The Fisher Towers are one of the most unique rock formations around Moab. Climbers from all over the world travel here to test their luck at ascending these iconic red sandstone towers, but if you’re like me and aren’t an adrenaline seeker, there’s a hiking trail that goes around the base of the towers that provides some pretty epic views.
This guide shares everything you need to know about hiking the Fisher Towers Trail, including how to get there, what to expect on the trail, and how to recreate responsibly. This is one of my favorite hikes in Moab, and trust me, you don’t want to miss it!
Practicing Leave No Trace
Help leave the trail better than you found it by always practicing the 7 Leave No Trace principles. This means:
- Plan ahead & prepare. Hiking in the desert comes with unique considerations. Make sure you have a map and water, along with hiking shoes with good traction.
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces. Stay on the designated trail and other durable surfaces like slickrock and washes.
- Dispose of waste properly. Pack out all waste and trash, including food scraps and human waste using a WAG bag.
- Leave what you find. Don’t carve into, take, or stack rocks or other natural objects.
- Minimize campfire impacts.
- Respect wildlife. You probably won’t encounter much wildlife on the trail (maybe a small lizard or two). Never feed wildlife and make sure to maintain a safe distance.
- Be considerate of others. Be respectful of other hikers by not blasting music and giving uphill hikers the right of way.
Quick Trail Stats: Fisher Towers Trail
- Trailhead Location: Google maps
- Bathrooms?: There are pit toilets at the trailhead.
- Trailhead Parking Difficulty: Moderate. The trailhead for Fisher Towers is at the end of a scenic, dirt road, and is shared between hikers and climbers. Parking used to be very limited, but the BLM recently constructed a larger parking lot to accommodate more vehicles.
- Distance: ~5 miles (out-and-back)
- Elevation Gain: The last time I hiked the trail my phone tracked 1,600 ft. of elevation gain, while my Garmin watch tracked 1,260 ft. of elevation gain. AllTrails has the elevation gain listed at 1,500 ft., which is a god ballpark estimate.
- Difficulty: Moderate (5.5-6.5/10)
- Estimated Hike Time: 2-3 hours
- Fee: None
- Dog-Friendly?: Yes, but there is a ladder along the trail that dogs may have trouble getting past. Be sure to pack out pet waste!
- Best Seasons to Hike: Fall, winter, and spring.
- AllTrails Link
How to Get to the Fisher Towers Trailhead
If you’re driving to Moab from Colorado along I-70, take exit 204 towards Cisco. After a few miles make a right onto Highway 128 towards Moab. This route is part of the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway, which is one of the prettiest drives in the area. A good chunk of the road parallels the Colorado River as you wind your way through red sandstone canyons.
If you’re coming from Moab, make a right onto Highway 128, which is located at the intersection with Lions Park. The drive from this direction also parallels the Colorado River and is equally gorgeous. You’ll stay on Highway 128 for roughly 21 miles before turning right on the road up to the trailhead.
The trailhead for Fisher Towers is located up a side dirt road in Professor Valley. The road to the trailhead is a little washboarded and bumpy in some areas, but it should be navigable with a passenger vehicle if you take things slowly.
The BLM recently constructed a large parking lot with a pit toilet where you’ll find the most parking availability. There’s a newly constructed connector trail that takes you from this parking lot to the main Fisher Towers trail.
The old parking lot now serves as overflow parking and also has a pit toilet. There’s also a small campground next to the old parking lot. Be aware, AllTrails still takes you to the old parking lot, but you can’t miss the new one on the way up.
Fisher Towers is a very popular rock climbing destination, so you’re competing with climbers for a parking spot, but you should easily be able to find one with the new parking lot open.
Fisher Towers Trail Guide
Begin your hike on the Fisher Tower Trail by taking the connector trail from the lower parking lot. The connector trail adds about 0.2 miles each way to the hike and is easy to navigate.
After reaching the intersection with the main trail you’re going to hike across some slickrock before dropping down into a canyon with well defined steps and signage. Throughout the hike you’re going to climb in and out of washes, and weave along and traverse along the edge of the Fisher Towers.
About 1.4 miles into the trail you’re going to encounter a metal ladder that you need to climb down. The ladder is very secure, however unless you have a small dog they will not be able to navigate the ladder on their own. That’s why while the trail is technically open to dogs, I think there are much better dog-friendly trails around Moab. There is a way to bypass the ladder by climbing up and around the drop, but this requires scrambling up, around, and down a large rock outcropping.
There is a decent amount of elevation gain along the trail, but it isn’t super steep. You’ll find some short rocky hills interspersed with very flat sections of trail. Keep in mind, while the bulk of the elevation gain is on the way out you also gain some elevation on the way back.
Eventually you will climb up to a bench overlooking the Fisher Towers and Onion Creek. From there it’s a short and easy walk out to the end of the trail, which has some rocky outcroppings where you can take photos. The end of the trail is roughly 2.5 miles up from the lower parking lot.
Fisher Towers Trail Map
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