Monitor and Merrimac Trail

Monitor and Merrimac Trail winds 8.4 miles through the red rock country north of Moab, passing the massive sandstone buttes that early settlers named after the famous Civil War battleships. The easy dirt road crosses several washes and climbs gradually through pinyon-juniper country before ending at a spectacular viewpoint overlooking Courthouse Wash and the backside of Arches National Park. The twin buttes of Monitor and Merrimac dominate the skyline, their sheer Entrada Sandstone faces rising 400 feet from the desert floor.

Easy rating makes this perfect for stock SUVs and even some passenger cars in dry conditions, though recent rains can create muddy spots in the washes. Spring and fall offer ideal weather with wildflowers adding color to the red rock landscape. No permits required and camping is allowed along most of the route. The real payoff comes at trail’s end where you can hike up onto the slickrock for 360-degree views of the La Sal Mountains, Arches, and the Colorado River valley. Classic Moab scenery without the technical driving.