Tummy Refueling Notes
On the cheap: Paco's on the south end of town for inexpensive burritos; or stop by Walkers gas station for filling $2 cheese bread made in the back of the station.
Dinner: Moab Brewery. Yep, it brews its own beer. It tastes good, but it will take about a gallon to get buzzed. Food is moderately priced.
Kane Creek is a great destination when you want to beat the heat.
Sleeping Spots
On the cheap: Camping. Stop by the information center in town for suggestions. If you drive out far enough in the desert, you can also find many free camping areas. Good spots are Behind the Rocks and Bartlett Rock.
See www.blm.gov/utah/moab/campgrounds.html for BLM-maintained campground info.
Other campgrounds include:
Arch View RV Campground, 435/259-7854
Canyonlands Campground, 435/259-6848
Dowd Flats RV Park, 435/259-5909
Kane Springs Campground, 435/259-7821
KOA Campground, 435/259-6682
Moab Rim RV Campark, 435/259-5002
Moab Valley RV & Campark, 435/259-4469
OKAY RV Park, 435/259-1400
Pack Creek MH Park & Campground, 435/259-2982
Portal RV Park, 800/574-2028
Slickrock Campground, 435/259-7660
Spanish Trail RV Park, 800/787-2751
Up the Creek Campground, 435/259-6995
For information on hotels/motels in the Moab area, check out the following resources:
Moab Area Travel Council, 800/635-6622,
www.discovermoab.com
Utah Travel Council, 800/200-1160, www.utah.com
Cryptobiotic Soil Notes
A Cryptobiotic crust is a community of organisms that live on desert soils. It provides critical nutrients to plants, absorbs and holds water and helps prevent erosion. When mature, it appears as a lumpy black crust. Crypto shouldn't crunch under your feet. It doesn't crunch because you shouldn't be walking on it. Get it? Stay off. It is nearly invisible in its early stages. One footprint can destroy decades of growth. So don't be a kook, and stay on desig-nated trails. That way we will all be able to ride in Moab for years to come, and the hippies won't come after us.
Non-ATV Tips
Water is needed in the desert. If you are really cheap or just prefer natural water, fill up your own jugs at Matrimony Spring. The pull-off is a quarter-mile on Utah Highway 128 on the right side, just after the Castle Valley 17 sign.
Local Off-Road Resources
Two excellent resources are www.moab.com and www.moab.net.