What locals call “the Moon” is a unique landscape of gray sand, hoodoos, and strange rock formations that look otherworldly. When exploring the area, you truly feel like you are on another planet! There is much to do and see. Some popular activities include riding ATV and bicycle trails, fossil finding, and hiking.
Directions
Glen Canyon Rec Road 340-230 in Big Water, Utah, will take you to the moon area. The road is a wide, graded gravel road along the Northern boundary of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The road is primarily used to access Alstrom Point or connect to Smokey Mountain Road. You will see the Moon area as you drive along the road, and you can turn off onto any of the trails. No sign states you are there; just look for the terrain.
ATV and Motorcycle Trails
There are a lot of great riding trails in the area. You can ride all over the Moon, but do not ride off the trails within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area boundaries.
The National Park Service does not like riding off-road once you are in the park, and they will ticket you. You will see signs showing you where you can and can’t ride.
You can spend hours riding ATVs on the moon’s trails. There are also a lot of connecting trails you can follow in the area.
Some Popular Trail Options Include:
-
- Riding along Smoky Mountain Road and looping back to Big Water via Smoky Hollow.
- Taking Crosby Canyon Road (231) to see a secluded area of Lake Powell.
- Taking Smokey Mountain Road to Escalante, Utah. Smokey Mountain Road runs 80 miles from Big Water to Escalante, Utah. The ride is beautiful, with many great stops along the way. For additional details and trail maps, click here.
- Riding to the Alstrom Point overlook.
Bicycle Trails
The Colorado Plateau Trail Network runs through the area and provides great riding opportunities for mountain bikes and e-bikes. Riding the backcountry and primitive roads of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a great way to enjoy the scenery of the Colorado Plateau.
There are many trails that go through the landscape known as the moon. When riding, you can take a number of unmarked trails that lead you to unique rock formations within the area or you can follow the official trails.
Some popular trails include:
- Warm Creek Road (#230): 13+ miles. A popular road from Big Water, Utah, to various points.
- Crosby Canyon Road (#231): 13 miles from Big Water to Lake Powell.
- Alstrom Point Road (#264): 8-mile sandy spur off Warm Creek Road to the Alstrom Point Overlook.
- Grand Bench Road (#262): 38 miles one way from the junction with Warm Creek Road.
Fossil Finding
One of my favorite activities is hiking around the moon and looking for fossils. The gray layer of dirt that makes up the moon area is known as Tropic Shale, and the moon is actually is the remains of an 85 million-year-old seabed. The ground is almost entirely devoid of life, but there are fossils containing the remains of ancient sea life everywhere.
The most common type of fossil found here is Gryphaea, AKA the Devil’s Toenail, which is an extinct mollusk. These are small, oyster-like shells; if you look closely, you are almost guaranteed to find one. In addition to the Devil’s Toenail, there is a wide variety of other fossils and shells, but they are more challenging to come by.
There are some areas where rock hounding and fossil finding are allowed and some areas where they aren’t. You cannot take anything you find when you enter the Grand Staircase National Monument. Check out the Big Water Visitor Center to get more information on where to hunt and what you might find. Open Thursday through Monday, 9-4.
Hiking on the Moon
The moon doesn’t have any official hiking trails, but there are a lot of places to explore. When I hike around the moon, I usually follow a motorcycle trail in the general direction I want to go until I find a place to veer off in the direction I want to explore.
There is a lot to see when hiking on the moon. There are hidden hoodoos and strange rock formations all over the place. The moon’s terrain even holds hidden canyons that can’t be seen from the road.
You could spend all day hiking around the moon, but if you only have a short time to explore the area, you may want to consider checking out a few other nearby places as well.
Nearby Hikes in the Area
Alstrom Point:
Alstrom Point is a scenic overlook located on the edge of the Kaiparowits Plateau in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Page, Arizona. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Powell and the surrounding desert landscape. The drive from Page, Arizona, is approximately 20 to 25 miles one way. Once you reach the parking area near Alstrom Point, the viewpoint itself is typically just a short walk from where you park.
Birthday Arch:
Birthday Arch, located near Big Water, Utah, is a stunning natural sandstone arch tucked away in the remote desert landscape. The hike to Birthday Arch is considered moderate and involves navigating through sandy terrain and rock scrambling. It is approximately 5 miles round trip.
Blue Pool Wash:
Blue Pool Wash is a slot canyon near Big Water, Utah, that is great for hiking and canyoneering. The hike is considered moderately challenging and typically covers 3 to 4 miles round trip.
Crosby Canyon:
Crosby Canyon, located near Big Water, Utah, offers a scenic experience in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The hike is considered moderately challenging, and most hikers typically cover 3-4 miles round trip.
Skylight Arch and Stud Horse Point:
Skylight Arch and Stud Horse Point are located near Big Water, Utah, within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The Arch is a natural sandstone arch named for the large opening in its center. Stud Horse Point is a scenic overlook offering stunning panoramic views of the desert landscape. Stud Horse Point is relatively easy, as it’s typically reached via a short walk from the parking area. The hike to Skylight Arch is moderately challenging and can vary, but it is typically around 2 to 3 miles round trip.
Wahweap Hoodoos:
The Wahweap Hoodoos, located near Big Water, Utah, are a captivating collection of sandstone hoodoos, towers, and pinnacles that rise from the desert landscape. These unique formations, shaped by millennia of wind and water erosion, create a surreal and photogenic scene. The difficulty of hiking to the Wahweap Hoodoos can vary depending on trail conditions. While there isn’t an established trail to the hoodoos, the hike typically involves navigating through sandy washes and rock terrain. The overall difficulty level is considered moderate. The total distance covered is typically 10 miles round trip.
Wiregrass Trail:
The Wiregrass Trail near Big Water, Utah, offers a scenic adventure through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This trail winds through the picturesque desert and showcases a natural bridge. The trail is moderate, as it does require some rock scrambling. The distance to the bridge is 2 miles roundtrip, but you can hike all the way to Lake Powell if you want to.
Leave It Better Than You Found It
Remember to respect nature and follow ethical practices when engaging in outdoor activities. Always leave a place better than you found it, and practice the principles of Leave No Trace. Enjoy your time exploring the Moon and discovering the area’s hidden treasures!