Top Things to Do on a Moab Family Vacation With Kids

2021-04-02

Posted In: Blog

If you’re looking for fun and adventure while on a family vacation, look no further! With world-renowned hiking and biking trails, stunning red rock formations, and plenty of activities for kids, Moab is a great destination.

Your Guide to a Moab Family Vacation

Here’s a list of some excellent Moab family activities as well as hotel and dining options to help you build your itinerary for family fun and comfort. A great option for many families is to choose a guided tour so that you can leave the planning to a local! Keep reading for guided and do it yourself options!

Top Moab Family Activities

1. Go Hiking in Arches National Park

One of the main attractions in Moab is the beauty of Arches National Park. Take your loved ones on a hiking trip to Delicate Arch, one of the largest freestanding arches in the Arches National Park. It is rated as moderate-hard with some steep and rocky sections, but only about 3 miles round trip. Other famous Arches hiking trails worth looking into include Double Arch, Fiery Furnace, and Landscape Arch. You can also just take a scenic drive through Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and see the arches from the comfort of your own vehicle. You will experience a host of exciting features within this park, such as the Petroglyphs and the Wolfe Ranch Cabin.

2. Discover Dinosaurs at Moab Giants

You and your family can also visit Moab Giants. This is an interactive museum that features a 5D Prehistoric Aquarium, dig-out sites, a dino playground, and a dinosaur trail with 100 life-size dinosaurs. Take your loved ones through this historical journey of dinosaurs by watching a 3-D movie within the museum. This is an exciting, educational activity for younger children during Moab family vacations.

3. Hit Slick Rock Trail on a Mountain Bike

Moab is world-famous for the Slickrock Bike Trail. One of the great things to do in Moab is to experience the excellent mountain biking trails. Moab offers trails for any level of mountain biker from beginners to seasoned pros looking for the ultimate challenge. Beginners can take a short drive from downtown Moab to the Klonzo Trail System with short loops of varying lengths. At Dead Horse Point State Park, there is the family-friendly intrepid trail system. Children can tackle shorter distances while mountain biking, whereas adults can opt for a more challenging trail within the great pyramid.

4. Swim at Moab Recreational and Aquatic Center

The new recreational and aquatic center in Moab features a spectacular outdoor pool for children and adults alike. These outdoor pools are open between May and September, containing everything that can excite your children. For example, you can take your children to the smaller pools in the recreational center as you relax on a pool chair enjoying the fresh air.

5. Go River Rafting Down the Colorado River

Another exciting adventure is rafting in Moab. Experience Fisher Towers rafting, a section of the Colorado River with exciting class 2 and 3 rapids. Guided half-day or full-day river rafting trips are offered on this section by local guide companies. Kids as young as 5-years-old and 40 pounds can enjoy this scenic rafting trip.

6. Hunt for Ancient Petroglyphs

Choose from hundreds of sites with indigenous rock art left by the native people who once populated the area dating back as early as 5500 BC. You can visit some of the best petroglyphs in Moab within a short walk from your car. Or, hire a Moab Canyoneering guide and see some of the less visited petroglyphs during a family-friendly canyoneering adventure.

7. Rock Climb Moab’s Legendary Red Rocks

Moab rock climbing is world class! Families with children 8 years of age and over can hire a Moab rock climbing guide and learn to rock climb outdoors. The great thing about climbing in Moab is that there are routes for all levels of experience and ability. Guides at Red River Adventures can tailor trips for you and your families experience level and comfort.

Kid-Friendly Lodging and Restaurants in Moab

At this point we’ve provided a detailed list of family things to do in Moab. Now we will cover great family hotels and kid-friendly dining options in Moab. The only problem may be narrowing down all the choices to pick just one hotel and the number of restaurants you’ll actually have time to try while you’re here. Here are a few popular options to start your search:

Moab Family-Friendly Hotels

Moab Redcliff Condos: Pool, free Wi-Fi, free private parking
Hoodoo Moab: Oversize parking, picnic area with tables
Aarchway Inn: Pool, hot tub, fitness course, free Wi-Fi, free shuttle services
Big Horn Lodge: Heated pool, free Wi-Fi, coffee maker
Expedition Lodge: Heated pool, free Wi-Fi, playroom
Hyatt Place Moab: Pool, restaurant, free private parking, fitness center, playground, on-site bar

Favorite Moab Restaurants for Kids

Zax Restaurant: 96 S Main St
Review: “Great food kid-friendly as well”
Jailhouse Cafe: 101 N Main St
“Kids build their own breakfast”
Moab Diner: 189 S Main St
Review: “Easy, quick family-friendly stop”
Trailhead Public House & Eatery: 11 E 100 N #2436
“Tasty burgers and salads in a cozy location!”
Pasta Jay’s: 4 N Main St
Review: “Scrumptious Italian fare”

Red River Adventures offers the adventure you’re looking for that will take your Moab family vacation from exciting to nothing short of epic! In addition to Moab rafting, we also offer Moab canyoneering and Moab rock climbing for all ages. With Red River Adventures, there’s something for the little adventurer in every family. The next time your family is looking for a Moab family activity unlike anything you’ve experienced before, Red River Adventures is here to help you build new memories and have a blast while doing it!

Questions? Call (877) 259-4046 or Email Us

The River People

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We strive to ensure that time spent with us is time that you will always look back on fondly. We want to leave you with a memories that bring a smile to your face no matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, and no matter how much time has passed. In addition to a deep reservoir of personal experience, our rafting guides are licensed by the state of Utah, have Wilderness First Responder and/or First Aid/CPR certifications, and are insured. Many guides also have swiftwater rescue training. Our climbing and canyoneering guides are AMGA-certified for the terrain in which they operate. Our skiing guides are certified for the terrain, and some are world-renowned for their experience. All of our guides are intimately acquainted with not only the river, rock and snow, but also with the incredible surroundings of the areas we guide.

David Fox

May 16, 2025

Molly was an AWESOME guide! Took us down an afternoon float and was thoroughly entertaining. We highly recommend this outfitter. We will go back and do it again! Thanks for a great afternoon!

Jessica Stigliano

May 13, 2025

Had a great time with my husband on the half day water rafting trip with red river adventure. Emily was our guide and she was fantastic. Loved her positive attitude and she was really funny. It was a great time. The views are just stunning.

Mike Gommel

May 12, 2025

Jeff was one of the best guides if not the best guide we have ever had on a trip! It was my first climbing experience, we learned a ton and had such an awesome time! Incredible trip and a must do if in Moab if you’re looking for a fun and rewarding experience. Thank you Jeff and Red River!!

Jake Bankston

Extremely experienced guides, if you want the most enjoyable weekend of your life go to crack camp with Mary Eden and Sam Foreman. Unforgettable memories

Elaine Smith

May 11, 2025

Nathan was a great guide for canyoneering! Very patient and helpful to literally talk you off a cliff! Thrilling experience and would highly recommend. Be prepared for rock scrambling through the canyon to get to the repels.

Kevin Feeney

We had a great time with Molly. She even got my wife to "ride the bull". We really had a great time and highly recommend Red River Adventures.

Hunter Scanson

OMG sebi was sooooooo good he made sure we had fun and he had lots of local knowledge. I would definitely recommend him to any future groups!

Christine Wetzel

May 10, 2025

Nathan was an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable and kept us all safe. Would recommend this trip to anyone

Grace Wetzel

It was a great time! Nathan was our guide and we had a blast even though it was scary repelling at first! Highly recommend!

Andrew

May 9, 2025

Jeff was awesome. Extremely skilled, great company and informative. 10/10.

J Mountain

May 6, 2025

Great group of people. Did the rock of ages canyoneering tour. Great tour with 3 excellent repels and good canyons. Only problem is that it was advertised as a full day tour 8-2 but we finished by noon. Another 2 hours longer with more distance and adventure would have been best.

William Koehler

We had a fun time on the river our guide Molly made sure everyone was having a great time and offered lots of information about the Colorado River.

Judith Klayman

I went on a half-day rafting trip on May 2nd on the Colorado. This was a great trip! Our guide was outstanding and the scenery was beautiful! The rapids were bouncy and fun, but not scary.

DAVE Bro

Great views, exciting rapels. Jeff was a great guide. Bow and arrow canyon was breath taking.

Lonelle Yoder

We booked a half-day rafting trip in early May, and although the river wasn't running high yet, the gorgeous scenery, along with our guide's knowledgeable banter about everything from rafting to bird nests and geology, made the ride thoroughly enjoyable. There was just enough action over the rapids to make it exciting, but not scary, for us novice rafters. This is definitely an experience I'll look forward to repeating the next time we visit!

Claudio Zampino

May 5, 2025

Had a great time doing the rock of ages tour with Nate! He did a great job coaching everyone through the canyon. Can’t wait to get out there again

Jen Werner

May 4, 2025

My first ever white water rafting trip! We had very small rapids this time of year (class 1 and 2) still fun, we got wet, and had an opportunity to work together like a team. The staff is amazing. Jake was our river guide and was knowledgeable, helpful, funny, and even gave us tips about other cool things to do in the Moab area. Fantastic first experience!

Michael Brady

Really great guide! Thank you so much!

Christina Federle

An awesome and fun experience all around! The rafting trip was great with mostly class 2s (I think) for this time of year. Couldn’t have asked for a better first experience! Our guides were extremely knowledgeable with local history and current suggestions as well.

Mark Rothman

April 29, 2025

Patient, skilled, knowledgeable, encouraging, professional. Nate guided me through a significant skills progression. I am very appreciative.

Deborah Dupuis

April 28, 2025

My son and I had a fantastic day rappelling, bridging and scissoring with Red River Adventures. Our guide Nate, was calm and mindful as he lead us through the various fins that make up the "Rock of Ages" tour. We will definitely go canyoneering again.

Sebastian Velez

April 26, 2025

Landon was great!

Doug Arvanites

April 25, 2025

Prompt departure. Great communication. Solid safety training/protocols. Our guide Molly gave us constant entertainment and helpful tips on places to go in Moab. Loved Milt’s!

Christopher Burgy

April 24, 2025

Molly was a great guide! The van trip to the river was also enjoyable with lots of river facts and jokes. Kudos all around

Lisa Perez-Pascual

April 22, 2025

We had such a great time on our four day cataract Canyon River trip! I took my 11-year-old stepson… Despite the first couple of days being a bit cold Due to unexpected surprise weather, the team of guides were amazing and made the whole experience fun! Seth, Annie, and Jake were all wonderful and I recommended the trip 100%!

uzma khan

April 21, 2025

If you're looking for a safe, fun, and rewarding rock climbing and canyoneering experience in Moab, look no further than the Red River Company and their guide, Nate. Nate was meticulous in ensuring all protocols were followed. He provided thorough demonstrations, double-checked our gear, and offered personalized tips that made a huge difference in our climbing technique. Nate also fostered a supportive and encouraging atmosphere within the group. It was clear he was invested in everyone having a positive experience.

Kelley Lawton

April 20, 2025

Amazing first canyoneering experience for our 2 families! 4 kids and 4 adults and we loved our day! Highly recommend Nate and Molly! We hope to come back and do it again!

topcontroll

April 15, 2025

April 2025 We did the Bow and Arrow Canyon Canyoneer Adventure. Nate was a great guide, very patient with two of us repelling for the first time. Felt as safe as one could, being nervous, going off 115ft repel. Would definitely recommend.

Katelyn Despain

April 13, 2025

My boyfriend and I went on a 1/2 day canyoneering trip and our guide was Nate. Nate was fantastic and very knowledgeable about the land, historical facts, and repelling. We felt very safe and he was always very supportive and motivating with the repels! They had a very good variety of heights and the hike was a perfect length and came with amazing views!

David McCleve

March 23, 2025

Ben showed patience and professionalism both times he took me into the backcountry. I highly recommend going out with him if you want to move from the resort to the backcountry.

Glenn Kocher

March 20, 2025

Our guide, Carl, was fantastic and especially did a great job catering to our group's needs which ranged from entry level to more experienced. Not much more to say other than an absolutely incredible day! We'll be back for sure. Thank you Red River!

Daniel Gingold

Great tour in epic pow. Smart and fun terrain choices tailored to the group ability. Good communication. Will book again!

Natalie Powers

Seamless booking. Carl was helpful to get me setup with the BEST guide, I mean superb . My first time back country skinning and then riding deep powder, I was so thankful that TY my guide was calm, patient , knowledgeable , picked me up when tired, very positive and given all the tips to help me thru the challenges. Will book again ! If you request TY you’ll be set for a spectacular day going at the pace you choose! I learned so much thanks red rivers!

Scott Dinhofer

March 19, 2025

have done two backcountry ski tours with John L, super nice guy, knowledgeable, patient and a great experience. Won't hesitate to come back again!

Mark Rosen

March 17, 2025

Victoria, my guide, made safe decisions and still showed me thigh high powder and a great tour

Ryan Forsythe

March 11, 2025

I took my level 1 avalanche course with Red River Adventures and couldn't be happier. Our instructor Garth was very knowledgeable and made the trip fun with his experience and jokes!

Lauren Hargreaves

Would give 10 🌟 if I could. We went out once with Vic in February, and again yesterday. Phenomenal people, great communication, and an emphasis on safety, learning, and having a great time.

Levi Krcmar

March 10, 2025

Great experience with Garth and Red River as a whole! Highly recommend them to anyone looking for trainings or guided trips

Parker Tietz

March 4, 2025

Very knowledgeable guides that made for a great experience. Vic and Brian rock. 10/10 recommend.

John Butler

February 28, 2025

Red River was amazing from start to finish. This was my first backcountry experience and the team was super helpful and answered all my questions as I planned the trip. The gear, instruction, and guiding were all top notch and I would absolutely recommend this company for any of your adventures, especially backcountry skiing. I couldn’t imagine a more knowledgable, helpful, patient, and fun guide - Victoria. She is a true professional and speaks very highly of the company. I definitely lucked out stumbling across their Facebook ad. They take safety very seriously but it doesn’t impede the fun at all. Thank you again for a great trip!

Barrett England

AIARE 1 with Brian and Vic exceeded my expectations, this was a refresher course for me, and I learned much more than I did the first time around. They did an amazing job instructing and guiding, were very knowledgeable and honest. Gave me everything I could ask for, 10/10 would recommend.

Kirk Kardashian

February 27, 2025

My 14-year old son and I had a great day of backcountry skiing with Victoria. Some gnarly weather came in, but we managed to ski some great snow, and my son learned a lot about backcountry travel. I hope to get the chance to be a return customer!

Nicholas Waldman

Epic day with John. Learned a lot and had a great time. Highly recommend!

Daniel

Great outfit to work with and Nate was a fab guide for some great ice climbing. Will definitely use again when I’m in the area. Overall couldn’t ask for better!!

Michael Allen

February 26, 2025

Brian and Victoria did an excellent job leading my AIARE 1 course. They created a great atmosphere for learning from their experience/knowledge and from each other. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

J Archibald

February 25, 2025

My daughter and I joined Red River Adventures on a mid-February Hokkaido Japan ski trip. We had unforgettable access to world class Hokkaido pow! Carl and his team were awesome. RRA checked all the boxes: Dialed-in Logistics (from airport to hotel to ski venues to dining), Quality lodging, Unique ski venues (away from the crowds), In-country connection with local guides, And most importantly, friendly and professional guides who were knowledgable with the ski terrain and also provided helpful general tips for more efficient touring and personal instruction- allowing us to really dial-in our powder skiing technique. We thoroughly enjoyed the company of our travel group and left Japan with big smiles and lasting memories.

Blair Cox

I took the AIARE 1 course with Red River Adventure. Brian and Vic were getting guides and teachers! Very knowledgeable. The course delivered above and beyond!

Gesund LLC

February 24, 2025

Reviewing Japow trip to Hokkaido in winter of 2025. In a word, fantastic. Go if you can. I enjoyed just about every aspect of the trip. Before we started our trip Carl gave us a packing list, and a link to a Japan website that sped up our navigating through Japanese customs. I appreciated the ease by which we were able to coordinate getting picked up at the airport by our group guide due to a multi-hour delay in a connecting city. I thought the hotels were great (though small by Western standards, but that is simply how space is used in Japan, efficiently--read, small). The locations and terrain were awesome. I always felt like the Red River team maintained the group dynamics really well, we simply had a great group and I enjoyed getting to know folks on the trail, in the van or at the dinners spots we hit. We lucked out and had fresh snow every day but I feel that even if we didn't Carl and his team would have known where to go for fresh turns. Really hope I can do this again.

Andrew C

Professional and approachable guides drilled the avalanche material into us over three days. Thanks!

Lindsay Black Mangat

My friend and I went on a full day backcountry ski tour with Timmy in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was all we had hoped for in a day in the woods together but far more enjoyable than expected. The terrain Timmy took us on was to our experience level. He pushed us a bit, encouraged us, taught us some things and he had a great attitude and sense of humor. Thanks, Timmy!