Colorado Riverway
Hiking
This page contains information on hiking along and near the Colorado Riverway near Moab, Utah.
- See our Backpacking Tips.
- See our Day Hiking Tips.
Hiked
Check our personal notes for detailed descriptions of these trails:
| Corona Arch Trail | |||
| Distance: | 1.5 miles one way. | Rating: | |
| Elevation: | Total Ascent: | ||
| Trailhead: | The trailhead is located along Utah Scenic Byway 279, 10 miles west of the junction of Utah 279 and U.S. 191. | ||
| Description: | The hike is over constructed trail and slickrock. Corona Arch, with its 140 by 105 foot opening, is adjacent to Bow Tie Arch. There are also views of the Colorado River and a large slickrock canyon. From the parking lot on the north side of the highway follow the trail up to the visitor registration box near the railroad tracks. Cross the tracks and follow an old road up through a gap in the rim. From the gap, follow the cairns up the wash for about 100 yards to where the trail swings to the left. Follow the trail and cairns over a low sandy pass and then down toward the base of a large cliff. Continue along the base of the cliff to the first safety cable and around to the second cable where steps have been cut into the slickrock. Corona Arch is visible from this point. From the top of the second cable climb up over a short ledge and follow the cairns up to the top of the large bench. From this point, it is an easy walk along the broad slickrock bench to the base of Corona Arch. | ||
| Fisher Towers Trail | |||
| Distance: | Rating: | ||
| Elevation: | Total Ascent: | ||
| Trailhead: | |||
| Description: | See our Fisher Towers page for details. | ||
| Moab Rim Trail | |||
| Distance: | 3 miles one way to its junction with the Hidden Valley Trail. | Rating: | |
| Elevation: | Total Ascent: | ||
| Trailhead: | On Kane Creek Boulevard, 2.6 miles northwest of its intersection with U.S. Highway 191 in Moab (.1 mile beyond the first cattle guard). | ||
| Description: | Slickrock and primitive road. Good views of the Colorado River, the Moab Valley, and the sandstone fins of the Behind the Rocks area. From the parking area, follow the 4-wheel-drive vehicle route up the slickrock ramps of Kayenta sandstone. After about 1.4 miles, the route reaches a viewpoint of the Moab Valley. Follow the vehicle route south and then down through a slickrock area located between two large domes of Navajo sandstone. At the base of the slickrock area, the route continues along a wash bottom and then up a large sand hill. From the top of the sand hill, the route branches twice to the left. The first spur on the left leads to a viewpoint high above Spanish Valley. The second spur route ends after 200 yards at another view point. Ahead, to the south, the view is dominated by a long ridge of massive sandstone fins. From the second spur, the main route drops down into a wash and then climbs in an easterly direction to its terminus just below the pass to Hidden Valley. | ||
| Negro Bill Canyon Trail | |||
| Distance: | Rating: | ||
| Elevation: | Total Ascent: | ||
| Trailhead: | |||
| Description: | To Morning Glory Bridge. See our personal notes on this hike. | ||
| Portal Overlook Trail | |||
| Distance: | 2 miles one way to the Portal Overlook | Rating: | |
| Elevation: | Total Ascent: | ||
| Trailhead: | This trail starts at JayCee Park Recreation Site, located along Utah Scenic Byway 279, 4.2 miles west of the junction of Utah 279 and U.S. 191. | ||
| Description: | The constructed and slickrock trail goes to the Portal Overlook where there are panoramic views of the Moab Valley, the La Sal Mountains, the Colorado River, and the south portal. From JayCee Park, follow the hiking trail up the Colorado toward the river "portal." From the trailside visitor register box, the trail begins its climb to the viewpoint. After several switchbacks, the trail follows a cairned route up "ramps" of Kayenta sandstone to the overlook. Be cautious around the overlook as there are no safety fences. This trail is frequently used by mountain bikers riding down from the mesa top. During late afternoons in the summer, this trail is largely in the shade of higher cliffs. | ||
Not Hiked
- Hunter Canyon Trail
- Pritchett Canyon Trail
