There’s an argument to be made that Moab doesn’t actually have an off-season, that the colder months are differently attractive instead of less attractive. But in terms of traffic, November through March are relatively quiet in Moab.
Here are a few reasons that’s rad news:
Convinced? Perfect. Here’s what you do next:
Not only is Arches incredible, it’s jaw-dropping moments are also densely packed. You can hit most of the hot spots in a day, with the amount of walking required tolerable for just about the whole family. Even the very old, very young or those otherwise disinclined to hike on slick rock can still see a mad decent show at the viewpoints.
Drive-through views are nice, but it’s even prettier when you hike a bit to earn it. Here are some family-friendly treks:
Brought your bikes did you? But some of them have training wheels? Take the Dead Horse Point State Park biking trail, average grade of 2%. Only 14 miles long, you’ll feel refreshed without much whining. Rated a 4.3 on a 5-star scale. Bike tires all exploded? Nothing to fear, your feet are near. Choose from six short overlook hikes (or, dang it, do them all) from 0.25 to 1.25 miles long. Take in the view as you ponder the fate of that sad horse.
Eat a picnic lunch somewhere between Dead Horse and Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky district, just up the road. Take your time consuming both lunch and the views. Here are a handful and a half of delicious perspectives in order of appearance:
Get up, brush your teeth and shake both your own booty and the booties of your family members toward a place you’ll recognize from TV and movies: Fisher Towers. Located 40 minutes northeast of Moab along Route 128, this place also hosts one of North America’s top 50 rock climbing routes, Titan Tower. However, with all your little buddies in tow, you’re just gonna wanna stick to the very theatrical three-mile hike that leads you around, through and next to the world’s most amazing natural red-rock towers before ending on a nice flat rock perfect for snacks.
One kid wants pizza, another demands a burger and the third one needs a geode. No problem. Head back to Moab Proper, home of Zax’s pizza, Moab Brewery and several gift shops. After getting your fill of soda and gourmet buffet-style pizza, walk off some of that glorious food as you enjoy some of Moab’s shops and galleries. Be sure to buy that prized bag of smooth, colorful rocks for each and every kid you own. You’ll see a lot of original local and native art as well as lots of new gadgets for all your mountain biking needs. Also a great place to start planning your return trip next year.