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Running along the southern border of Utah’s famed Arches National Park, the Moab Canyon Pathway offers plenty of “wow” moments. The nearly 13-mile route follows Old Highway 191, which was converted into a paved, off-road trail. On its northwestern tip, the trail also parallels an active railroad line for 0.4 miles in a rail-with-trail configuration.
About the Route
The trail leaves from the north end of Moab and after about 2 miles arrives at the Colorado Riverway Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge (a beautiful structure itself), just off Highway 128. From there, it leaves the river valley and climbs gradually as it heads northwest through the red sandstone cliffs of Moab Canyon.
After traveling about 2 miles from the Colorado River crossing, trail users can leave the trail to enter Arches National Park (arriving at a visitor center and parking lot) or continue on the trail as it parallels Highway 191 to the trail’s end at Highway 313. (Trail users not intimidated by on-road riding could continue biking on Highway 313 and head southwest for 24 miles to Dead Horse Point State Park or 35 miles to Canyonlands National Park, but note that the experience will be a challenging climb.)
As the trail approaches the north end of its route, trail users will pass the Gemini Bridges Trailhead, which sits at the beginning of a popular 16-mile roundtrip mountain biking and ATV trail.
Electric bikes are allowed on this trail.
The Moab Canyon Pathway runs between Highway 131 (Moab), where parking is available, and 998 N Main St (Moab).
Parking is also available at the Grand County Transit Hub, and the Courthouse Wash Trail Parking along Highway 191.
These are approximate addresses. Please see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
After doing research...Ebikes are allowed on the Moab Canyon Pathway!!
Sad to hear that electric bikes are not allowed on this trail. I am 65 and can no longer ride a regular bike. I am able to continue enjoying cycling with the use of an electric bike. I thought that all Utah trails were open to senior cyclists on all types of bikes. So disappointed!
Recently visited Moab and parked at Lions Park to enjoy the Canyon Parkway.We headed east initially and road to the end which is approximately 4 miles.All along the Colorado River with the bright orange canyon cliffs towering on both sides.Must have ridden this section half a dozen times as the changing light continually provided different effects depending on the time of day we rode.Did cross the Colorado River bridge and rode on to The Arches but the park was not yet open because of Corona issues.Not a long ride but the scenery and well maintained trail surface are tough to beat.They working on the trail to town from Lions Park but not completed at this time!
Spending a week in Park City, we had to visit Moab and The Arches NP. What an unearthly locale in our beautiful land! We, West TN flatlanders, were planning to ride the “family friendly” pathway, but on the journey to the NP I knew my family and I were not up to the grade challenge. Not letting that deter us, we got up early in the morning and hiked up the pathway. I started early in the morning by walking east of our hotel over the pedestrian bridge that spans the CO River to the second bend; totally worth it! Then I woke my family up and we began the journey up & west. If you have legs, gears & lungs the trail is awesome albeit the road noise at first. You travel from the river through painted canyons to the windy plateau which is chocked-full of great views and mountain bike trail accesses. Bring plenty of water (C-store at the top) and check your bike’s braking system before descending.
Good trail for connecting with other single track trails north of town. Nicely done trail. Worthy of a check out.
This is a very worthy trail to do, either on its own or a way to connect up to other trails/areas. The scenery is outstanding. One could skip the short, boring section that delves into north Moab town, unless you want the extra mile or so on your odometer. A good bit of the remainder is along highway but still mostly pleasant (especially the section along the river) depending on the amount of traffic. After you pass Arches NP bearing north and start up the healthy climb, it gets further and further from the road and its noise until you connect again to it around Gemini Bridges road.
The path itself is wide, in excellent shape, and amazingly smooth... especially for asphalt (they apply some sort of black sealant/coating to it). Unlike concrete, there are no expansion joints or other cracks. It is like having a perfect country road all to yourself. Heavy rains and/or winds could deposit sand and other things on the path. There are 2 cattle guards to be wary of that come up fast on the ripping downhill section... but I guess those help keep you closer to the 20 mph posted speed limit! ;-)
As to when do this path, this is the wide open desert on a very black surface; summer time would be blazing hot. To me, mid-late fall and early-mid spring and nice winter stretches are the time to be in the Utah desert.
I was surprised to see a review saying there wasn't much of a hill(s). There is a 1.3 mile 7% grade and much of the way heading south it is downhill. It was certainly a challenge going back up! However - it was awesome and I am so happy it was here! The surface as of September 2017 was superb, and at one of the southern spots to get on the trail the county was out making sure they had removed sand from the trail which had washed in on it during some rains. Looks like lots of mountain bike trails which branch off from the Moab Canyon pathway. The views are grand and it is was just a blast!!
This is a great ride for road and recreational riders, no hills to speak of and the scenery is beautiful. You can take along your swimming trunks just in case you want to cool off in the Colorado river. Even the hardcore mountain bikers would enjoy this ride after a few hard days on the slick rock.
Did this trail on inline skates in July 2015. A great excercise, especially the climb midway up on to the plateau. Downhill two cattle grids adds to the experience though...:)
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