Maryland to Moab in May 2023

[Mbryson]

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.

Solid advice. I wasn't aware of the wheelbase restriction. I quite enjoy Elephant Hill. It's a pretty long day from Moab but definitely worth it.

Just looking up regs on the website it doesn't seem to mention a wheelbase limitation, only a length limitation. Last I knew, your only permitted to have 3 vehicles in a group per permit and only so many permits per day.

If you can get on Elephant Hill for EJS (good luck), you'll have excellent guides and EJS has a 10 vehicle permit. Who knows how long that will last but it is what is available at the moment.


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https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/needlesroads.htm


If you plan to explore The Needles' four-wheel-drive roads, remember:

• You must have a high-clearance, low range four-wheel-drive vehicle for all Needles backcountry roads.
• All vehicles, bikes, and e-bikes must remain on designated roads.
• Vehicles (or a combination of vehicles and trailers) that exceed 21 feet in overall length are prohibited from traveling on Elephant Hill Access Road and the Elephant Hill road system at The Needles.
• ATVs, UTVs, and OHVs are not permitted. Motorbikes must be equipped and licensed for interstate travel.
• Pets are not permitted, even in vehicles.
• All vehicles must be registered and operated by a licensed driver.
• Poor driving conditions and flooding may make roads impassable. Read more about Road Conditions

Permits

• You must have a day-use permit for all single day trips on Elephant Hill, Salt Creek (Peekaboo)/Horse Canyon, and Lavender Canyon roads.
• You must have an overnight permit for all overnight trips in the backcountry.

Drive Carefully!


You must have a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle (low range) for all Needles backcountry roads. Towing charges are very expensive. If you are stuck in the backcountry with a disabled vehicle, you should expect towing fees in excess of $1,500.

Elephant Hill


You must have a permit for all single day or overnight use. One of the most technical four-wheel-drive roads in Utah, Elephant Hill presents drivers and mountain bikers with steep grades, loose rock, stair-step drops, tight turns, and tricky backing. Once over the hill, equally challenging roads lead to various features as well as BLM lands south of the park. Maximum vehicle length, including racks and trailers, is 21 feet. There is no water at any of the campsites, but there are primitive toilets at all camping areas except New Bates Wilson. Groups camping at New Bates Wilson must bring their own toilet.

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[Kajo]

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

I am at the age where I will go alone if the family doesn't want to go. I set up this trip and mentioned to my wife and kids the dates. My Wife and daughter are going and my son is staying home.

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.

Good to hear on the grocery store. I plan on the same with meals on most days - breakfast at campground, snacks and lunch on the trail and dinners in town. I also reserved my "timed entry ticket" for the full day I plan to go to Arches already from Recreation.Gov. The mornings are filling up quick for May already.

 

[Kajo]

Solid advice. I wasn't aware of the wheelbase restriction. I quite enjoy Elephant Hill. It's a pretty long day from Moab but definitely worth it.

Just looking up regs on the website it doesn't seem to mention a wheelbase limitation, only a length limitation. Last I knew, your only permitted to have 3 vehicles in a group per permit and only so many permits per day.

If you can get on Elephant Hill for EJS (good luck), you'll have excellent guides and EJS has a 10 vehicle permit. Who knows how long that will last but it is what is available at the moment.

• Vehicles (or a combination of vehicles and trailers) that exceed 21 feet in overall length are prohibited from traveling on Elephant Hill Access Road and the Elephant Hill road system at The Needles.

I was tracking the 21 foot length also which the Gladiator is under and not going during EJS so fingers crossed I can get a reservation the morning before I plan to go. If not I will adjust and try another day.

 

[taintedsaint]

Solid advice. I wasn't aware of the wheelbase restriction. I quite enjoy Elephant Hill. It's a pretty long day from Moab but definitely worth it.

Just looking up regs on the website it doesn't seem to mention a wheelbase limitation, only a length limitation. Last I knew, your only permitted to have 3 vehicles in a group per permit and only so many permits per day.

If you can get on Elephant Hill for EJS (good luck), you'll have excellent guides and EJS has a 10 vehicle permit. Who knows how long that will last but it is what is available at the moment.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/needlesroads.htm


If you plan to explore The Needles' four-wheel-drive roads, remember:

• You must have a high-clearance, low range four-wheel-drive vehicle for all Needles backcountry roads.
• All vehicles, bikes, and e-bikes must remain on designated roads.
• Vehicles (or a combination of vehicles and trailers) that exceed 21 feet in overall length are prohibited from traveling on Elephant Hill Access Road and the Elephant Hill road system at The Needles.
• ATVs, UTVs, and OHVs are not permitted. Motorbikes must be equipped and licensed for interstate travel.
• Pets are not permitted, even in vehicles.
• All vehicles must be registered and operated by a licensed driver.
• Poor driving conditions and flooding may make roads impassable. Read more about Road Conditions

Permits

• You must have a day-use permit for all single day trips on Elephant Hill, Salt Creek (Peekaboo)/Horse Canyon, and Lavender Canyon roads.
• You must have an overnight permit for all overnight trips in the backcountry.

Drive Carefully!


You must have a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle (low range) for all Needles backcountry roads. Towing charges are very expensive. If you are stuck in the backcountry with a disabled vehicle, you should expect towing fees in excess of $1,500.

Elephant Hill


You must have a permit for all single day or overnight use. One of the most technical four-wheel-drive roads in Utah, Elephant Hill presents drivers and mountain bikers with steep grades, loose rock, stair-step drops, tight turns, and tricky backing. Once over the hill, equally challenging roads lead to various features as well as BLM lands south of the park. Maximum vehicle length, including racks and trailers, is 21 feet. There is no water at any of the campsites, but there are primitive toilets at all camping areas except New Bates Wilson. Groups camping at New Bates Wilson must bring their own toilet.

Yeah, I'm hoping its not permanent restrictions. I know when I registered for EJS it kicked Elephant Hill off my list because the reg system sees my vehicle and doesn't allow it. Hopefully you'll make it. That was the only non 7-8 rated trail I wanted.

Good luck.

 

[Mbryson]

Yeah, I'm hoping its not permanent restrictions. I know when I registered for EJS it kicked Elephant Hill off my list because the reg system sees my vehicle and doesn't allow it. Hopefully you'll make it. That was the only non 7-8 rated trail I wanted.

Good luck.

That makes sense that you picked that up from RR4W rather than .gov website. Now that you mention the RR4W that triggered something in my brain. (I have Tuesday free for EJS... maybe I do the trail outside of RR4W? -- I know there's a trail run that day. Good friend of mine is the trail leader on Tuesday.) It's almost worth the drive down there to just find out if it's 116" as RR4W mentions or if it's the published .gov length of 21'.

Trail leader for Elephant Hill on Sunday has a CJ8 (still in middle of an engine swap) and a bright green JT. Curious if he knows anything about the restrictions :D He's a good friend of mine as well.

https://www.rr4w.com/trail-details.cfm?trailid=14

Elephant Hill (not available as a comp trail)

Ordinarily, the National Park Service likes to keep its trails readily available to the public and not cluttered with large groups. Once again we plan to use this trail under controlled conditions on weekdays. The trail enters the beautiful small canyons, called "grabens," in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and is renowned for its challenge to stock vehicles. Because of the most recent permit restrictions the trail is limited in size. The popularity of this trip, combined with the most recent restrictions, has led the Club to offer the trip more times during the week but with an overall group size of ten. The leader of each trip will pick among the options available. The variables that affect each leader's choice are: group travel rate, group size, Safari activities in Moab that participants desire to attend, weather, road conditions, etc. All choices will include the famous Elephant Hill. From there one choice will be to walk the Joint Trail, a fascinating narrow and deep crack in a rock layer. The other option will be to walk to an overlook of the deeply entrenched confluence of the Colorado and Green rivers. A fast traveling group that has no evening plans in Moab could possibly do both. Participants have to trust our leaders to make the right choice for their group. Approximate mileages 178 total, 22 off highway.

These restrictions the Club and the Park Service put on the registrants for this trail are really worth noting, so you avoid throwing away your registration money, please continue reading. First – your vehicle must be capable of sustaining a 55 mph speed on the highway since the trip involves about 75 miles of highway driving each way. Second, your vehicle needs to carry enough fuel for 180 miles of travel because fuel may or may not be available at the Needles Outpost. Third, the park service will require the normal entrance fee be paid and that all NPS rules be followed by participants (visit NPS.gov to determine the current fee). Rules say pets are not allowed on the 4x4 trails, even in vehicles, and the park service inspects for street legality of vehicles and will refuse to allow those blatantly non-Utah legal to enter the park. Our leaders cannot help you if the NPS refuses you entrance, they have to abide by the rules and take the legal group in and LEAVE YOU BEHIND! Fourth, the Park Service's final restriction is no long wheel bases (over 116 inches).



Scenery
The tall cliffs lining the rivers are similar to those seen near Moab. Most of the surface rock formations, however, are of the Cedar Mesa Sandstone, which produces the spectacular colors of the canyons, spires, and balanced rocks that give the Needles District its name.




Surface
The ridge crossings are mainly rock ledges while the roads in the bottom of the "grabens" are mostly fine powder laced with a few rocks.




Trail Details
Elephant Hill itself has difficult climbs in both directions - even after cement was added to some ledges to obviate the need for chinking them with loose rocks. There are other ledges between "grabens", and a little slickrock at the Silver Stairs.

 

[Orange01z28]

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.

I stayed at Labyrinth and did White Rim backwards. We were able to do it in one day but you can really take your time if you're going from Labyrinth to Airport

White Rim is easy

You should definitely do Fins & Things, Onion Creek, and Gemini Bridges. Your rig will be capable enough to do a lot more than that but let me look up all the trails I dogeared in my Funtreks book that I deemed were good to do with one rig and family-friendly

 

[Orange01z28]

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.

So 4 door Wranglers (JKUR, JLUR) can't go?

"the Park Service's final restriction is no long wheel bases (over 116 inches)."

 

[dajudge]

So 4 door Wranglers (JKUR, JLUR) can't go?

"the Park Service's final restriction is no long wheel bases (over 116 inches)."

I wonder if that is something they added to EJS because of the group size?

 

[Mbryson]

So 4 door Wranglers (JKUR, JLUR) can't go?

"the Park Service's final restriction is no long wheel bases (over 116 inches)."

I just got a call about a voicemail I left re: this from the Park itself. The Park Service is sticking to the 21' length that's published.

RR4W perspective is as follows: (some supposition included) I also had a conversation over the weekend with a folk on the trail committee and the 116" wheelbase is meant to include JKU/JLU for Elephant Hill. We (myself and two other Elephant Hill trail leaders at same event with the trail committee member) theorized that like other restrictions that RR4W imposes (35" tires and dual lockers for this level trail, 33" tires and single locker for that level trail), these are made for the good of the participants.

Elephant Hill is at least 90 min from Moab. You have about a 8-9 hour trail (assuming you go to the joint trail and the Confluence) at minimum and another 90 min back. Trail schedule is to leave at 8am near Nations Way towing (for RR4W events). It is RARE for groups to be back to town before 7pm. They are usually getting back by 9-10pm (both of those trail leaders stay in the same "condo" that I do) but to be fair, they are usually making sure everyone gets back to town with a possible compromised rig or similar.

It's kind of funny being a volunteer. People have driven from all over the country and sometimes around the world to have a "Moab" experience. It seems to me, a lot of folks want about a 4-6 hour experience rather than an 8-10 hour experience. The comment cards that are in EVERY participant packet are carefully analyzed after each event. It's likely that comment cards re: Elephant Hill say how long the trail day is and by limiting wheelbase, the trails committee is trying to knock 30-45 minutes off of navigating Son of a Bitch Hill or similar for the group. Getting people through some of those tough spots quickly/efficiently is pretty critical to what time we get people back to town.

It's also critical to give people enough time at joint trail to explore. We can't take too long there or you are WAY late getting to the confluence hike (1/4 mile hike) and getting back to the Nat Park Ranger station. Elephant Hill is kind of rough to keep on schedule even without any damaged vehicles.

I assume that's what's up with the RR4W 116" wheelbase restriction. :D (your thoughts may vary and the thoughts of the actual club are NOT exactly what my thoughts are above (or maybe they are?))

Carry on ...

(I'd still be up to run to Elephant Hill on Tuesday April 4, 2023 if anyone wanted to go. I'd want to leave Moab about 7:30 to get ahead of the bigger RR4W group. I haven't worked that trail in at least 7-8 years. It's a cool and worthy trail. I know the Tuesday trail leader well and I'm sure we could figure out a way to not impact the RR4W group. We could only have a group of three vehicles and we'd obviously want to stagger ourselves away from the RR4W group)

 

[Kajo]

First off. I will give a few basic details about my Gladiator. 2020 Rubicon 3.6L, 1 ½” Teraflex leveling kit, ¾” Daystar spacer in the rear. 37” KO2’s on stock rims aired own to 18 psi. Stock 4.10 gears. Metal Cloak Axle Skids front and rear, Metal Cloak, Full Belly skid, Rusty’s Lower control arm brackets, Rock Hard 4X4 rear lower control arm and shock skids, Artec Fad Skid. Arcus bumper, Warn 10K winch. Softopper, custom 60% rear seat delete.

The trip was an uneventful 3 Day drive from Maryland to Utah on I-70, except for the headwind all the way across Kansas. This was my first time in Kansas, Colorado, and Utah and the drive on I-70 from Denver to Utah was simply breathtaking. Stayed in Terre Haute, Indiana the first night, and Hays, Kansas the second night. We arrived at Sun Outdoors Utah North campground for what would end up being our homebase for the entire stay.

I wish I had more pictures and videos to share, but I now realize that you need an experienced wheeler or 4X4 videographer to be a camera person to take the best pics on the trail.

Day 1 – Monday 15 May

the first trail I decided to tackle was Top of the World. My buddy was meeting me on Tuesday and felt this trail was within my comfort level to do solo. No major issues on the way up to the top. I passed a 2 Door JL on the trail and ended up getting along, so we finished the trail together. The second half of the loop on the way down was much more difficult than the trip up, as expected, and thankfully I had a spotter coming off a few of the steps. On the way back to town I received an email from my buddy who was driving out from new Jersey with bad news. His transmission or transfer case left him stranded in Colorado and he ended it up never getting to Moab.

 

[Kajo]

Day 2 – Tuesday 16 May

I started off with the intent to run Fins and Things and Hell’s Revenge this day. I ended up meeting up with Dean, the owner of the 2 Door JL, at City Market and we headed off to the Sand Flats Recreation area. After airing down we did Baby Lion’s Back to get a quick feeling of the slick rock. No problems with me on this, but my wife, who is not a fan of heights or wheeling in general was not very enthusiastic after the first climb. Regardless, we did finish off Fins and Things but I could tell half way through that she was not going to be able to handle any more trails that day. About ¼ of the way through we passed another Gladiator who ended up making our group of two a group of 3. After this day and noticing my Wife’s anxiety skyrocketing through the roof, I knew that adjustments would need to be made on the rest of my scheduled full days of wheeling for the rest of the trip.

 

[Kajo]

Day 3 - Wednesday 17 May

We visited Arches National Park this day and received and Email stating the White Rim Road was “flooded at Upheaval Wash due to river flows above 18,000 cfs. Vehicles are at risk of getting stuck. High river flows could continue through early June. Check current conditions, bring extra fuel, and be prepared to turn around.” and that we could not reach labyrinth campground for our second planned night of camping there the following week.

 

[Kajo]

Day 4 – Thursday 18 May

On Tuesday I mentioned to Dean that I was planning on doing Elephant Hill later in the week and he wanted to do that trail also but was leaving Friday. With this information I adjusted my schedule and moved Elephant Hill up a few days. We ended up heading south of Moab around 8:30 and had an enjoyable drive down to the Needles District of Canyonlands. On the way there we stopped at Newspaper rock. Elephant Hill did not disappoint. The switchbacks at the beginning were challenging and backing down the one was not good for my wife’s anxiety. We ended up hiking out to view the confluence which was a site to see.

 

[Kajo]

Day 5 – Friday 19 May

I decided to head out to Hell’s Revenge in the morning since I assumed it would be busy later in the day. This was a 30-year-old bucket list trail for me so I was super-excited. I ended up doing this solo and ran into a few Willy’s and followed behind them. I had planned on doing Hell’s Gate but ended up being alone at that time and thought better of it without a competent spotter. I guess that is an excuse to go back. After lunch I headed over to Steel Bender. All was going well and thought it would be a good second trail for the day. Things changed when we got to the first water crossing. Once my wife looked at the higher-than-normal water that was moving swiftly her anxiety skyrocketed. Not wanting to freak her out I ended up turning around. With most of the afternoon left we headed out to Onion Creek. This is an enjoyable “road” that we ran in 2wd. The views were incredible. We finished the day off with a short stop to the Red Cliff’s ranch to see the Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage and do a quick walk around of the vehicles attending the Willy’s Roundup.

 

[Kajo]

Day 6 – Saturday 20 May

I decided today would only be a half day on the trail so we could spend some time in downtown Moab. With, my temporary wheeling partner gone I headed off to tackle Metal Masher alone. I assumed this would be a low traveled trail but also expected to catch up with a group to tag along with. Well that didn’t go as planned. I ran into a group of about 5 Jeeps about ½ mile on the trail and one of them had thrown a body mount busing and had just started looking for it on the trail. As always, I asked if they were good to go, they said yes so I went on my way solo. I figured I wouldn’t push it hard since I was alone on the trail and would avoid any lines that I was not 90% confident in completing. With this philosophy Metal Masher wasn’t to difficult and spent about 3.5 hours from end to end with my daughter driving the second half of the trail with no issues. After the trail we stopped off at Gemini bridges for lunch and spent some time hiking around Gemini Bridges.

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