There are so many recreational opportunities in southeast Utah that many people spend an entire vacation in the area. With two national parks and myriad public lands, the hiker, mountain biker, or lover of the outdoors could easily fill a week with a diverse mix of recreation. Not everyone has that much time to spend, of course, but even more casual visitors should consider spending three days here.

The national parks near Moab (Arches plus the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands) will require a day to simply drive through, and the rest of Canyonlands and other national monuments in the extreme south (Hovenweep, Natural Bridges, Monument Valley) deserve at least a day. That leaves a single day to explore Moab itself, take a rafting trip down the Colorado River, or even go on a hike or mountain bike ride. Three days is a minimum unless you plan to drive straight through without stopping.

As for timing, the rugged character of the canyon country causes many local variations in climate, as do extremes in elevation between cliff rims and canyon bottoms. Fall and spring are the most popular times to visit, as daytime temperatures are moderate and outdoor recreation is comfortable.

Real desert heat sets in late May or early June. Temperatures then soar into the 90s and 100s at midday, though the dry air makes the heat more bearable. Early morning is the choice time for summer travel.

Autumn begins after the rains and lasts into November or even December; days are bright and sunny with ideal temperatures, but nights become cold. Winter lasts only about two months at the lower elevations. Light snows on the canyon walls add new beauty to the rock layers. Winter can be a fine time for travel.