Two to six hours
Half day guided hikes, two to six hours
The most popular length of guided hike around Moab, and the one with the widest range. Two hours to a hidden arch, or six in a slot canyon on a rope. Here is every option with what each actually asks of you.
The short answer
Two to six hours including the drive to the trailhead, all gear where gear is needed, and $100 to $350 per person depending on route and group size.
Nearly everything here is priced per group rather than per seat, so the cost per head falls sharply as your party grows. Two people often pay little more than half what one pays.
This page is guided walking: two to six hours on foot, priced per group rather than per seat. If you would rather cover more ground from a vehicle with short walks at the stops, half day park tours start at $114 per person. Compare half day park tours.
The comparison
Every half day hike, side by side
| Trip | Operator | Length | Grade | Published price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longbow Arch | Elevate Outdoors | 2 hrs | Easy | $200 solo$100 pp at 3+ |
| Grandstaff Canyon | Moab Cliffs & Canyons | 3 to 4 hrs | Easy to moderate | On enquiry |
| Fisher Towers | Elevate Outdoors | 3 hrs | Moderate | $350 solo$200 pp at 3+ |
| Castleton Tower base | Elevate Outdoors | 4 hrs | Moderate plus | $350 solo$200 pp at 3+ |
| Fisher Towers | Moab Cliffs & Canyons | 4 to 5 hrs | Moderate | On enquiry |
| Professor Creek | Moab Cliffs & Canyons | 4 to 5 hrs | Easy | On enquiry |
| Private half day | Clapper Adventures | 4 to 5 hrs | Your call | On enquiry |
| Half day hike | Deep Desert Expeditions | 4 to 5 hrs | Your call | On enquiry |
| Medieval Chambercanyoneering | Desert Highlights | 4 to 6 hrs | Easy | $340 solo$140 pp at 4+ |
| Entrajo Canyoncanyoneering | Desert Highlights | 4 to 6 hrs | Easy to moderate | $360 solo$140 pp at 4+ |
Rates as published by each operator, checked September 2026, per person and before tax and gratuity. Four operators quote on enquiry rather than publishing, which is normal for private guiding.
The maths
Why booking alone costs so much more
This catches people out, so it is worth understanding before you get a quote. Half day guiding is priced per group, because one guide runs the trip whether there are one of you or four. Desert Highlights publish the full ladder.
- Solo
- $340per person
- Two
- $180per person
- Three
- $150per person
- Four or more
- $140per person
Same guide, same route, same day. The solo rate is not a penalty, it is the whole cost of the trip landing on one person. Two of you nearly halves it.
Elevate Outdoors work identically on their hiking trips, dropping from $350 for one person at Fisher Towers to $200 each at three or more, and from $200 to $100 on the shorter Longbow Arch trip.
Ask each operator whether they can put you on a trip with another party. Several will, and it is the single biggest lever on what you pay. Windgate Adventures work the other way round, running scheduled trips you can join and charging about a quarter more for exclusivity.
Narrowing it
Which hike suits you
Shortest
Longbow Arch, 2 hours
Dinosaur tracks, petroglyphs and a hidden arch in two hours, from $100 per person in a group of three. The best option if your window is tight or somebody in the group is unsure about distance.
Most scenery per step
Fisher Towers, 3 hours
Enormous mud spires half an hour upriver. Three hours with Elevate from $200 per person at three, or four to five hours with Cliffs and Canyons at a 1:6 ratio.
Best in the heat
Grandstaff Canyon or Professor Creek
The only two here with shade and running water. Grandstaff is fifteen minutes from town with a stream and canyon walls. Professor Creek has you wading most of the way.
Something different
Medieval Chamber, 4 to 6 hours
Your first rappel, two drops to a hundred feet, no experience needed and all gear supplied. From $140 per person at four. The trip people talk about afterwards.
May to September
Half days in the heat
A half day is the right length for summer, provided it starts at dawn. July averages 99 degrees in Moab and about half of July days pass 100, and the National Park Service advises avoiding strenuous activity between 10am and 5pm.
- Start at first light. A four hour trip beginning at six is finished before the worst of it.
- Choose water or shade. Grandstaff Canyon and Professor Creek are the two hiking options with both. Wet canyoneering routes such as Entrajo spend most of the day in shaded canyon.
- Fisher Towers and Castleton are exposed. Superb in October, hard work in July afternoon.
- Carry two to three litres per person, which is the park service figure, and expect your guide to turn the group round if the pace is not working.
Common questions
Questions
How much is a half day guided hike in Moab?
From $100 per person for a two hour trip to Longbow Arch with Elevate Outdoors in a group of three or more, up to $350 for a solo booking at Fisher Towers. Half day canyoneering runs from $140 per person at four people. Several operators quote on enquiry rather than publishing rates.
How long is a half day hike in Moab?
Two to six hours including the drive to the trailhead. Longbow Arch is the shortest at two hours. Most sit at four to five, and half day canyoneering runs four to six because of the approach walk and the rope work.
Why does a guided hike cost more if I book alone?
Because it is priced per group rather than per seat. One guide runs the trip whether there is one of you or four, so the cost divides across your party. Desert Highlights charge $340 for one person and $140 each at four or more on the same route.
Which half day hike is best in summer?
Grandstaff Canyon or Professor Creek, the two with shade and running water. Wet canyoneering routes are also good because most of the day is spent in shaded canyon. Start at first light whichever you choose, and avoid exposed routes like Fisher Towers in the afternoon.
Do I need experience for a half day guided hike?
No. Every trip here is built for people without desert hiking experience, and canyoneering trips include all instruction and gear. Tell the operator your ability plainly when booking and they will match the route to your group.
What is included on a half day guided hike?
A guide, transport to the trailhead, and all technical gear on canyoneering trips including rope, harness and helmet. Meals are generally not included on a half day. Water, footwear and sun cover are on you.
Next step
Or look wider
Operator prices checked September 2026 against their own websites, per person and before tax and gratuity. Rates change seasonally.