Fisher Towers

This trail epitomizes the Moab adventure scene—red rock, climbing and hiking routes, and breathtaking views.

Trail description

Fisher Towers is a Moab classic, so expect to share the trail with hikers and climbers — oh, and don’t forget their dogs. Thirty-plus cars at the trailhead on a Saturday morning are not unusual, but the landscape surrounding Fisher Towers is. Don’t let the crowds discourage you from exploring this red rock Gothic City.

The trail begins on the south side of the parking lot near the trail register box and descends a short set of steps to a sandstone bench. Look for a line of cairns pointing south, as the slickrock trail is hard to distinguish. In 0.25 mile, a small arrow points left towards a notch in the ridge. Slip through the opening and scramble down the rocky route to the bottom of a wash.

Turn left, hiking up the wash amid knobby stacks of red-brown rocks. Part of the Cutler Group, these rocks formed about 245 million years ago and are the same rock layer found in Goblin Valley State Park 75 miles to the west. Fisher Towers soar above you, made of a harder rock of the Moenkopi Formation. Watch for a small wooden sign with an arrow pointing right, where the trail starts switchbacking steeply up out of the drainage.

You proceed to contour along the base of the towers, weaving in and out of the drainages that lie between promontories. As you pass the first tower around 0.8 mile, look for climbers on the rockface high above you on a route called Ancient Art.

Periodic views of Richardson Amphitheater and the Colorado River valley open up to the east. When you’re standing south of the second tower around 1.5 miles, you have excellent views of the Titan, the third and tallest of the Fisher Towers.

A drainage separates these two rock fins, however, and you must curve around the backside of the second tower along an exposed route. An enforced ladder helps you cross to the other side of the steep drainage. Cairns show the path up the other side, and the trail continues along the base of the imposing Titan.

You begin ascending to the top of a ridge. Near the top, look ahead for two chimneystack rock formations as your visual mark. The trail bends to the right of these goalposts, and you follow a narrow finger of rock south towards the Onion Creek drainage.

A small wooden “end of trail” sign sits near the edge of the ridge, marking a beautiful overlook of Onion Creek and Fisher Mesa to the south. This southern vista includes Castleton Tower, another favorite climbing spot six miles away. Retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

Directions

From the visitor center in Moab, Utah, drive north on Hwy 191/Main Street for about 2.5 miles. Turn right onto UT 128, and continue upcanyon for another 21 miles until you see a sign pointing east towards Fisher Towers. Turn right and follow the dirt road 2 miles to the trailhead.