Family trip to Moab area this weekend...

[Hayes]

Hey folks.

We're loadin' up the 80 for a quick weekend camping trip in the Moab area (not sure exactly where) this weekend.
This is not specifically a wheelin' trip, but it would be nice to get my Cruiser some fun offroad time.

I haven't been to Moab-Arches for at least a decade.
Any recommendations for a short, nearby trail?

Keep in mind, the passengers will include me, the wife, the toddler, and the 2-month old. Can't be giving the newborn whiplash.

Any ideas?

Hayes

[Nay]

Charles Wells has a book of Moab trails....this is worth $16 when you get there. Wells is very conservative in his trail ratings, so if he says it is easy then think 2wd. The trail directions are detailed and well illustrated.

Nay

[PKP80]

Have fun and take soem pics

[e9999]

there is this one trail that leaves from the main road going south into town, right in front of the bbq place where CM met this year.
It goes West IIRC and ends up near the "Deadhorse" State Park or some such. Very nice, easy going, graded dirt mostly, with some nice Arches midway and then this great State Park at the end with awesome views of the Colorado river. 2 or 3 hours with stops. Great for Family.

[LIVERUST]

First trail I did in Moab was Klondike Bluffs. Nice, scenic, dinasaur footprints everywhere. Mild 4 wheeling. Take the trail from the top that goes down into Archs the back way. Get into the park free. Course I stop and payed on the way out.


Troy

[dmc]

Originally Posted by e9999

there is this one trail that leaves from the main road going south into town, right in front of the bbq place where CM met this year.
It goes West IIRC and ends up near the "Deadhorse" State Park or some such. Very nice, easy going, graded dirt mostly, with some nice Arches midway and then this great State Park at the end with awesome views of the Colorado river. 2 or 3 hours with stops. Great for Family.

Gemini Bridges road. Would be a great family trip. You can loop it if you'd like and come down Long Canyon. I think that is the name. It comes down from Deadhorse Point and ties in with the Potash Road. You coud also come down the Schafer trail. All very family friendly trails.
dmc

[upcruiser]

Yeah, I was going to recomend the Gemini Bridges road, then over to Schaffer trail, then back to Moab on the Potash rd too.

[Hayes]

Thanks for the recommendations guys.

The other family we are camping with has suggested camping "at Gemini Bridges."
I assume this is on or near the Gemini Bridges road?

Also,
Is the Gemini Bridges road/trail Subaru accessible? The other family is not so lucky as to drive a Land Cruiser. We may ditch them if necessary, but it would be nice if they could follow along.
Of course, I understand Subaru accessible = not nearly as fun for the 80.

Thanks again for the info.

Hayes

[e9999]

IIRC, the one I'm thinking about (and it does sound like this Gem Bridg thing) would be just fine for an AWD Subaru. I think there may have been a few largish rocks here and there and a few sandy spots but nothing that a Camry could not do with some skill...

added: I do recall that the initial cliff climb/drop could be thought of as interesting is somebody was really afraid of heights. But not really dangerous and there are turnouts for vehicles coming the other way...

[upcruiser]

The subie will have to be carefull on some spots with rock on the road to Gemini bridges, but really shouldn't have any problems if they take there time. The 80 will be able to drive right down to the arches itself if you want a little fun, the subie will have to park and walk the last 150 yards or so down. People actually drive across the arches too, its pretty tame, but seems a bit scary because of the drops.

[e9999]

Originally Posted by upcruiser

The subie will have to be carefull on some spots with rock on the road to Gemini bridges, but really shouldn't have any problems if they take there time. The 80 will be able to drive right down to the arches itself if you want a little fun, the subie will have to park and walk the last 150 yards or so down. People actually drive across the arches too, its pretty tame, but seems a bit scary because of the drops.

darn! you would have to pay me a lot (read ARB bull bar) to get me to drive over these...!

[upcruiser]

I was down there this past spring and just checking them out. Wasn't going to drive over them, then a couple of Nissan Xterra's came down and did it, so I was like, OK, now I have to do it. Like I said, it was difficult at all, just a little unerving, especially being the first day in town, and not really conditioned for scary stuff yet. ha ha At the end of my two weeks there, I wouldn't have flinched I'm sure.

[e9999]

Originally Posted by upcruiser

I was down there this past spring and just checking them out. Wasn't going to drive over them, then a couple of Nissan Xterra's came down and did it, so I was like, OK, now I have to do it. Like I said, it was difficult at all, just a little unerving, especially being the first day in town, and not really conditioned for scary stuff yet. ha ha At the end of my two weeks there, I wouldn't have flinched I'm sure.

it's not technically difficult, it's that these things generally have big cracks in them...!

[Hayes]

Haha.

Never driven over an arch before.
Somehow I doubt my wife will be too excited about that idea.

I'll be sure to post some photos.

Thanks once again.

Hayes

[bh4rnnr]

Originally Posted by dmc

Gemini Bridges road. Would be a great family trip. You can loop it if you'd like and come down Long Canyon. I think that is the name. It comes down from Deadhorse Point and ties in with the Potash Road. You coud also come down the Schafer trail. All very family friendly trails.
dmc

Bull Canyon is another way to see Gemini Bridges. It takes you to the bottom of them. Forget where the turn off is though. Gonna have to break out the books.

[upcruiser]

For Bull Canyon you gotta head back towards the end of Gold Bar Rim Trail, its the first road you come to on the right, go down that a ways, then I believe you take a right at one more intersection there. My memory is a little grainy though

[IXXI]

Find Silver Staircase and Elephant Hill... verrrrrry memorable stuff to play on. Moab is getting really crowded though, moreso every year.

[dmc]

Originally Posted by upcruiser

For Bull Canyon you gotta head back towards the end of Gold Bar Rim Trail, its the first road you come to on the right, go down that a ways, then I believe you take a right at one more intersection there. My memory is a little grainy though

That's not right. The turn off to Bull Canyon is further up the main road from the Gold Bar Rim turn off. You have to climb that steep hill and over the cattle guard. Where the road turns right and heads toward the top of Gemini/Metal Masher you take a left and follow that road another 2 miles before the turn off on the right to Bull Canyon. It is/was marked with a sign. My favorite place to camp in the winter is Bull Canyon under the overhang. Nice and dry. It may have been closed to camping however.

dmc

[upcruiser]

Originally Posted by dmc

That's not right. The turn off to Bull Canyon is further up the main road from the Gold Bar Rim turn off. You have to climb that steep hill and over the cattle guard. Where the road turns right and heads toward the top of Gemini/Metal Masher you take a left and follow that road another 2 miles before the turn off on the right to Bull Canyon. It is/was marked with a sign. My favorite place to camp in the winter is Bull Canyon under the overhang. Nice and dry. It may have been closed to camping however.

dmc

I may have worded that badly, but I was saying, if you are heading back from gemini bridges, towards Gold Bar Rim, it is the first intersection. So, we are actually on the same page.

[dmc]

Originally Posted by upcruiser

I may have worded that badly, but I was saying, if you are heading back from gemini bridges, towards Gold Bar Rim, it is the first intersection. So, we are actually on the same page.

oh good call. I think I read it wrong, but now that I think about it you can take the Gold Bar Rim trail and there a loop section that will bring you back up on top to the main road. It's a very small trail so it may not be around anymore. I'm starting to realize I've spent too much time wandering around down there.
dmc

[upcruiser]

Originally Posted by dmc

oh good call. I think I read it wrong, but now that I think about it you can take the Gold Bar Rim trail and there a loop section that will bring you back up on top to the main road. It's a very small trail so it may not be around anymore. I'm starting to realize I've spent too much time wandering around down there.
dmc

Ha ha, I wish I had the problem of wandering around there too much. My memory is pretty bad usually, so I was starting to worry that I had it all messed up. I think I remember seeing a less used trail that broke off in the direction of Gold Bar Rim, but never checked it out.