Fun Fact Fiesta Logo

Discover Moab's Secrets: Top 12 Amazing Fun Facts You Never Knew About This Adventure Paradise

illustration of moab
Get ready to uncover the remarkable gems hidden within Moab's stunning landscapes and fascinating history as we venture through a collection of captivating fun facts!

1. Postcard Paradise for Adrenaline Junkies

What do you get when you cross a postcard paradise with an adrenaline junkie's dream? A place that leaves geologists drooling and adventure enthusiasts craving more: Moab, Utah is home to the visually stunning Arches National Park and the captivating Canyonlands National Park. With a myriad of outdoor activities for every age, this hidden gem has something for every explorer, no matter how old or young!
Source => fullsuitcase.com

2. Outlaw's Dream Hideout

Before "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" rolled into Hollywood, they were busy finding their Wild West haven in the cutthroat competitive world of hide-and-seek: Moab, a popular hideout in the late 1800s, provided the perfect terrain for Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch to frequent due to its deep canyons and mountains, making it an outlaw's dream destination.
Source => moabmuseum.org

3. Birthplace of US Mountain Biking

In the land before lycra, where knobby tires ruled the dirt roads: Moab's Rim Cyclery was responsible for kickstarting the mountain bike revolution in the United States during the 1980s, acting as one of the world's largest mountain bike retailers and playing a crucial role in the sport's development.
Source => deseret.com

4. Titanic Landscape Arch

In a world where bridges are man-made marvels, the desert has something to arch an eyebrow at: Moab houses the titanic Landscape Arch, the fifth-longest natural arch globally and the longest outside of China. Boasting a whopping 290.1-foot span, this sandstone sensation resides in the aptly named Arches National Park, sprinkling its 76,679-acre expanse with over 2,000 arch-shaped wonders.
Source => atlasobscura.com

Nature's Time Machine

5. Nature's Time Machine

Who needs a time machine when you've got Moab's arches: nature's own rollercoaster through millions of years! These ancient loops were formed not only by erosion but also by the warping and folding of buried sandstone layers that rebounded and expanded over eons. Major thank you to water and weathering for helping shape these beauties, but let's not forget to raise a toast to those colossal geologic forces that gave us this picturesque playground!
Source => nps.gov

6. Spider-Man's Climbing Haven

Where Spider-Man goes to hone his skills and rock climbers find Nirvana: Moab, Utah is home to world-renowned sandstone formations like Fisher Towers and Castleton Tower, providing challenges for all skill levels and a 3-pitch bolted route at Looking Glass Arch for those craving picturesque views.
Source => redriveradventures.com

7. River Running Pioneers

Hold on to your paddles and keep calm while river running through Moab, because Bus Hatch and Norm Nevills already rocked the boat a century ago: These early pioneers spearheaded the origins of the modern river running industry in Moab, Utah, leaving a watery legacy continued today by the Moab Adventure Center, who offers a splash-tastic menu of river rafting trips along the Colorado River, featuring fun-filled full-day and half-day excursions, and cozy overnighters complete with all-inclusive services and scrumptious BBQ lunches riverside at a ranch.
Source => moabadventurecenter.com

8. World's Largest Arch Collection

If you've got arch envy, Moab's got you covered: Arches National Park boasts over 2,000 natural sandstone arches – the largest concentration on Earth – all elegantly sprawled across a whopping 76,518-acre playground for Mother Nature's grandest designs.
Source => discovermoab.com

9. Natural Silver Screen Star

Lights, camera, action – meet Moab, Utah's rockstar of the silver screen! From Thelma and Louise blazing their way across desert landscapes to Tom Cruise's daring stunts in Mission Impossible 2: this picturesque town has played backdrop to a host of iconic movies. With unique locations like Dead Horse State Park, Island in the Sky in Canyonlands National Park, and the La Sal Mountains, Moab boasts truly cinematic natural wonders that have graced films such as Wagonmaster, Con Air, Austin Powers 3, City Slickers II, Galaxy Quest, and many more.
Source => allmoab.com

Ultimate Jurassic Park

10. Ultimate Jurassic Park

In the land before time, where Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble would certainly feel at home, Moab reigns as the ultimate Jurassic park: Boasting one of the most significant dinosaur records in the US, Moab's treasure trove includes fossils of creatures like tiny Triassic carnivores, colossal Camarasaurus and Brontosaurus from the Jurassic era, and even Cretaceous celebrities like Utahraptor and Gastonia.
Source => discovermoab.com

11. Cosmic Red Carpet Experience

Looking for a star-studded affair without the Hollywood fuss? Moab's Dead Horse Point State Park rolls out the cosmic red carpet like no other: As an International Dark Sky Park, it offers exceptional stargazing opportunities, full moon walks, and telescope observations that bring celestial wonders lightyears away right to your fingertips.
Source => discovermoab.com

12. Red Rocks Music Symphony

Cue the rock music – the red rocks, that is: Moab, Utah, boasts a symphony of wind-sculpted landforms that provide the perfect backdrop for the Moab Music Festival, held annually from August 21 to September 15. This unique event marries the epic grandeur of Moab's landscapes with the harmonious melodies of world-class chamber, jazz, and traditional music performances, transforming an adventurer's paradise into an awe-inspiring concert hall. So, grab your hiking boots and tune your ears for a one-of-a-kind show that seamlessly blends culture and exhilarating exploration.
Source => moabmusicfest.org

Related Fun Facts