Moab has become world-famous for adventure recreation.
We have incredible mountain biking.
Legendary off-roading.
National parks.
River sports.
Climbing.
Running.
Hiking.
But one thing I increasingly notice — especially after spending more time riding bikes around town — is how disconnected many parts of Moab still feel for everyday movement.
For a town built around recreation, we still rely heavily on cars for relatively short trips.
And honestly, I think investing more aggressively in paved trail connectivity could become one of the healthiest long-term investments Moab makes.
Not just for tourism.
For locals too.
One of the coolest feelings is leaving your house, hopping on a bike, and safely reaching:
without needing to load up a vehicle.
That kind of infrastructure changes the feel of a town.
It encourages:
Right now, there are still too many places in Moab where biking or walking feels fragmented or unsafe — especially for kids, older adults, or casual riders.
A true connected paved pathway system would make recreation feel more integrated into daily life instead of something requiring a parking lot and a truck.
The rise of Class 1 e-bikes makes paved connectivity even more valuable.
Not everyone wants to hammer technical singletrack every day.
Sometimes people simply want:
E-bikes are helping:
spend more time outside.
But for that to work well long-term, Moab needs infrastructure that safely accommodates mixed-use riding and separates certain traffic where appropriate.
Good infrastructure reduces conflict.
Ironically, better paved connectivity could also help reduce some tourism strain.
Imagine:
Moab’s challenge is not simply “too many people.”
A lot of the challenge is concentration:
Connectivity helps spread movement more naturally.
One thing I think Moab sometimes wrestles with is balancing “tourism town” versus “real town.”
But the best infrastructure investments often help both.
A paved trail system is not just an amenity for visitors.
It improves daily life for:
Not every recreation investment needs to be extreme sports-oriented.
Sometimes the most impactful projects are the ones that quietly improve everyday movement and health.
Moab will likely continue growing as an outdoor recreation hub whether people like it or not.
The question becomes:
Can we guide that growth intelligently?
Investing in paved trail connectivity feels like one of those rare ideas that supports:
all at the same time.
And honestly, in a place as beautiful as Moab, more people should be able to experience daily movement outdoors without needing to climb into a vehicle first.
That feels like a future worth building.