About Moab
Moab is a town in the Utah's Canyon Country and a gateway to the nearby Arches National Park and other attractions in Canyon Country.
Moab is a unique Western community situated in the red rock country of Southeastern Utah on the Colorado River. Arches National Park is only six miles from downtown and Canyonlands National Park is 32 miles from Moab. The city is surrounded by public lands which are used not only for grazing, drilling, and forestry but for recreation such as mountain biking, hiking, rafting, rock climbing, and cross-country skiing. Because the area is rich in these recreational opportunities, Moab has become the hub of tourist activity and services.
show full Wikitravel description
Moab is a unique Western community situated in the red rock country of Southeastern Utah on the Colorado River. Arches National Park is only six miles from downtown and Canyonlands National Park is 32 miles from Moab. The city is surrounded by public lands which are used not only for grazing, drilling, and forestry but for recreation such as mountain biking, hiking, rafting, rock climbing, and cross-country skiing. Because the area is rich in these recreational opportunities, Moab has become the hub of tourist activity and services.
Interesting Facts About Moab:
1. Interesting fact: The name Moab comes from an ancient Biblical kingdom.
2. Weird fact: Moab is not named after a Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb. The "Mother of All Bombs" is a 21,000-pound explosive.
3. Eerie fact: Popular breakfast spot the Jailhouse Café used to be an actual jail. In the late 1800s the building was the area's first county courthouse.
4. Fun fact: In 1991, Nike released their Nike Air Mowabb hybrid running/hiking shoe. Schwinn produces the Moab Mountain Bike.
5. Random fact: Humans have occupied Moab for a long time: two nearby petroglyphs (images pecked into a rock wall by ancient people) depict what might be a woolly mammoth.
6. Historical fact: Moab hosted a uranium boom in the 1950s after prospector Charlie Steen hit it big.
7. Cool historical fact: Moab is near The Old Spanish Trail. Its 1,000-mile length was heavily used for centuries as a Santa Fe-Los Angeles trade route.
8. Fun outdoor fact: Moab is a mountain biking mecca. Its Slickrock Bike Trail is one of the most technically challenging ones in the world.
9. Weird fact: Dead Horse Point State Park borders Canyonlands National Park. Nineteenth century cowboys corralled wild horses onto the point, which created a natural barrier to escape. Supposedly a herd was left on the point and died of thirst.
10. Outlaw fact: Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch gang got into many robberies and shootouts with Moab's lawmen. Their Robbers Roost hideout was in a wild maze of canyons east of town.
11. Daring fact: The famous Colorado River was first successfully rafted by explorer John Wesley Powell in 1869.
12. Silly name fact: Delicate Arch in Arches National Park has been nicknamed Cowboy Chaps, Old Maid's Bloomers, and License Plate Arch.
2. Weird fact: Moab is not named after a Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb. The "Mother of All Bombs" is a 21,000-pound explosive.
3. Eerie fact: Popular breakfast spot the Jailhouse Café used to be an actual jail. In the late 1800s the building was the area's first county courthouse.
4. Fun fact: In 1991, Nike released their Nike Air Mowabb hybrid running/hiking shoe. Schwinn produces the Moab Mountain Bike.
5. Random fact: Humans have occupied Moab for a long time: two nearby petroglyphs (images pecked into a rock wall by ancient people) depict what might be a woolly mammoth.
6. Historical fact: Moab hosted a uranium boom in the 1950s after prospector Charlie Steen hit it big.
7. Cool historical fact: Moab is near The Old Spanish Trail. Its 1,000-mile length was heavily used for centuries as a Santa Fe-Los Angeles trade route.
8. Fun outdoor fact: Moab is a mountain biking mecca. Its Slickrock Bike Trail is one of the most technically challenging ones in the world.
9. Weird fact: Dead Horse Point State Park borders Canyonlands National Park. Nineteenth century cowboys corralled wild horses onto the point, which created a natural barrier to escape. Supposedly a herd was left on the point and died of thirst.
10. Outlaw fact: Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch gang got into many robberies and shootouts with Moab's lawmen. Their Robbers Roost hideout was in a wild maze of canyons east of town.
11. Daring fact: The famous Colorado River was first successfully rafted by explorer John Wesley Powell in 1869.
12. Silly name fact: Delicate Arch in Arches National Park has been nicknamed Cowboy Chaps, Old Maid's Bloomers, and License Plate Arch.
©
NileGuide
More Moab descriptions
Frommer's
...has evolved into a popular base camp for mountain bikers, four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, hikers, kayakers, and rafters eager to explore the red-rock canyon country that dominates southeastern Utah. A drive down Main Street confirms that yes, this is a tourist town, with scores of businesses catering to visitors.
show full Frommer's description
Not far from the Colorado River, Moab sits in a green valley among striking red sandstone cliffs, a setting that has lured Hollywood filmmakers for hits such as John Wayne's The Comancheros, the biblical epic The Greatest Story Ever Told, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Thelma and Louise, and City Slickers II.
It's also become a favorite location for Madison Avenue. Remember those...
Moab weather
Updated: May 18 07:14 AM UTC
5 day forecast
-
MAY 18
- chance of a thunderstorm
- 75°F
- 46°F
MAY 19
- partly cloudy
- 68°F
- 48°F
MAY 20
- partly cloudy
- 70°F
- 48°F
MAY 21
- clear
- 77°F
- 52°F
MAY 22
- partly cloudy
- 82°F
- 54°F
fahrenheit / celsius
- Ask a Local
- Locals have answered 4 questions about Moab.
- Ask Moab Locals
- Explore
- There are 57 Hotels in Moab.
- Find More Moab Hotels
- Top Categories
- Explore Moab travel or check out Tours, Cheap Restaurants, Bars, and more on NileGuide. You can also check out top itineraries in Moab
