The best place to paddle board in Moab for most people is the Colorado River upstream of town along Highway 128, launching at Big Bend for a mostly calm float between red rock walls. If you want flat water with no current at all, Ken’s Lake south of town is the easy beginner option; for an adventure, the Moab Daily adds small rapids, and Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River is a multi-day trip through some of the quietest canyon water in the West.
Moab is desert, but the Colorado River runs right past town, so you can paddle under sandstone cliffs and next to Arches National Park within a few minutes’ drive. The trade-off is that this is moving water. Even the calm stretches have current, the river carries silt and debris, and conditions change with snowmelt and storms. Plan your trip like a river trip, not a lake paddle.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: Ken’s Lake, a small reservoir about 10 miles south of Moab with no motorboats.
- Classic Moab paddle: the Colorado River from Big Bend, on a guided flatwater tour or with a shuttle.
- Small rapids: the Moab Daily, from Hittle Bottom to Take-Out Beach, for experienced river paddlers or on a guided trip.
- Multi-day trip: Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River, with a free BLM permit.
- Always: wear your life jacket on the river. The BLM requires it.
The best places to paddle board in Moab
Colorado River from Big Bend
Directions
Best for: a scenic first river paddle, ideally with a guide. River current, mostly flat.
Upstream of Moab, the Colorado runs through a deep red rock canyon beside Highway 128, with Arches National Park on one side. Below Big Bend, the river is mostly calm, which makes it the stretch most beginners paddle.
Where to launch: Big Bend Recreation Site is on Highway 128, 7.4 miles east of the Highway 191 junction. The BLM site has a sandy beach, a boat launch, shade shelters and vault toilets. You’ll need a car or a shuttle at your take-out downstream, closer to Moab.
Rentals and lessons: Paddle Moab (44 West 200 North, Moab) has been running paddle board trips since 2012 and offers board rentals, shuttles and guided paddles on the Colorado, including a family-friendly flatwater trip past the edge of Arches. A guided trip is the simplest way to do this stretch the first time, because the shuttle is handled for you.
Good to know: The BLM warns that the river has dangerous undercurrents and that you shouldn’t enter it without a life jacket. Wear a quick-release waist leash on moving water rather than an ankle leash, which can snag on debris. Our guide to the best conditions for paddle boarding covers how wind and current change a trip.
The Moab Daily (Hittle Bottom to Take-Out Beach)
Directions
Best for: experienced river paddlers, or anyone on a guided whitewater SUP trip. River current with Class I–III rapids.
The “Daily,” also called the Fisher Towers section, is a 13-mile stretch of the Colorado from Hittle Bottom down to Take-Out Beach. The BLM calls it Utah’s most popular river trip. The scenery is huge, with the Fisher Towers and the La Sal Mountains above the canyon.
Rapids: Depending on the season and flow, the BLM says you’ll meet rapids from Class I to Class III. Named rapids include Onion Creek, Professor Creek, Rocky Rapid, White’s Rapid and Salt Wash. On a paddle board, expect to kneel or swim through some of them, so this is not a beginner trip.
Where to launch: Hittle Bottom Recreation Site, on Highway 128 upriver from Moab, is the usual put-in, with a campground and landing. The BLM also maintains landings at Rocky Rapid (Ida Gulch), Sandy Beach and Take-Out Beach, so you can run a shorter section.
Rentals and lessons: Paddle Moab runs the Splish n’ Splash paddle board trip on the Colorado, a 3.5-hour trip through a series of wave trains for ages 10 and up.
Good to know: Check the current river flow before you go on the USGS water data site, or call the BLM Moab Field Office on 435-259-2100. Overnight trips must carry a reusable toilet system or waste bags, and fires must be in a fire pan.
Ken’s Lake
Directions
Best for: beginners, families, SUP yoga. Flat water.
Ken’s Lake is a small reservoir about 10 miles south of Moab, run as a BLM recreation site, with red rock cliffs around it and the La Sal Mountains behind. Boating is limited to non-motorized craft, so there are no wakes, just wind.
Where to launch: Drive south from Moab on Highway 191 and follow the signs for Ken’s Lake. The BLM campground has first-come, first-served sites, picnic tables, vault toilets and grills, but no drinking water, so bring plenty.
Good to know: With no current to deal with, Ken’s Lake is the safest place near Moab to practice before trying the river. Afternoon wind can still build across the open water, so paddle into it on the way out.
Labyrinth Canyon (Green River)
Directions
Best for: experienced paddlers on a multi-day trip. Flat river.
Labyrinth Canyon is a long, flatwater stretch of the Green River, west of Moab, winding through deep sandstone canyon. The BLM describes it as easy, flatwater paddling for canoes, kayaks and rafts, and loaded paddle boards make the trip too.
Where to launch: Most trips start at Green River State Park in the town of Green River and run 68 river miles to the Mineral Bottom boat ramp, which the BLM says takes at least three to four days. A shorter 45-mile trip starts at Ruby Ranch, a private launch that charges a fee. The take-out at Mineral Bottom is reached by a dirt road with steep switchbacks; four-wheel drive is recommended, and the road can be impassable when wet.
Permits: You need a free BLM permit. Download it from the BLM Labyrinth Canyon page, email it to the address given there, and carry a copy with your trip leader.
Good to know: Much of the land in the first 23 miles below Green River is private, so plan camps below Ruby Ranch. Several Moab outfitters, including Paddle Moab, run trips and shuttles here.
When to go
Moab’s paddling season runs from spring to fall.
- Spring (April–May): pleasant air temperatures, but the river rises with snowmelt. Check the flow before you go, because high water makes the river faster and colder.
- Summer (June–August): very hot, and the river is the place to be. The BLM notes that July and August bring afternoon thunderstorms, which can cause flash floods in side canyons and strong wind on the water. Paddle in the morning.
- Fall (September–October): lower, calmer water and cooler days. A great time for Labyrinth Canyon.
- Winter: cold air and cold water. Our wetsuit check uses water and air temperature to tell you what to wear.
Planning a float? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long a route will take at your pace.
Rules and safety in Moab
Utah’s boating rules come from the state Division of Outdoor Recreation:
- Life jacket: carry a properly sized US Coast Guard–approved life jacket for everyone on board, and anyone under 13 must wear one. On the Colorado River near Moab, the BLM requires everyone to wear a life jacket at all times. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Whistle: carry one. It’s the simplest way to signal for help on the river.
- No registration: paddle boards, canoes and kayaks without a motor or sail don’t need to be registered.
- Spare paddle: the BLM requires boats under 21 feet on the Moab Daily to carry a spare means of propulsion.
Invasive mussel rules also apply to paddle boards:
- Mussel-aware boater course: Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources requires every boater, including paddle boarders, to take the free annual mussel-aware boater course and keep proof of completion in the launch vehicle.
- Clean, drain and dry your board and gear between waters, and stop at any operating inspection station. If your board has been on a mussel-infested water in the last 30 days, or you’re coming from another state, it must be fully cleaned, drained and dried or professionally decontaminated before you launch.
A few more habits for Moab:
- Bring more water than you think. There’s no drinking water at Ken’s Lake or along most of the river.
- Watch for floating debris and strainers (fallen trees) on the river, especially after storms.
- Respect private land along Labyrinth Canyon and the Daily, where no camping is allowed.
FAQ
Where can beginners paddle board in Moab?
Ken’s Lake is the easiest, because there’s no current and no motorboats. For the river, book a guided flatwater trip on the Colorado so a guide handles the shuttle and picks the stretch for the day’s flow.
Do I need a permit to paddle board in Moab?
Not for the Colorado River near Moab or Ken’s Lake. You need a free BLM permit for Labyrinth Canyon. In Utah, you also need to complete the mussel-aware boater course before you launch anywhere.
Can you paddle board the Colorado River in Moab?
Yes. The calmest stretch is below Big Bend. The Moab Daily from Hittle Bottom has Class I–III rapids and is for experienced river paddlers or guided trips. Always wear a life jacket on the river; it’s required.
Can I paddle board Labyrinth Canyon?
Yes, it’s flat water, but it’s a multi-day trip of 45 to 68 miles with no services. You need a free BLM permit, a way to carry camping gear and waste bags, and a shuttle from Mineral Bottom.
What board should I bring to Moab?
An inflatable is the usual choice for rivers, because it shrugs off rocks and is easy to carry to a launch. Our Board Fitter suggests a size from your weight and how you’ll paddle. Heading on to Colorado? See where to paddle board in Denver.
