Maryland to Moab in May 2023

[Kajo]

I am finalizing planning for one of my bucket list trips to Moab this May. It will be my first time there although I have wheeled on the East coast and Hawaii since the 80's.

My current itinerary is:
Drive from Maryland to Moab - May 12 -May 14 (Long Days)
Camping reserved in Moab from May 14 - May 24 (Campground was a compromise for my wife to come over primitive camping)
Camping reserved at Airport campground on May 24th and Labyrinth campground on the 25th to do the White Rim trail.
Drive back to Maryland 26-29 May

I am planning on Wheeling most days with a day or two in Arches as need to keep my wife happy. We are also planning on hitting Elephant Hill which seems to be a day trip. No specific plans on what trails on what days but have a prioritized list and have the FunTreks guide book and use OnX.

The Gladiator is a 2020 Rubicon with 1.5" spacer front, 3/4" spacer rear, 37" KO2's., I am pretty low to the ground even with 37"s so I am well protected underneath with Metalcloak front and rear axle and full belly skid. Rusty's Frame side LCA skids, Rock Hard Rear Axle LCA and shock skids, Rock Hard FAD skid.

Any tips or pointers are greatly appreciated.

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[dajudge]

Start early for Elephant Hill. It is a day trip but you don't have to rush if you get an early start.
(also you have to get a permit which is only available 24hrs in advance)
In Arches there is a trail called Tower Arch Trail. Easy wheeling with a nice walk over slick rock to a great arch.
My wife and I love Seven Mile Rim. Beautiful views and the trail can be challenging or not depending on the lines you take.
Poison Spider is the same, you can make it hard or not.
Hurrah Pass/Chicken Corners is easy and has great views of the river.
Fins-N-Things is fun, might drag your bumper.
You shouldn't have any problems with Hell's Revenge either.
On any of these you might drag your belly but it shouldn't be too bad.
Have fun!

 

[Jglad15]

Sounds like a blast, my wife and I wanted to do a two week trip to Colorado and Moab this year from Maryland, but my kids are 5 and 3. Just going to Disney this past year was hell in the car that long lol. We even left at 8pm for when they normally go to bed.

 

[Kajo]

Start early for Elephant Hill. It is a day trip but you don't have to rush if you get an early start.
(also you have to get a permit which is only available 24hrs in advance)
In Arches there is a trail called Tower Arch Trail. Easy wheeling with a nice walk over slick rock to a great arch.
My wife and I love Seven Mile Rim. Beautiful views and the trail can be challenging or not depending on the lines you take.
Poison Spider is the same, you can make it hard or not.
Hurrah Pass/Chicken Corners is easy and has great views of the river.
Fins-N-Things is fun, might drag your bumper.
You shouldn't have any problems with Hell's Revenge either.
On any of these you might drag your belly but it shouldn't be too bad.
Have fun!

Thanks for the trail suggestions. I now just expect to drag my belly everywhere in the Gladiator which was the reason I installed the Metalcloak Undercloak full belly skid. At least now it is a relatively smooth bottom and the vulnerable parts are better protected than stock.

Sounds like a blast, my wife and I wanted to do a two week trip to Colorado and Moab this year from Maryland, but my kids are 5 and 3. Just going to Disney this past year was hell in the car that long lol. We even left at 8pm for when they normally go to bed.

I have been there with young kids across country. This trip will be My wife, my 21 year old daughter, and me so should be relatively peaceful.

 

[Mbryson]

Here's a couple other threads.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/moab-trails.67154/#post-1101787

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-to-moab-in-april-for-ejs.66418/#post-1090275

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/planning-a-moab-trip-spring-2023.64099/page-6

 

[Kajo]

Here's a couple other threads.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/moab-trails.67154/#post-1101787

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-to-moab-in-april-for-ejs.66418/#post-1090275

Thanks, I have been tracking those threads also. If I was going to EJS I would have joined the second thread. I am assuming that will be a great resource for final planning since it will have up to date trail info after EJS.

 

[Mbryson]

Grab the Charles Wells book and maybe use your favorite GPS based mapping tool. I would bet you're fine on any 6 rated trail just due to having lockers. Your belly height will be an issue but you sound prepared for that. If the 6 trails aren't freaking you or your wife out, a few of the 7 rated trails should be fine with careful line choices.

I'm getting out of a "Jeep" I would point at 98% of trails I'm aware of. I'm very happy with the JT but in my opinion, it's not the right tool for some gnarly trails. Especially if you are driving it out here/driving it home. My limit with the JT is about a 7 rated trail. An 8 rated if I know it well and are willing to accept the potential damage (I'm not).

Even though I've spent two decades with a Jeep to do hard trails, there's a lot of things that I missed in just scenery and experience. Some of the 3 and 4 rated trails are pretty cool.

 

[Kajo]

Grab the Charles Wells book and maybe use your favorite GPS based mapping tool. I would bet you're fine on any 6 rated trail just due to having lockers. Your belly height will be an issue but you sound prepared for that. If the 6 trails aren't freaking you or your wife out, a few of the 7 rated trails should be fine with careful line choices.

I'm getting out of a "Jeep" I would point at 98% of trails I'm aware of. I'm very happy with the JT but in my opinion, it's not the right tool for some gnarly trails. Especially if you are driving it out here/driving it home. My limit with the JT is about a 7 rated trail. An 8 rated if I know it well and are willing to accept the potential damage (I'm not).

Even though I've spent two decades with a Jeep to do hard trails, there's a lot of things that I missed in just scenery and experience. Some of the 3 and 4 rated trails are pretty cool.

I am sort of in the same boat as you. I sold my "go any trail" 1st gen 4Runner for more comfort knowing I would be giving up off road capability.

 

[tjk]

Strangely enough I’m driving to Utah (and subsequently Moab) a month before you, but I’m mechanically stock so I have no plans on wheeling. Just going to explore the parks with my family. I put a message out on Reddit for Moab and someone suggested securing food before arriving because the grocery stores can be overrun quickly. Just something to keep in mind for your camping. Have fun!

 

[Mbryson]

Strangely enough I’m driving to Utah (and subsequently Moab) a month before you, but I’m mechanically stock so I have no plans on wheeling. Just going to explore the parks with my family. I put a message out on Reddit for Moab and someone suggested securing food before arriving because the grocery stores can be overrun quickly. Just something to keep in mind for your camping. Have fun!

I've always found the grocery stores to be pretty well stocked in my 25+ years going there? It is a smallish town so there is not a lot of stock of various things. No WalMart or similar (closest thing to that is Grand Junction, CO or Price, UT). For bigger weekends (most of them these days unfortunately), there can be a bit of scarcity on some items I'd assume. I eat at restaurants most of the time I'm down there so I don't know real specifics on the grocery stores other than grabbing some trail snacks every few days. (I only eat breakfast, trail snack for lunch and then have a solid dinner when in Moab)

I'm sure you've been told to get on a lottery or whatever to get into the Nat Parks. They have been EXTREMELY popular the past 3-5 years. There's just not enough infrastructure for the parks to support the amount of visitors. If you miss out on the lottery, there are MANY other places to go and see cool stuff.

You can explore at least 50-60% of the "trails" in/around Moab stock.

 

[tjk]

I've always found the grocery stores to be pretty well stocked in my 25+ years going there? It is a smallish town so there is not a lot of stock of various things. No WalMart or similar (closest thing to that is Grand Junction, CO or Price, UT). For bigger weekends (most of them these days unfortunately), there can be a bit of scarcity on some items I'd assume. I eat at restaurants most of the time I'm down there so I don't know real specifics on the grocery stores other than grabbing some trail snacks every few days. (I only eat breakfast, trail snack for lunch and then have a solid dinner when in Moab)

I'm sure you've been told to get on a lottery or whatever to get into the Nat Parks. They have been EXTREMELY popular the past 3-5 years. There's just not enough infrastructure for the parks to support the amount of visitors. If you miss out on the lottery, there are MANY other places to go and see cool stuff.

You can explore at least 50-60% of the "trails" in/around Moab stock.

I’ll be out there for a bit over 24 hrs with family, and any hikes I’ll have an 18 month old in a pack so I won’t be going to crazy. We’ve got our timed entry passes for Arches, and plan to do some of the smaller drives around the Colorado river like Potash Road.

 

[Mbryson]

I’ll be out there for a bit over 24 hrs with family, and any hikes I’ll have an 18 month old in a pack so I won’t be going to crazy. We’ve got our timed entry passes for Arches, and plan to do some of the smaller drives around the Colorado river like Potash Road.

Arches with kids is pretty manageable for sure. Sandstone Arch, Delicate Arch (short hike--I've never done the longer hike) and Balanced Rock are pretty memorable for kids. Easy walks (I'm not real mobile so I probably qualify as a 4-5 year old as far as hikes go)

Good choices. Dead Horse Point would be a good alternate destination for your crew. Drive up or down Long Canyon to get there. You'd just need low range on that road. Dead Horse Point is also available via the 313 paved highway. I don't go to Moab to drive on pavement :D

Cool rock you can drive under. Your kids will get a kick out of that for sure

 

[tjk]

I’d love to do that but I’m not sure what vehicle my parents will rent when they get out there.

 

[Minty JL]

Sounds like an epic trip I'd love to do.....sadly the wife and kids have zero interest on such adventure. Safe travels

 

[taintedsaint]

May need to rethink Elephant Hill. Access control by NPS allows very very few vehicles per day and NO vehicles over 118" wheelbase. That means no full size and no Gladiators. Its due to a particular zig-zag section getting damaged by vehicles too long.
Many of these new, very new, restrictions aren't on their website yet but are discussed extensively by RedRock4Wheelers in ref to Easter Jeep Safari. Don't want you to get surprised.

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