival, sightseeing, and the journey home. Plan to be in Moab the day before departure, and check your trip’s meeting and return times before booking flights.

For Arches National Park, allow a full additional day. You can see several highlights in four to six hours, but hikes and time at the overlooks reward a less hurried visit. Add another day for Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky district.

With an additional day before or after a 4-Day Cataract Canyon trip or a 5-Day Desolation Canyon trip, you can plan about a week for your full itinerary with travel. 

The 4-Day Southwest Sampler already includes a guided Arches tour, a Hummer safari, and an overnight river trip, but some guests like to add some additional time for exploring on their own or more guided adventures.

No previous rafting or camping experience is required for any Western River Expeditions trip. Guides explain what to expect on the river, prepare every meal, and show you how to use the camping equipment.

Western River provides tents, cots, sleeping bags with sheets, and camp chairs for Utah river trips. You set up your own sleeping area after a demonstration, and bring your clothing, personal items, and a small pillow. A detailed packing list helps you prepare. 

Evenings might mean a game on the beach, a conversation over dinner, or settling into your cot beneath the stars.

Yes. Add park visits before or after your river trip, or choose the 4-Day Southwest Sampler, which includes a guided tour of Arches National Park. Cataract Canyon trips take you through Canyonlands National Park by river, offering a different perspective from the overlooks above.

Arches’ entrance is a short drive north of Moab. Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky visitor center is about 40 minutes from town, with additional driving to individual overlooks. The Needles district is farther away and needs a separate plan.

If you want a full park day before rafting, arrive a day earlier than your trip’s required arrival day. You can also explore afterward. Check current National Park Service entry requirements and road conditions before your visit.

Expect strong sun, dry air, and changing temperatures. Summer afternoons in Moab often exceed 100°F, while spring and fall generally offer cooler days and colder nights. Conditions in a river canyon can differ from the forecast for town, and shade varies by location and time of day.

For park visits, plan summer hikes early in the morning and carry plenty of water. For your river trip, follow the seasonal packing list, including sun protection, rain gear, and layers. Summer thunderstorms can bring heavy rain and flash flooding, even when the day begins clear.

Moab Adventure Center is Western River Expeditions’ sister company, located at 225 South Main Street in downtown Moab. It offers half-day and full-day Colorado River trips, Hummer safaris, canyoneering, ziplining, guided hikes, and horseback riding.

It is a convenient place to plan extra adventures before or after a multi-day rafting trip. Choose activities around your family’s ages, interests, and available time, or stop by for help planning a day in Moab.