Red Rock Reader

Red Rock Reader sits on Main Street in Moab, the small desert town that serves as the gateway to some of the most spectacular landscapes on earth, and the store's collection is as rich and layered as the sandstone formations that surround it. The desert ecology section draws researchers and nature lovers with its comprehensive coverage of the Colorado Plateau's unique ecosystems, from cryptobiotic soil crusts to desert bighorn sheep. The Edward Abbey shrine occupies a prominent corner of the store, with every edition of Desert Solitaire, The Monkey Wrench Gang, and Abbey's other works, alongside critical studies and the kind of bumper stickers and broadsides that would have made Abbey smile. The geology section is a revelation, offering accessible introductions to the forces that carved the arches, canyons, and mesas alongside technical monographs for serious students of stratigraphy. The canyon country adventure shelf is stocked with guides for hikers, mountain bikers, river runners, and climbers, reflecting Moab's status as an outdoor recreation capital. A small cafe serves cold drinks and coffee, a welcome respite for readers coming in from the desert heat, and the store's monthly desert writing workshop has nurtured a generation of canyon country authors.