Chasing Arches in Moab with Lectric eBikes

Alex Lo Duca
2024-07-15T08:00:48-07:00

Moab is largely considered one of the adventure capitals of America, and rightfully so. If you have ever been to Moab you understand the sheer excitement for adventure all around you. Every road you drive on you will see people in their tricked-out camper vans or off-road rigs. You will see people climbing rocks right off the highways and roads. You will see people mountain biking, atving, hot air ballooning, hiking, and so much more. You don't have to look far to find adventure in Moab. If you are in Moab long enough, adventure will find you! For this reason, it is easily one of my favorite cities to explore and spend time in.

When Lectric reached out to me and challenged me to find a place that could feature the bikes and match the adventurous lifestyle that they want their customers to have, I knew the first place I was going was Moab. Lectric embodies the mindset and ethos that Moab emulates. You will arrive and find a renewed spirit of energy and thrill for life.

If you have spent any time in Moab you know that it is world renowned for its rock climbing and mountain biking. It is home to some of the best trails in the world. No, I am not exaggerating. People come from all around the world to see the unique landscapes and trails Moab has to offer. I wanted to showcase how friendly Moab is to electric bikes. There is plenty of info on mountain bike trails throughout the internet, but I only saw a few options for other styles of bikes in Moab. So that's what Lectric challenged me to do. We wanted to chase down arches in Moab. This blog will showcase some of the prettiest areas of Moab and show you how accessible electric biking is in this area. We are going to focus on 4 areas in Moab that will be a biker's dream! Let's get into it!

1. Lions Park

The title on the website for Lions Park is The Gateway to Moab’s Natural Wonders. This title is extremely fitting for this park. Picture a central location in Moab that can lead you to unforgettable views and memories. That is what awaits you at Lions Park. It is a park that sits right on the Colorado River with a bridge that connects both sides of the Colorado River. Why is this important? Because both sides of the river have so many adventures you have the option to go to both sides within this park.

Lions Park has a nice facility and parking lot that makes it easy to park and adventure straight from there. It is within a 2-3 minute drive of downtown Moab. You can bike to this park if you want as I saw many people biking from downtown to this location. Some paths lead from the park to downtown and paths that lead from the park to the Arches National Park entrance. It is largely regarded as a beautiful entrance to the city and you will understand why when you visit. Feel free to bike from this location and explore both downtown and the trail to Arches. This path does connect to other trails as well so some people use this as a launching pad for other trails. There are picnic areas and a park as well where kids can play and grass areas where you can throw a ball with your dog. It is the perfect start to your Moab adventure and will be the start for you to get your whistle wet as you look to chase down Arches in Moab.

2. Potash Road

One of the best roads in all of Moab is Potash Road. Whatever your vision of Moab this is the perfect personification of it. It is also a great road to do some biking on! First, let me paint the picture for you. Think of a road that follows along the Colorado River for 17 miles. The road carves through two massive walls of red rock on both sides with a massive river in the middle of it. It is a desert paradise.

This road has endless possibilities for adventure. On my first 5 minutes into my drive, I saw 6 different groups of people that were parking on little drive-offs on the road and they were rock climbing. Not even a mile or two later I saw a group getting into the Colorado River with kayaks. A few miles later there are multiple trails to some amazing arches. This is the perfect road to experience everything Moab has to offer. Here are a few of my favorite highlights along the road.

Corona Arch: One of my favorite arches in all of Moab. This is a beautiful trail that is not super difficult and is right off the road on Potash. The trail is about 3 miles round trip out and back. The main attraction of the hike is the massive Corona Arch. There is also another arch right before you get to Corona Arch called Bowtie Arch. This is on the same trail so you get two arches in one trail! The trail is rated moderate but I saw many families and different age groups doing this hike. It's the perfect stop on the road if you are biking and want to do a nice hike. I would suggest getting here as early as possible as there is not a lot of cover from the sun the entire hike so avoid it during the hottest part of the day. There is a big parking lot and a campground on the opposite side of the road as well so that you can park your bike.

Long Canyon Road/Jug Handle Arch: This is a hidden gem in the area and one of the best views in all of Moab. This beautiful canyon is a 4x4 paradise and I tested out the bikes on this road. This is for the adventurer as it is a bumpy ride but sometimes the best views take more work! Prepare yourself and make sure you have the XP 3.0 with the 20" x 3" tires. Take your time going up! This is also exposed to the sun so just a heads up. Some unbelievable overlooks allow you to see to Arches National Park and Mt. Lasalle!

There is also a bonus arch called the jug handle arch here that is right off of Potash Road but you can park at the start of Long Canyon Road and hike to it as well if you'd like. It looks like this arch has been carved out of the side of the mountain. This combo is a must while exploring Potash Road.

Colorado River: The mighty Colorado River carves its way through multiple states and beautiful cities in America. Potash Road is no exception as it is one of the main attractions on the road. While the Colorado River isn't biking you can enjoy the river while biking on it! You will see the River weave and carve its way through every turn on Potash. Every view you see only gets better at every turn. There is tons to do on the river so if you want to raft, kayak, or just admire the scenery have some fun!

Now that we have discovered some amazing spots that are lesser known in the area now we need to hit up the obvious hotspots! That leads us to our next best place to chase Arches in Moab.

3. Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is one of my favorite National Parks in the country. It is full of unreal views, beautiful roads, and great sights to see. There are a few spots that I really want you to see while in Canyonlands when it comes to chasing Arches and using your electric bike to have a good time. A little heads up this is a larger park so be strategic in where you bike. My suggestion is to take your car with your bike to different parts of the park and enjoy! Here are some of my must-sees with your eBike!

Shaefer Trail: This is one of the most famous trails in all of the American Southwest. It is a biker's dream and the perfect spot to take your Lectric eBike. Be warned this can be a busy road so there will be other bikers and other cars as well. But it is an absolute must. This road takes you all the way down to the canyon floor from the Top of The Sky area in Canyonlands. You will be able to spot amazing rock formations and arches along this road and it will leave you with some of the best views in America. The next spot is one of my favorite arches in all of Moab!

Mesa Arch: Mesa Arch Trailhead is one of the easiest hikes to see one of the most spectacular arches in Moab. This is a pretty popular arch and a lot of people like to go here so prep yourself. I love to go here for sunrise as it is my favorite view in Canyonlands. This trail is a 1.4-mile out-and-back trailhead. It is extremely easy and not hard to do. It is a photographer's dream so make sure you bring a camera. People will be lined up waiting for the sunrise so just find the best spot and enjoy! Little tip if you are camping in Green River Camping in Canyonlands it is an extremely easy bike ride to the trailhead of Mesa Arch. You can also do the bike ride from the Visitors Center but it will be farther. The mileage is 6.1 miles from the visitor's center. My suggestion is to park at the Mesa Arch Trailhead and then bike to some locations near it but it is up to you. My next favorite view in Canyonlands is very close to Mesa Arch.

Green River Overlook: This is one of the best views of the canyon and I cannot describe how majestic this view is. You can get to this overlook from the Mesa Arch Trailhead. You can also camp at Green River Campground and be right down the road from the overlook. It is worth seeing for sure so make sure it is on your list!

Highway 211: A bonus road to check out. This road takes you to the backside of Canyonlands which leads to the Needles District. It is a long road and has less traffic but it is a beautiful drive/ride. It is long so keep that in mind. It is 34.5 miles from the start of the road to the Needles District. Now that we have covered Canyonlands and some of the best places to take the eBike. Next, I want to share some of my favorite places to chase Arches in Arches National Park.

4. Arches National Park

Hard to make a list about chasing Arches in Moab and not including Arches National Park. It is the largest concentration of arches in America. This National Park is a true gem and something everyone should experience at least once! It is a beautiful paved park with sweeping views of petrified dunes, mountains, red rock, and tons of arches! This park is great for hiking, camping, off-roading, and biking! Make sure you pay attention to park rules and always follow leave-no-trace principles to keep these places as beautiful as you found them. Now let's get into some of the best stops!

Balanced Rock: Balanced Rock is not technically an arch but a massive rock that looks like it is hanging off another rock. It legit looks like it is going to fall at any moment. It is a beautiful spectacle in the park and is a must. There is no hike to see it. It has a parking lot and you can walk right to it. You can park your bike right at the entrance but it does not allow eBikes or normal bikes on the physical trail so keep that in mind. It is one of the main stops at the beginning of the park. It is worth a few minutes to take some photos and enjoy the view.

North Window Arch/Turret Arch: This is one of my favorite combos of arches in the park. Both of these are right next to each other so it is extremely easy to see both of them at the same time. It is an easy hike to get to. You can see the arches from the parking lot so they are not far at all. One of my favorite roads in the park is the road that leads to these arches. It is magical and is the perfect ride for someone trying to experience the park in a unique way by biking. The speed limit is pretty slow here so it would be easy to keep up with the Lectric eBike. Both of these arches will knock your socks but on the opposite side of the parking lot is another phenomenal arch.

Double Arch: This is my wife's favorite arch in the park. It is also an extremely easy hike and it is in the same parking lot as the north window and turret arch. So after you hit up the first 2 come down the parking lot and find a spot so you can experience the double arch. This whole area is all so close together but has such a high concentration of arches that it makes it one of the most memorable areas in the park. If you miss this area you will be disappointed. BONUS SPOT: Close to both the Double arch and the North window is Queens Garden. It is another beautiful area with tons of arches and rocks to check out!

Delicate Arch: The list wouldn't be complete without the most famous arch in Utah. Delicate Arch is the same arch on the Utah license plate. It is iconic for Utah and the southwest. You can't bike to get to this arch but you can bike to the trailhead. Just know it is pretty far into the park so make sure you have enough charge or plan where you would want to start your ride. The hike itself for Delicate Arch is about 4-5 miles round trip and has some elevation gain to get to it. It is not an easy hike but it is not the most difficult hike either. If you can do the hike it is one of the best in Utah. I love doing it for sunset or sunrise but feel free to go whenever you can!

Moab is a giant playground as we have mentioned numerous times. It is a land of beautiful landscapes and harsh terrains, but it is asking to be explored and celebrated. There is no shortage of things to do in Moab especially when it comes to biking. While mountain biking is world renowned I would argue that the electric biking you can do will be just as memorable. Grab your Lectric eBike and get out there and explore! Because remember: Tomorrow is Too Late.

Author: Lucas Smissen