Planning a Moab trip, Spring 2023

[Josh00333]

Ok, help me plan a Moab trip.

April 2023.

Current plan is to arrive on a Saturday, bringing my trailer.

"Light" off roading till Tuesday, day trips. Day at Arches Wednesday then head out Thursday AM.

Do I need reservations on trails? Is there permits or anything I need prior to leaving?

What are some good "light" off road trails I can go on?

As much as I want to do every hard thing there is that's not in the cards. A my skill, B solo, C can't damage anything given the rest of the planed trip.

Never been! So walk me through the place.

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[taintedsaint]

Several of the parks, Arches etc, require reserved time slots. Not sure if required in April though, check nps dot gov to be sure.

https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/timed-entry-reservation.htm

Wheeling on lands around Moab do require a permit, I believe its still $30 for a year. They do occasionally check.
Most importantly, Easter Jeep Safari is early this year, first week of April, so it may still be pretty busy around there.
I'll be at EJS, planning to leave the area around the 9th of April.

I'd check out Red Rock Four Wheelers website, lots of info on trails.

https://www.rr4w.com/index.cfm

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Wheeling on lands around Moab do require a permit, I believe its still $30 for a year. They do occasionally check.

IIRC from my research prior to going, I think that permit is only for off-road vehicles (not registered for road).

A few trails are pay to use, and have a pay station at the trailhead... I don't think you can get those ahead of time.

Yes, Arches is a time-slot reserve for park entry, definitely book weeks (or months... basically as soon as the day you plan on being there opens up on the reservation site) ahead of time, as the slots fill up quickly.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Ok, help me plan a Moab trip.

April 2023.

Current plan is to arrive on a Saturday, bringing my trailer.

"Light" off roading till Tuesday, day trips. Day at Arches Wednesday then head out Thursday AM.

Do I need reservations on trails? Is there permits or anything I need prior to leaving?

What are some good "light" off road trails I can go on?

As much as I want to do every hard thing there is that's not in the cards. A my skill, B solo, C can't damage anything given the rest of the planed trip.

Never been! So walk me through the place.

If I can make the schedule work, which I probably can, I could join you. I’ve been there several times and it’s safer wheeling with at least two rigs.

 

[Divided_Wood]

You will have fun. Moab is amazing--no place quite like it I've ever been.

Know that you could still get some cold/snow that time of year depending on when you are going. You will probably be fine, especially later in the month, but something to be aware of.

Buy Charles Wells' guidebook to trails in Moab. Lots of good stuff in there and will tell you everything you want to know about where you could go. I have found his trail ratings to be pretty accurate (at least for me) at the more difficult end of the spectrum.

No reservations for trails for your Jeep for the most part. Arches has moved to timed entry reservations so you will need to plan for that. On a Wednesday, you should be okay. Delicate Arch is a cool hike to do once, but Devil's Garden is better in my opinion.

Light off road trails... Gemini Bridges is basically a dirt road, but very scenic with a cool cliffside section on the entrance near 191. There is a back road into Arches that is scenic and pretty cool, plus you skip the line. Onion Creek puts you around Fisher Towers (awesome hike). In the book, there is a whole section of green and blue trails. Any of those would probably be fine.

I would say you should also do the first part (takes about an hour) of Fins and Things in Sand Flats Recreation Area. Pretty easy, gets you the typical Moab experience, and is just cool. The second half is a little more difficult, but still well-trafficked. Hell's Revenge is not all that difficult till you get to the exit. If you're new, not sure I would recommend doing it solo but there is a ton of traffic on that trail if you get stuck and I bet you could stick around the parking lot and find someone to tag along with. My all time favorite trail in Moab is the Trifecta, but you should definitely find another rig if you want to do that.

Do yourself a favor and plan some hiking too... Corona Arch, Devil's Garden (in Arches), Fisher Towers, and William Grandstaff Canyon are favorites of mine. Great to stretch your legs and see Moab on foot. Really, I don't think there are any "bad" hikes in the area. Getting out of Arches gets you way fewer people with scenery that is just as spectacular.

Finally, no trip to Moab would be complete without a burger and shake from Milt's... Get out there and have a great time!

 

[Gvsukids]

Never been! So walk me through the place.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/planning-first-trip-to-moab.32224/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...h-planning-a-colorado-and-or-moab-trip.56761/

 

[Jteakus]

Hell's Revenge, Gold Bar Rim, Poison Spider, Where Eagles Dare are all great trails and can be run on 35's. Buy the Moab Trails book and start checking off trails. Looking forward to taking the JT to Moab so we can drive farther out to some of the trails that are too far to reach in the CJ buggy. Have a great time!

 

[WILDHOBO]

Hell's Revenge, Gold Bar Rim, Poison Spider, Where Eagles Dare are all great trails and can be run on 35's. Buy the Moab Trails book and start checking off trails. Looking forward to taking the JT to Moab so we can drive farther out to some of the trails that are too far to reach in the CJ buggy. Have a great time!

I haven’t done Eagles, but the other three can be done on 33’s. Top of the world is fine in a JT on 33’s as well. Just need the right lines. Fins and things as well. Fine on a stock JT.

 

[Josh00333]

If I can make the schedule work, which I probably can, I could join you. I’ve been there several times and it’s safer wheeling with at least two rigs.

That would be awesome! Let me firm up my schedule, I'll reach out via PM.

 

[Josh00333]

Charles Wells' guidebook to trails in Moab

This guy?

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Moab-B...b0-953c-1e4969812dc9&pd_rd_i=1934838292&psc=1

 

[Artsifrtsi]

This was a nice drive too…

 

[WILDHOBO]

That would be awesome! Let me firm up my schedule, I'll reach out via PM.

I’m four hours from Moab, and was there 5 times this year. I’m always up for that trip. Just went the 2nd weekend in October with 4 other forum members. Great trip. We did poison spider and top of the world. Two rigs were stock on 33’s. No issues. No damage. I find it very fun to find the right lines for different rigs. That trip sharpened my skills a bit, as I let my friend do almost all of the driving in mine. So I was spotting someone with no experience. It was great fun.

 

[Medical_Bartender]

Do you plan on camping or staying in one of the hotels there? I ask because the GF and I were just out there a month or so ago and found some excellent primitive camping areas away from all of the hustle and bustle. It's only about a 5 minute drive to town and another 5 to fins & things entrance + other trails. I can send the location if you'd like.

Either way, it's a great time out there. Be sure and post up when your dates are concrete. I'd be down to get out there again if time permits.

 

[WILDHOBO]

That would be awesome! Let me firm up my schedule, I'll reach out via PM.

My friend and I did elephant hill on Sunday after others headed back. It’s now one of my favorites, and is easily done in any stock Jeep. The views were incredible and we only saw one other Jeep all day.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Do you plan on camping or staying in one of the hotels there? I ask because the GF and I were just out there a month or so ago and found some excellent primitive camping areas away from all of the hustle and bustle. It's only about a 5 minute drive to town and another 5 to fins & things entrance + other trails. I can send the location if you'd like.

Either way, it's a great time out there. Be sure and post up when your dates are concrete. I'd be down to get out there again if time permits.

Nice! I love the camping, and also prefer dispersed camping away from people. But I didn’t know there were good primitive spots that close to town. I’m usually 45 minutes+ away from town.

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