Grandstaff Canyon — Local services in Moab

Great Trail. I've hiked it in August and February. In August, the cactus fruit are in bloom and the creek is a refreshing place to stick your feet or wet your bandana. Because of the creek, there is a lot of green and shade in the form of trees. It's like a scenic desert oasis. The canyon walls are a deep orange-red hue. In winter, it's not quite as scenic because of the lack of green, but still one of the best hikes within a short distance of Moab. It ends at a tall arch. I recommend hiking during the day, as the markings on the trail can be confusing at times. I've hiked it at night and didn't have major issues, but I could see how someone could. During the day it should be simple.

The other user who rated this trail a one star seems to have done so over the controversial name. It's now named Grandstaff Trail after an Afro-American cowboy and resident of the canyon, named Bill Grandstaff, who in his time was known as "Ner Bill." The Canyon was called Ner Bill Canyon, later changed to "Negro Bill Canyon," and finally, recently, to "Grandstaff Canyon." This has nothing to do with the quality of the trail itself. It's a great choice for a 2-4 hour...

A nice hike! Dog friendly, but the sand gets really hot. So, if you bring your pup, I would have some booties for their feet or be prepared to carry them if their feet burn (like we did😂).

Ours loved playing in the gorgeous river that you’ll cross several times to get to the end (don’t need to take shoes off but water shoes are beneficial), but be sure to check alerts online to be certain it’s safe to drink, as some algae can be toxic and kill dogs.

There is LOTS of poison ivy, but it’s easy to avoid if you recognize it and they have signs showing you at the start. It grows usually in the shade close to the river (three dark green leaves pointing downwards).

The end is worth it, but again watch out for the giant poison ivy tunnel right before the arch.

PS. Stay on the path / river! If you see *HARD crusty sand, don’t touch it!!! It is key to keeping the ecosystem alive and well, but people often step on it and cause it to erode,...

Pretty moderate hike. Be sure to keep an eye on where exactly the trail is. The weather was great for me. You do have to cross the creek a couple times, but it's nothing crazy. Maybe if there's a higher water level it would be more difficult. Otherwise it is a easy to moderate hike. The end is so pretty and you can sit beneath the bridge for...