Reference Year: 2024 • Source: U.S. Census Bureau • Last Checked: October 2026 • Submit Correction
Grand County, Utah
Authoritative civic guide, municipal directory, geographic facts, and information checked business resources across Grand County.
Executive Geographic & Civic Profile
Moab
9,679
3,684 sq mi
4,000 – 12,721 ft (Mount Peale / La Sal Mountains)
1890
Castle Country & Canyonlands / Moab Canyon Country
Geographic Boundaries: Bounded by Uintah County to the north, San Juan County to the south, Mesa County and Montrose County, Colorado to the east, and Emery County (Green River canyon boundary) to the west. Defined by the labyrinthine red rock canyons of the Colorado River and Green River, towering sandstone monoliths and arches, and the dramatic subalpine skyline of the La Sal Mountains rising over 12,700 feet.
According to official census demographic data (2024 U.S. Census Bureau Estimate), Grand County supports an established resident population of 9,679. Regional planning prioritizes balanced commercial growth, open-space preservation, water resource protection, and active transportation connectivity.
Geography, Elevation & Regional Climate
Grand County encompasses diverse Western topography ranging across elevations of 4,000 – 12,721 ft (Mount Peale / La Sal Mountains). The regional climate is characteristically semi-arid with four distinct seasons, featuring low relative humidity, warm sunny summers, and cold winters with snow accumulations concentrated across mountain watersheds. Annual precipitation supports native high-desert shrublands, sagebrush valleys, and alpine forest ecosystems that define the region’s scenic character.
Information Checked Directory in Grand County
Information Checked Directory & Public Services
Featured commercial enterprises physically operating in Grand County across core economic sectors, providing checked local services.
The Moab Brewery
Restaurants & Food
Moab microbrewery and distillery serving fresh craft beers, smoked barbecue brisket, steaks, fresh burgers, and artisan gelato in canyon country.
Moab Regional Hospital
Healthcare & Medical
Independent critical access hospital and Level 4 trauma center in Moab providing 24/7 emergency care, orthopedic surgery, urgent care, and specialized backcountry treatment.
Moab Cyclery
Recreation & Gear
Full-service mountain bike and gravel outfitter on Main Street in Moab offering high-performance rental fleets, guided tours, suspension tuning, and trail shuttle services.
Red River Adventures Moab
Recreation & River Guides
Professional commercial river rafting and canyoneering outfitter providing guided whitewater adventures on the Colorado River, rock climbing instruction, and custom canyon trips.
Search Grand County Business Directory
Direct access to local contractors, medical clinics, retail establishments, and professional services across Grand County.
Municipalities & Communities in Grand County
Explore incorporated municipal governments, civic centers, and regional hubs within Grand County.
Authentic Landscapes & Historic Architecture
Verified documentary photography showcasing public conservation areas, historic facilities, and scenic viewpoints in Grand County.
Resident Information & Municipal Services
Verified public administration, emergency management, school districts, and essential public utilities serving Grand County.
County Administration
- Grand County Commission (Seven-member council-manager form of county governance)
- Grand County Assessor’s Office (Commercial, hospitality, and residential property valuation)
- Grand County Clerk and Auditor (Elections, local business licensing, and financial accounting)
- Grand County Recorder’s Office (Real estate titles, deeds, mining claims, and survey records)
- Grand County Treasurer’s Office (Property tax administration and treasury operations)
- Grand County Attorney’s Office (Prosecution and civil counsel to county departments)
- Southeast Utah Health Department (Moab Branch providing clinical, immunizations, and environmental services)
- Grand County Community and Economic Development / Planning & Zoning
Public Safety & Emergency
- Grand County Sheriff’s Office (Moab — Patrol, county jail, desert investigations, and specialized backcountry operations)
- Moab City Police Department
- Grand County Emergency Medical Services (Specialized high-angle rescue, wilderness trauma response, and paratransit)
- Moab Valley Fire Department (Structural, wildland, and highway rescue)
- Castle Valley Fire Protection District
- Grand County Search and Rescue (GCSAR — Highly trained backcountry technical rescue team assisting millions of public lands visitors)
Healthcare Resources
- Moab Regional Hospital (17-bed independent non-profit critical access hospital, Level 4 Trauma Center, 24/7 ER, general surgery, diagnostic imaging, orthopedic care, urgent care, community mental health)
- Moab Regional Health Center and Specialty Clinics
- Four Corners Community Behavioral Health (Moab office)
Education & Libraries
- Grand County School District (Grand County High School, Margaret L. Hopkin Middle, Helen M. Knight Elementary, approx. 1,500 students)
- Utah State University Moab (Comprehensive regional university campus featuring an innovative net-zero energy academic facility offering degrees in recreation management, nursing, business, and natural resources)
- Grand County Public Library (Award-winning green-building public library in downtown Moab)
Transportation Arterials & Public Transit
- US Highway 191 (Primary north-south corridor connecting I-70 at Crescent Junction through Moab to San Juan County)
- Utah State Route 128 (Upper Colorado River National Scenic Byway — 44-mile scenic drive through red sandstone canyon cliffs along Colorado River)
- Utah State Route 313 (Dead Horse Point State Park & Island in the Sky access highway)
- Interstate 70 (Traversing northern Grand County east-west through Thompson Springs toward Grand Junction, Colorado)
- Utah State Route 279 (Potash Scenic Byway along the lower Colorado River gorge)
- Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY — Commercial passenger flights to Salt Lake City and Phoenix/Denver via SkyWest/Delta and Contour Airlines, skydiving, scenic aerial tours, jet charter)
- Moab Express and private mountain bike/river guide shuttle operations
- Rocky Mountaineer (Luxury passenger rail tour service connecting Denver to Moab)
Parks, Public Lands & Outdoor Recreation
National forests, state parks, and protected recreational watersheds throughout Grand County.
Federal & State Conservation Lands
- Arches National Park (Over 2,000 documented natural sandstone arches including Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Double Arch, Devil’s Garden)
- Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky District — Expansive mesa top perched 1,000 ft above surrounding canyons, Mesa Arch, Grand View Point)
- Colorado River Recreation Corridor (BLM — High-grade whitewater rafting through Westwater Canyon and Fisher Towers, paddleboarding, riverside camping)
- Sand Flats Recreation Area (Home to the internationally famous Slickrock Mountain Bike Trail and Hell’s Revenge 4×4 trail)
- Manti-La Sal National Forest (Moab Ranger District — La Sal Mountain Loop Road, Geyser Pass, alpine hiking and mountain biking)
- Corona Arch, Gemini Bridges, and Fisher Towers BLM Recreation Sites
Regional Parks & Signature Attractions
- Dead Horse Point State Park (Perched 2,000 feet directly above a dramatic gooseneck bend of the Colorado River, Intrepid mountain bike trail system, dark sky park)
- Old Courthouse Museum and Moab Information Center (Downtown visitor hub at Main & Center)
- Swanny City Park and Moab Arts and Recreation Center (MARC)
- Moab Recreation & Aquatic Center
- Delicate Arch (The global symbol of Utah on license plates, standing dramatically above a sandstone bowl in Arches)
- Slickrock Bike Trail (10.5-mile legendary mountain bike loop across rolling petrified Navajo sandstone dunes)
- Moab Giants Dinosaur Park (Outdoor paleontological dinosaur trail, museum, and 3D cinema)
- Museum of Moab (Moab Museum — Cultural history, uranium boom heritage, and archaeology)
- Fisher Towers (Towering 900-foot sandstone spires world-famous for rock climbing and hiking)
Economic Landscape, Industry Sectors & Commercial Permitting
Grand County maintains an established economic base founded upon diverse commercial and industrial pillars. Enterprise development operates under municipal-county coordination: enterprises within incorporated city boundaries obtain local commercial licenses through their municipal clerk, while businesses in unincorporated areas are licensed directly through the Grand County administrative division.
- Outdoor Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality (Dominant economic foundation: hotels, resorts, commercial river outfitters, bike shops, backcountry guide services, Jeep rentals)
- Healthcare & Emergency Medical Response (Moab Regional Hospital network)
- Federal & State Land Management (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management Moab Field Office, US Forest Service, Utah State Parks)
- Higher Education & Applied Research (USU Moab campus)
- Specialized Construction, Green Building & Craft Trades
- Film & Commercial Media Production (Historic location for John Ford westerns, commercial car shoots, Hollywood cinema)
All legal commercial entities operating in Utah must register their organizational charter with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code and maintain appropriate sales tax accounts with the Utah State Tax Commission. Consumers are encouraged to verify professional contractor, medical, and trade licensing directly through the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (dopl.utah.gov).
Annual Civic Events & Cultural Traditions
Signature annual festivals, agricultural exhibitions, and community celebrations held across Grand County.
- Easter Jeep Safari (Major international nine-day off-road 4×4 event hosted each spring since 1967 by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers)
- Moab Music Festival (‘Music in concert with the landscape’ — distinguished chamber music performed in desert grottos and red rock venues in September)
- Moab Folk Festival (Early November celebration of acoustic music, songwriting, and workshops)
- Moab Arts Festival (Memorial Day weekend gathering in Swanny City Park)
- Skinny Tire Festival and Moab Century (Major spring road cycling events)
- Moab Trail Marathon and Half Marathon (November national championship trail race)
Regional Guides & Utah Travel Resources
Deepen your exploration of Grand County with regional itineraries, moving guides, and scenic driving routes.
Explore community profiles, civic directories, and local business ecosystems across Utah.
Statewide travel itineraries, public lands access, national monuments, and regional highways.
How local businesses can claim profiles and establish claimed profile status on Greater Utah.
Adjacent Counties & Regional Travel
Explore neighboring counties connected across Utah:
Promote Your Grand County Enterprise
Connect with residents, local commercial buyers, and traveling visitors actively seeking trusted local services and products in Grand County.
Editorial Methodology: All facts in this guide are independently corroborated through official public records, municipal licensing files, and state datasets. Demographics reflect 2024 U.S. Census Bureau Estimate (Reference Year: 2024; Source: U.S. Census Bureau; Last Checked: October 2026).
Data Citations: State of Utah (Utah.gov), U.S. Census Bureau, Utah Division of Corporations, and local municipal administrative records.