MoabOutdoor Escape Game & Treasure Hunt

From Ancient Trails to Mormon Settlements

The Moab Valley, a natural crossing point of the Colorado River, has been a thoroughfare for nearly 10,000 years. Nomadic Indigenous groups traveled through the area. Around 2,000 years ago, ancestral Puebloans, early agriculturalists, settled in the Four Corners region, leaving artifacts that date back 4,000 years. The Ute people later moved into the area in the 1700s.

The first Europeans to explore the region were led by Spanish explorer Juan Rivera in 1776. In 1855, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent 41 men to establish the Elk Mountain Mission, a trading outpost where the Old Spanish Trail crossed the Colorado River. This mission, intended as a control point on the trail between New Mexico and California, was abandoned in September 1855 due to conflicts with the Ute people.

Permanent settlement by ranchers and cowboys began in the 1880s. The town was platted in 1884, and in 1890, Grand County was established with Moab as its county seat. William Pierce, a local farmer, suggested the name "Moab," referencing the biblical land described as a dry, sandy wilderness, which mirrored the local climate. However, 59 residents complained to the County Court, arguing the name was "unfavorably commemorative of the character of an incestuous and idolatrous community."

The Uranium Boom and Beyond

While farming and ranching sustained Moab for decades, mining for vanadium, first identified in 1912 near Cisco, and uranium began to play a role. The town experienced a transformation in the 1950s with the Cold War-driven uranium boom. In 1952, prospector Charlie Steen discovered one of the country's richest uranium deposits in the Lisbon Valley, southeast of Moab. This discovery, known as the Mi Vida Mine, triggered a mineral rush, drawing thousands of prospectors and their families to Moab. Moab's population surged from 1,200 to 6,500 in a few years, earning it the title "uranium capital of the world." The boom was short-lived, peaking around 1958 and declining in the 1960s as demand for uranium decreased.

Beginning in the 1970s, Moab's economy shifted towards tourism, a trend that accelerated with the completion of I-70. Today, Moab is a hub for outdoor recreation, drawing visitors to its surrounding national parks and wilderness areas.

• —Moab Museum — This museum presents the region's human and natural history, with artifacts spanning 12,000 years. Exhibits include dinosaur bones, mining displays from the 1950s uranium boom, and pioneer history. A hand-carved relief map of the 900 square miles surrounding Moab is also on display.
• —Grand County Courthouse — This building on East Center Street serves as a civic landmark. It reflects the town's development since Grand County was established in 1890.
• —Matheson Wetlands Preserve — This riparian habitat along the Colorado River offers opportunities for birdwatching. A viewpoint allows observation of diverse wildlife in an ecosystem different from the surrounding desert.
• —Old City Park — A green space in central Moab, providing an area for relaxation and community gatherings.
• —Main Street — A walk along Main Street reveals historic buildings that show Moab's past as a farming community, a "Wild West" town, and a uranium boomtown.
• —Colorado Riverway Trail — This trail offers viewpoints of the Colorado River, which has been central to Moab's history as a travel route and a source of water for agriculture.
• —Swanny City Park — A central park in Moab, offering recreational facilities and open space.

The best times to visit Moab are Spring (March to May) and Fall (September to November) due to mild temperatures suitable for outdoor activities. In Spring, daytime temperatures range from 60s to 80s°F (16-27°C), with wildflowers and higher water levels in the Colorado River for rafting. Fall offers similar temperatures, usually 70s-80s°F (21-27°C) in September and 60s°F (16-21°C) in October, with light for photography.

Summer (June to August) is hot, with daily highs often reaching 95-100°F (35-38°C) or more in July, making early morning or late evening activities more practical. Winter (December to February) is cold, with average highs around 30-50°F (-1 to 10°C) and occasional snow, offering a quieter experience with fewer crowds. Avoid Easter Jeep Safari Week in Spring, as the town becomes crowded.

Moab is served by Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY), about 17 miles (27 km) north of town. For those flying into larger airports, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is approximately a 3.5 to 4-hour drive away.

Within Moab, the Moab Area Transit (MAT) offers a fare-free public transit system using 12-passenger vans. There is a fixed route along Main Street, running daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. during peak season (March 16 – October 15). MAT also provides an on-demand service for curb-to-curb transportation within a broader service area, available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vans can be tracked and rides scheduled via the Moab Area Transit app or by calling 833-MAT-FREE.

Parking is available throughout downtown Moab on most city streets and in public lots. Free public parking lots are on West Center Street and at the north end of Moab on Emma Boulevard and Maxine Boulevard. Overnight parking and sleeping in vehicles are not allowed in public lots or on city streets. For multi-day parking, the Canyonlands Regional Airport lot is a free, patrolled option, and Lion's Park is an option for shuttle staging.