Adventure Travel

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I have always loved Moab and the surrounding areas.  I grew up along the banks of the Colorado River and made multiple trips there in my formative years.  I started taking trips there with my high school friends over spring breaks.  We would hike, bike, explore, and wander.  I bought the famous “London, Paris, New York, Moab” bumper sticker and placed it proudly on my car.  In the early 90s Moab was just starting to become the tourist destination it is now.  The Jeep Safari was going strong, Slickrock bike trail was still relatively quiet, and rafting the Colorado River and jeep tours were the main tourist attractions.  Now Moab has just about every type of adventure activity you can think of.  

MOAB, UTAH, USA

Moab is located along the Colorado River in the state of Utah.  During the 1800’s the area of Moab served as a Colorado River crossing along the Old Spanish Trail.  Mormon settlers attempted to establish a trading fort at the crossing called the “Elk Mountain Mission” in 1855.  The fort was then abandoned due to repeated Indian attacks in late 1855.  A permanent settlement was established in 1878 and Moab was incorporated as a town on December 20, 1902.  Moab started out with an economy based on agriculture and farming.  As time progressed the town’s economy shifted to mining Uranium, Potash, Vanadium, and Manganese.  In 1950 Moab was named the “Uranium Capital of the World” after Charles Steen found a rich Uranium Deposit south of the city.  After Uranium prices dropped, the town slowly withered away, until tourism boomed in the late 1980s.  Today all of the Uranium left along the Colorado River during the mining boom is being cleaned up.  Moab has become a haven for outdoor adventure enthusiasts.  Rafters, Kayakers, Climbers, Jeepers, Bicyclists, Canyoneers, Hikers, and Balloonists  have all found places to recreate in the incredible landscape around Moab.  The area is also home to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.