Indian Ladder in Moonflower Canyon Petroglyphs, Moab, Utah on Kane Creek Dr

The Indian Ladder is a ladder placed in a crack in the rock at the mouth of Moonflower Canyon. The ladder allows you to climb up through a crack in the rock to gain access to the rock outcropping above. The trail is located along Kane Creek Boulevard just south of Moab, Utah. You can easily reach this hike from our 10A7 Moab Vacation Rental. In addition to the ladder it is also possible to observe several ancient Petroglyphs and more modern Cowboyglyphs in the small canyon.

We received a tip from a guy in town about a cool place named the Indian Ladder. We asked him what it was, and he said, "Well, it's a ladder made by Indians." Dumb question right? Well, more specifically, it is several well positioned logs in a crack in the rocks that allow you to climb to the top of an outcropping about 30-40 feet in the air.

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My first time at the Indian Ladder was simply an embarrassment. My two friends climbed right up, but I didn't get past the first log. To make things worse a barefoot girl told me to move and she climbed right up without missing a beat. I wasn't really thinking about the climb up as much as I was thinking if I would be flexible enough to get down. I have learned the hard way multiple times that going up is always easier than coming back down.

Later that day, we went to get some ice cream, and who was the server? It was none other than the girl who climbed past me. When it was time for me to place my order, she kind of looked at me strangely for a second, then said, "I recognize you, you are the guy who was scared to climb the ladder". Talking about adding insult to injury, first I had to listen to my friends shame me about getting outclimbed by a barefoot girl in a dress, then the girl herself threw me under the bus. Needless to say, I have since returned and defended my family's honor and climbed to the top. After doing it once, the climb now seems easy and I have completed it several times.

In addition to the ladder, there are quite a few petroglyphs and cowboyglyphs in the area. Take time to explore the canyon area. The canyon itself is only a few hundred yards long at most. If you arrive at the right time of year, the mulberry tree in the parking area will be loaded with fruit. The entire hike can take as little as 5 minutes to look and take photos, or about 45 minutes to climb the ladder and descend. This trail is also located along the Colorado River, and many times you will see people swimming in the area to cool off.

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The area along Kane Creek Drive is one of my favorites in Moab. There are so many little adventures for those who like to explore. The Behind the Rocks Wilderness area has several large arches and loads of ancient indian rock art.

If you are considering a Moab adventure we would recommend checking out the townhomes at Moab Adventure Condo. We stayed with them and it was so nice to have room to relax and not be stuck in a cramped hotel room. Since the cost of the rental was split between two families it actually ended up being cheaper than a hotel room and much nicer. Not to mention the pool and hot tub were just sets from our condo.