V19E9: Traversing Moab’s Rugged Moonscape

Wow! This is a great, somewhat lesser known dispersed camping area on a canyon rim on BLM land, overlooking Canyonlands National Park. Given that, if you visit this spot, please treat it with respect and minimize your impact, so that it remains open. Phenomenal views of the canyon to the south, and while the road requires four-wheel drive, it is accessible by vehicles with lower clearance like a AWD wagon, or a 4x4 Sprinter van. We managed to get here in our 2021 Winnebago Revel with some amount of care. There are multiple campsites along the rim with primitive stone fire rings, all offering great views. Enough room for a few overland vehicles per site. Privacy is moderate. While this is not the most popular rim, it is still known by many, so expect to have neighbors during the busier seasons. Cell service is weak, but great view of the sky for Starlink. Recommended. We'll probably prefer this site for future visits to the Moab area.

On the edge of the rim, overlooking Canyonlands National Park, there is this curious, old wooden hoist. While I'm by no means an expert, it might've been used to lift water, coal, or cattle up from the canyon floor. It's a curiosity in the Moab desert and might be worth a visit. Just a short walk from dispersed campsites located along the rim.

This is a moderate difficulty and mostly scenic 4x4 safari route, located in the backcountry northwest of Moab. It's passable for a stock 4x4 with decent ground clearance from the factory, with the exception of a couple of tall ledges that would cause a stock vehicle to bottom out. Great care needs to be taken with these ledges, but otherwise, the trail is a relaxing stroll through the desert, next to a towering red rock plateau.

The approximate location of the tall ledges along the Rainbow Terrace 4x4 route. My Jeep with three inches of lift and 35 inch tires had just enough clearance to traverse these ledges without bottoming out. However, I had to use great care to do it cleanly. A stock vehicle should be expected to bottom out. Beyond this point to the north, the trail resumes being low-difficulty.

This is a designated attraction in Moab's backcountry; a natural tunnel cut through the sandstone, about 25 meters from opening to opening, with a well traveled footpath running through it. It is asseble via hiking trail, or by four-wheel drive route. The four-wheel drive route is colorful over varied slabs of sandstone, is fun, but not too difficult. The parking area is only a very short walk away from the natural feature if you arrive by vehicle. The northern end of the tunnel features a picturesque canyon. It is a really interesting natural formation, and a recommended attraction especially if you have been driving and wish to park and stretch your legs. The tunnel is safe. There are likely hidden critters, but nothing that will eat you. A flashlight is helpful, but not necessary.

This is a nice, secluded, spacious, primitive campsite, deep in Moab's backcountry, that is likely often overlooked. While it very obviously gets decent use, as the stone fire ring looked recently used during my visit, I would expect this spot to be available most of the time. There is a spectacular sandstone mound due north, and cell service is poor, but some text messages managed to squeak through. Should be a decent view of the sky for Starlink, if needed. It isn't far from a canyon rim, and is a bit exposed to weather coming in from the west, so best to stay here in fair conditions. It does require four-wheel drive to access, but almost any vehicle should be able to access with very few obstacles on the short BLM track. I believe our Winnebago Revel could get here, no problem. Spacious enough for three to five vehicles, so it is a great group camping spot. It would be fun to explore this area on foot. This spot is recommended if you are looking for a hidden campsite in an otherwise popular area for dispersed camping.