If Mars had national parks, they might look a lot like this corner of Utah.
Arches, Canyonlands, and Goblin Valley turn stone, sky, and silence into a full red rock road trip.
Over millions of years, wind and water quietly carved this high desert into arches that defy gravity, canyons that drop away beneath your feet, and hoodoos that really do look like goblins frozen mid-mischief. Long before “Utah national parks” became a bucket list phrase, Indigenous peoples traveled, hunted, and held stories in these landscapes. Today, Moab and its surrounds feel like a natural playground for hikers, photographers, and anyone who loves a big sky and bigger scenery.
This Arches and Canyonlands self-guided driving tour bundle is built for road trippers who want the freedom of their own car with the depth of a local guide. The Action Tour Guide app uses GPS to trigger audio stories as you drive, so you keep your eyes on the red cliffs while the tour quietly fills in the geology, history, and legends in the background. One purchase unlocks five full experiences that shape your Moab adventure: Arches National Park, Delicate Arch, Canyonlands, the Canyonlands District Tour, and Goblin Valley.
In Arches National Park, the road winds through towering walls and stone fins toward icons like Balanced Rock, the Windows section, and Double Arch, where you can stand under spans that look too delicate to exist. Delicate Arch steps fully into the spotlight with its own focused experience, turning that famous hike into a story about ancient sea beds, stone by stone erosion, and why this single arch became the symbol of Utah. Devil’s Garden, Landscape Arch, Fiery Furnace viewpoints, and hidden gems like Sand Dune Arch round out the feeling that the entire park is a natural sculpture gallery.
Canyonlands National Park brings a different kind of drama. In the Island in the Sky district, viewpoints such as Shafer Canyon Overlook, Mesa Arch, and Grand View Point show you entire river-carved worlds from a cliff top perch. Along the way, you hear about uranium booms, stubborn ranchers, fragile cryptobiotic soil, and the difference between the canyons carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers. Dead Horse Point State Park, with its legendary overlook, adds another chapter to your Utah road trip as you look down on looping river bends far below.
Goblin Valley shifts the mood again. Here, thousands of sandstone “goblins” and weird rock shapes crowd the desert floor, turning the landscape into a natural playground for kids and grown-ups. The audio tour helps you thread between these formations while explaining how erosion sculpted them and why this little state park has become a favorite detour on many Utah itineraries.
Across the bundle, you can start where it fits your schedule, drive in either direction, pause for hikes and photo stops, and replay stories whenever you like. It is a flexible way to turn a Moab road trip into a deeper Arches, Canyonlands, and Goblin Valley experience without having to juggle paper maps or group tour times.
Frequent post-trip symptoms
May include a sudden urge to compare every rock back home to Delicate Arch, an unreasonable number of sunrise and sunset photos, and serious confusion about how you ever visited Utah’s national parks without an audio guide in your pocket.
Arches 2025 Update
- In 2025, entry tickets are required from 7 am to 4 pm daily from April 1 through July 6, and August 28 through October 31.
- Visit Recreation.gov for park access and details.
Alert: Timed Entry Reservation Pilot 2025
To enter the park April 1–July 6 and August 28–October 31, 2025, most visitors will need a Timed Entry Ticket. Tickets may be purchased from Recreation.gov up to six months ahead. Extra tickets release at 7pm nightly for next-day visits. For Booking please visit here.
Visitor Center Timings
- Sunday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Monday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Note For Canyonlands Tour:
For updated road conditions, you can visit the alerts section on nps.gov. Entrance passes are required for all visitors. Please click on entrance fees to know more.
Hello and Bonjour – Explore Yellowstone in English and French!
All languages are available to you when you purchase the tour.
Want all of our tours? Upgrade to Action+:
- An annual $99.99/year subscription offers access to over 200+ tours.
- Unlimited use throughout the year.
- Includes free access to new tours as they are released.
How Does It Work?
- Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions.
- Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. If multiple versions or entry points are available for your tour, be sure to download all the audio guides.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to the car stereo via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux, and bring headphones on walking tours. CarPlay and Android Auto are currently not supported; we’re working toward a solution with Apple.
- To begin touring, go to the starting point and launch the app.
- The audio starts automatically once you reach the starting point. Stick to the tour route and speed limit for the best experience.
- Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
Audio Story Highlights
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Arches Visitor Center
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Three Penguins
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Moab Fault
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Spanish, Mormons, and Park Avenue
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La Sal Mountains Viewpoint
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Three Gossips
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Courthouse Viewpoint
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Petrified Dunes
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Balanced Rock
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Garden of Eden
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The Windows
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Double Arch and the Cove of Caves
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National Park Status & Panorama Point
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Cache Valley & Flash Floods
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Salt Valley
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Fiery Furnace
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Sand Dune Arch
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Conclusion
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Monitor and Merriamac Rock Formations
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Big Mesa Viewpoint
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Plateau Viewpoint
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White Rim
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Basin Overlook Parking
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Dead Horse Point State Park
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Island in the Sky Visitor Center
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Shafer Canyon Overlook & The Neck
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The Neck
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Lathrop Trailhead
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Mesa Arch Trailhead
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Green River Overlook
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Aztec Butte Trailhead
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Whale Rock
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Upheaval Dome
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Candlestick Tower Overlook
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Murphy Point
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Buck Canyon Overlook
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White Rim Overlook
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Orange Cliffs Overlook
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Grand View Point




