Moab Utah Horseback Riding

Horseback riding options abound in Moab's surrounding desert, allowing you to spend your vacation imagining you're galloping in an early Clint Eastwood film, minus, of course, the accompanying Spaghetti Western music. Both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks are horseback friendly, but Bureau of Land Management (BLM) territory is less restrictive.

Ken's Lake Trail is ideal if you're on a tight time schedule. Located just south of Moab, off of Highway 191 on the La Sal Mountain Loop Road, this trail leads to a rare Moab noun: a lake. The easy trail, over sand and sandstone, lasts approximately two hours.

For something more extensive take Pack Creek Trail, found just beyond the Ken's Lake Trail turn-off. This four-five hour ride crests La Sal Pass at 10,000 feet, providing stunning views of Utah's Spanish Valley below.

Onion Creek Trail, off of Route 128, just before Fisher Towers, provides an Old West setting that rivals that of Monument Valley. The trail follows a dirt road that passes through a classic desert setting decorated with buttes and spires of sandstone. Length: approximately four hours.

Before riding be sure to educate yourself on feed restrictions and trail etiquette.