Bucket list trip out west - Colorado, Utah, and beyond

[Surferbandit]

We’ve been planning a trip out west for a while now. I live in Georgia and we off-road around here pretty regularly but have been wanting to go and explore Colorado and Utah. I've done Moab with a rental wrangler, and through Colorado several times. I have always wanted to go back out there in my Jeep and take the time to explore. The plan is to do this in stages over the next couple years, working my way through Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and eventually out to California and the Rubicon trail. Storing my rig and flying back and forth with my vacation time.

For the first leg we spent two weeks in Moab, drove there from Denver. We took the scenic route which took a while but it was absolutely beautiful drive through the mountains.

The first night we went out to find a dark sky spot to see the stars. The Stars and Milky Way was unreal!

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[Surferbandit]

Our fist full day there we went up over LaSal Pass.

Next day was more exploring — spent time out in the desert and checked out Tusher Tunnel and explored a few trails.

 

[WambliSka]

Congratulations!!! I lived all over the East coast for many years. We finally moved to the South West because we didn’t want these trips to be bucket list anymore. The first week I had my newest Jeep I drove from Las Vegas through southern Utah, through Colorado all the way into The Snowies in Wyoming and then back through Utah to Las Vegas. Driving though many of the roads and trails out here I feel like I should stop the Jeep and take pictures every 100 feet.

All this and a whole lot of less people. You couldn’t pay me to go back…

 

[Surferbandit]

I know what you mean, i have over 1000 photos from these two weeks alone. The scenery was amazing!

I've been trying to convince my wife to move out that way for a few years now... hoping to wear her down!

 

[WambliSka]

I know what you mean, i have over 1000 photos from these two weeks alone. The scenery was amazing!

I've been trying to convince my wife to move out that way for a few years now... hoping to wear her down!

Mine said NFW when I told her we were moving. My response was “then you can come visit me”.

 

[Surferbandit]

I had a few calls and virutal meetings that next day so we did Fins and Things in the afternoon. We loved this trail. The scenery was great and the obstacles were fun. We didn’t have time to do the whole thing so we did the bottom loop and one other obstacle. There was a wild fire south of Moab and there was a yellow haze all day from the smoke.

The next day we went to Hells Revenge. We went over the fin to get in. That was stressful! It was puckering to not be able to see all that well and the tent on my roof makes it sway when going over things. My wife had a panic attack right in the middle so that added to the stress. Once she calmed down we left and headed to fins and things again (a little more her speed). We planned to come back with a smaller group.

We went down to fins and things but saw a trail on On-X that headed out to an overlook so went there instead. While at the overlook we saw a trail that went down into the canyon. I could see it on the map but didn’t see the name. We drove until we found the turn off and followed that road all the way to the end. This was one of my favorite things we did in that week. There were ledges to climb and steps but it was just a fun trail that went out to this beautiful lookout. A storm was rolling in right as we got to the end so we didn’t stay long.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Great to have a job where you can do remote stuff! Working on that now. Extra income to build the Jeep and ability to be “working” in the middle of nowhere. Kudos!!

 

[Free2roam]

I'm in Reno, not setup to do the Rubicon but there are a lot of spots out here I know of depending on your travel plans. Which direction you are traveling. Plus if any issues arise reach out when you are this way.

 

[Rusty PW]

Nice. Glad you could do it. Brings back memories. First time there. We did LaSal Pass. Couldn't make to to the top because of the snow. And broke a steering box doing Fins and things on the Power Wagon.

 

[Flyin6]

Congratulations!!! I lived all over the East coast for many years. We finally moved to the South West because we didn’t want these trips to be bucket list anymore. The first week I had my newest Jeep I drove from Las Vegas through southern Utah, through Colorado all the way into The Snowies in Montana and then back through Utah to Las Vegas. Driving though many of the roads and trails out here I feel like I should stop the Jeep and take pictures every 100 feet.

All this and a whole lot of less people. You couldn’t pay me to go back…

After a trip through Wyoming and Montana, I didn't want to go back to the kintuckee. (And I LOVE Kintuckee, have a paid off farm there) I suggested to my frau we could move. She likes the rodeo as much as I do. Then she mentioned how she hates the cold...
No movin' for me...

 

[Wilder Bill]

How about the areas near Albuquerque? Anyone with experience of the Cedro Peak & Manzano Mountain Trails, Jemez Mountains / Guadalupe Ridge and/or Mt. Taylor & San Mateo Mountains?

 

[Tyler_OverlandJT]

Moab is such a great spot. Any trails you’d recommend checking out?

 

[Surferbandit]

The following day we linked up with some friends who came in to do a little exploring with us… they were running a Gladiator and a Wrangler, so we had a nice convoy. We headed out to Onion Creek. This was a great drive, very scenic with a lot of creek crossings. I would definitely do this one again. At the end of Onion Creek we went through Hideout Canyon, then came back through the La Sal Mountain Loop. We ended the day watching the sunset from the La Sal overlook.

 

[Surferbandit]

I'm in Reno, not setup to do the Rubicon but there are a lot of spots out here I know of depending on your travel plans. Which direction you are traveling. Plus if any issues arise reach out when you are this way.

Thanks! I'll take you up on that... im not sure exactly when I'll be out that way but I'm thinking it will be around the beginning of next summer

 

[Surferbandit]

Nice. Glad you could do it. Brings back memories. First time there. We did LaSal Pass. Couldn't make to to the top because of the snow. And broke a steering box doing Fins and things on the Power Wagon.

Did you go through the last part of fins and things in your power wagon? We rented side by sides for a day and did the last part of fins along with hells gate. Some of those sand dunes were narrow and steep!

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