Here's some advise..... Don't let the ratings in the book be the guide in where you go. Meaning: Don't just look for the highest numbers and run those trails. I've probably made 9-10 trips to EJS in the past (oh god) 25 years and have seen the same trails over and over. Some of the most FUN I've had is when we skipped the trails and headed out to the lower rated trails alone just to see stuff. Sure you are going to get full flex pics every 10 feet, but there is just so much to see out there.

Go on some trails that don't require 100% attention on where your wheels are!

And get out of the Jeep and walk around! (watching the endangered dirt) There are things to see, stop and go see them.

 

Yeck yea! and of course I will come back with a fishing report of the area as well. Has anybody fished the Colorado around Moab? I understand alot of the river is rapids but there has to be some areas that hold cats.....

 

x2 here.

Though I had a great time on the more challenging trails, taking on some the lower rated trails gave my wife the chance to get behind the wheel but also take in some of the more scenic sites to be had.

 

Dig around in the front of the book. There's something even better. I don't have my book handy so I can't give you the page number, but...

There's a full ranking of every trail in the book from easiest to hardest. I think that this is one of the best things about his books.

 

When I went in October we stayed @ Moab Valley Inn. Rooms were nice and costs was reasonable, and is right on the main drag on the south end of town.

Zax Pizza and Moab Diner down town is a must !!!!

Arches National Park is great too for some scenic hikes and sightseeing. Have a great trip !!

 

If you must, skip Bryce Canyon and visit Capitol Reef (see note below). It's closer to Moab, it's far less crowded (Bryce is so overwhelmed that in the summer they run buses and discourage EVERYONE from driving into the park at all). And it has four wheel trails that will take you to some incredibly spectacular scenery. It's as if God had all these parts and paints leftover from making Bryce, Grand Canyon, etc and just threw them all in a big pot and stirred it up to see what He got. He got some incredibly scenery.

Waterpocket fold ...




Back to OP: If you can camp, consider staying in a Kamping Kabin at the KOA. It's one small cabin, but it's kind of neat. Has beds, but you'll need your own sheets/sleeping bags. And it's a piece of cake to put doors inside since your Jeep is parked about ten feet from the door.

Hardtop versus softtop: Softtop all the way. Unless you're worried about vehicle security because you'll be leaving it unattended (say at a trail head while hiking), the softtop down gives you another way to enjoy Moab's spectacular views.

Trails I definitely recommend:

White Rim. At least part of it (it's 100 miles long and requires a permit to spend the night, but not for day four wheelers). It's like you have permission to drive right into the Grand Canyon. Except you're in Canyonlands National Park. Easy trail, breathtaking scenery.

This is the bottom ...


This is the road you drive to get down there ...


Fins and Things: Wells rates this difficult, but a stock JK can handle it (I know because one followed us around during EJS). When you're done, you'll be impressed and amazed by what your JK can do. And feeling a lot better about the trails you can tackle in Moab. Recommend you do this one right after one of the moderate trails (just so you can see that they're actually pretty easy; easy is really meant for any 4WD vehicle, say my daughter's Nissan xTerra). Be sure to start at the proper place (the first Fins and Things sign is clearly labeled as the exit, but people still go the other direction). The proper entry starts you on a challenging, but easier section of the trail. As Wells puts it, the last section (after you cross the paved road), will take you on a roller coaster ride that you won't soon forget.

He kids you not ...


This is common on the first (easier) part ...


Note: My son and I are national park nuts. For the past eleven years we've traveled each summer to camp, hike, backpack, paddle and four wheel all of them. Of the 58 real national parks, we've been to 41. Capitol Reef is easily in our top five. Partly because of the solitude, partly because of the spectacular scenery. Grand Canyon, Bryce, Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc, are way in the middle of the pack--just too many people and, while they do have the scenery you've seen or heard about--the crowds really detract from the experience. If you do go to them, get out and hike. That will help, but even then solitude during summer is a hard-to-find commodity. BTW: If you're prepared to camp, you may find solitude in GC at Toroweap. Still part of the national park, but so rarely visited that they don't even take reservations during peak season. Or you can do what I did in December, and be at the canyon rim in 24 degree temperatures to catch the sunset. Yes, I was the only person nutty enough to do that--two hours later, the rim was packed with people.

--mark d.

 

Excellent post Mark. I agree whole heartedly. Don't forget Moab Brewery for a little refreshment however...

 

If you're going early March, I would do a hard top. You can at least take off the front panels if the weather is good, but it still snows that time of year down there.

 

Most of the pro photographers choose Canyonlands because of pictures like this !

False Kiva


Alot more hiking thow

33

 

is this the place where they won't let you beat a dead horse?