Looking for suggestions for Moab trip with the family

[Deeps]

I'm taking the family to camp in Arches Thursday and Friday night and would like some suggestions about new things to do there...

We're in Devils Garden campground Thursday and Friday night and then we get kicked out.

Where is a good place to go nearby to camp on Saturday night? We've never done Goblin Valley, and that looks like somewhere the kids would get really into. Are there good BLM places to camp around Goblin Valley?

Here are some of the hikes we've done in the past:

Delicate Arch
Sand Arch
Devils Garden
Fiery Furnace
Dark Angel
Windows
Eye of the Whale
Tusher Tunnel
Mill Creek
Dead Horse Point

The kids are 9, 6, and 4. All good hikers and into canyons, water, and rock scrambling. We'll have four wheel drive with reasonable clearance (Honda Pilot or CRV).

Are there any narrow canyons similar to Peekaboo or Spooky to do near Moab? The kids really like the idea of being in canyons after seeing pictures, and I'd like to take them through something easy that might involve a hand line + easy down climbs and bouldering. Any recommendations of things to do and see?

[denaliguide]

kids love goblin valley. lots of nice canyons to access from there as well.

ding and dang, little wild horse would be fun forthe kids.

[DiscGo]

Goblin Valley's campground is on par or maybe even a little nicer than Devil's Garden campground. It is really cool to go back out into Goblin Valley at night (if you have a large enough group it is about the best place in the world for capture the flag. I believe the coolest part about Goblin Valley is that there are no trail. You just roam free and that is fun (especially for kids)



ding and dang, little wild horse would be fun forthe kids.

Everyone says I am crazy but I didn't much care for Ding & Dang. Little Wild Horse is a must, but I would suggest you do Crack Canyon instead of Ding & Dang.

[Brewhaha]

In Moab you definitely need to hike to Corona Arch. A very family-friendly hike for the most part.

[Iceaxe]

Your kids will love everything listed below.....

Corona Arch
Courthouse Wash
Faux Falls
Fisher Towers
Funnel Arch
Gemini Bridges
Mill Creek Swimming Hole & Petroglyphs
Onion Creek
Ring Arch
Sego Canyon and Ghost Town
The Tunnel
Tower Arch
Tusher Tunnel

Route Descriptions for all of the above can be found here:
http://climb-utah.com/Moab/index.htm

http://climb-utah.com/Moab/Files/fisher6.jpg

[Alex]

I totally second Corona Arch!

I am surprised no one mentioned Gemini Bridges, it's my personal favorite. If you have a 4wd, you could go to the bottom and camp there.

[Deeps]

Thanks everyone - great suggestions. I appreciate the replies.

Shane, I look at your site every time we get ready to head down there. I was a circle of friends member until this spring (bum economy)

[Iceaxe]

If your kids have never been to a Ghost Town than Sego Canyon should be a for sure.... Something about a ghost town that kids just love and this one has everything with great ruins and a boot hill.

There are very few ghost towns around anymore that have good relics. I'm guessing a lot of Sego will fall in the next 10 years as the elements regain what was once theirs. The hotel/saloon/boarding house will certainly be gone in 10 years.

40 years ago when I was a kid my dad took me to a lot of ghost towns that still had great structures. Most of them are now just heaps of wood with nothing much to see and photograph.