Moab trail recommendations for stock gladiator rubicon?

[LuvsjeepsTX]

Greetings all,

Going to Moab for a couple of days in march with a stock JTR and would like some recommendations for some trails to hit. I want to do something a little more challenging than just dirt roads.

Was thinking onion creek to start since it looks very scenic and easy.

Can I do Fins and things / Hell's revenge and bypass anything I am not comfortable with?

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[Efria]

Fins and Things (south) would be good - plenty of access out paths.

Also White Rim Trail would be excellent.

 

[MaxStrategery]

Greetings all,

Going to Moab for a couple of days in march with a stock JTR and would like some recommendations for some trails to hit. I want to do something a little more challenging than just dirt roads.

Was thinking onion creek to start since it looks very scenic and easy.

Can I do Fins and things / Hell's revenge and bypass anything I am not comfortable with?

I have had much fun at the Moab Off Road Park but even my lifted Gladiator was scraping a lot on Fins N Things, Hells revenge the same.

I cannot suggest doing either of those 2 trails in a stock height Gladiator.

Shafer Trail starting on Potash Rd. up through the "switchbacks" and into the CanyonLands National Park is a very fun trail that is perfect for stock 4X4's and the views over the canyon country and of the Colorado river are memorable. The paved portion of Potash road winds right by some cool ancient petroglyphs left by ancient people in the area, its very cool stuff. After seeing the petroglyphs I always wonder what psychedelics those ancients were consuming.
https://insidersutah.com/petroglyphs-moab/

Willow Springs Trail and dinosaur tracks on the edge of Arches Nat. Park
https://thetrekplanner.com/willow-springs-trail-and-dinosaur-tracks-arches-national-park/

If you have time a 3 hour drive over to Ouray and Silverton and Telluride in Colorado will offer up some amazing trails that a stock Gladiator can handle.

Wish I was going too. Have to wait for summer.

 

[dajudge]

Fins southside, there is one place you will probably drag the hitch/bumper
Hell's Revenge will be the same but there is no way to bail off the trail like on Fins.
Onion is a scenic drive
Seven Mile Rim can be done stock as well.
Long Canyon is easy and scenic
Dome Plateau is easy
Chicken Corners is easy and scenic
So is Potash RD to Shafer Switchbacks
In Arches NP there is the trail to Tower Arch

Get Charles Well's Moab book.

 

[dajudge]

If you have time a 3 hour drive over to Ouray and Silverton and Telluride in Colorado will offer up some amazing trails that a stock Gladiator can handle.

No trails in Silverton or Ouray will be open in March. Even with a light snow year they don't open until the end of May, and usually not until the middle of June.

 

[MaxStrategery]

No trails in Silverton or Ouray will be open in March. Even with a light snow year they don't open until the end of May, and usually not until the middle of June.

True. What about Last Dollar Rd?

 

[dajudge]

True. What about Last Dollar Rd?

I doubt it. It is maintained to a point but the middle of isn't plowed out until the snow melts enough. So usually May or June.

 

[Jefe1018]

Get a trailer hitch skid plate, you'll be glad you did. I know I am.

This is the one I have:

https://www.supremesuspensions.com/products/universal-multi-function-hitch-bumper

 

[Artsifrtsi]

I have had much fun at the Moab Off Road Park but even my lifted Gladiator was scraping a lot on Fins N Things, Hells revenge the same.

I cannot suggest doing either of those 2 trails in a stock height Gladiator.

I did both in a stock Overland, and other than the hitch, only had a couple minor undercarriage scrapes…. Choose your lines instead of bashing through, and you’ll be fine.

 

[Mightytalldude]

I'm driving a Sport S with 35's and 1.5" lift, and did Fins, Hell's Revenge and Poison Spider this last weekend. Definitely get a hitch skid.

 

[GladLad]

Fins southside, there is one place you will probably drag the hitch/bumper
Hell's Revenge will be the same but there is no way to bail off the trail like on Fins.
Onion is a scenic drive
Seven Mile Rim can be done stock as well.
Long Canyon is easy and scenic
Dome Plateau is easy
Chicken Corners is easy and scenic
So is Potash RD to Shafer Switchbacks
In Arches NP there is the trail to Tower Arch

Get Charles Well's Moab book.

Great summary, thanks! Unfortunately, now I want to do them all.

Of the ones that are scenic, and easier/less-damaging than Fins, do you have favorites?

I'd still like to do Fins and Hell's though (stock Mojave), but definitely want to get scenic trails in first.

 

[RubiDukkie]

If you want easy and scenic, Onion Creek and Gemini Bridges are hard to beat. I suggest combining Gemini Bridges with Dead Horse State Park and Long Canyon Trail. Potash Road/Schafer Trail are an easy scenic back door into Canyonlands National Park. Also, the Gateway-Castleton Route is a very scenic route to Moab from Grand Junction or the reverse.

 

[Overland_Dreamrz]

I took my stock JTR to Moab in May 2024. The only thing I "added" was a hitch skid. Ran Chicken Corners, Fins 'n Things, Potash road to Shafer switchbacks, Long Canyon, etc. Only issue was dragging a bit, but not horribly. When I got home I changed wheels/tires (35's on Method 703's), 2.5" MetalCloak dual rate springs, Red rocksports, Metalcloak front bumper with Badlands winch. Went back to Moab for Easter Jeep Safari this past April......amazed at the difference that the small bit of lift made.

 

[RubiDukkie]

I took my stock JTR to Moab in May 2024. The only thing I "added" was a hitch skid. Ran Chicken Corners, Fins 'n Things, Potash road to Shafer switchbacks, Long Canyon, etc. Only issue was dragging a bit, but not horribly. When I got home I changed wheels/tires (35's on Method 703's), 2.5" MetalCloak dual rate springs, Red rocksports, Metalcloak front bumper with Badlands winch. Went back to Moab for Easter Jeep Safari this past April......amazed at the difference that the small bit of lift made.

Yea, a hitch skid was a tail saver on my JT in Moab. Like you I did Moab in May of 2024 all stock, except for some extra armor. This year, May 2025, I went back, but with 37s and an Accuair lift that I could push up to 5.5" at height level 3. What a difference! Made Hell's, Fins and coming down the more challenging side from Top of the World more very doable. Still dragged tail just a little bit in a couple of places on Hell's and Fins, but nothing like in 2024. Did most obstacles on Hell's, except the bathtubs and escalator and tip-over challenge. Did the east side of the lollipop coming down from Top of the World, couldn't have done it last year all stock. I know now why they call the "Nasty" by that name. Not the hardest trail in Moab I know, but it offered me a decent challenge for sure.

 

[RubiDukkie]

Here is a good one showing the value of a Gladiator hitch slide in Moab:

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