Arches National Park Backcountry 4X4 Tour

5.0
(91 reviews)
Moab, USA

4 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

Experience Arches National Park the way it was meant to be seen—Our exclusive permits allow us remote access off the beaten path.
The adventure begins in Utah Raptor State Park to visit fossilized dinosaur tracks on our off-road route into the park. Sit back and take in the views from a climate-controlled 4x4 built specifically to handle this demanding terrain.
Your guide will dig into the human history and geology of the region, traveling over the shifting salt valley beds that engineered the world's highest concentration of natural stone Arches.
Discover hidden landmarks most visitors miss like the Eye of the Whale. Tucked away in Herdina Park, it is an incredibly quiet pocket of the park.
As we transition out of the backcountry, the route showcases the park’s heavy hitters. We take in expansive views of Balanced Rock, the Windows Section, and gain a glimpse of the famous Delicate Arch giving you a flawless overview of the park on your way back to Moab.

What's Included

Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Light Snacks are provided
Gratuity not included but always appreciated
America the Beautiful pass holders excluded

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

Please confirm pick up 24 hours prior. Thank you.

OR
Meeting point
Moab Reservation Center

2182 US 191 is South of downtown moab. Please do not rely on GPS alone to find us. Starting from the center of town head SOUTH on 191, we will be located on the right hand side of the street, located inside Moab Reservation Center and Xtreme 4x4 Tours

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
  • Arches National Park (Pass by)

    This tour explores the backcountry of Arches National Park in approximately 4 hours. You will ride along in one of our 4x4 backcountry vehicles with heat and a/c for optimal comfort during all seasons. Throughout this half day experience you will learn all about the parks, history, and geology of the Moab area. Your guide will point out Arch formations, and other towering landscapes along the way. Since our tours are private we can stop for photos at any point. ​Sights on this tour include but are not limited to Marching Men, Tower Arch and Eye of the Whale Arch. This tour will include both pavement sections and 4x4 road sections that are not paved. Water and snacks are always provided for free. This tour includes your National Park Entry fee. You DO NOT need a reservation in Arches National Park to participate in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • 1

    Before crossing into the national park, our off-road route cuts directly through Utahraptor State Park, home to one of the densest Early Cretaceous dinosaur bone beds in North America. Here, we leave the 4x4 for a short walk to examine fossilized dinosaur tracks permanently stamped into the desert stone. Your guide will decode these ancient footprints, introducing you to the prehistoric hunters—including the massive, fearsome Utahraptor—that ruled this exact terrain millions of years before the arches even formed.

    20 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 2
    Eye of the Whale Arch

    Eye of the Whale Arch is located in the Herdina Park area of Arches. An optional 1/2 mile hike leads you under the arch to an outcropping of seldom visited red rock formations

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • Balanced Rock Trail (Pass by)

    Standing over 128 feet tall, Balanced Rock is one of the park’s ultimate heavy hitters, but it’s a lot more than just a great photo stop. Your guide will show you how this massive, 3,500-ton block of Entrada Sandstone is performing a high-wire balancing act atop a shrinking pedestal of softer Dewey Bridge mudstone. It is a perfect, real-time demonstration of how different rock layers erode at different speeds, offering a striking reminder that this ancient landscape is constantly changing right before our eyes.

    Admission ticket free
  • 3
    Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint

    No trip to Arches is complete without seeing the park’s crowning jewel. Our route brings us to a overlook, offering a classic long-distance view of Delicate Arch.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • Windows (Pass by)

    This spectacular zone features the highest concentration of massive spans in the entire park, including North Window, South Window, Turret Arch, and the towering Double Arch. Your guide will point out the massive cavernous openings of Double Arch—famously featured in the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as the hidden cave of the Cross of Coronado. Beyond the movie magic, you’ll discover how these immense amphitheaters were hollowed out from the inside out, creating some of the most dramatic overhead architecture in the American Southwest.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please book separate reservations for groups over 6. Your group will travel together in separate vehicles.
Supplied by Moab Scenic Adventures

Tags

Half-day Tours
Private and Luxury
4WD Tours
Excellent Quality
Adventure Tours
Likely To Sell Out
Additional fees
Top Product
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 91 91 reviews
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