Float Their Boat

Although it is called The Mighty Colorado, “The Daily” section of the river is calm and perfect for a family river trip.
Older kids can try stand up paddle boarding or share an inflatable kayak with their younger siblings. The calm waters of “The Daily” are the perfect setting to learn. Check for minimum age.

Ken’s Lake, south of Moab, is another popular area for swimming or playing around on a paddle board or inflatable kayak.

Contact these companies for more information on rentals.

• Paddle Moab, 435-210-4665, PaddleMoab.com
• NAVTEC Expeditions, 435-259-7983, Navtec.com
• Wild West Voyages, 435-238-4257, WildWestVoyages.com.
   

Hummer of a Ride

High Point Hummer & ATV offers guided Hummer tours with no minimum or maximum age requirement. Kids under two go free. The tours are designed with no large bumps that could jar little ones. You can be safe and have fun at the same time while spending two fun-filled hours cruising over rolling petrified sand-dune hills, climbing exciting obstacles, and even exploring prehistoric dinosaur tracks.

Their professional guides take you to Moab’s famous Sand Flats Recreation Area and explain all of the beautiful features you will be seeing. Tours are a blast for the entire family.

For all the details contact High Point Hummer & ATV/UTV Tours, 435-259-2972, HighPointHummer.com.

Canyoneering

Kids love to explore and canyoneering is a great way for them to test their skills and gain confidence. Explore areas off the beaten path and rappel down sandstone walls.

Explorers 10 and older can go on either half- or full-day trips. Check with each outfitter for any restrictions as they may vary.

• Moab Adventure Center, 435-259-7019, MoabAdventureCenter.com
• NAVTEC Expeditions, 435-259-7983, Navtec.com
• Paddle Moab, 435-210-4665, PaddleMoab.com
• Wild Expeditions, 435-280-2557, RiversAndRuins.com

Take Them Swimming

Kids love to swim and the Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center has a wonderful pool for them to splash around in, plus a fabulous inflatable obstacle course. The course is over 50ft long and has several different obstacles to navigate. The facility also has a six-lane pool, one-meter and three-meter springboards, 18ft-high spiral water slide with numerous water features, and a shallow-water area.

The outdoor pool is open May through the end of September. There is an outdoor lap pool with adjoining current channel, a bubble pool, and a large leisure pool for the little ones. They have locker rooms with showers.

Daily aquatic or fitness rates for nonresidents: $5 seniors 55+, $12 adults, $6 youth 4-17, $1.50 children 3 and under. 435-259-8226, MoabRecreation.org.

Pony Up

The entire family can saddle up and ride at Red Cliffs Ranch. Check for age restrictions. 435-259-2002, RedCliffsLodge.com.

Follow in Their Footprints

If your kids are into dinosaurs, then Moab Giants Dinosaur Park is the perfect place to take them and the entire family. Go explore and walk on the outdoor trail with more than 100 life-sized dinosaur models.

Stop by the Tracks Museum where indoor exhibits highlight stories about fossil footprints. Play with interactive technology, learn about early earth history at the 3D Theater, watch underwater monsters come to life at the PaleoAquarium, and uncover dinosaur bones at the Dig-it-Out-Site. There is an outdoor trail with life-sized dinosaurs! Perfect for creating memories with your family.

There is a café for snacks and lunch, as well as a gift shop.

435-355-0288, MoabGiants.com.

Teach Them

Let nature be the teacher. To help children learn about the importance of conservation and the protection of our valuable national parks, both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks offer Junior Ranger programs for kids ages 6-12. “Explore, Learn, and Protect” conveys the importance of protecting natural resources through fun and engaging activities.

When children complete activities in the Junior Ranger booklet, they receive a Junior Ranger badge and join in protecting our parks for future generations. Stop by the visitor centers for more information.

Family-Friendly Hikes

Arches National Park is a family-friendly park. The visitor center has interpretive exhibits and statues of animals, plus an orientation video that talks about the statues. There are several hikes good for most ages. The visitor center staff will offer suggestions.

Canyonlands National Park has several hikes that kids enjoy like Mesa Arch and Upheaval Dome.

Dead Horse State Park has a paved trail at the main overlook that follows the rim overlooking the Colorado River and surrounding area. This is one of the best views around and is easy to get to.

The practice loop of the Slickrock Trail in Sand Flats is a great place to let little ones explore. The sandstone rock grips easily and the potholes often have water in them. The trail is marked with white dashes. Watch for mountain bikers and biocrust. You can easily do an out-and-back adventure and not do the entire loop.

This is a fee area (7-day pass for $10). Park at the Slickrock Trailhead.

Corona Arch is one of our favorite hikes in the area. You get an amazing view of the arch as you round the bend towards it and once you have reached the arch, you are literally under the 140ft-wide arch. This dog-friendly hike is an out-and-back with safety cables and a ladder to climb up one section. The trailhead is about 10 miles up the Potash Road (Utah Hwy 279) on the right across from the Gold Bar camping area.

Fisher Towers is located off Utah Scenic Byway 128. Turn right (south) at the sign, 21 miles from US Hwy 191. The hike has unbelievable views and is good for simply exploring. The 2.2 mile, out-and-back trail passes through an amazing array of rock formations from 4ft tall goblin-like formations to the 900ft Titan. This is a popular rock climbing area so watch for climbers.

Let Them Play

The skate park at Swanny City Park is super popular among locals and visitors alike. There are plenty of banks and rails to keep your heart pounding. The park also has seven acres with a large playground, two barbecue grills, covered picnic tables, covered gazebo, public restrooms, drinking fountains, lots of wide-open green space, and big old shade trees. Sorry, no dogs allowed in this park.

Located next to Moab Recreation & Aquatic Center, 374 Park Ave, 435-259-7485, MoabCity.org/161/Parks.

Anonymous Park, located at the end of the Mill Creek Parkway, next to 500 West, has dirt bike jumps and BMX racing. The course is free to ride.

The Disc Golf Course at Old City Park plays through a beautiful red rock setting with panoramic views of sandstone cliffs and big mountain peaks. The course is outfitted with 18 DISCatcher® PRO targets, signs at each tee mapping the hole, directional signs, and dirt tee pads. Dogs are allowed on leash on the course (but not in the park). Always pick up after them. There is no fee to use the course.

Traveling north on Spanish Trail Road, turn left onto Murphy Lane. Look for the park on the left.

Rotary Park, located at 680 S. Mill Creek Drive, is a wonderful place for a picnic in the shade. The park has big shade trees and a large grassy area.
The park also has xylophones of all sizes that are fun to test everyone’s musical skills. They were designed by Richard Cooke with Freenotes and each size has a different sound.

The park is located next to Mill Creek and the Mill Creek Pathway. Look for hummingbirds or play in the creek. There are restrooms and covered tables. Dogs are allowed on leash.