Based on the record-setting (pre-pandemic) number of visitors that Moab Adventure Center served on some of its most popular tours in 2023, this go-to hub in Moab, Utah, predicts a similar flood of visitors in 2024.
Moab Adventure Center serves the needs of activity-minded visitors to this red rock playground. Here Kam Wixom, Marketing Director for Moab Adventure Center, enjoys a privileged, bird’s eye perspective on this region that is the home base for both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
Last year our region vied for attention with Europe: canyons competed with catacombs, natural arches with lavish porticoes, and soaring spires with the likes of the Eiffel Tower. We were on the alert for downturns with the post-pandemic, pent-up demand for traveling in Europe. But fortunately, Moab Adventure Center not only escaped any down-turns but we broke previous records for some of our most popular tours,” Wixom adds.
He expects his company’s tours to be even more sought after in 2024.
“Historically, travel does trend slower in an election year; but we predict people will be longing to unplug from the political hoopla by escaping into the silence of the wilderness. This is what we’re all about here in Moab,” he underscores.
Based on last year’s numbers, Wixom advises taking an early-bird approach to booking Moab Adventure Center’s highly sought-after national park, river rafting, and canyoneering tours.
“With bookings for the coming season starting off strong and indications it will be another record season, Moab Adventure Center recommends planning ahead to make the most of your visit to Moab and the surrounding national parks,” he adds.
Our Arches National Park tours have more than doubled to record levels compared to peak years prior to the pandemic. Wixom attributes this growth to a relatively new, timed-entry system that disburses visitors to Arches National Park in an orderly fashion. While this system helps prevent the overcrowding of years past, visitors are required to apply in advance for their allotted entry times.
“We think part of the uptick is because our tours automatically include timed entries. Not only do guests have the convenience of booking a confirmed tour with confirmed entry, but they also experience learning about the park and its breathtaking formations from expert naturalists — without having to worry about driving, traffic, and parking,” he underscores.
The “leave the planning to the Moab Adventure Center” also accounts for the high number of requests for the Center’s most popular Moab rafting trip, the Colorado River Full-Day Adventure, Wixom notes. This excursion, complete with an exclusive BBQ lunch at a riverside ranch, reached the highest bookings ever recorded.
“This river adventure runs from March through October and is generally a mild and scenic float trip most of the season, but it can be more exciting late May through mid-June, depending on runoff and water levels. Most love it for the astounding scenery of Castle Valley and the spectacular canyons that follow. This area has been made famous by numerous movies, including Mission Impossible, City Slickers, and The Lone Ranger,” he explains.
Moab Adventure Center experienced what Wixom calls “a remarkable surge in popularity” with its Cataract Canyon Express trip. This exhilarating journey offers adventure-seekers a condensed yet intense experience of the majestic Cataract Canyon, located in the heart of Canyonlands National Park. This trip, he explains, is uniquely designed to fit into a shorter time frame, making it an ideal choice for those with limited vacation time but who have a strong desire for adventure.
He suggests that those seeking an even more immersive experience that many call the best vacation of their lives, consider Moab Adventure Center’s all-inclusive Desolation Canyon 5-Day Expedition or Cataract Canyon 4-Day Expedition.
Moab Adventure Center’s newest Moab Canyoneering experience through Bow & Arrow canyon was up 20 percent in 2023. Wixom describes this half-day adventure as “a beautiful hike paired with four incredible rappels, fossilized dino tracks, ancestral Puebloans petroglyphs, a spectacular arch, and majestic views. We added this trip to provide an additional experience for those who have already tried Moab’s most popular canyoneering trip, Morning Glory Arch, which features a memorable rappel into a hidden grotto and a rappel off Morning Glory Arch followed by a hike along the spring-fed streams of Granstaff Canyon.”
About the Moab Adventure Center
Moab Adventure Center is at the epicenter of nature-themed adventure, promising activities that include rafting, jet boating, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, mountain biking, and hot air ballooning. Hummer safaris, rock climbing, canyoneering, and horseback riding are also very popular. Most of these activities are conducted with experienced guides who help people understand where and how they can experience the backcountry with the least impact possible.
Moab Adventure Center is a division of Western River Expeditions (http://www.westernriver.com/) an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab and Fredonia, AZ. The company is the largest single tour provider in Moab, Utah. The Moab Adventure Center is located at 225 South Main St., Moab, UT 84532. For information and reservations, please call (435) 259-7019 or (866) 904-1163. The center also has a 2,000-square-foot retail space selling adventure-related gear, clothing, maps, and souvenirs.
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