Bonus XOMU: Melissa Goes to Moab

A comprehensive guide to one of my favorite southern Utah "churches"

We’ve been vacationing in Moab, UT since my son was four. It’s only a four-hour drive from Salt Lake City, and the area has so much to offer for hiking and recreation. Moab is known for its red rocks, natural arches, and spectacular canyons, and people come from all over the world to hike, mountain bike, and Jeep their way through the three parks that surround the small town.

I stopped geotagging my hikes during the pandemic, because our local trails were being overrun and not well cared for. Arches National Park and Moab aren’t exactly “hidden” gems, but there are still trails that I’d consider more “off the beaten path” and other tips only a local would know.

So here, for subscribers only, I’m going to share everything you need to know about visiting Moab (including links to my favorite trails) for a trip with or without kids. I’ll also include mobility device accessibility info for all three parks, for my wheelchair-using friends. (Note, this is one MONSTER resource, but I wanted to give you everything all in one place. You’ll have to use the Substack app or website to read the whole thing, as it’s too long for an email.)

When to visit Moab

Remember, Moab is desert. The average high temp in June, July, and August is nearly 100 degrees F, and all of the hiking here offers little to no shade. Hiking in the red rocks in full sun in the middle of summer gets dangerous, so please plan accordingly.