Arizona, Utah, Colorado Roadtrip 2019 or 2020

[Tyler.W]

I am in the beginning stages of planning a trip out to Arizona, Utah, and Colorado! Since I have a Jeep Wrangler I am also planning to drive some of the "Badge Of Honor" trails along the way. I am heading out there from Nashville, TN and that is a 24 hour drive. Coming home will be about the same as well. I am hoping to fit this into a two week window, but I'm not sure if that will be able to be done.

My plan is to pass through Sedona and see The Grand Canyon. From there I would like to go up through Monumenet Valley and hit "Hole In The Rock" trail in Southern Utah. After that I would like to drive up through to Canyonlands and wind up in Moab for a few days to do some of the trails. Finally, we would head to Ouray, CO and possibly Denver before heading home.

How do you guys go about planning a trip? How do you allot your time and figure out how long it will take to do various trails and/or off-pavement travel? Any suggestions for an overlanding planning newbie?

 

[pyrotyro]

Sounds like you have most of the big stops planned. The biggest challenge I see with your trip will be timing. In order to play in the mtns of Ouray, you will need to be there mid to late summer, which will be very very hot in the lower elevation destinations. Two weeks with travel time from TN, will make for a very rushed trip if you are planning on doing all of that in AZ, UT, and CO.

What time of year are you thinking of making the journey? I would start there to help narrow this all down...

 

[Tyler.W]

I see. I wasn't quite sure what time of year would be best and honestly we are open for any time of the year. We we're thinking end of May so that it wouldn't be too miserable in the desert, but that may make Colorado a no go for exploring the mountains. I also don't want to rush this trip too much so it may be better to do an Arizona and Utah trip and then circle back another time for a Colorado trip.

 

[pyrotyro]

I see. I wasn't quite sure what time of year would be best and honestly we are open for any time of the year. We we're thinking end of May so that it wouldn't be too miserable in the desert, but that may make Colorado a no go for exploring the mountains. I also don't want to rush this trip too much so it may be better to do an Arizona and Utah trip and then circle back another time for a Colorado trip.

Yea, that sounds like a good plan. May will still be hot in Moab and Sedona, but should allow you to get to see the grand more. Then you could do a teaser drive through CO on your way back!

 

[Tyler.W]

I may change the time of year if we're staying in the desert. Would probably do this in the winter at some point or early spring.

Any tips on trip planning? How I should figure how long a trail should take or any offroad traveling I may do?

 

[James Feldermann]

If you are going to make it an Arizona and Utah trip, I highly suggest going in March. Beautiful weather in both places with highs in the 70s and 80s. As far as trail time, you need a book since difficulty as well as length are the determining factors. I've used this in Moab with great success: Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails 3rd Edition
Make sure you use the most current version, though. I got into a tough spot because a trail had changed a lot due to erosion and the most difficult part wasn't even mentioned in the book. In the last two years I've taken my Jeep to both Sedona and Moab for wheeling vacations. If you let me know your rig's capability along with your comfort level I can give you some tips on what trails you don't want to miss and even time requirements.

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[James Feldermann]

I dont know why the link didnt show up. Here it is again.
Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails 3rd Edition
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[James Feldermann]

Hopefully it's showing up for you. On the app it looks like it's not showing the link. You can just search for Moab trail nook on Amazon and it's at the top.

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[Tyler.W]

Links are weird on this site as of lately. I haven't had luck posting many... I have a Jeep TJ with a 2" lift on 31" BFG KO2s. I have a front locker and a Detroit TrueTrac. I feel she is a pretty capable vehicle and I am confident in my driving. I have done Gold Mountain up in Big Bear. I have also done a handful of trails where bigger Jeeps were very impressed at my Jeeps ability.

The trails I would definitely like to hit on this trip are:

• Schnebly Hill, AZ
• Hole In The Rock Trail, UT
• Elephant Hill, UT
• Hell's Revenge, UT
• Fins and Things, UT
• Top of The World, UT

There are some other trails in Moab that I am interested in but I'm not sure just yet if I want to try them.

 

[pyrotyro]

I may change the time of year if we're staying in the desert. Would probably do this in the winter at some point or early spring.

Any tips on trip planning? How I should figure how long a trail should take or any offroad traveling I may do?

Ive found timelines on trips like this very difficult to predict and it will be very individual. While camping with the in-laws, I experienced just how long packing up camp to get going in the morning could possibly take... Anywho, doing research up front can expedite the process as you'll know where you are headed and about how long it can take. Always plan on the long end of the guidebook times just to be safe. Trails like fins can be done in a half day, if you do minimal stopping for spotting, photos, etc. And then trails like pritchett canyon can take all day to go 4 miles (assuming nothing is broken)...

Looks like you have a good list of trails. Which brings up another thought, traveling solo on trail. Luckily most of the areas you're looking at are pretty popular and you most likely won't be totally alone. However, hole in the rock is very remote. Definitely not a place to end up stranded alone. You can use the red rock 4 wheelers facebook page to ask for wheelin buds in the Moab area, its got a lot of active members.

 

[Tyler.W]

Thanks for the feedback. Since this is a ways off I would love to see if other OB members want to tag along so that I am not off wheeling by myself. I'm not super worried in Moab as it is very popular, but Hole In The Rock seems about as remote as you can get. That's more of an overnight trip too so if I can't find anyone to do that with I'll have to scratch it from the list.

 

[James Feldermann]

That's a good list of trails. Broken Arrow in Sedona is very popular, too. Elephant Hill is my favorite trail. Including the drive from Moab, it's an all day trail, especially if you do the hikes to The Joint and the rivers confluence which I recommend. Top of the World is #2 on my list. It's a half day like Fins and Hells. FYI, Fins crosses the main road through Sand Flats and can easily be split in two sections to fit it. If you are in Moab, don't skip Chicken Corners just because it's an easy trail. You would be missing some of the most spectacular views around. Plan four hours for it.

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[Tyler.W]

If things worked out correctly I would actually head up from Hole In The Rock and camp at Canyonlands that evening. I would then do Elephant Hill in the morning and head up to Moab to set up camp for the remainder of the trip.

Thank you for the recommendations! I'll have to start making a list!

 

[Jose Losoya]

I am in the beginning stages of planning a trip out to Arizona, Utah, and Colorado! Since I have a Jeep Wrangler I am also planning to drive some of the "Badge Of Honor" trails along the way. I am heading out there from Nashville, TN and that is a 24 hour drive. Coming home will be about the same as well. I am hoping to fit this into a two week window, but I'm not sure if that will be able to be done.

My plan is to pass through Sedona and see The Grand Canyon. From there I would like to go up through Monumenet Valley and hit "Hole In The Rock" trail in Southern Utah. After that I would like to drive up through to Canyonlands and wind up in Moab for a few days to do some of the trails. Finally, we would head to Ouray, CO and possibly Denver before heading home.

How do you guys go about planning a trip? How do you allot your time and figure out how long it will take to do various trails and/or off-pavement travel? Any suggestions for an overlanding planning newbie?

Private or public trip? If public i might be able to join ya for a week by then!

 

[Tyler.W]

Private or public trip? If public i might be able to join ya for a week by then!

We're definitely looking for company on the trip so we're not off wheeling alone!

 

[Tyler.W]

I think we may skip Hole In The Rock because we may be bringing a trailer along but we will just have to see. We also may plan this for the end of March so we can hit Moab during the Easter Jeep Safari.

 

[James Feldermann]

I would advise not going during EJS. It's very crowded and difficult/expensive to find a campsite. Also, you would have to sign up for all those trails and probably won't get them all.

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[10-42 Adventures]

Sounds like a great trip! We are making a simaler trip in the beginning of may but heading west through Colorado and Utah. We are attempting to make most of the trip on dirt. Just having a heck of a time connecting the dots.