Moab is known for its natural beauty and there’s no better place to see it than the surrounding National Parks of Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, and Capitol Reef.

The landscape of Arches is a sight to behold. An 18-mile scenic highway introduces you to some of the most magnificent beauty you’ll see anywhere. Witness the sky-soaring sandstone arches, the larger-than-life rock formations, and seemingly never-ending canyons. Pay particular attention to the many entry points that welcome you to take a closer look. Nothing elevates the majesty of Arches then standing in the shadows of Turret Arch or the renowned Double Arch.

Next stop: Canyonlands - a treasure trove of beauty with the Colorado and Green Rivers dividing the canyon creating distinct geographical areas. Northward is Island in the Sky, the appropriately named flying buttress. To the east, you’ll find the Needles. In addition to the scenic roadway, you can hike or opt to four-wheel it and explore the stunning colorful world filled with canyons, arches, and the geographic-wonder that is “Needles.”

Mesa Verde, which in Spanish means, “green table,” is like taking a hike through history. Well-preserved archeological sites give a glimpse into the lives of the ancestral Pueblo people and their elaborate cliff dwellings.

Visitors to Capitol Reef are drawn by the geological wonder known as Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile snaking slit in the earth’s surface. Formed 65 million years ago, the monocline is surrounded by cliffs, domes, spires, and natural bridges offering both the hiker and scenic driver unrivaled views.

Getting to Dead Horse Point State Park is a photographers dream. Picture perfect views are found at any of the four stopping points along Highway 313. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll see a constricted crossing that juts out of a giant mesa. The Point is a peninsula that’s steeped in Wild West history. Cowboys once herded wild mustangs across the narrow natural bridge. The canyons panoramic views take you as far as the eyes can see. Two thousand feet below is the Colorado River whose rumbling echo is nearly silent from where you stand.

Goblin Valley State Park may not be as well known but it’s certainly worth getting to know. Though only about a mile wide and two miles long, the valley’s landscape is full of goblin-shaped pinnacles and impressive rock formations- which are quite stirring at dusk.