Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Going to Moab

174K views 2K replies 183 participants last post by  moabyte 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello all! Ok, I'm heading to Moab next month for the first time in my '08 Unlimited X, and I'm taking the wife and kids. She's stock except for 33's BF Goodrich A/T KO2 that I put on last week (was impressed at how they did in the snow this weekend!). I'm a newbie but can't wait to get over there and play around some! I've done a few trails in Idaho Springs area of CO, last Fall, but I'm ready to play on some red rock now! What trails do y'all recommend for a "first timer"? I know Jeeps are amazing machines, but what are some fun trails that my little stocker can handle? Any advice and recommendations are appreciated.
 
#1,223 ·
Yep, this was our favorite.. we went from lot to high.. great trail and the kids loved it.

Our first trip to MOAB in our jeep was right after we bought it.. good times and have fun.

If it's hot then the public pool in Moab is great, cheap, fun and a good way to cool off with the kids :)
 
#4 ·
@Wayne, I had seen some stuff about Hurrah, and that one is on my list to look at more closely and I will have to check out Tusher Tunnel! @Prages, I've heard White Rim is pretty much an all dayer. We will spend 2 full days there so maybe we can take a day for that one. Is it true that a stock Jeep can handle Fins and Things?
 
#6 ·
We did it in a pretty much stock rental and it took us about 12 hours (taking a few side trails), but driving the Jeep like a rental...my wife thought it was a race.

It's definitely an all day trail, but like I said, it's an easy trail. Most, if not all, could be done in 2wd.

Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk
 
#5 · (Edited)
Hey Tony, we did Moab last summer for the first...be prepared to be knocked out! The place is magic. I can only speak from my own experiences there. Our first run was Spring Canyon Bottom. I selected it from the Charles A. Wells trail book. If you don't already have a copy, go on Amazon and order one. It's filled with maps, pictures and most importantly trail ratings. We wanted to get our feet wet on some not too challenging trails to start with.

Our trail selection went like this:

- Spring Canyon Bottom(breathtaking and pretty easy)
- Rainbow Terrace (easy mostly, we stayed way after dark)
- Fins & Things (Will scare you you in places, and you will drag if not lifted. I had a stock Hard Rock follow me, did nearly everything I attempted )

You can see pics and read a report I posted in my build thread starting at post # 618, pg. 21. You're going to love Moab, be sure and head out to see the Canyonlands National Park. If you can go either at the beginning of the day or the end, the light is spectacular for picture taking and human enjoyment!

This is what Spring Canyon Bottom looks like...


Hit me up with any questions you might have.

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f314/hard-rock-rubi-1553025-38.html



-Steven
 
#9 ·
We did Moab for 2 weeks this past fall. Took a stock 2001 TJ with 2" body lift and 31x10.5 KO2's and Smittybilt 9.5k winch w/ straps. Open front and rear diffs. Got the book!

Ran these trails in this order:
Fins N Thing (2-days - split it)
Gemini Bridges
Sand Flats Road to La Sal Mtn Loop Rd
Arches NP back side 4x4 trail - really cool.
Top of the World
Hell's Revenge
Baby Lions Back
Potash Road / Shafer Switchbacks
Only issue was on Top of the World. Had to which up one set of ledges.

Take your time and pick good lines.
Full tank to start out. Lots of water.

HAVE FUN!!

Top of the World:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#22 ·
Headed there in late March with a stock height JK. I have the Massey book, but can't locate the Fins and Thing trail. Need an assist on that and as a first timer also would it be too ambitious a trail? Thx
 
#10 ·
Great info guys!!! I'm pumped! Will definitely do some easy stuff, but (I might regret this decision...LOL) I think I'll venture off and try some "pucker factor" trails too! Unfortunately, the CW Moab book is out of stock, unless I wanted a paperback, but I think I'll end up ruining that one. I have used the Traildamage site a lot for the Colorado trails, so I'll check it out for Moab too. I'm sure I'll drag a spot or two, but hopefully I can keep it from being too bad. Gotta learn somehow, and maybe it'll make me get off my wallet a little and expedite doing a lift and suspension ;)
 
#12 ·
Another vote for the book by Charles Webb. But a word of note about the book, the trail ratings are conservative. The green trails are super easy. The blue trails can be done in pretty much any SUV. The red trails are "Jeep" trails. You have to read the notes to see how hard a Jeep trail it actually is. Or search other sites for better rating info on a given trail. That said, we went to Moab for the first time last fall and the book was great. We started easy, doing LaSalle Pass. In the middle we were doing Chicken Corner. By the end we were doing red trails in our stock JKU BC. And we are new at this. In hind sight we wish we had been more aggressive with our trail picks. We did not do Fins and Things, wish we had. Others on the list for next time include Rose Garden (only did part of it this time), 7 Mile Rim, and Wipe Out Hill (the trail, not the hill).
We also did some trails in southwestern Colorado, like the Alpine Pass loop.
It was truly an amazing trip.
 
#14 ·
@GuzziMoto, SW CO has some amazing trails. We rented a JK down in Ouray a couple years ago, and that is where I kind of got hooked on the Jeep adventure! I moved from FL (flat land and mud swamp) to CO back in 2010 and I'm always looking for new places to go and see that are off the beaten path! I figure since Moab is "just over the mountain" from Denver, it's a place to go see and experience!
 
#16 ·
Get the books, the Moab Visitor and information center has both the Well's and Massey Moab trail guides for sale. The White Rim is a must do. It is not a difficult trail unless you meet another Jeep on a ledge roads- someone is going to have to back up. Get an early start and it is doable in a day, however the Park Service now requires a permit, check out the Canyonlands web site for regs and road conditions. Have fun.
 
#20 ·
I picked this mag up in Phoenix at Desert Rat and started reading thru it. Awesome trail reviews and trail ratings. Describes Jeep capabilities, which many trails can be done by stock vehicles with 33" tires. Looks like a ton of fun and I will be out there the week of this event for a business trip. If I partake, I will need to rent a Jeep. I decided against driving my Jeep out from Ohio. Not sure I want to put the wear and tear on it. I have yet to look into renting a Jeep. Does anyone have any recommendations on who to rent a Jeep through? And is there a limit of days you must rent. I'd be fine doing one day.
I've been to Moab on mountain biking trips so I'm familiar with the area. Porcupine Rim on a mountain bike is amazing, so I'm sure in a Jeep is as much fun.
 

Attachments

#35 · (Edited)
#27 ·
@CAJW mine is stock height as well, and I'm either feeling pretty optimistic, or pretty stupid, but I think I am gonna try Fins and Things!!! A buddy of mine did it last fall in his stock 2 door JK. He says it should be fine with mine. I'll probably scrape a bit, but as long as nothing wet comes out the bottom, I'll be happy. He told me to expect some anxiety and heart pumping, but said his made it.
 
#31 ·
@ BUILDIT I can only imagine what it will be like! @CAJW Fins is a definite now for me! The wifey will probably flip out, but I think the kiddos and I will love it! I want to do On Top of The World too, just to get that photo op up there!
 
#37 ·
You're going to love it! Your wife will definitely freak, and maybe ask to get out of the Jeep and walk parts of it. A lot of the time you're on the Fins, large rounds expanses of slick rock. The does require some steep ascents and descents. This is where you will scrap/drag. Make sure your exhaust is tucked up high, or you have a hitch or tow hooks to slide off of. You'll also want a spotter for a few of the sections.

Pic of the Fins...


This section reminded me of a giant Jeepers rollercoaster...





-Steven
 
#32 · (Edited)
I've lived in Moab for 43 years and Chicken Corners is still my favorite trail...mind-boggling views all the way and an easy, relaxing trail. But then, I'm in it for the scenery and not to test my vehicle and driving skills against Mother Nature. There is no way I would try to do the White Rim trail in a single day. You're looking at close to 100 miles of mostly slow off-road driving and about another 50 miles of pavement. I've never done it in less than 2 days. Do it if you, the wife, and kids want to spend all day inside your vehicle. On the other hand, Hurrah Pass/Chicken Corners will allow the family time to get out and experience something other than the drone of your engine and the stink of your exhaust. Fins and Things is fun if you like amusement rides, but the entire Sand Flats area is getting pretty crowded these days. When I have friends in Moab for just a couple of days, I usually take them to Chicken Corners and/or do the Long Canyon/Shafer Trail/Potash Road loop. Don't go anywhere without the Wells book...and make sure it is the 3rd edition.

Top of the World has never been one of my favorites...great views from the top, but that's about it. It's also one of the few trails where I had to use lockers several years ago. In March, it could be pretty muddy near the top.
 
#33 ·
That is great info @Moabite!!! We do want to get out for a bit and walk around so Chicken Corners would probably be great for us to check out! Unfortunately, my JK doesn't have lockers and I'm dreading the thought of the expense to eventually get them. I was curious if there would be muddy spots along the way, and that may cause some unwanted stress. Maybe I'll have to save it for another trip as I'm positive there will be many many more trips over there! Thanks for the input buddy!
 
#36 ·
With everyone mentioning the book, you can also get the app. It will walk you through the trails and give you a map to follow on your phone or cellular enabled tablet. I do t know if it requires cell service, or just a gps module to work on the tablet. I guess I need to test that out. Fun treks 4x4 is the name of the app in the Apple App Store, I would assume it is the same in the android store.
As for recommended trails, it all depends on your skill level. I like tougher trails, and my confidence grows as I go to events and try more and more difficult trails. In Moab, if you want to pay to play, you can actually get a Jeep tour guide, such as Dan Mick that will take you on trails tougher than you imagined, and spot you through any really tough parts. He is also pretty darn pleasant to talk with, and has a wealth of area stories. His son Richard is just as nice and more than willing to help. You can also go to the grocery store in town, City Market, and often you will find people there that are looking for others to run trails. You just have to be willing to let go of the controlecause you willlikely not go at the speed that you want to go. I am not reall good at sitting and talking. I want to go, go, go. But, when I am with a group, no matter the size, a lot of people really enjoy crawling an obstacle, then spending 30 minutes chatting about it. Sometimes you just have to let go and play along to get along.

I picked this mag up in Phoenix at Desert Rat and started reading thru it. Awesome trail reviews and trail ratings. Describes Jeep capabilities, which many trails can be done by stock vehicles with 33" tires. Looks like a ton of fun and I will be out there the week of this event for a business trip. If I partake, I will need to rent a Jeep. I decided against driving my Jeep out from Ohio. Not sure I want to put the wear and tear on it. I have yet to look into renting a Jeep. Does anyone have any recommendations on who to rent a Jeep through? And is there a limit of days you must rent. I'd be fine doing one day.
I've been to Moab on mountain biking trips so I'm familiar with the area. Porcupine Rim on a mountain bike is amazing, so I'm sure in a Jeep is as much fun.
That is the official mag of the Easter Jeep Safari. I think it is a ton of fun. I am not a hyper social person, leave, me somewhere by myself, and let me watch people, and I am happy. My wife on the other hand is very social, and likes the interaction with other people. There is something for both of us at EJS and the Winter Jeep Jam in in Hurricane, Utah. We love both events, but for different reasons. You just can't let the crowds get to you, and be willing to move at a leisurely pace.
For Jeep rentals, there are three or four choices.
Barlow Jeep Rentals is in Moab and Sedona, Az. I think their jeeps are mostly stock, but am not sure. I know they are well maintained, and the staff can give you a lot of trail advice on where you should go, and what they recommend. They don't recommend trails where you have a likelihood of damaging their babies, though. That means if you do, it is likely on you.
Twisted Jeeps is another rental outlet. They do rent lifted Jeeps on larger tires. I don't know for certain, but I would bet that they are pretty good with recommendations, as well.
Those are the two that I can think of off the top of my head.
It's interesting, because when you get on more difficult trails, something that needed a spotter on a level 4 trail suddenly becomes something you need to just know how to do on a tougher trail. If you walk the obstacle, that is never wrong.

Like I said, I really enjoy Moab, and all the stuff associated with it, and I really like EJS. I have been the past few years, and we are going again this year, and my wife and I are both looking forward to it.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top