We are pleased to present a new Solo Travel Destination Post from Christine, a member of the Solo Travel Society. Christine is from the United States, and submitted the following report about Moab, Utah. Do you have a solo travel destination that you would like to recommend? Submit your description here, along with a few photos, and share it with fellow travelers!
Solo travel rating: 1 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult. Please see chart below)
Languages spoken: English
Arches National Park
Reasons to go: Although there are many fascinating travel destinations abroad, within the United States lies a plethora of exciting places as well for a solo traveler to explore. Moab, Utah combines the beauty and tranquility of the West with the feel of a small town that embraces adventure seekers from around the globe!
Moab's most spectacular attractions are its two National Parks, Arches and Canyonlands, and its equally amazing State Park, Dead Horse. Each of these parks is easily accessible from the town, but you will require your own transportation to enter the parks. These parks are also popular for hikers and mountain bikers, but I recommend that you bring sufficient water and a GPS in order to find your way back to the trailhead!
Dead Horse State Park, the furthest from town, butts right up against Canyonlands National Park and affords amazing views of the Colorado River. Canyonlands is quite large and requires a considerable amount of driving to reach popular points within, but the views and hiking trails are worth the effort. I recommend conducting driving tours with a lot of picture stops through both of these parks to complete them together in one day.
Arches National Park, my favorite of the three, offers the most scenic views and best marked hiking trails. You will need at least one day to hike to some of the most spectacular rock formations in the country. The 1.5 mile hike up to the Delicate Arch is a must! You will meet lots of friendly hikers along the trails in all of the parks.
Moab has plenty of lodging in town, however, I would definitely book in advance and make sure there are no events during your stay because accommodations can fill up quickly. The town itself is quite small and one can easily walk to all the little shops and eateries. My favorite local eatery is Eddie McStiff's Brew Pub – the atmosphere is lively and you have a good mix of locals and tourists. The place is packed in the evenings with adventurers recounting all of the great places they visited in the park!
Moab, Utah is by far one of my favorite places I've visited in the U.S. and I can't wait to get back and re-trace some of my steps!
Canyonlands National Park.
Me, after hiking the 1.5 miles up to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.
Solo Travel Destination Rating System
Safety – 1 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)
Language – 1 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)
Navigation – 2 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)
Culture – 1 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)
Average Rating – 1 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult)