Road trip- CO and UT
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 108
From: Moab
RE: Road trip- CO and UT
ORIGINAL: HUMMER DRIVER
I'm sitting in my hotel in Moab as I write this, we've had a blast this past week. There is so much to do and see here a week isn't nearly enough.
We're headed to Mesa Verde tomorrow via Telluride, then headed back to Dallas Monday/Tuesday.
Fuel is about 3.39 for 85 octane, 3.49 for 87 octane and 91 octane I didn't have the stomach to look at the price.
We had a great time and I have to recommend anyone wanting to see some of the most beautiful country anywhere to come here and have a looksee for yourself.
We did Carlsbad Caverns, then 4 Corners, Monument Valley then Moab with Arches NP and Canyonlands NP. Arches doesn't have much offroad 4x4 trails but Canyonlands is a different story, trails everywhere.
We went down a trail today it was really rocky and very sandy, super tight canyon that switchbacked down about 2000 feet to the Colorado River. I scared the wife more than once this week on some of the trails that got pretty hairy but she started getting used to it and was even spotting the trail for me when things got serious, helping me pick my tire placement through some rough spots.
I've got some pics in my laptop but I was having trouble uploading them to my ftp site. I'll see if I can get some uploaded through the forum uploader.
I'm sitting in my hotel in Moab as I write this, we've had a blast this past week. There is so much to do and see here a week isn't nearly enough.
We're headed to Mesa Verde tomorrow via Telluride, then headed back to Dallas Monday/Tuesday.
Fuel is about 3.39 for 85 octane, 3.49 for 87 octane and 91 octane I didn't have the stomach to look at the price.
We had a great time and I have to recommend anyone wanting to see some of the most beautiful country anywhere to come here and have a looksee for yourself.
We did Carlsbad Caverns, then 4 Corners, Monument Valley then Moab with Arches NP and Canyonlands NP. Arches doesn't have much offroad 4x4 trails but Canyonlands is a different story, trails everywhere.
We went down a trail today it was really rocky and very sandy, super tight canyon that switchbacked down about 2000 feet to the Colorado River. I scared the wife more than once this week on some of the trails that got pretty hairy but she started getting used to it and was even spotting the trail for me when things got serious, helping me pick my tire placement through some rough spots.
I've got some pics in my laptop but I was having trouble uploading them to my ftp site. I'll see if I can get some uploaded through the forum uploader.
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 447
From:
RE: Road trip- CO and UT
I ran a bit of cache valley and turned around and went back to delicate arch. It didn't compare to the trails over at Canyonlands as far as scenery IMO, it was fun and easy but Shafer really blew my mind when we drove it.
Shafer Trail is really something, not very technical and you don't have to repeat the trail in reverse direction unless you want to. It takes a few hours and is no doubt one of the most scenic short trails in Canyonlands Nat. Park. The beginning starts with switchbacks from the rim to the valley. It isn't very rough but it is VERY steep and the switchbacks are tight as can be. You're on a shelf rocky dirt road about 2000 ft. above the valley straight down with no shoulder or guard rails. There are a few turnouts here and there to let another vehicle pass but sometimes you have to wait or backup to let someone else get by you or you , them.
The hummer just makes the tightest turns without backing up. I can see any other vehicle with a longer wheelbase would have to make a few trys to get around some of the corners.
The trail is mostly dirt, sand and a few rocks. At the bottom you cross a few small dry washes and follow the road out to the Potash ponds and hwy 279 back to Moab.
It'l take you about 4 hrs. to do it, that includes leaving Moab and driving up to Canyonlands and driving the trail and returning back to Moab from the beginning of 279. If you have some more time you can split off Shafer Trail and get on to the White RIM trail that is down in the middle canyon. It is a very long trail but is very scenic and you can turn around if you start running out of time and finish back at the junction with the Shafer trail.
If I had only one day there I would do Shafer trail. It is really worth seeing and a bonus is you get to see some Indian Petroglyphs once you get out on to hwy 279 that follows the Colorado back to Moab.
I have a non-adventure H3. I went down to 4x4 Low to make the switchback decents without burning up the brakes but you really don't have to. You have the option of turning around and climbing up the trail and you would most certainly want to be in 4x4 low as steep as some of the grades are.
You should also drive down into Canyonlands and go to the Grand View Overlook and Dead Horse State Park if you have time just to sight see the canyons, the views are second to none. Also, Arches Nat. Park is a short drive through paved roads and you can see a bunch of natural stone arches in a fairly small area. Arches NP is way smaller than Canyonlands and is about 4 miles north of Moab whereas Canyonlands North entrance is about 33 miles from Moab (but worth it).
Long Canyon is a short trail, probably half as long as Shafer but it's more difficult in two particular sections than Shafer. I think it's less than an hour on the trail itself. I don't think I'd take it as my first trail.
I'll post some more pics when I get some time.
Shafer Trail is really something, not very technical and you don't have to repeat the trail in reverse direction unless you want to. It takes a few hours and is no doubt one of the most scenic short trails in Canyonlands Nat. Park. The beginning starts with switchbacks from the rim to the valley. It isn't very rough but it is VERY steep and the switchbacks are tight as can be. You're on a shelf rocky dirt road about 2000 ft. above the valley straight down with no shoulder or guard rails. There are a few turnouts here and there to let another vehicle pass but sometimes you have to wait or backup to let someone else get by you or you , them.
The hummer just makes the tightest turns without backing up. I can see any other vehicle with a longer wheelbase would have to make a few trys to get around some of the corners.
The trail is mostly dirt, sand and a few rocks. At the bottom you cross a few small dry washes and follow the road out to the Potash ponds and hwy 279 back to Moab.
It'l take you about 4 hrs. to do it, that includes leaving Moab and driving up to Canyonlands and driving the trail and returning back to Moab from the beginning of 279. If you have some more time you can split off Shafer Trail and get on to the White RIM trail that is down in the middle canyon. It is a very long trail but is very scenic and you can turn around if you start running out of time and finish back at the junction with the Shafer trail.
If I had only one day there I would do Shafer trail. It is really worth seeing and a bonus is you get to see some Indian Petroglyphs once you get out on to hwy 279 that follows the Colorado back to Moab.
I have a non-adventure H3. I went down to 4x4 Low to make the switchback decents without burning up the brakes but you really don't have to. You have the option of turning around and climbing up the trail and you would most certainly want to be in 4x4 low as steep as some of the grades are.
You should also drive down into Canyonlands and go to the Grand View Overlook and Dead Horse State Park if you have time just to sight see the canyons, the views are second to none. Also, Arches Nat. Park is a short drive through paved roads and you can see a bunch of natural stone arches in a fairly small area. Arches NP is way smaller than Canyonlands and is about 4 miles north of Moab whereas Canyonlands North entrance is about 33 miles from Moab (but worth it).
Long Canyon is a short trail, probably half as long as Shafer but it's more difficult in two particular sections than Shafer. I think it's less than an hour on the trail itself. I don't think I'd take it as my first trail.
I'll post some more pics when I get some time.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 392
RE: Road trip- CO and UT
Sounds like you had a great time can't wait to see the pics.... I am in Vegas so its a shorter trip for me ...Very beautiful country up there....!
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 108
From: Moab
RE: Road trip- CO and UT
Shafer trail:
Horse Canyon Trail, Canyonlands, Needles Area (Sorry for the Jeep, but I didn't always have a Hummer
):
If you want to see more photos of the parts (Arches and Canyonlands) here is a decent link.
Best way to see all is to really get out and walk.
Cache valley is not a very picturesque road, but it is a lot more technical than any I have found in Canyonlands. Go into it about a mile and it is boulder city with sand pits.
Mesa Arch, Canyonlands Park. One of the most popular sunrise photos you can shoot.
Background is Washer Woman Arch....
Horse Canyon Trail, Canyonlands, Needles Area (Sorry for the Jeep, but I didn't always have a Hummer
):If you want to see more photos of the parts (Arches and Canyonlands) here is a decent link.
Best way to see all is to really get out and walk.
Cache valley is not a very picturesque road, but it is a lot more technical than any I have found in Canyonlands. Go into it about a mile and it is boulder city with sand pits.
Mesa Arch, Canyonlands Park. One of the most popular sunrise photos you can shoot.
Background is Washer Woman Arch....
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,692
From:
RE: Road trip- CO and UT
ORIGINAL: mkielbas
Huh... you're lucky... It's $3.70-$3.90 in Chicago area....
Huh... you're lucky... It's $3.70-$3.90 in Chicago area....
I hope you have fun on your road trip. In 2005 (I know, here we go again) my wife and I did 5200 miles in 11 days in a Scion xB. Chicago > Mt. Rushmore > Sturgis > Yellowstone > Grand Tetons > Vegas > San Diego >Vegas > Colorado Springs > Chicago. It's fun times though my friend. You'll have a blast, especially in a Hummer!
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,059
From: Scottsdale, AZ
RE: Road trip- CO and UT
Here are a few pics from the trip. 1 from the vicious, H3 eating stump in CO and then a few from Moab. We ended up doing Gemini Bridges (medium trail) followed by Shafer Trail (easy, but not for those afraid of heights). After replacing the front drive shaft, bent by the stump, the truck was great. Yes, yes, the nerf bars will come off when I decide to do any serious off-roading
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