Utah trip

[Cee Fish]

Heading to Utah for a few days (2-3) on my way to the FJ Summit in Ouray, CO

Looking to visit:
Canyonlands National Park
Moab
Arches State Park

Will be traveling with another FJ buddy and his son.

Never been to any of these destinations.

Advise from the experts please. Goal is to make a leisurely trek into Ouray while taking in the sites and experiences...
Where to camp?
What to avoid?
What not to miss?


Thanks,
Mark

 

[GWcruiser]

Stock FJC or lifted?

In Needles area of CLNP, the Colorado Overlook Trail is worth a drive if not too wet. One mud hole much have been made by 37" tires... I traversed it by tweaking the front wheels to grab both sides of the ruts, rear was probably being dragged along. But there is a set of steps toward the end I stopped at due to fear of body damage (before I had the rock rails). Narrow ledge and rocks jutting out with paint on them on one side, 400 foot drop on the other. I'd do it today now that I have rails and an extra inch or two of clearance. Beware very sharp rocks abound to eat soft sidewalls. One steep section where tire carcasses indicate some didn't make it up on the first try.

Many HC4WD trails in the Needles district - I plan on going back to explore more.

Islands CLNP has many trails, but most appear to be less challenging than in Needles. The view from the Island is worth every second you spend there. You'll want to spend hours. Be there at sunset. I took a few shots, enough for a quick pano, then I sat and didn't take pictures, just too nice to enjoy the view to waste the moment fiddling with my camera.

Islands - just an example to whet the appetite.

Needles - on the Canyon Overlook trail - FJC can be seen parked far right - this provides a general view, the view at the end of the trail is much better.

 

[Cee Fish]

Lifted FJ's w/ 33's, lockers and armor.

 

[GWcruiser]

Locking was never a problem - just sharp pointy things that would hit painted surfaces I'd rather not repair should a tire slip off a rock required for that line (all sorts of rocks were sticking out at door and fender level). A few of the steps... the first image, the one where missing a line would have taken door paint. A rock to the right out of image was at door level - and there's a dark step/outcrop mid way on the right that is sill level - that was what kept me out, no rails to protect the sill - and it looked like most folks needed to drive right up against or over that step to clear a washout on the left). The second to last image, the step is bigger than it looks, and the rocks very sharp edged - got through it in my stocker. The last image with the tire carcass in the foreground is pretty steep - the carcass evidence a few don't get up it or had issues on those sharp rocks just before it.

I had 32" Kevlar/Steel tires, so didn't worry too much about the pointy rocks... for me the trip was all about clearance and not making dents in sheet metal.

You shouldn't have any problems, and you'll enjoy the area immensely.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Where to you plan to be on your first night?
There is nice lake side camping just outside Canyonlands National park

 

[Pitch]

Elephant Hill trail is awesome, and camping at the Squaw Flat CG is nice, convenient to the TH, but can get hot. If it us too warm in Moab, head over LaSal pass and camp near Medicine Lake . The south approach is an easy graded rd, the N side, headed towards Moab, is far more adventurous.

 

[Cee Fish]

Plans are not set in stone at this point. Must be out of the heat though.

Might just head directly to Ouray....Moab will be triple digits everyday.