If you only had a day in Canyonlands?

[dcs111]

Fellow Cruisers,

We are gearing up to make what is likely a bucket list trip driving our LC with an Rpod in tow from Atlanta to Moab and back in September and I am seeking opinions on how to maximize the trip, given that we will have the truck with us. Normally we would be the family to fly to this type of destination and rent trucks/ equipment, but given the state of our world, I have convinced my Wife this is the thing to do!

So, we have a mostly stock LC with 33” KO2’s and the Tupperware is basically scratch free, at this point... I have picked up some traction boards for sand events, water/ fuel cans to extend our abilities, kinetic rope and soft shackles in the event we need an assist, portable compressor and tire kit to manage tire pressures, and other basic kit. The kids are 5 and 7 years old and are fairly accomplished hikers for their age.

we are visiting several parks and will post separately on those... my question is: If you only had a day with your truck and family in Canyonlands, where would you go and what is considered a must see (wheeling, hiking, etc)?


I know this post likely belongs in expeditions or some other location on the forum, but I have a lot of respect for the 200 community and value the opinions here, particularly on what to do with our rigs...

thanks in advance for your input!

 

[ga12r1]

I would take Gemini Bridges Trail up to the hwy leading to Canyonlands and Dead Horse SP. Probably check both of those out using regular park roads then take Long Canyon Trail back to Moab.

 

[linuxgod]

We did Moab in 2017. I loved Canyonlands, probably my favorite park to explore so far. Pick up the Funtreks Moab, UT book and decide on how difficult you want your experience to be. Moab has trails of all difficulties - from barely a gravel road green to break an axle red.

If you've just got the day, take Shafer Pass into Canyonlands "Island in the Sky" district, then take Long Canyon out. Neither are super difficult. Just before you get to the switchbacks on Shafer you can go left and divert onto White Rim Road for a bit. You won't be able to take it all the way around (it's a 2-3 day trip) but you can drive 5-10 miles out and back. It's rated green/blue though nothing we did of the above scraped any tupperware.

I preferred Canyonlands "Needles" district over "Island in the Sky" but it's a bit harder to get to. I want to go back and do "the Maze" district one day but that's much more challenging, and requires a lot of planning to do.

 

[ga12r1]

I will say that if White Rim is something you want to do it can be done in a day. My wife and I did it last month in about 7 hours. I guess it depends on how much you stop, but its doable no doubt.

 

[ga12r1]

Are you doing Arches?

 

[dmc]

Fellow Cruisers,

We are gearing up to make what is likely a bucket list trip driving our LC with an Rpod in tow from Atlanta to Moab and back in September and I am seeking opinions on how to maximize the trip, given that we will have the truck with us. Normally we would be the family to fly to this type of destination and rent trucks/ equipment, but given the state of our world, I have convinced my Wife this is the thing to do!

So, we have a mostly stock LC with 33” KO2’s and the Tupperware is basically scratch free, at this point... I have picked up some traction boards for sand events, water/ fuel cans to extend our abilities, kinetic rope and soft shackles in the event we need an assist, portable compressor and tire kit to manage tire pressures, and other basic kit. The kids are 5 and 7 years old and are fairly accomplished hikers for their age.

we are visiting several parks and will post separately on those... my question is: If you only had a day with your truck and family in Canyonlands, where would you go and what is considered a must see (wheeling, hiking, etc)?


I know this post likely belongs in expeditions or some other location on the forum, but I have a lot of respect for the 200 community and value the opinions here, particularly on what to do with our rigs...

thanks in advance for your input!

Canyonlands is massive and as others have pointed out broken up into 3 distinct districts broken up by rivers. I realized you're asking this on a Land Cruiser forum but I'm going to go a different route. If the weather isn't super hot (September can go either way) hike the Joint Trail in the Needles District. It's quite possibly the most scenic hike in all of Utah if you take it all the way to the Confluence and mostly flat so good for kids. Possibly too long but you mention your kids are accomplished. Plenty of info online about it. I did it when I a kid back in the 80s and continue to go back. I've spent lots of time in all 3 districts and Needles always impresses. Elephant Hill could be tricky in a stock truck. I see scratched bumpers in your future but a great wheeling trail for newbies to Utah.

White Rim trail was mentioned. Can be done in a long day. Not ideal but with a tight schedule it would be fine. Last time I did it in a day was in my Tundra supporting friends doing it on mountain bikes in a single day. Leave the trailer in town and head out early and you'll be fine. I prefer doing it counter clockwise.

 

[sdnative]

From Moab take Potash Road to where it intersects White Rim Road, then up the Shafer Switchbacks. Stop by the visitor center. From there, up to you. Dead Horse SP, Arches, etc..

 

[raoulduke101]

From Moab take Potash Road to where it intersects White Rim Road, then up the Shafer Switchbacks. Stop by the visitor center. From there, up to you. Dead Horse SP, Arches, etc..

Ditto. But if you have time, consider going past the cutoff to Shafer switchbacks along the White Rim for a while. There are some really awesome views along that way. Musselman Arch is only about an hour or so past the turn off to the switchbacks. You can then backtrack to the Shafer Trail.

 

[TheIcemanCometh]

If you've just got the day, take Shafer Pass into Canyonlands "Island in the Sky" district, then take Long Canyon out. Neither are super difficult. Just before you get to the switchbacks on Shafer you can go left and divert onto White Rim Road for a bit. You won't be able to take it all the way around (it's a 2-3 day trip) but you can drive 5-10 miles out and back. It's rated green/blue though nothing we did of the above scraped any tupperware.

If you have just a day I will second this recommendation except reverse. Go up Long Canyon and down the Shafer Trail. I have been up/down both sides of what makes up the White Rim multiple times. I think going down the Shafer is a hoot for the views. Once down the Shafer and if you have time you can go out the White Rim for a ways and come back.

While doing the whole White Rim in a day is possible, it is a longish day especially as there are many places to stop and explore.

 

[stonepa]

I will say that if White Rim is something you want to do it can be done in a day. My wife and I did it last month in about 7 hours. I guess it depends on how much you stop, but its doable no doubt.

View attachment 2422977

Amen to that. I do it every year, in the LC and on my mountain bike.

 

[indycole]

My advice is to make it a very long day by getting somewhere scenic (Mesa Arch?) for the sunrise and somewhere equally awesome (Dead Horse Point?) for the sunset. The golden hours transform an already beautiful place to something otherworldly.

 

[liv2bike]

This is my go-to when in/around Moab. Definitely consider picking up a copy before you all go. He lays out some super cool points of interest. We've found some great off the beaten track stuff for our kids.

Guide to Moab Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trials

The best off road guide book for Moab Utah

funtreks.com

 

[RET2]

Wells books are gold.

 

[TRD Burglar]

I'd say White Rim Trail. It's a long day but very doable in 1 day. I've driven it 3 times, did it in one day each time and would gladly do it again.
If you take Long Canyon back to Moab, be warned there is a fairly large step at the beginning (top), that may be too much. If it is, you can easily turn around.
Chicken Corners is also recommended, shorter and easier than White Rim

I would also recommend using a trail app such as Gaia or Back Country Navigator and download some GPX tracks. You can grab all of the trails in Moab in one download at JeeptheUSA.com

If you do White Rim, stop at the visitor center first and get a pass. If you don't have time to do the whole White Rim, just do the beginning from the Shafer Switchbacks to Lathrop Canyon. Take Lathrop down to the river, then back out the way you came.

 

[linuxgod]

I'd say White Rim Trail. It's a long day but very doable in 1 day. I've driven it 3 times, did it in one day each time and would gladly do it again.
If you take Long Canyon back to Moab, be warned there is a fairly large step at the beginning, that may be too much. If it is, you can easily turn around.
Chicken Corners is also recommended, shorter and easier than White Rim

I would also recommend using a trail app such as Gaia or Back Country Navigator and download some GPX tracks. You can grab all of the trails in Moab in one download at JeeptheUSA.com

When we tried Long Canyon that step was washed out. I should've taken a picture but the first stretch had been recently graded (there was a county road grader up the hill) but the narrow canyon section had a drop and enough boulders that it would've given a rock buggy a challenge. We ended up turning back, sadly.

This was the graded part, but around that turn to the right it was a 3-4' drop with 2'+ rocks in the way

 

[dcs111]

Are you doing Arches?

I would take Gemini Bridges Trail up to the hwy leading to Canyonlands and Dead Horse SP. Probably check both of those out using regular park roads then take Long Canyon Trail back to Moab.

We definitely have Gemini Bridges on the radar! thx

 

[dcs111]

When we tried Long Canyon that step was washed out. I should've taken a picture but the first stretch had been recently graded (there was a county road grader up the hill) but the narrow canyon section had a drop and enough boulders that it would've given a rock buggy a challenge. We ended up turning back, sadly.

This was the graded part, but around that turn to the right it was a 3-4' drop with 2'+ rocks in the way
View attachment 2423420

Thanks! we will proceed with caution on Long Canyon. Hey, just curious... in looking at the Nat Geo map for the area, I found "Long Canyon Road" which basically runs E-W from Moab to north entry to Canyonlands and passes by Dead Horse and includes Pucker Pass... Am I on the right track?

 

[dcs111]

I'd say White Rim Trail. It's a long day but very doable in 1 day. I've driven it 3 times, did it in one day each time and would gladly do it again.
If you take Long Canyon back to Moab, be warned there is a fairly large step at the beginning (top), that may be too much. If it is, you can easily turn around.
Chicken Corners is also recommended, shorter and easier than White Rim

I would also recommend using a trail app such as Gaia or Back Country Navigator and download some GPX tracks. You can grab all of the trails in Moab in one download at JeeptheUSA.com

If you do White Rim, stop at the visitor center first and get a pass. If you don't have time to do the whole White Rim, just do the beginning from the Shafer Switchbacks to Lathrop Canyon. Take Lathrop down to the river, then back out the way you came.

Thanks. We are using Gaia now and planning to download the trails! Not sure I can budget the entire day for the White Rim, as epic as that sounds. We may do some parts near Schafer, but thinking with 4500 miles in 13 days, I need to find some time outside the car!!

 

[dcs111]

I'd say White Rim Trail. It's a long day but very doable in 1 day. I've driven it 3 times, did it in one day each time and would gladly do it again.
If you take Long Canyon back to Moab, be warned there is a fairly large step at the beginning (top), that may be too much. If it is, you can easily turn around.
Chicken Corners is also recommended, shorter and easier than White Rim

I would also recommend using a trail app such as Gaia or Back Country Navigator and download some GPX tracks. You can grab all of the trails in Moab in one download at JeeptheUSA.com

If you do White Rim, stop at the visitor center first and get a pass. If you don't have time to do the whole White Rim, just do the beginning from the Shafer Switchbacks to Lathrop Canyon. Take Lathrop down to the river, then back out the way you came.

JeeptheUSA.com is gold! thx

 

[dcs111]

My advice is to make it a very long day by getting somewhere scenic (Mesa Arch?) for the sunrise and somewhere equally awesome (Dead Horse Point?) for the sunset. The golden hours transform an already beautiful place to something otherworldly.

Yes to long day!!! we will definitely catch either a rise or sundown in park. Thx