Moab Advice

[Frank Z]

My family and I are heading to Moab on the 16th for a mini-vacation. We've never been there and we are looking for some advice on which trails to run. Looks like we'll be comiing out by ourselves so no really difficult trails this time around.

We're going to be staying in town and won't be doing any overnight trail runs.

We're hoping to get some advice on challenging and scenic trails. Any and all advice is appreciated.

FWIW, the specs on my rig can be found here. (http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1299235&postcount=540)

[Brad M.]

Frank, given your setup you've got tons of options as far as what your xj will do. But if you're just looking for easy to moderate wheelin' with great scenery then I would recommend a few:

-Gemini Bridges
-Porcupine Rim
-Top of the World
-Poison Spider Mesa
-Long Canyon
-La Salle Mtn Loop Road

The last one is a paved road all the way, but absolutely beautiful. My wife and I drove it on saturday before coming home and with stops (feed the baby, take pictures) it took us about 2-3hrs but can be done much quicker. We took our time. These are just a few of the easier scenic runs that you could do. Hope this helps.

[Geepfreak]

-Gemini Bridges
-Porcupine Rim
-Top of the World
-Poison Spider Mesa
-Long Canyon
-La Salle Mtn Loop Road

The last one is a paved road all the way, but absolutely beautiful. My wife and I drove it on saturday before coming home and with stops (feed the baby, take pictures) it took us about 2-3hrs but can be done much quicker. We took our time. These are just a few of the easier scenic runs that you could do. Hope this helps.

X2
any of those are a good choice.

[Israel]

I'd like to throw in Fins n Things. Not too difficult, but a ton of fun (at least for me).

[Frank Z]

Thanks folks, keep 'em coming. I went out and bought Chuck Wells' book, but there's nothing like getting info from the locals.


BTW, I promise to leave the trails in the same condition (or better) as we find them.

[WayneXJ]

Gold Bar rim

[doodahman]

Oops I guess I read the date wrong. sorry.

[Frank Z]

No problem, I do it all the time.

[doodahman]

Fins and Things is probably the funnest if you've never been. If you're running 33s do Poison Spider too

[stewie]

Fins and Things is probably the funnest if you've never been. If you're running 33s do Poison Spider too

i did poison spider on 32 with no damage (got it all from gold bar). but then again i am locked up front. who needs straight stock bumpers anyways?

[gromer]

We had a ton of fun on the trail to Tower Arch in Arches National Park. We also loved the backway into Canyonlands via Potash Road and up the Shafer Switchbacks. TONS of great picture opportunities on both of those trails. The Tower Arch one needs 4x4, Potash Road does not.

[gromer]

Fins and Things is probably the funnest if you've never been. If you're running 33s do Poison Spider too

What would you need to run Fins and Things? What are some cool trails in Moab for a stock XJ :o

[Israel]

What would you need to run Fins and Things? What are some cool trails in Moab for a stock XJ :o

Long canyon road isn't too technical, plus everyone likes a picture of themselves parked beneath the boulder!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/TsiTalons_photos/Junk/LongCanyon.jpg

[Frank Z]

Great advice folks, THANK YOU!!

We've been looking at the trails that have been recommended so far in the Wells's book....this is gonna be a great trip. I wish we could spend more time in Moab and hit all of the trails that have been suggested.

[doodahman]

Let me put it this way, I took someone with me on Fins last spring with a bone stock YJ with 215/75-15s and I only had to hook up the tow rope once. You could probably run it with open diffs and 31s if you wanted to take some of the bypasses. In fact, you could probably almost run it totally stock. I saw an Xterra do it. (He did have to get a run at some spots and bounce up though)

If you've never been to Moab before, definately run Fins and Things. Just don't forget to run the trail on both sides of the road. The map they give you will show you where.

[Frank Z]

The map they give you will show you where.Who is "They" ? Where are "They"? Why are "They" giving out maps?

:confused1

[doodahman]

Fins is a lot of stuff like this.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/dodahman/Picsending5-30-06102.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/dodahman/Picsending5-30-06129.jpg

[doodahman]

You have to pay like $5 at the entrance to Slick Rock, which is where Fins is located. When you hand over the cash, they hand over a map.
It is national or state park land or something like that.

[JEEPZZ]

If you go to City Market at the south end of Moab by 9am, you can meet up with a group of people and just tag a long with them.
That's the general meeting place for people looking to hook up with others to go explore new trails.
Have fun!

[doodahman]

Everyday?

[JEEPZZ]

Everyday?
Yep. It's a small informal gathering of mostly out of towners looking for others to 'wheel with.
As you know it's always better to not be alone when heading out to the backcountry.

BTW, did you klnow that the Jeep Jamboree will be in town later that weekend, 20-22. http://www.jeep.com/jeep_life/events/jamborees/locations.html

[Mrs Moab]

Long canyon road isn't too technical, plus everyone likes a picture of themselves parked beneath the boulder!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/TsiTalons_photos/Junk/LongCanyon.jpg

Does everyone take a picture of their Jeep under this rock? I know that the Dr. has one too. It is a cool spot.

[Brad M.]

You have to pay like $5 at the entrance to Slick Rock, which is where Fins is located. When you hand over the cash, they hand over a map.
It is national or state park land or something like that.

It's actually called the Sand Flats Recreation area. I believe (I could be wrong) that the fee is $7 and lasts for 5 days... If you do either Finns and Things or Porcupine Rim you'll be paying the fee, so why not do both? :D :D

[Israel]

It's actually called the Sand Flats Recreation area. I believe (I could be wrong) that the fee is $7 and lasts for 5 days... If you do either Finns and Things or Porcupine Rim you'll be paying the fee, so why not do both? :D :D

When we were there last week, it was 5.00 for 3 days to get into SFRA.

[JeeperG]

Does everyone take a picture of their Jeep under this rock? I know that the Dr. has one too. It is a cool spot. If I ever do the trail damn straight I would get a pic of the wife under it. :D

[Brad M.]

When we were there last week, it was 5.00 for 3 days to get into SFRA.

See... I was close! Although I'm not an educated man, I generally am at least in the ballpark. :D :D

[jmaxj]

See... I was close! Although I'm not an educated man, I generally am at least in the ballpark. :D :D
or 20.00 for a year and then go whenever you want:D

[Frank Z]

Got to Moab around 4pm and the rain started around 7 or 8. Could make for an interesting day tomorrow.

[jmaxj]

but it stopped for the moment:) it's gonna take a while for everything to dry up around here it's rained almost every day since the fall fling started