Moab: Arches 4x4 Tour with Dinosaur Tracks & Tower Arch Hike

Summary

Red rocks, dinosaur footprints and a bumpy ride into wild arches

You’ll ride a 4x4 from Moab into Arches’ wild backcountry with a local guide—spotting real dinosaur tracks, bumping past Balanced Rock and Marching Men, hiking to Tower Arch if you want, and cooling off with lemonade before heading back through Courthouse Towers. It’s dusty, vivid, and full of surprises you’ll remember long after.

What’s the experience like?

“Wait, are those really dinosaur tracks?” That’s how our morning started, squinting at these strange three-toed marks in the rock while our guide, Chris, grinned like he’d seen this reaction a thousand times. The air out here north of Moab is so dry it almost crackles. I kept brushing red dust off my knees from scrambling out of the Land Cruiser—never thought I’d see actual fossils before coffee. Utahraptor State Park was just the first stop, but honestly, I could’ve stayed there poking at ancient footprints for an hour.

The real adventure got going once we rattled through the back entrance into Arches. The 4x4 trail isn’t exactly smooth—at one point I grabbed the handle so tight my knuckles went white (Chris just laughed and said “that’s the fun part”). Balanced Rock popped up suddenly, looking way taller than in photos. And then those crazy sandstone fins and spindly things they call Marching Men—felt like being dropped on another planet. We stopped for lemonade (actual ice in the desert!) and Chris told us about how all these shapes formed over millions of years. I tried to repeat some geology fact he shared but probably got it wrong.

Tower Arch was next—a hike if you’re up for it (I was). The ground was gritty and warm under my palms when I sat down halfway up to catch my breath. There’s something about that arch—it’s huge but not crowded at all; just us and a couple lizards darting around. Someone in our group tried to take a panoramic photo and nearly tripped over their own feet. Herdina Park after that felt even quieter. The Eye of the Whale arch is tucked away—you can do a short walk or just stare at it from the shade if your legs are tired. Honestly, I still think about that view sometimes when I’m stuck in city traffic.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — 4x4 tour of Arches National Park

• Depart Moab in Toyota Land Cruiser
• Stop at Utahraptor State Park dinosaur footprints
• Enter Arches National Park
• Pass Balanced Rock viewpoint
• Drive 4x4 trail past Marching Men formations
• Optional hike to Tower Arch
• Stop at Eye of the Whale Arch
• Optional hike at Herdina Park slick rock
• Exit through Courthouse Towers
• Return to Moab

Top questions

How long is the Moab Arches 4x4 tour?

The tour lasts about 5 hours from pickup to drop-off.

Is hotel pickup included for this Arches 4x4 adventure?

Yes, pickup from your motel or campground in Moab is included if needed.

Are there any hikes on this day trip to Arches?

Yes, there are optional hikes to Tower Arch and Eye of the Whale; both are short but rocky.

Will we see dinosaur tracks on this tour?

Yes, there’s a stop at Utahraptor State Park to see fossilized dinosaur footprints.

What kind of vehicle is used for this Moab 4x4 tour?

The tour uses Toyota Land Cruisers equipped for rough terrain.

Is lunch provided during the tour?

No lunch is included, but ice water and lemonade are provided throughout the trip.

Is this Arches day trip suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour suits most fitness levels; hikes are optional and can be skipped if preferred.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your hotel or campground in Moab if you need it, entry fees covered for all stops along the way, a licensed local guide who knows every odd-shaped rock by name, travel by four-wheel drive vehicle with ice water and lemonade ready whenever you need a break—and plenty of chances to get red dust on your shoes before returning to town.