Salt Lake City, Utah

Is it the journey’s end, or just the beginning? From our hub in Salt Lake you are offered unparalleled access to world class wilderness. Explore the vastness of the Canyonlands and the wild geology of Moab’s Arches or take your road trip up into the dizzying heights of the Rocky Mountains. Pick a road that leads to Salt Lake City and start driving. The great, wild West awaits.

With flights to and from any location you’d care to name, Salt Lake City is an ideal base from which to launch your big Western road trip. With the Great Salt Lake and Utah’s most famous mountains close at hand and the rest of the West just beyond, your luxury Moterra campervan is ready to take you on the adventure of a lifetime through the desert, round trip or one way to Las Vegas. Hit the road from March until May, and again in September through November, while the weather is mild and typically free of snow.

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POPULAR TRIPS IN THIS REGION

Arches + Canyonlands (6 nights)

ADDRESS

Salt Lake City, Utah

SEASON DATES

Fall 2020 | September- November
Spring 2021 | February- May

DISTANCES

Arches National Parks

Just outside of the legendary adventure destination of Moab, Utah and across the Colorado River from Canyonlands National Park are the eponymous stone arches of Arches National Park, balancing in defiance of age and common sense. Worn away by the wind, rain and snow of the passing millenia, the ribbon-like fins of sandstone become thinner and thinner, eventually crumbling away to form the vast balancing arches of this unique National Park. Immerse yourself in this alien landscape by whatever means suits you. Bike, hike, climb, or drive among the towering stone appendages that thrust out from the earth at every turn and marvel at these natural wonders of the world.

Climb

Scale the cliff faces surrounding the arches and gain a new perspective on these unique natural structures.

Hike

Venture forth on any of the numerous trails ranging from a quick jaunt out to see the Landscape Arch to steep and rocky scrambles on the Primitive Trail.

Camp

Pull over the van for the night at the Devil’s Garden Campground under the stars and surrounded by the fins, spires, and arches that give this unique national park its name.

Drive

Cruise the famous scenic scenic paved roads to see the Delicate Arch and many others from the comfort of your van or switch to 4×4 to traverse the Salt Valley Road past the Klondike bluffs and on to Tower Arch trailhead.

Canyonlands National Park

Author and frequent appreciator of the canyonlands once called it “the most weird, wonderful, magical place on earth” and it’s hard not to agree. Two powerful churning rivers, the Colorado and the Green intertwine and snake through this colorful landscape of narrow twisting canyons, scorched mesas, and towering buttes. Get lost in this unparalleled desert wilderness that draws hikers, bikers, climbers and adventure seekers from all over the world to its infinite secret nooks and corners. Once you’ve had a taste, you will agree that “there is nothing else like it anywhere.”

Hike

Wander the Island in the Sky trails with views of monumental sandstone features and incredible vistas.

Bike

Ride the White Rim Road or any other section of the hundreds of miles of dirt and gravel roads throughout the park.

Drive

Switch on the four-wheel drive and tackle the White Rim Road, a 71.2 mile track that traverses an ancient sandstone formation.

Float

Explore the Colorado and Green rivers by canoe and kayak or brave the epic confluence of these two powerful waterways on a guided raft trip.

Dead Horse State Park

Perched high up on the northeast rim of Canyonlands national park, Dead Horse Point is a jaw-dropping vista into one of America’s greatest National Parks. While Canyonlands confines its cyclists to dirt roads, Dead Horse has 17 miles of singletrack mountain bike trails with loops of varying difficulty. Pull over the van and take full advantage of all that this gem has to offer.

Bike

Ride for miles on singletrack loops with unforgettable backdrops.

Camp

Park your Moterra Van at one of two campgrounds in the park with amenities like electrical hook-ups, tent pads, and a coffee shop.

Hike

Along the East and West Rim trail system and look out across Canyonlands National Park from above.

Relax

Pop open your doors and relax with a beverage from the fridge or the cafe as you take in the view from the comfort of your luxury Moterra campervan.

Monument Valley

Pillars and buttresses of rock and sand tower over you, mighty testaments to times long past in a desert that is immediately familiar. As you gaze out upon natural monuments the size of skyscrapers, you recognize the view from its myriad appearances in the great Western films of John Ford and Sergio Leone. Explore the iconic roads of the greatest film set on Earth and realize that this landscape has been the scene of dramas eons-old that no camera will ever capture. All activities in Monument Valley Tribal Park require a guide, but the knowledgeable local pros add a wealth of natural and cultural value to the experience of this incredible place.

4WD

Downsize for a day for a jeep tour of the park on the same dusty trails that John Wayne would have ridden.

Hike

Hike in the shadow of giants and see the monuments up close.

Horseback

Explore on horseback the iconic trails and pathways travelled for hundreds of years by the Navajo people.

Bike

Bike the roads or incredible trails of this impossible landscape.

Capitol Reef

Sandstone reefs 65 million years-old fold and curl across the landscape in a dramatic display of ancient geological forces. Explore twisting canyons and improbable rock formations, then park for a night under the stars at the historic Fruita Orchards, originally planted by Mormon settlers over 150 years ago. Located squarely between Bryce Canyon and Canyonlands, this incredible geological oddity is a perfect stop along the way or a trip unto itself as you get lost in rock, desert, and history.

Hike

Hike the folded canyons and explore the impossible domes and pinnacles of this ancient and rugged landscape.

Canyon

Plunge into the twisting folds of the Navajo and Wingate sandstone canyons.

Bike

Park the van and explore the beautiful paved and unpaved roads of this special place by pedal power.

Stargazing

In an area with some of the lowest light pollution in the country, pull out a blanket and look to the stars for a breathtaking night below the heavens.

There are thirty-three State Parks, five National Parks, four National Forests, seven National Monuments, two National Historic Sites, two National wildlife refuges and three national recreation areas located in Utah – not to mention the roughly 22.9 million acres of public land managed by the BLM. Click below for a free copy of our Moterra Parks of the Desert Southwest Insider Recommendation List for recommended itineraries and more information to help guide your travels.

Or, take away the guesswork by using our Our Travel Planning Service. Our team of experts can do everything from booking activities and campgrounds, to steering you towards our favorite hidden gems of Utah experiences.

Campgrounds book fast in Utah’s parks, especially in the spring and fall when the weather is the most agreeable. We recommend making campground reservations as far in advance as possible. If some campgrounds fill before you grab a spot, we can provide a number of alternative camping options.

INSIDER RECOMMENDATION LIST MOTERRA TRIP PLANNING

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