Accessible Adventures in Moab, Utah: What Worked for Us
This past February, we visited Ouray, Colorado, where Chris went ice climbing (I did not ice climb, lol). Since Moab, Utah, was only a two-hour drive away, we decided to spend two nights there, and it turned out to be an amazing experience.
What Helped:
Traveled in the Off-Season: Visiting in February meant no crowds and cooler weather, ranging from the 20s to 60s Fahrenheit. Given that I’m heat intolerant, I was thrilled to explore this desert city without having to deal with intense heat.
One of our favorite discoveries was a secluded mountain path. We drove around the pass and enjoyed awesome views. Along the way, we stumbled upon some incredible petroglyphs known as the “Birthing Rock Petroglyphs.” The rock art is thought to cover three different periods: Anasazi (AD 1 to AD 1275), Fremont (AD 450 to AD 1250), and Ute (AD 1200’s to AD 1880).
Hurrah Pass
Hurrah Pass
Location: The petroglyphs are located about 6.3 miles from Moab. To get there, take Kane Creek Blvd west and continue onto the dirt road after crossing the cattle guard. Continue for 1.4 miles on the gravel road to the pull-out on the west side. From there, walk about 75 feet west downhill to the big boulder with the rock art.
Birthing Rock Petroglyphs
We also caught the sunrise at Mesa Arch. Getting up early and doing the 0.7-mile hike to reach the arch felt like quite an accomplishment for me. It’s fairly accessible, though not for everyone—especially when it’s snowy or icy. Despite it being sunrise, there were quite a few people lined up to take photos of this iconic spot. Normally we avoid “touristy” spots but this was one place that was worth visiting. While huddling in the cold waiting for the sun to rise, we met a professional photographer who had been there since 2am shooting the Milky Way. You can purchase his incredible photography prints here.
Hiking to Mesa Arch
Sunrise under Mesa Arch
Sunrise next to Mesa Arch
Another highlight was driving through Arches National Park. There were hardly any visitors, and we found several pull-off spots you can easily walk to.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park
We watched the sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park, where you can drive right up to the edge of the canyon. The views were breathtaking.
Dead Horse Canyon at sunset
Dead Horse Canyon at sunset
During our stay, we stayed at the FieldStation Hotel, and we loved it! Chris appreciated how it was geared toward adventurers. The room was very comfortable and provided ample space for gear, bikes, dogs, etc. I particularly enjoyed the coffee shop in the lobby, the pool and hot tub (while hot tubs are usually a no-go when you have POTS, I can sometimes tolerate and find it relaxing in cooler weather), and the outdoor seating area with a fire pit.
FieldStation Hotel Outdoor Seating
Exploring Downtown Moab: The downtown area of Moab was another highlight of our trip. I love finding cute coffee shops, bookstores, and shops featuring locally made or sourced items, and Moab had plenty of those. Chris, on the other hand, loves exploring adventure and gear shops, and the downtown area had him covered as well. Plus, we were pleasantly surprised by the variety of great dining options available, making it the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring.
Overall, we highly recommend Moab, Utah, for accessible travel in February. Have you been to Moab before? We’d love to hear about your experience!