Fisher Towers | Moab

Hiking Fisher Towers - MoabRoadside Attraction Fisher Towers - Moab Fisher Towers

Moab

Overview

RATING: Easy hiking.
MAPS: Fisher Towers, UT

Sun

Sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind 0 to 5 mph.

57 | 31

Mon

Sunny, with a high near 60. South southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.

60 | 32

Tue

Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

56 | 35

Wed

Sunny, with a high near 55.

55 | 28

Thu

Sunny, with a high near 59.

59 | 31

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any, no snow. Hot in the summer.
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: None

Sun

Sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind 0 to 5 mph.

57 | 31

Mon

Sunny, with a high near 60. South southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.

60 | 32

Tue

Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

56 | 35

Wed

Sunny, with a high near 55.

55 | 28

Thu

Sunny, with a high near 59.

59 | 31

View Full Weather Details
Views from the overlook

Views from the overlook

Composed of Cutler Sandstone topped Moenkopi towers, the Fisher Towers near Moab is an amazing area of some of the tallest freestanding towers in North America. The Titan, the largest of the towers in Fisher Towers, is the largest freestanding tower in the United States, and proved quite an endeavor when first climbed in the early 1960's by Layton Kor. The team (Layton Kor, Huntley Ingalls, and George Hurley) took four days to reach the summit, with Layton leading every pitch. Given the gear and rock quality, it was an amazing feat in the day, and a trip up the Titan is still a worthy goal for most aid climbers. Today most of the major towers in the area have climbing routes up them, though virtually all require solid skills, and desert choss experience. This is not a place for beginning climbers.

Non-climbers will love a visit to the Fisher Towers area as well. A scenic trail winds its way out to a viewpoint, meandering by many impressive towers and formations along the way. The towers and unusual erosional features make for a photographers delight, and this is a hike I would recommend to most. High summer can be brutally hot and not recommended, though sunrise and sunset times in the summer can offer some great photo opportunities and reasonable temperatures.

There is a small (5 site) campground at the trailhead. (first come, first serve) It often fills in spring and fall weekends, but other times of the year, offers good camping. No water available, but there is a pit toilet.

Views back toward the trailhead

Views back toward the trailhead

Getting There

Head north out of Moab a couple of miles to State Highway 128 (just before the Colorado River). Follow highway 128 about 21 miles to a signed turn off on the right. Follow the good dirt road 2.2 miles to it's end at a small campground and parking lot.

The cobra, before it fell down!

The cobra, before it fell down!

The Titan, the tallest freestanding tower in the United States

The Titan, the tallest freestanding tower in the United States

Route

From the trailhead, follow the signed and well marked trail. It meanders down, across a wash, and up the other side, then rounds a large tower on the left. This tower is Ancient Art, by far the most climbed of the towers in Fisher Towers. The climb ascends a chimney before crossing a narrow ridge to a final airy summit the size of a chair hundreds of feet off the ground. You are very likely to see climbers here during moderate weather. A small tower at the base, the Cobra, was a climbing attraction for years but fell down in 2014 due to erosion and serves as an example of the ever changing nature of Fisher Towers.

Continuing along the trail, it traverses along to the Titan Viewpoint, the continues south out to a final viewpoint. Return the same way.


Maps

Route / 3.32 miles / Elevation Range 4,718 - 5,385 ft.
Printable Maps:

Trailhead

12S 647009mE 4287606mN

N38° 43' 30" W109° 18' 32"

Titan View

12S 647553mE 4286956mN

N38° 43' 08" W109° 18' 10"

End of Trail

12S 647472mE 4286067mN

N38° 42' 39" W109° 18' 14"

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