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Highway 128: Moab's "River Road" Scenic Byway

Overlook from Dead Horse Point looking down on the Colorado River and Shafer Trail

Overview

Known locally as River Road, Highway 128 traces the Colorado River northeast from Moab through towering red-rock canyons toward Interstate 70. Designated the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway U-128, this route weaves between cliffs that glow at sunrise and mirror themselves on the river below. Along the way, you’ll pass natural springs, classic Western film sets, serene ranch lands, and trailheads leading into some of Utah’s most photographed scenery. It’s a drive that feels less like a road and more like a front-row tour through canyon country.

Quick Drive Summary

Distance: 44 miles each way (Moab to I-70)
Drive Time: 2–3 hours round trip with stops
Road Type: Fully paved, two-lane highway suitable for all vehicles
Highlights: Castle Valley, Fisher Towers, Colorado River cliffs, movie locations
Best Time: Early morning or sunset for golden light and soft shadows

Getting There

The turn off to Highway 128 is on the right just before crossing the Colorado River bridge as you head north out of town.

  1. Head north on US-191 out of Moab.
  2. Turn right onto UT-128  before crossing the bridge over the Colorado River.
Sun Divider Dark.

Top Stops Along Highway 128

Water flows from a red rock overhang onto a cracked road, a truck is visible.

Mile 0 - Matrimony Spring

A small pullout on the right hides this natural spring where locals have refilled bottles for generations. Legend says couples who drink together will marry within six months—while solo travelers fall forever in love with Moab itself.

Red rock canyon with arched overhang, lush green bushes, and blue sky.

Mile 3 - Grandstaff Canyon

An oasis of cottonwoods and a year-round stream, this short hike leads to the famous Morning Glory Arch. For a different perspective, descend from above on the Morning Glory Canyoneering Adventure.

Canyon landscape with a river, road, and green trees. Red rock cliffs frame the scene.

Mile 8 - Big Bend Campground

Here the Colorado River curves gracefully, surrounded by cottonwoods and sheer canyon walls. Stop for a riverside picnic or simply step out to feel how small the cliffs make you seem.

Horses in a green field near a wooden fence, with red rock mountains and a river in the background.

Mile 14 - Red Cliffs Lodge

As the canyon widens into Castle Valley, Red Cliffs Lodge welcomes travelers with a restaurant, tasting room, horseback rides, and a free museum showcasing Moab’s film history—from John Wayne classics to modern blockbusters.

Tall red rock spire against a colorful sunset in a desert landscape.

Mile 21 - Fisher Towers & Onion Creek

Turn right toward Fisher Towers for an easy to moderate hike beneath surreal sandstone spires. Nearby, Onion Creek offers a playful 4×4 side road crossing shallow streams between colorful cliffs—fun for Jeeps and high-clearance vehicles.

River flowing through a desert landscape with red rock formations and a rafting trip under a clear blue sky.

Mile 23 - Hittle Bottom Boat Ramp

Watch rafts launch for the famous “Daily Stretch” of the Colorado River. If the calm water calls your name, join a Colorado River Rafting Trip to see these same cliffs from below.

A large, metal power line tower stands over a muddy river, with a desert landscape in the background.

Mile 30 - Dewey Bridge

Once Utah’s longest suspension bridge, Dewey Bridge now stands as a photogenic relic beside the highway. It’s the perfect turnaround point or a gateway to continue on toward I-70. On your return, the afternoon sun reverses the color palette—gold cliffs turning to deep rust and violet.

Highway 128 winding along the river with tall cliffs on either side.

Continue, Connect or Head Back

Dewey Bridge is a great point to either continue up the highway to the junction of I-70, returning on the interstate, or turn around and head back towards the town of Moab. We highly recommend you turn back and see the "second half" of this scenic byway. Be sure to look for the Fisher Towers view with the LaSal Mountains as a backdrop and the Colorado River in a majestic foreground. It's picture perfect! As an added bonus, you can turn towards the La Sal Mountains when you reach Castle Valley and come back via the La Sal Mountain Loop Road Scenic Drive. You won't regret it!

Tips for Driving River Road

  • Timing: Morning light illuminates the canyon walls; evening sunset paints them crimson.
  • Food: Grab lunch or dinner at Red Cliffs Lodge or Sorrel River Ranch
  • Fuel & Facilities: Fill up in Moab; limited services beyond town. Restrooms available at Big Bend and Red Cliffs Lodge.
  • Safety: Watch for cyclists and wildlife; use designated pullouts for photos.
  • Weather: In summer, heat can exceed 100°F—carry plenty of water and avoid soft shoulders after rain.
  • Continue the journey: Combine the La Sal Mountain Loop Road scenic drive and complete a spectacular loop.
  • Road & River: Experience this drive from the road and then from the water on a Moab Rafting Adventure.
  • Limited Connectivity: Download offline maps before leaving town—cell service can fade in the canyon.

Interested in more scenic drives?   Check out the Scenic Top Scenic Drives in Moab.


America's Scenic Byway 128

Scenic Byway 128—also known as the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway or “River Road”—was officially recognized as part of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, a National Scenic Byway in 1998.  Along this route you may recognize scenes from movies, commercials, music videos and anything else that needs to instantly communicate "The West" (or sometimes Mars) to viewers.


There are several tours available that make this route part of its "there and back again" route, as shown in the accompanying map, and listed below.

Map of highway 128 along the Colorado River.
Sun Divider Dark.

Popular Tours Along Highway 128

See the same breathtaking scenery from new perspectives—by raft or on horseback. Drift quietly between the canyon walls you just drove beside, feeling the cool spray of the Colorado River and the stillness of the red cliffs above. Or trade four wheels for four hooves on a classic horseback ride through Castle Valley, where the desert opens wide and every turn feels like a scene from an old Western. Each experience brings you closer to the landscape and the spirit of Moab.

A group of people are rafting down a river in a red raft.

Full-Day Moab Rafting Adventure with BBQ Lunch

Colorado River adventure for all ages: Stunning canyons, famous Castle Valley, easygoing rapids, delicious riverside BBQ, and stories you’ll tell long after you dry off.

  • Duration: ~7 hours
  • Departures: 9:00 am Mon-Sat
  • Season: Mar – Oct

ADULTS 13+

$143

YOUTH 5-12

$117
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A group of people are riding horses in the desert.

Castle Valley Horseback Ride 2.5 Hours

Saddle up for a classic Western ride: Follow trails through red rock canyons, splash through shallow streams & hear stories of Moab’s frontier past.

  • Duration: ~2.5hrs
  • Departures: Varies by season
  • Season: April - October

ADULTS 18+

 $190

YOUTH 10-17

 $190
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A group of people are rafting down a river.

Westwater Canyon Full-Day Rafting Adventure

The West’s best short whitewater trip: Conquer Class III–IV rapids and experience Moab’s most legendary one-day rafting adventure.

  • Duration: ~10 hrs
  • Departures: 7:30 AM
  • Season: May - Sept

ADULTS 12+

$244

YOUTH 12+

$244
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