Staying at Deer Creek Retreat: Best Things to Do in Moab and the La Sal Mountains
- Justin Shannon, Ph.D.
- Feb 10
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
One of the best parts of staying at Deer Creek Retreat is how quickly tranquil mountain solitude turns into world‑class adventure. Old La Sal feels tucked away and peaceful, but in under an hour you can be standing in some of the most famous landscapes in the world around Moab, Arches, and Canyonlands.
From our cabin and tiny home, you can spend your days peering over canyon rims, hiking red rock formations, or grabbing dinner and a drink in downtown Moab—and then come “home” to quiet, cool mountain air and star‑filled skies. Guides to the region often suggest this exact pairing: explore the red rock by day and escape to the La Sal Mountains to beat the heat and crowds.
This post is a simple guide to some of the most popular attractions near our property and how guests typically enjoy them during a stay at Deer Creek Retreat.
Arches National Park: Famous Red Rock Icons
If you’ve seen photos of Utah’s red rock country, you’ve probably seen Arches National Park. From Deer Creek Retreat, guests head toward Moab and can reach the park area in roughly under an hour, depending on stops and traffic.
Highlights that many guests enjoy:
Driving the main highway toward Arches and stopping at viewpoints for short walks and photos.
Seeing iconic formations like Delicate Arch (longer hike, with a steep hill), Landscape Arch, and Balanced Rock.
Catching sunrise or sunset when the light makes the rock glow and the crowds thin out.
For families, couples, or solo travelers, Arches makes an easy day trip: a slow morning on the porch at Deer Creek, packing snacks and water, then a half‑day or full‑day in the park before returning to the quiet of Old La Sal. Moab travel resources often recommend 1–2 days to see Arches’ highlights, which fits well with a stay based in the La Sal Mountains.
Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point
Canyonlands is where the landscape really opens up. Immense canyons, distant mesas, and sweeping views make you feel small in the best way. The drive is longer from Old La Sal, but guests consistently say it is worth every minute.
What guests often love:
The Island in the Sky district, with incredible overlooks and relatively easy walks to viewpoints.
Dead Horse Point State Park, which offers one of the most famous overlooks in the region—especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset.
Combining Dead Horse Point with Canyonlands in a single “big views” day trip from Deer Creek Retreat.
Many visitors will do a “canyon day”: drive from Old La Sal toward Moab, continue on to the parks, then come back in time to see the stars from the porch or through the skylights in the tiny home. Regional guides commonly recommend pairing Dead Horse Point with Island in the Sky for a full day of scenery.
Colorado River and Moab Adventures
If you want to mix in a little action, the Colorado River and the Moab area offer plenty of ways to do it. Moab outfitters highlight river trips, off‑road tours, and scenic drives as classic ways to experience the area.
Common options guests choose:
Scenic drives along the Colorado River, stopping at viewpoints and picnic spots.
Short hikes and local stops like Moon Flower Canyon, where you can explore a brief trail, a spring, and historic features at the canyon entrance.
Guided rafting trips in warmer months, from gentle floats to mild whitewater.
Off‑road tours (Jeep, UTV, or guided Hummer) on famous trails near Moab.
Strolling downtown Moab for food, coffee, ice cream, or local art galleries.
A stay at Deer Creek lets you enjoy the best of both worlds: active, high‑energy days in and around Moab, followed by quiet evenings back in a mountain setting where you can actually hear yourself think. Moab tourism sites frequently recommend combining town time, river time, and park time over several days.
La Sal Mountains and Local Scenic Drives
You don’t always have to go far to experience something beautiful. The La Sal Mountains themselves offer cooler temperatures, forested slopes, and sweeping views of both mountains and desert.
Close‑to‑home options include:
Scenic drives on the La Sal Mountain Loop Road and nearby backroads, with views of snow‑capped peaks and red rock desert in the same frame in certain seasons.
Cooler temperatures in the warmer months compared to the valley floor, especially near trailheads and lakes higher in the range.
Photo opportunities from pullouts and overlooks where you can see Castle Valley, the Colorado River corridor, and distant canyon country.
On days when you don’t feel like driving into the parks, many guests simply explore local roads, take short walks, and then retreat to the cabin or tiny home to read, nap, or watch for deer and other wildlife. Local guides describe the La Sals as Moab’s “hidden alpine escape,” the perfect counterpart to the desert below.
Adventure, Gear, and Safety Resources in Moab
Because Deer Creek Retreat sits between high desert and mountains, you don’t have to arrive with a fully dialed gear closet. Moab has excellent resources for booking adventures, picking up forgotten gear, and brushing up on basic wilderness awareness.
Guests often find it helpful to know about (of course you can google these establishments):
Moab Adventure Center: One of the area’s most established outfitters for rafting, Hummer safaris, national park tours, canyoneering, climbing, ziplines, biking, and more. Their guides often emphasize that many classic Moab experiences only require sturdy shoes, water, and sun protection—plus a willingness to get a little dusty.
GearHeads Outdoor Store (Moab Gear): A local institution for outdoor equipment, with a huge selection of camping, hiking, backpacking, and climbing gear, plus free filtered water. Gear Head's owner is amazingly helpful, and is locally experienced outdoors man. It’s a helpful stop if you realize you need an extra layer, better sun protection, or a last‑minute piece of gear.
The “10 Essentials” for Moab‑area adventures: discovermoab.com shares a Search and Rescue–inspired list that includes navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first‑aid supplies, fire, repair kit and tools, extra food, extra water, and emergency shelter. Even for day trips, having a simple version of these essentials in your vehicle or daypack can make delays or weather changes a non‑event. (I mean, unless you want to visit the local Moab hospital, get the full expeirence :)
Wilderness awareness and skills: Schools like Nature Reliance, Mountain Shepherd, and Wilderness Awareness School teach people to pair simple gear with good judgment—reading the weather, staying found, noticing wildlife sign, and moving lightly on the land. Their approach mirrors what works well here: carry a small core kit, know your limits, and give yourself margin in the desert and mountains.
Multi‑tools and repair kits: Many gear lists and instructors recommend a compact multi‑tool (Leatherman is a common example) as part of that repair‑kit “essential,” since it quietly solves a host of small problems in the field—from cutting cord to tightening a loose screw.
You don’t need to be a survival expert to enjoy this area; a little preparation and a few wise resources go a long way toward making your Moab and La Sal adventures feel both safe and spacious.
Moab and La Sal Mountains Basecamp
When you stay at Deer Creek Retreat, you’re not just booking a bed; you’re choosing a basecamp for both mountain calm and desert adventure.
A typical rhythm many guests enjoy looks like this:
Quiet mornings with coffee on the porch, watching the light move across the face of the La Sal Mountains.
Day trips to Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, the Colorado River, or downtown Moab.
Evenings back in Old La Sal under dark skies, listening to the wind in the trees and the quiet of a small mountain community.
In future posts, we’ll share more detailed itineraries—1‑day, 3‑day, and 5‑day stays—so you can mix adventure and rest in a way that fits your family, your faith, your energy, and your season of life. Regional travel resources often encourage visitors to give themselves several days here so they can slow down and genuinely experience both the parks and the mountains.
Until then, if you’re looking for a place where you can explore some of Utah’s most iconic landscapes by day and then come home to real quiet at night, Deer Creek Retreat is ready for you. Come out and see what’s waiting for you in Old La Sal.
Cheers!
Justin
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