Over Labor Day Weekend I had the opportunity to stay with Sorrel River Ranch for two nights in Moab, accompanied by the talented Audrey Garcia. My love for adventure and wellness came together all in one place with the peaceful sounds of nature tied in with exciting excursions. Here’s my experience staying at this riverside resort nestled in the middle of Utah’s red rock mesas and canyons.

Luxury on the ranch.

Sorrel River Ranch is located 30 minutes northeast of Moab, tucked away near mile marker 17 on highway UT-128, and conveniently close to Arches National Park. The custom-built cabin style rooms range from $1,300-$1,900 per night with other, more expensive, suites available as well. If you have a large group, there is a ranch house estate that sleeps 14 people for about $9,000 per night. We stayed in a River Studio Double which included a small living space and a kitchenette, with the Colorado River just steps away from our back door (yes there was a front door and a back door). With over 20 horses on the property, chickens, goats and pigs, as well as a large garden that supplies many of the on-site restaurant’s ingredients, Sorrel River Ranch really is a place to unplug in Utah’s beautiful landscape and connect back with Mother Earth, in a very luxurious way.

The adventure center will help you create an entire itinerary of adventures if you’d like, but there are also complimentary wellness activities offered on site, including a short hike, yoga class and a meditation labyrinth. We joined the morning hike to Sorrel Ridge, which is offered daily, and caught some GREAT views. This out-and-back hike started on the resort property and was a little over one mile round-trip. I would rate it as easy to moderate, definitely a nice overlook for minimal effort!

Private UTV Tour

One of the two additional activities organized for us by the resort was a UTV off-road tour at Onion Creek Trail. Located a short drive up the road from Sorrel River Ranch, we were able to follow one of the resort guides through the water crossings and canyons. Although the water is usually deeper (not as much during the hot summer months), we still got splashed with mud and had a great time!
We drove up to a point where we could see the La Sal Mountains in the distance and also saw the “Hideout Campground” that is rumored to be an old hiding spot for famous Wild West outlaw Butch Cassidy, an American train and bank robber who died in 1908.
If you’re interested in this activity, you’ll want to wear clothing and shoes that you don’t care about and bring a mouth covering to prevent yourself from eating too much dust! You’ll see other off-road vehicles, jeeps and possibly hikers and bikers on this excursion. The entire trail is over 11 miles one-way, but you can turn around at any time.

Sunset Horseback Ride

The other of the two activities organized for us by Sorrel River Ranch was a private sunset horseback ride, led by an on-site wrangler who lives above the barn on the property. I was paired with Bomber, a handsome, 18-year-old dude who loves to take long trots through the desert. :)
Having grown up with horses back in small-town Illinois, this was probably my favorite part of the trip. Our wrangler, Cole, took us out on a trail that had beautiful views and we enjoyed a nice glowing golden hour.
The horses are very well trained, and know to follow each other through the trails. Audrey actually fell off her horse, Pistol Pete, while trying to film/photo while trotting, and he politely stepped over her and then stopped and waited as she dusted herself off. If you’ve never been on a horse before, you’ll be fine and you’ll definitely have fun!

Not only did Audrey and I experience amazing adventures with Sorrel River Ranch, but we also got to enjoy amazing food. The River Grill prides itself on serving local ingredients, and we even saw Chef William picking fresh vegetables from the ranch’s garden before cooking for us at the communal Homestead Garden Dinner. The last evening in Moab we enjoyed this special event with a five-course meal and good company from other resort guests. It was for sure an evening to remember, and the best way to end such a unique trip to Moab! Thank you for hosting me, Sorrel River Ranch - it was a beautiful experience!

If you love these photos, be sure to follow Audrey’s Gallery on Instagram! For more adventures, follow Courtney Escapes or join an upcoming event with FitWell Escapes.

Staying at Sorrel River Ranch in Moab