Moab
Hiking
Tours
Walk red rock country with a guide who knows every hidden arch, ancient petroglyph, and secret watering hole. Private hikes in Arches, Canyonlands, and far beyond the crowds.
Red rock country
at your own pace.
Moab is surrounded by deep canyons, soaring sandstone spires, natural arches, and geological wonders that most visitors only glimpse through a car window. Our private guided hikes put you inside the landscape — touching the rock, reading the layers, finding the places that don't show up on any trail map.
We take you to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. But we're equally at home off the beaten path. Our local guides know secret watering holes, ancient rock art panels, dinosaur fossil sites, and wildflower meadows that crowds never find — and every route is built around what makes your group light up.
Fully Custom
Route, pace, and focus built around your group
Parks and Beyond
Arches, Canyonlands, and hidden local gems
All Ages and Levels
Easy strolls to full day backcountry routes
Permitted and Insured
All trips with licensed outfitter partners
Beyond the trailhead signs.
A Clapper Adventures guide doesn't just walk — they translate. Every stone layer, canyon inscription, and desert creature has a story your guide knows well.
Ancient Rock Art
Petroglyphs and pictographs left by the people who called this canyon country home for thousands of years. Your guide provides cultural context most visitors never hear.
Secret Watering Holes
Hidden potholes, cool canyon seeps, and tucked away natural pools that locals know and trail maps don't show. The desert's best kept secrets belong to those who hike with someone who lives here.
Dinosaur Fossil Sites
Moab sits atop one of the richest fossil records in the American Southwest. Walk alongside tracks and bones left by creatures 150 million years in the past — with a guide who can read every one.
Desert Ecology
Learn which cryptobiotic soil crust holds the whole desert together, why certain plants bloom only after rain, and how desert bighorn sheep navigate terrain that looks completely impassable.
Where we'll take you.
Arches National Park
Devil's Garden, Landscape Arch, the Windows Section — the geological wonders that put Moab on the map. A private guide turns iconic sights into deeply understood landscapes, weaving the story of ancient seas and shifting dunes into every formation you pass.
Book Arches TourCanyonlands National Park
Chesler Park, Druid Arch, and Elephant Canyon — some of the most dramatic backcountry terrain in North America. These full day routes reward effort with absolute solitude and canyon views that make you feel genuinely small in the best possible way.
Book Canyonlands TourHidden Local Gems
Salt Wash, petroglyph panels, wildflower meadows, and canyon country slots that most Moab visitors never find. These are the routes our guides share with groups who want something genuinely beyond the guidebooks.
Ask About These RoutesPick your format.
Half a day or a full one, easy stroll or rugged backcountry — every format is private and every route is chosen for your group.
Private Half-Day
The ideal introduction to Moab's red rock terrain. A focused 4 to 5 hour private adventure covering the highlights of your chosen destination with full guide interpretation.
- 4 to 5 hours including travel
- Arches NP or local gems
- All ages welcome
- Photography guidance
- Transportation included
Private Full-Day
Cover the landscape that only becomes accessible with time — Canyonlands backcountry, multi-area adventures, or any route your group wants to chase down.
- Full day in the field
- Canyonlands or multi-area
- Deeper backcountry access
- Flexible pacing and focus
- Custom itinerary
3-Day Multi-Sport
Start your Moab adventure with an Arches hiking day, then progress to mountain biking, climbing, and canyoneering as your skills and confidence build.
- 3 days, 4 activities
- Hiking as Day 1 foundation
- All gear provided
- Seamless transitions
- Beginner friendly
Your day on the trail.
Every private hiking tour is different — because every group is different. Here's how the day typically unfolds.
Pre-Trip Planning
We talk through your interests, group size, fitness level, and available time. Trail selection is finalized the day before based on current conditions and what your group most wants to see.
Morning Departure
Meet your guide in Moab for an early start — best light, coolest temperatures, fewest crowds. Transportation to the trailhead is handled completely for you.
Trail and Discovery
Hike at your pace with your guide narrating geology, wildlife, cultural history, and desert ecology. Stop whenever you want for photos, close-up exploration, or just sitting with the view.
Return and Reflect
Head back with a deeper understanding of this landscape than any guidebook gives. Your guide answers every question the trail raised — and probably raises a few more.
Moab hiking through the seasons.
The desert changes completely with the seasons. Each one has its own character, rewards, and timing strategies — we operate year-round and love them all.
Spring
March through MayWildflower blooms in hidden drainages, moderate temperatures, and the best photography light of the year. Crowds are manageable before peak summer. Perfect for all fitness levels.
★ Prime Season — Book EarlySummer
June through AugustEarly morning departures capture the best desert light and coolest air. Higher elevation options in the La Sal Mountains offer a genuine escape from valley heat. Longer days mean more flexibility.
Early Starts EssentialFall
September through NovemberCrystal clear skies, comfortable temperatures all day, and golden cottonwood color in canyon bottoms. Ideal for longer full day routes. Often the best season for landscape photography.
★ Prime Season — Book EarlyWinter
December through FebruaryComplete trail solitude, dramatic low angle winter light, and occasional snow on canyon rims. Pair a desert hike with La Sal Mountains skiing for an unforgettable Moab day.
Crowd-Free Desert BeautyWhat our hikers say.
"Evan is a superb guide. Amiable, knowledgeable, and very adept at determining the skills and limitations of our group. He was spot-on in every way. Can't imagine there is anyone better at what he does."— George T.
"We visited Arches on our own one day and with Clapper the next — no comparison. With a guide we saw things we completely missed: the petroglyphs, the cryptobiotic soil, the hidden arch off the main trail. Worth every penny."— Sarah M., Family Group
"Asked for something off the beaten path and they delivered. We spent a full day in an area I couldn't find in any guidebook. Our guide knew the landscape like their own backyard — because it literally is."— David K., Couple
Real answers to real questions.
We guide private hikes throughout the Moab area: Devil's Garden and Landscape Arch in Arches National Park; Chesler Park, Druid Arch, and Elephant Canyon in Canyonlands; and hidden local trails at Salt Wash and beyond — including petroglyph panels, dinosaur fossil sites, secret watering holes, and panoramic sandstone viewpoints away from crowds.
Yes. We guide private tours in both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. We also hike on BLM land and other local areas outside the parks — often the best choice for avoiding peak season crowds while seeing equally spectacular terrain. Your guide will recommend the right area based on your interests and timing.
Yes. Half-day tours run 4 to 5 hours and work well for families with young children or travelers with limited time. Full-day tours access longer destinations like Chesler Park and Druid Arch, or cover multiple areas in one day. We recommend the best format after a quick conversation about your group's goals.
Moab hiking ranges from well maintained national park paths to rugged off trail desert terrain. We match the route to your group — easy strolls for families with young kids, moderate trails for casual hikers, and full backcountry routes for active adventurers. Tell us your fitness level and comfort with uneven terrain, and we handle the rest.
Yes. All Clapper Adventures tours are private — you will never be grouped with strangers. Your hiking tour is designed exclusively around your group's interests, fitness level, and goals, whether that's wildflower photography, finding petroglyphs, or simply experiencing the desert at your own unhurried pace.
Spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) offer ideal hiking conditions — comfortable temperatures, beautiful light, and manageable crowds. Summer hiking starts early to beat the heat. Winter is strikingly beautiful and crowd free. We operate year round and adjust timing and route selection to every season.
We provide a private professional guide with deep local knowledge, custom route planning, trailhead transportation, cultural and natural history interpretation, photography guidance, and emergency safety equipment. You bring sturdy closed toe hiking shoes, 2 or more liters of water, sun protection, snacks, and weather appropriate layers. A detailed packing list is provided after booking.
Absolutely. Our 3-Day Multi-Sport Adventure begins with an Arches hiking day before progressing to mountain biking, rock climbing, and canyoneering. We also build single day combos on request — morning hike, afternoon slot canyon descent, for example. Just tell us what you're dreaming about.
Your perfect Moab hiking day
is one call away.
Tell us who's coming, how much time you have, and what excites you about red rock country. We'll take it from there.
435.260.7066