Going to Moab - Dec 30 '06

knuth

New member
Hello,

My girlfriend and I are going to make our first trip to Moab, leaving on the 1st from Tucson. We're planning on doing mostly hiking but I've convinced her to give me a day or two for 4 wheeling. I wanted to know some easy trails we can go on and then car camp at night. I know there are a million pretty areas up there, maybe some that end near the river?

I've got a 2002 Tacoma with BFG ATs and a rear locker, so my rig isn't really modified, so that is why I'm asking for just a fun little trail to get on and get off the beaten path. Thanks

Dean
 

knuth

New member
Wow, that looks really nice. I saw on a site that you need reservations to camp there, is it like that for most spots in Moab?
 

adventureduo

Dave Druck [KI6LBB]
When i drove out there... i wanted to make sure to run something easy because i had to drive all the way home.. We ran Steel Bender. It was easy with 33's and open diffs.

Have fun! Take pics!:bowdown:
 

gjackson

FRGS
I saw on a site that you need reservations to camp there, is it like that for most spots in Moab?

White Rim is in Canyonlands NP, that is why you need camping permits. Most trails in Moab are on BLM land (or private), so no permits needed. Lots of cool places to explore!

cheers
 
Fins & Things is an easy to moderate trail with some really fun slick rock! There is a really cool campground out there also. Be prepared for snow and cold weather.:1888fbbd:

Lots of camping outside the town, and mostly BLM. Also, some small campgrounds all along the Colorado River.
 

Lonnie

New member
Moab

Check two websites, one general information the other trails.
www.moab-utah.com has a good range of places to stay from camp grounds to motels.
www.4x4now.com/mu4wd.htm has most of the trails and ratings and lots on info on the trails.
Not sure but check about the camping along the river some is private some public so watch out. Plus I think they are in for a snow storm this weekend so be careful and pack accordingly.

Lonnie
 

knuth

New member
Yes weather is another thing to think about, which is why I don't want to get too crazy with where I go. I'll check out those sites, there is so much information on this place it's crazy, I can't wait to go.

I think we've decided to do the White Rim, it seems to have everything that we'd want. The river, an easy and pretty road, and some hiking. We'll just take our time driving, this seems like a place where that is key.
 

gjackson

FRGS
Taking it all in is key. White Rim is an amazing trail! The views are awe-inspiring. I'll be in Moab over the weekend, but will be heading back to Denver on Monday, so I doubt we'll cross paths!

cheers
 
*edit* sorry, i was typing all that while you guys were replying...

If you're in to wheeling and she's in to hiking, try this route...start in Moab, drive north til you get to Klondike Bluffs road. Drive up to the Bluffs (dont miss the dinosaur footprints along the way, particularly the mass of footprints down the wash to the left when you cross the big crack), hike out to the end of the limestone cap and look out at the red rocks below. There is a dinosaur footprint waaaaaay out on the end, you have to be brave and athletic to reach it. As long as it's not raining, drive back but TURN RIGHT at the T near the top instead of turning left and going back down. If the route looks too chunky, head back down Klondike Bluffs road, however we did get a stock Tundra through. It's some ledges, narrow stuff, big rocks, and other things that will eat your sheetmetal and low-hanging fruit if you're not careful, but it's very short. Anyway, after the right turn, head up and over the ridge line...just go straight at the top...watch out for the ledges on the switchbacks on the way down, and it's narrow, but remember a Tundra went through there. At the bottom, continue straight to meet Salt Valley Road. You're outside the Nat'l Park, so you can camp anywhere you want. SVR enters Arches Nat'l Park land, there's a sign so you know which side you can camp on. Continue on SVR to the Tower Arch 4wd trail turnoff. It's a right hand turn leading back toward the ridge line...you cross it again but this time in the red rock, not the white limestone. It's chunky over the ridge and sand everywhere else. This is a good place to check the weather if you havent already...the trail is impassable when wet, as you're mostly driving down a sandy wash. You can park near Tower Arch, hike to the arch and the double arch to the right, and hike the primitive trail (it's beautiful) back to the Salt Valley Road if you like. Look for the "broken" arch on the right in the valley.

Coming out, make a right turn on 4WD road, again this is an "impassable when wet" road mostly on soft sand, so don't tread here without low pressure, oba, recovery ladders, 2nd vehicle if possible, etc...follow 4WD road out to Eye of the Whale arch and eventually to the main road in Arches Nat'l Park right by Balanced Rock.

You can do it in a day, but you'll be rushed...better to enjoy the hiking and camp outside the park in Salt Valley.

Needles District is also a great area for hiking and 4WD, and you can reserve campsites in the Grabens (Elephant Hill). Don't mess with Elephant Hill unless the weather is clear and you have a 2nd vehicle+fullsize spares+recovery gear OR you're extremely well equipped and an experienced driver. We did bring the same stock Tundra through the loop, he received some body damage during an unspotted section. I did not take damage, but we almost lost the Pinzgauer, the rental Jeep had rubbing issues, and the stock Jeep tore a sidewall and took damage. Elephant Hill is mostly a driver skill issue, and slightly weather dependent. Camping is available at the 2WD parking lot, Squaw Flat, you can hike from there, it's a beautiful place.

North of Moab, the Old Stage MTB/Hiking loop is really beautiful. So is Moab Rim, Slickrock Trail, and of course Devil's Garden but it's full of tourists :p...maybe not so much this time of year. You can also hike the Cliffhanger/Amasa Back multi-use trail...take Kane Creek road west out of Moab (there are a couple fast food joints on the corner, like a BK or something) and park at the Amasa Back parking area, hike up the road and look to the right for an impassable-looking, chunky, ledge-ridden slickrock pile leading downhill. The views from the trail are incredible, you can see Behind the Rocks WSA from the front, the river on one side and the evap ponds on the other from the top. On foot, it's easy. By MTB, it's a ton of fun. In 4WD, obstacles range from Difficult to Poop Yourself depending on your line.

The Gemini Bridges area does have a road leading to the river, and is generally fairly easy with hiking on the side. Hey Joe Canyon is next to the river and leads to an old uranium mine.

FYI Potash Road is a washboarded mess. Avoid it.

Canyonlands Reservations 435 259 4351 (Gary and Bruce are very helpful)
Needles Visitor Center 435 259 4711 (they'll have current weather info)

That's all the info I have at the moment...pick up a couple Natl Geo maps from REI or somewhere, or a couple of the extremely detailed, high quality maps sold everywhere in Moab...there's a Moab North and Moab South version, they list everything, and the Park visitor centers are very helpful.

If you have time, Fiery Furnace is a great day hike, but you gotta sign up in advance for the guided tour if you haven't been in before. I highly recommend the furnace, your girl will love it.

What days do you plan on being there--any weekends? If you'd like company and it's on/near a weekend, we might be able to head over for a day or two, it's only 4 hours from Denver.

There's a book by I think HG Wells, called Utah 4WD and Backcountry Roads, and another (I forget the author) about 4WD and hiking trails in Utah.

-Sean
 

knuth

New member
Geeze Sean, thanks for all the info. Thanks to the very nice Jeffry Scott, we are actually going leave this Saturday the 30th instead of late on the 1st. (Jeff and I work together and he volunteered to cover for me on New Years Day, I owe him big time)

So that means we'll have more time do you some of the things you guys have talked about. This makes the trip so much nicer, more time is good.

"The Gemini Bridges area does have a road leading to the river, and is generally fairly easy with hiking on the side. Hey Joe Canyon is next to the river and leads to an old uranium mine."

Would that be worth it? I've never poked around an old mine, sounds interesting...
 
dunno...it's on my list but haven't been there yet. maybe you'd come out glowing in the dark tho? :p

hey joe canyon is listed as a difficult trail, everything else out that direction is listed as easy, and one or two intermediate trails.

be aware, "easy" is almost always synonymous with "washboard" unless you're really far in the backcountry. pick up the Wells book, they should have it all over the place in moab...or any other moab-related 4wd book or map.

here are a couple shots from google earth showing hey joe canyon and the dubinky well/spring canyon bottom road/ten mile road areas...the white line with the red dots is the spur from dubinky well, and spring canyon bottom road leads directly to spring canyon bottom and river access.

-sean

*edit* gemini bridges road is actually more or less centered inside 313, 279 and 191...
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
185,542
Messages
2,875,688
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top