Moab’s paradise

Moab, Utah. It’s not just a town, it’s an adventure on steroids. It’s the kind of place where your idea of “outdoor recreation” can go from a dusty trail to a heart-pounding, adrenaline-fueled rush faster than you can say “4×4.”

Text & Photos: Akis Temperidis

This is the kind of place where you pull up to a canyon, and the whole world seems to open up beneath you. And just down the road, at Canyonlands National Park, you’re standing on the edge of the Colorado and Green Rivers, feeling small, humbled, and alive.I first rolled into this town 25 years ago. Back then, it was a tobacco company pulling in the adventure junkies for some flashy ad campaign. I remember they handed me a souped-up Jeep Wrangler, and like an idiot, I took it straight off the beaten path, charging through rocks and dirt like I owned the place.

Fast-forward to today: I’m a bit older, a lot more cautious, and my only real concern is not losing the Iveco—the rolling fortress that’s been our home for the last four years. This time, we weren’t going to gamble with the off-road trails. Moab has over 60, and we weren’t about to risk it. But we did stay for a week, and it didn’t disappoint.

The showstopper here is Arches National Park. It’s surreal. Every arch, every rock formation seems otherworldly, like nature decided to get artistic on a whim. To get in? You’ve got to plan ahead—months ahead, if you’re American. But we discovered a little trick: last-minute openings. Just as the day ends, a handful of slots open up for the next day. We snagged two and spent two unforgettable days wandering the park, navigating its otherworldly beauty, and feeling like we had it all to ourselves.

I’ve seen crowds swarm national parks before, but nothing quite like this. Every inch of the park is packed with tourists snapping photos, Instagramming, living for the next “likes” and shares. It’s a circus, but it’s a circus you’d happily be a part of.

Then we hit Canyonlands. This is the place where they filmed 127 Hours, and for good reason. It’s the Grand Canyon’s little cousin—smaller, but no less stunning. You can drive right next to the Colorado and Green Rivers, with a same-day permit. Yeah, you heard that right. Grab a permit, and you’re off. The roads here are paved, and the views are jaw-dropping. One night, we camped at Canyonlands’ spot—10 bucks for a place to pitch a tent. I’ve spent more on a bottle of scotch, and this was a hell of a lot more rewarding.

Rafting on the Colorado with our little one—yeah, we did that too. Moab Adventure Center knows their stuff. There’s a spot on the river rated a class three, and I’m not gonna lie, it freaked her out. But the rest of it? She was all in. This is the kind of place where adventure doesn’t just come to you—it grabs you by the collar and says, “You’re going to feel alive today, whether you like it or not.”

And then there’s Delicate Arch. It’s the one everyone’s seen, the one everyone talks about. You hike for about an hour from the parking lot, and when you finally see it? You get it. It’s everything they say it is. Pure, raw, nature in its most magnificent form. An arch carved by time and wind, standing there like a giant’s middle finger to the rest of the world. It’s beautiful. It’s humbling. It’s Moab.