The companies
Moab guide companies, and what each is for
Thirteen companies run guided trips out of Moab and they are not interchangeable. Some publish a full rate card, some quote on enquiry. Some cap a group at five, others take twelve. Here is who does what.
The short answer
Operators split into two groups. Hiking and canyoneering specialists run small private trips priced per group, usually $100 to $350 per person. Park tour companies run vehicle based days priced per seat, usually $114 to $430.
The most useful thing to compare is not price. It is group size, whether they publish rates, and what they actually specialise in.
Small group specialists
Hiking and canyoneering
| Operator | Specialises in | Group | Publishes rates | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Highlights | Canyoneering, the deepest menu in town | Private as standard | Yes, full ladder | Read more |
| Elevate Outdoors | Short private hikes, 2 to 4 hours | Private | Yes, by group size | Read more |
| Moab Cliffs and Canyons | Canyoneering ladder plus three hiking routes | Max 6 per guide | On enquiry | Read more |
| Clapper Adventures | Private multi sport, families, mixed ability | Up to 5 | On enquiry | Read more |
| Deep Desert Expeditions | Interpretation led private hiking | Private | On enquiry | Read more |
| Windgate Adventures | Scheduled canyoneering you can join | Shared or charter | Via booking system | Read more |
Volume operators
Park tour companies
| Operator | Specialises in | Group | From | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAVTEC Expeditions | Four wheel drive, the widest backcountry menu | Ask | $198 | Read more |
| Adrift Adventures | Full day park trips, clear youth rates | Ask | $155 | Read more |
| Moab In A Day | Trips sorted by how much you walk | Max 9 | $139 | Read more |
| Mild to Wild | Cheapest guided Arches entry | Up to 12, or 6 | $114 | Read more |
| Moab Tourism Center | Arches highlights, publishes walking distance | Ages 5 up | $149 | Read more |
| Moab Lux Tours | Private vehicles, early and late light | Up to 3 | $650 | Read more |
| Wild West Voyages | Private park days | Up to 4 | $631 | Read more |
We do not run trips, own gear or employ guides, and no operator pays to appear here or to appear higher. Details below are from each company's own published material, checked September 2026. Full disclosure.
Transparency
Who tells you the price up front
Worth knowing before you start ringing round, because it shapes how long booking takes.
- Desert Highlights publish a full ladder by group size on every individual trip page, which is the most useful pricing on any Moab guiding site.
- Elevate Outdoors publish rates by group size for all three of their hiking routes.
- The park tour companies mostly publish per person rates, since they sell fixed departures.
- Moab Tourism Center go further and publish their walking distance, about 1.5 miles. They are the only operator in town who does.
- Moab Cliffs and Canyons, Clapper Adventures and Deep Desert Expeditions quote on enquiry. That is normal for private guiding, where the rate depends on route, group and season.
Group size
How many people you will be with
This changes a day more than price does, and it is rarely the first thing listed.
- Clapper Adventures
- Up to 5
- Moab Cliffs and Canyons
- 6 per guide
- Mild to Wild premium
- 6
- Moab In A Day
- 9
- Mild to Wild standard
- 12
- Desert Highlights
- Private
Mild to Wild make the trade explicit: the same Arches route is $114 with up to twelve guests or $199 capped at six. On a busy morning at the Windows those are noticeably different days.
Private trips remove the question entirely, and because they are priced per group rather than per seat, a party of four often pays less per head than a couple does.
Common questions
Questions
How many guiding companies are there in Moab?
Thirteen run the trips covered on this site: six specialising in hiking and canyoneering, and seven running vehicle based national park tours. Several run both plus rafting, biking and climbing.
Which Moab operator publishes their prices?
Desert Highlights publish a full rate ladder by group size on each trip page, and Elevate Outdoors publish rates for all three hiking routes. Most park tour companies publish per person rates. Moab Cliffs and Canyons, Clapper Adventures and Deep Desert Expeditions quote on enquiry.
What is the smallest group size in Moab?
Clapper Adventures cap at five guests. Moab Cliffs and Canyons cap at six per guide. Mild to Wild offer a premium version of their Arches half day capped at six rather than twelve. Desert Highlights, Elevate Outdoors and Deep Desert Expeditions run private trips as standard.
Which Moab operator is cheapest?
For a guided park tour, Mild to Wild at $114 per adult for a four hour Arches half day. For guided hiking, Elevate Outdoors at $100 per person for the two hour Longbow Arch trip in a group of three or more. For canyoneering, Desert Highlights at $140 per person at four or more.
Do any Moab operators pay to be listed here?
No. We do not run trips, own gear or employ guides, and no operator pays to appear or to appear higher. Details come from each company's own published material and are dated on every page.
Next step
Or start from the trip
Operator details from each company's published material, checked September 2026. Menus, prices and group caps change seasonally.