Colorado River, Moab: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

The Colorado River runs through red sandstone canyon country surrounding Moab, Utah, carving the landscape that defines two nearby national parks—Arches and Canyonlands. The river section through Moab’s portal, where 300-meter canyon walls flank the water, is a popular rafting corridor with Class II–III rapids on the daily section and Class IV rapids in Cataract Canyon downstream. State Route 128 follows the river northeast from Moab for 70 kilometers through red rock formations. The Fisher Towers, dark-red Cutler sandstone pinnacles up to 275 meters tall, rise east of the river along this stretch. is just one of many options in Moab. Major attractions worth considering include Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Cataract Canyon.