Hole in the Rock Trail - HITR in Utah

[smittycrusher]

I haven't seen anything on this forum for the Hole in the Rock Trail (not to be confused with the paved Hole in the Rock Road). This is one of the best trails in the US. Not very easy to get to since it is so remote. You will need to plan for fuel usage (we filled up in Blanding, UT). I also brought 10 extra gallons. I would have been able to get back to Blanding after leaving the trail since I had the extra 10 gallons). The other guys only had five extra gallons so we decided to head over to Halls Crossing at Lake Powell to fuel up as they might not have had enough to get all the way back to Blanding. Vehicles need to be in tip top shape and key extra parts should be brought since it is so remote.

I had run HITR twice in my 80. Both times my buddy Steen was co-driver. The last time (November 2016) he decided that he had to get his 200 on this trail. We were planning to attend a 200 Series Land Cruiser event in late July in Telluride. This gave us the perfect chance to meet up in Moab before the event and grab another 200 to hit up HITR before heading over to the San Juan’s.

HITR is an in and out trail. 35 miles of continuous fun. Lots of vertical drops/climbs and off camber stuff with big drop offs on the sides of many obstacles (some of them 100+ feet). Once you get to the end, you get to turn around and do all the same obstacles in reverse.

I don’t know of any other 200s that have done this trail. With that said, THE 200s KILLED IT! They had no problems keeping up with my triple locked 80 on a 4” lift and 315s. Being late July, the temps were brutal. 100*+ during both days.

Here is a video that Steen put together from the three GoPros in use by each Cruiser...which of course looks a lot easier in video than person...

 

[old_man]

I've done that trail a few times. I am seriously thinking about dragging my trailer up there and staying a couple of days.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

In ran this back in 2006 in my lifted LJ. It was great!

I'd really like to see a trip there this year. I don't think I have the truck for it anymore or I would lead one myself.

Anybody interested in putting a trip together?

 

[old_man]

In ran this back in 2006 in my lifted LJ. It was great!

I'd really like to see a trip there this year. I don't think I have the truck for it anymore or I would lead one myself.

Anybody interested in putting a trip together?

I would be interested. This is one of the few trails I haven't done in Moab. I have led dozens of hardcore trails in Moab but I need to do some research. Were you thinking about doing a base camp and running the trail with no trailers and gear, or running it with trailers.

I have decades of hard core rock crawling experience and grew up towing on the ranch. My trailer is set up for pretty rough stuff, but I would like to do some research or even a scouting ahead of time.

My concern is that work always seems to pull an emergency and cancel my plans.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

I would be interested. This is one of the few trails I haven't done in Moab. I have led dozens of hardcore trails in Moab but I need to do some research. Were you thinking about doing a base camp and running the trail with no trailers and gear, or running it with trailers.

I have decades of hard core rock crawling experience and grew up towing on the ranch. My trailer is set up for pretty rough stuff, but I would like to do some research or even a scouting ahead of time.

My concern is that work always seems to pull an emergency and cancel my plans.

Hey fella, it's good to hear from you again.

Firstly, as you know, I believe this is an excellent trip. I hope someone will lead a group whether I can make it or not. For that reason, I'd rather not influence someone's plans too heavily.

If, however, I were to be involved in planning, I'd have to figure out how to manage if it became too difficult for my full sized stocker. It's been over 14 years since my last visit so it's hard to know if it might have changed. I was on 35s and double-locked last so it wasn't difficult at all. I was with a Defender 110 and a Disco. I don't remember the Defender having any trouble, but the Disco did in a couple spots. There was one ledge that took some effort, but I don't remember if he was locked. There was also a deep transition that wracked his aftermarket bumper. My poor break over and departure angles are what get me.

We stayed only one night and I felt rushed. I would stay at least two, if not more. My preference is to move the camp as we go, but many would probably prefer to base camp. Since I might get stopped along the way, I might just have to camp there and venture farther in as someone's passenger.

If you're up for spearheading it, that would be great. I'll be happy to help a little or a lot. If not, I can try to put it together as long as there are others willing to get us to end. Just lemme know. Thanks!

 

[old_man]

Hey fella, it's good to hear from you again.

Firstly, as you know, I believe this is an excellent trip. I hope someone will lead a group whether I can make it or not. For that reason, I'd rather not influence someone's plans too heavily.

If, however, I were to be involved in planning, I'd have to figure out how to manage if it became too difficult for my full sized stocker. It's been over 14 years since my last visit so it's hard to know if it might have changed. I was on 35s and double-locked last so it wasn't difficult at all. I was with a Defender 110 and a Disco. I don't remember the Defender having any trouble, but the Disco did in a couple spots. There was one ledge that took some effort, but I don't remember if he was locked. There was also a deep transition that wracked his aftermarket bumper. My poor break over and departure angles are what get me.

We stayed only one night and I felt rushed. I would stay at least two, if not more. My preference is to move the camp as we go, but many would probably prefer to base camp. Since I might get stopped along the way, I might just have to camp there and venture farther in as someone's passenger.

If you're up for spearheading it, that would be great. I'll be happy to help a little or a lot. If not, I can try to put it together as long as there are others willing to get us to end. Just lemme know. Thanks!

Are you 4wd?

I can get my trailer to the point where many spend the night, but until I get a few more trails under my belt with it, That is about as far as I am willing to drag it. That makes for a long day out to the end and back. From the videos I was able to see, 4wd is pretty much required. Lockers would REALLY be nice. We can always winch you through the tough stuff. Do you have skids and rocker protection?

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Are you 4wd?

I can get my trailer to the point where many spend the night, but until I get a few more trails under my belt with it, That is about as far as I am willing to drag it. That makes for a long day out to the end and back. From the videos I was able to see, 4wd is pretty much required. Lockers would REALLY be nice. We can always winch you through the tough stuff. Do you have skids and rocker protection?

I've got 4WD and a locker. The Moab type terrains usually get me with break over angle, departure angle and sometimes clearance depending on the size of the rocks. I've got the factory Z71 skids which are decent and have been heavily used. As a comparison, I can run all over most of the Ouray 4WD roads with little difficulty, but the ups and downs of UT slick rock are problematic.

 

[fly boy]

That's one neat looking trail!

 

[Neal A. Tew]

That's one neat looking trail!

It's a lot of fun and the history is interesting too.

Are you in? :D

 

[Neal A. Tew]

@old_man How about April?

 

[Pskhaat]

Why just Blanding? A small backtrack to Hite Outpost would be closer, yes?

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Why just Blanding? A small backtrack to Hite Outpost would be closer, yes?

I'm not sure what you mean. Please elaborate.

 

[old_man]

@old_man How about April?

I need a week or two to see how the employment situation shakes out. I might be doing a change.

Are you thinking about a LONG weekend? I figure a day to get there, a day to get to the campground, a day to run out to the end and back to the campground, and then a LONG day to get home.

 

[Pskhaat]

Why just Blanding? A small backtrack to Hite Outpost would be closer, yes?

Ha! For some reason in my mind's eye I was above Halls. Of course that's closer.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

I need a week or two to see how the employment situation shakes out. I might be doing a change.

Are you thinking about a LONG weekend? I figure a day to get there, a day to get to the campground, a day to run out to the end and back to the campground, and then a LONG day to get home.

That's a good question.

I'd like to stay at least 2 nights on the trail. At least for myself I'd probably try to work something else into the trip even if just camping on the way there and back.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Ha! For some reason in my mind's eye I was above Halls. Of course that's closer.

It's been about 15 years since I was there so my memory isn't vivid. I think we filled up in Blanding beforehand and then afterwards somewhere around the ferry crossing that we took in the other direction.

Are you pretty familiar with area?

 

[Neal A. Tew]

That's a good question.

I'd like to stay at least 2 nights on the trail. At least for myself I'd probably try to work something else into the trip even if just camping on the way there and back.

@old_man But, to clarify, it probably would make the most sense to do it as a long weekend in order to accommodate others. Then we can work out the commutes as we need.

 

[old_man]

It's been about 15 years since I was there so my memory isn't vivid. I think we filled up in Blanding beforehand and then afterwards somewhere around the ferry crossing that we took in the other direction.

Are you pretty familiar with area?

Not really but I watched several trip videos.

(1) Hole in the Rock Trail - Three Day Offroad Trip in Southern Utah - YouTube

 

[Pskhaat]

Are you pretty familiar with area?

I am, but never get out enough. A return to that section would be soulfully needed.

 

[old_man]

I am going cabin crazy. It has been a year since I was out.