UTAH

UTAH | ADVENTURE

Moab Mood

Red-rock landscape is an ideal playground for outdoors enthusiasts

USA TODAY SPECIAL EDITION

By Sarah Sekula

F YOU’RE ITCHING FOR adventure,

IMoab, Utah, is a solid choice. Situated between Arches and Canyonlands national parks , it has its share of rough and rugged terrain jampacked with boundless beauty.

Settle in at Under Canvas ( undercanvas. com ), a glamping site about 7 miles north of town and a stone’s throw from

Arches National Park. The deluxe tents, complete with a king-size bed, private bathroom, deck with lounge chairs (and dreamy views) and wood-burning stove, make the perfect jumping-off point for adventure.

Where to first? Because you’re so close to Arches , a morning hike on the Devils Garden loop trail is a no-brainer. Plan for several hours since it’s nearly 8 miles round trip. And it’s a popular trail so be sure to go early.

Canyonlands National Park should also be high on your list, especially if you enjoy climbing, canyoneering and rappelling. Windgate Adventures (windgateadventures.com) will have you conquering towers, sheer sandstone cliffs and low-angle slabs in no time.

“The geography of the area, much like the rest of Utah, is so diverse and unlike anywhere else throughout the rest of the country,” says Ethan Peck, who lives in Carbondale, Colo., and travels to Moab often. “You’ve got the sun on the Martian-like rocks in the mornings and evenings, the red rocks against a pure blue sky or reflected in the Colorado River, the trail running, mountain biking and a refreshing swimming hole to wrap a long day.”

For more hiking during your stay, trek to the La Sal Mountains , located approximately 20 miles southeast of Moab

Canyonlands National Park

BAILEY MADE PHOTOGRAPHY

and nestled in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Rob Steffens, who spends many winter weekends in Moab, recommends Mount Tukuhnikivatz and Mount Waas. “Even if you didn’t want to do summits, just getting up to the passes around them (is) pretty phenomenal,” he says.

You can also sign up for a photography tour with Tom Tills (tomtilltours.com), who has 40 years of experience and knows Moab well. The red-rock arches, spires and hoodoos look spectacular at the golden hour, and you can learn to capture the Milky Way and star trails after sunset.