Drive the La Sal Mountain Loop
ScenicEasySpringSummerFall
Escape the desert heat with a scenic drive through alpine forests that offer stunning overlooks of the red rock valleys below.
Itinerary tips
- 1Allocate at least 3 to 4 hours to complete the full 60-mile loop without feeling rushed.
- 2Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas and functional brakes, as there are no services and significant elevation changes.
- 3Pack a light jacket or layers, as temperatures at the 8,500-foot summits are often 20 degrees cooler than in Moab.
- 4Stop at the North Skookum Valley overlook for the most dramatic contrast between snowy peaks and red rock canyons.
- 5Begin the drive at the south end via Ken’s Lake to experience the most impressive elevation climb toward the forest.
- 6Download offline maps or bring a paper atlas because cellular service is non-existent throughout the high-elevation sections.
More in Moab
Drive the Shafer Trail Switchbacks
Navigate a white-knuckle descent on a dirt road that drops 1,500 feet from the Island in the Sky mesa to the canyon floor.
ScenicStargaze at Dead Horse Point
Visit this International Dark Sky Park after hours to see the Milky Way arching over the gooseneck curves of the Colorado River far below.
ScenicWatch the Sunrise at Mesa Arch
Peer through the 'eye' of the arch as it frames the vast canyon system of Canyonlands, illuminated by the first light of day.
ScenicSunrise at Mesa Arch
Witness the iconic glow as the morning sun illuminates the underside of the arch, framing the vast canyons of the Island in the Sky.
Scenic
