Best Kid-Friendly Hikes Near Moab, Utah

Moab is one of the best family hiking destinations in the American West, but not every trail is appropriate for kids. The region has genuinely easy trails — flat, short, with big scenery payoff — and trails that are technically accessible but will exhaust younger children before the good part. This list covers the hikes that actually work for kids, including ages, distances, and what makes each one worth doing.

Corona Arch: The Best Payoff Near Moab

Distance: 3 miles round trip Elevation gain: ~400 feet Best for: Kids 7 and up

Corona Arch is one of the most rewarding short hikes in the Moab area. The trail crosses open slickrock, clips through a short section of chain-assisted climbing (the chains make it easier, not harder), and arrives at a massive freestanding arch that frames the canyon beyond it.

The trail is well-marked with cairns on slickrock. It's more physically interesting than a paved path, which most kids 7 and older appreciate. The arch itself is enormous — 140 feet wide — and feels nothing like the roadside viewpoints in Arches National Park.

Parking: Corona Arch trailhead on Highway 279 (Potash Road), approximately 10 miles from Moab. No reservation required. Fees: BLM land — no entrance fee.

Grandstaff Canyon: Shade, Water, and a Natural Bridge

Distance: 4.5 miles round trip Elevation gain: Minimal, roughly 200 feet Best for: Kids 5 and up

Grandstaff Canyon — renamed from Negro Bill Canyon in 2017, after the Black rancher William Grandstaff who settled here in the 1870s — follows a perennial stream through a canyon shaded by cottonwood and tamarisk. The trail crosses the creek multiple times — kids treat this as a feature, not an inconvenience. The destination is Morning Glory Natural Bridge, one of the largest natural bridges in the US, tucked into a shaded alcove at the head of the canyon.

This trail stays cool longer than open slickrock hikes and has water sound throughout, which helps in the heat. The path is well-worn and easy to follow. The only real effort is the last quarter mile, which gains elevation to the bridge viewpoint.

Parking: Grandstaff Canyon trailhead off Highway 128, about 3 miles from Moab. Parking is limited — arrive early on weekends. Fees: BLM land — no entrance fee.

Gemini Bridges: Geology Win for Kids

Distance: 1.5 miles one-way (most families do it as a shuttle hike, or out-and-back from top) Elevation gain: Minimal if approached from the top trailhead Best for: Kids 6 and up

Two natural rock bridges span a canyon side by side — the Gemini Bridges. The most family-friendly approach is from the upper trailhead (14 miles north of Moab on Highway 313), which eliminates most of the elevation gain. It's a short walk to a viewpoint directly above the bridges.

Kids who are comfortable near edges will enjoy hanging out above the canyon. Bring a snack, take the photos, and make it a morning outing.

Parking: Upper trailhead on Highway 313. Four-wheel-drive approach exists from below but is not necessary for the upper viewpoint. Fees: BLM land — no entrance fee.

Courthouse Wash Rock Art Panel

Distance: 0.8 miles round trip Elevation gain: Negligible Best for: All ages, including toddlers

This is the flattest, easiest hike on the list. The trail follows the bank of Courthouse Wash to a large panel of Fremont-era rock art — petroglyphs and pictographs painted and carved into the canyon wall. It's a meaningful historical site in a very short distance.

Courthouse Wash is also one of the few trails in Arches National Park (it starts just inside the park entrance) that doesn't require timed entry reservations. The panel is free to visit with an Arches pass, and the trail is wide, flat, and completely manageable for small children.

Note: Stay behind the barrier at the panel. The rock art is over 1,000 years old and is damaged by touch.

Parking: Courthouse Wash parking area, just inside the Arches National Park entrance station.

Fisher Towers: Short Walk, Maximum Drama

Distance: 0.5 miles round trip to first viewpoint; 4.4 miles for the full trail Elevation gain: Minimal for the short version Best for: All ages for the short version; kids 8+ for the full trail

The Fisher Towers are a cluster of ancient sandstone spires rising 900 feet from the canyon floor. The full trail is long and gains substantial elevation — too much for young kids. But the first half-mile along the base of the towers delivers enormous scenery for almost no effort.

Walk in until the towers fill the sky, let the kids run around on the sandy trail, take the photos, and turn around. The trailhead has vault toilets and picnic tables.

Distance from Moab: 21 miles northeast on Highway 128. Paved road all the way. Fees: BLM land — no entrance fee.

Practical Notes for Hiking Near Moab with Kids

Water: Bring more than you think. The Moab desert is dry — water evaporates off skin without leaving sweat marks, which tricks you into thinking you're not losing fluid. A general rule: 16–20 oz of water per person per hour of hiking in warm weather.

Sun: Sunscreen before you leave the car. Wide-brim hats for everyone. Lightweight long-sleeve shirts provide better protection than sunscreen alone.

Timing: Most Moab hikes in summer should be finished by noon. Start at 7 AM or earlier if temperatures are above 85°F. In spring and fall, midday heat is manageable.

Footwear: Trail runners or hiking sandals with secure straps for older kids. Avoid flip-flops on any slickrock terrain. For toddlers, closed-toe shoes with grip.

Leave No Trace: Moab's trails see intense use. Stay on trail, pack out all trash, and teach kids not to disturb rocks, plants, or cryptobiotic soil crust (the dark, lumpy crust visible alongside trails — it takes decades to grow back after being stepped on).