Planning a family-friendly national parks / wheeling road trip

[Rummie]

If you do Imogene consider Black Bear. They are often done as a loop. Both have pucker factor as you mentioned. I have vids of both. Not the most professional vids but you'll get an idea of what both trails are like.

The worst part of Imogene is potentially having to back up for a while on a narrow shelf road if someone with the right of way is coming in the other direction. I think it's better to take Imogene from Telluride to Ouray rather than the other way. Most of the narrow shelf roads are on the way up that direction. That gives you the general right of way on the shelf roads. Of course you need to be courteous and back up even if you have the right of way but have a place to pull over close behind you.

If anyone in your group isn't fond of heights consider Ophir Pass. I haven't taken it but from what I have seen it is not as much pucker but still has beautiful scenery. The Alpine Loop was a lot of fun as well.

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[Alans17]

If you do Imogene consider Black Bear. They are often done as a loop. Both have pucker factor as you mentioned. I have vids of both. Not the most professional vids but you'll get an idea of what both trails are like.

The worst part of Imogene is potentially having to back up for a while on a narrow shelf road if someone with the right of way is coming in the other direction. I think it's better to take Imogene from Telluride to Ouray rather than the other way. Most of the narrow shelf roads are on the way up that direction. That gives you the general right of way on the shelf roads. Of course you need to be courteous and back up even if you have the right of way but have a place to pull over close behind you.

If anyone in your group isn't fond of heights consider Ophir Pass. I haven't taken it but from what I have seen it is not as much pucker but still has beautiful scenery. The Alpine Loop was a lot of fun as well.

I’ve seen videos of Black Bear and I’m just not comfortable with the switch backs.

I’ve seen Imogene recommendations going both directions, but yours is the first to directly consider how that impacts right of way. That’s good to note. I’d like to avoid backing up on a shelf road if I can.

I’m pretty much dead settled on Imogene at this point. Just trying to find one more trail to squeeze into that day. A lot of people chain it with Ophir, but I’ve also seen some chaining it with Yankee Boy. That whole day is flexible and thankfully I have 5 months to figure it out without having to rearrange the rest of my itinerary to compensate.

 

[Rummie]

Understood. We did Black Bear in my JKU as well. The switchbacks would be even more "interesting" in a Gladiator.

I'm sure you'll have fun no matter which ones you choose. That area is so freaking beautiful.

 

[DankjeeP]

After not vacationing last year due to covid also because we got our first Jeep, I’m planning a 3-week road trip vacation that looks like this. Starting from Dallas...

2 nights Santa Fe, NM
3 nights Durango, CO
3 nights Moab, UT (Arches National Park)
3 nights Grand Teton National Park
4 nights Yellowstone National Park
2 nights Cody, WY
2 nights Rapid City, SD (Rushmore, Black Hills, and Badlands National park)
2 nights Traveling home

We plan to stay in hotels until Grand Teton and Yellowstone where we’ll camp.

The time in Cody, WY will be spent looking for wild mustangs (my wife is obsessed with horses) and guide material suggests 4x4 is required to find them.

But then there’s Moab and Durango... We’ve never been wheeling before and I don’t want to freak them out so badly that they hate me and never want to do it again.

I’m been reviewing various trails and it seems like Imogene and Ophir in CO can be done in one day and then Fins and Things and Hell’s Revenge could be done in one day in Moab. I picked them due to moderate technical ratings, but I hear there’s some major pucker factor. Exactly how bad is it? My kids are 7 and 2 and my wife is Uber careful by nature. My wife flat-out asked me last night if it’s safe.

Also just generally... Any ideas or suggestions for the trip? The kids have never camped before and none of us have been to Arches, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, or Badlands national parks.

And lastly, any ideas for preparing? That goes for the wheeling, camping, road tripping or anything else involved in a 3 week trip.

Sounds like a heck of a trip. We have been doing some shorter ones with rented motor homes to some of the nearby parks getting the hang of it. Now we have the Gladiator we will tow a travel trailer. Going to Arizona this weekend. We went to Death Valley and Joshua tree in November, then Lake Mead back in December. Here is a pic before we packed up and headed over to the Hoover dam. I was having my coffee taking pics of this Great Blue Heron (top of photo) and these guys came over the hill and got some water. There were 8 or 10 of them

 

[DankjeeP]

My planning also includes any Jeep upgrades, camping items, road trip items I may want to make the trip better.

For example, I plan to install a steel front skid plate and maybe rear lower control arm skid plates and a hitch-mounted skid plate. I also hate the look of tonneau covers, but I think I’m going to need one for security unless I want to empty the bed at every stop. And while I don’t think of the trails I’ve picked would necessitate a winch, I’ve been really wanting one so I may just go for it. And maybe some mounts for a phone or iPad in the vehicle. Oh! And a wireless CarPlay adapter. (They’re all just ideas until the credit card comes out, though.)

As for camping, most of my gear is not cold weather rated so I may be upgrading. Trying to keep that cost down if I can, though.

Hey Alan, I just took off the front skid from my Rubi when I added the steel bumper. The skid is different between the plastic/steel bumpers. If you covered the shipping you are welcome to it. I'm in San Diego area.

 

[red/green hawk]

One of the things I like about this forum is that politics aren't allowed. Let's keep it that way before this thread is shut down.

It's not about politics, it's about the mismanagement of a government based on faulty science. While I agree this issue has been politicized my take on it isn't. I'm living through the destruction and pain my governor is causing. That's not politics that's real life. For all you know I am a registered voter of the same party my governor is. Today politics is blindly following those in your party...well that's not me. But your right, I'm just emotional about the whole thing. I'll stop. Please forgive me.

 

[Alans17]

Hey Alan, I just took off the front skid from my Rubi when I added the steel bumper. The skid is different between the plastic/steel bumpers. If you covered the shipping you are welcome to it. I'm in San Diego area.

I appreciate it! But I also added the steel bumper so now I need the new skid plate, too.

 

[DankjeeP]

I appreciate it! But I also added the steel bumper so now I need the new skid plate, too.

Ok cool. Yeah then it definitely won't fit

 

[SubiRubi]

I looked for Yankee Boy on Gaia and didn’t see it. Maybe I just know what I’m looking for? I’ll keep trying.

I wanted to stick to Badge of Honor trails, but that’s not more important than just seeing really nice sights and having a trip everyone in the truck will enjoy. It occurs to me now that there’s so much more to see than what in that BoH app. The same clearly goes for Moab.

google maps start of the trail.. It's an in and out and is fairly short and is off of Imogene Pass..
37°58'30.2"N 107°43'27.3"W

Pics of our time there years ago..

 

[Alans17]

google maps start of the trail.. It's an in and out and is fairly short and is off of Imogene Pass..
37°58'30.2"N 107°43'27.3"W

Pics of our time there years ago..

Found it!

 

[AZCooWhip]

Tetons and Yellowstone. Nuff said. Great trip !!

 

[NRF]

stock 2021 Gladiator Mojave with stock 33" mud tires. No mods. Black Bear Pass or no? Imogene or no?

 

[nbjeep]

stock 2021 Gladiator Mojave with stock 33" mud tires. No mods. Black Bear Pass or no? Imogene or no?

You're equipped for both.

 

[AZJT]

My $0.02 - you are going to absolutely love the Yellowstone and Grant Tetons areas. We have done that area several times, and the scenery is amazing. Prepare yourself for the crowds at Yellowstone - lots of regulars to begin with, but in recent years there are literally busloads of foreign travelers that clog the roads and sites on occasion. Be patient if you do indeed encounter that. Take your time and enjoy the sites - there are LOTS in Yellowstone. You can also swim in Firehole River inside the park - we did that and it was lots of fun for the family - again, amazing views.

For SD, I would highly suggest the Crazy Horse monument being built. We did that area two summers ago and honestly, the construction of that monument was as impressive as the Mt. Rushmore visit. Also in that area, take a drive through Custer State Park - LOTS of buffalo herds roaming freely, especially at dusk and dawn. You can also buy pellets and feed the herds of wild donkeys that roam the area. We stayed at Sylvan Lake which was very unique scenery.

Normally, I would tell you to swing through Monument Valley, but COVID is still impacting that area/the reservation. If it opens up, though, make that trek!

 

[Klutch]

stock 2021 Gladiator Mojave with stock 33" mud tires. No mods. Black Bear Pass or no? Imogene or no?

The challenge with Black Bear Pass is wheel base. While a stock JT Mojave certainly can do it, be aware that trail has extremely tight hairpins which will require multi-point turns and a very reliable spotter. Black Bear pass has many areas where the trail is very narrow with a cliff going straight up on one side and straight down on the other. If you're not experienced at driving such trails, I would not recommend it. But if that kind of thing is old news for you, sure. Go for it.

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