Lifestyle Trails (A.K.A. “Trails for Pusses”) — list them here!!!!!

[PortlandJo]

I may look into creating a form where folks can enter details (address, GPS coordinates). Then I could import this data into the map. No promises, but I'll see what I can do. I may want to create a new thread on this so I don't take over the wonderful places and pictures this thread has produced.

Hello Everyone. I created a form that will allow folks to enter information on trails they are sharing. Once I get this information collected I can get them loaded into the map. If you all think this will be useful let me know. I may create a separate forum post embedding the form into the post and sharing the map. Let me know what you think. Thank you!

Lifestyle Trails Form

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[GearWhore]

Utah

Green River Launch Complex/New Area 51
Cool, abandoned piece of American Cold War history in the Utah dessert, just of Interstate-70 at Green River. I've been curious about this area for a long time, especially after learning the large black pyramid next to the freeway is a uranium disposal cell (and seeing "New Area 51" on the road maps). I'd consider all of this easy to very easy.

Exit I-70 at 164, turn north and head towards Green River. Just past the Super-8, turn south on 1170 East, then west on Elgin Ave. There are still some relics along Elgin, then south again at 800 East. After crossing the tracks you'll see more relics, the water tower, and the black uranium disposal cell.

From there head south under the freeway. The road turns east then forks. Left fork will lead you to the three missile launch pads; first intersection you can turn north to get back on freeway at same exit, stay straight at the intersection with Crystal Geyser road and you will head into the launch site.

The right fork turns to the Athena MTB trailhead, which is also around where the main government camp was located. There are still a lot of concrete pads here. This road takes you through several other relics, including monitoring stations and such.

You will ultimately connect to the Crystal Geyser Safari Route only a mile or two east of the Green River and the geyser. There is a large network of ATV/Jeep trails all over this area, bounded by I-70 on the north, Green River on the west, Hwy 191 (to Moab) on the east, and Canyonlands to the south. I generally find you encounter more people the further south and east you go.

White Wash Sand Dunes Recreation Area is about 1/3 of the way between Green River and Moab, and provides dune areas and a wide, flat wash to play in.

Ten Mile Wash is a little further south yet. There is a trail that goes all the way to the river, but the brush and tamarisk grows a little too tight for me to want to push the Jeep through. A lot of pictographs on the canyon walls in this wash if you choose to hike the sides instead of drive the middle.

First set of buildings off Elgin Ave

Uranium disposal cell and water tower visible from freeway

Launch control bunker at the missile launch pads

Inside the remaining missile shelter

Top of Ten Mile Wash at dusk

 

[GearWhore]

Utah

Temple Mountain Uranium Mines
This area is in the San Rafael Swell, south of Interstate-70, west of Green River. Take I-70 exit 149 for Highway-24 south to Hanksville and Goblin Valley State Park. After 24 miles, turn west following signs to Goblin Valley SP. Just before reaching the rock, you will pass a left turn to the state park but keep straight. After you pass through the rock, the landscape opens up again at Temple Mtn Campground directly under the namesake. This area was once the main mining camp in the area, and was a commercial producer since the early 1900s.

One of the lighter layers of sandstone contains the uranium, and as you look around from the campground you will start to see openings carved into the rock all around.

On the northeast side of the campground a trail crosses the wash and ascends the southern flank of Temple Mtn. Many trails around here, many leading to small claims, and a few with larger works. You could easily spend a weekend here and not hit all of them.

If you stay on Temple Mtn Road and keep heading northwest, you will end up in the Family Butte area. There are many more mines up in this area (Tomsich, Secret, Lost). Eventually, the Temple Mtn Road will turn north and bring you back to the freeway. Paralleling the freeway east for a short 1-2 miles, you will be able to get back on I-70 at exit 131.

Goblin Valley is a fun place, especially with kids. The campsites are a little exposed, but they have shade shelters and are at least on the east side of the rocks (afternoon shade). There are also a couple yurts available for rent.

Just north of the SP entry there is an intersection with Wild Horse Road. Turning west here will take you to some slot canyon trailheads, including Little Wild Horse, Bell Canyon, and Ding & Dang Canyons. Much of the trail between Little Wild Horse trailhead and Ding & Dang trailhead is in the wash. Easy most of the time but use caution if it has been raining or might rain. In may two young girls were washed away from their families while hiking Little Wild Horse when a flash flood came through.

Past Ding and Dang trailhead, the trail is mostly in the wash for a few miles. There is a steep rock you climb to get out of the wash, but doable in most vehicles with 4wd and clearance. I actually hauled an A-Frame camper up through here with my JKUR a few years ago. Not recommended, but possible.

If you continue to follow the Wild Horse Road (trail) you will eventually cross Muddy Creek. Usually doable and pretty shallow, but walk to make sure if you're going to try it. The bottom is pretty solid sand. Beyond that, the road will lead to Factory Butte area north of Caineville. The southern end of this is Swing Arm City, some of you may recognize this from Ken Block's Gymkhana Dirt video. Hint, the light-colored powdery sand (sometimes purplish or greenish) is SUPER slick when wet.

From Caineville, you're a short drive west to Capitol Reef National Park. Highly recommend a stop in Fruita if not an overnight camp. Huge cottonwood trees and a historic orchard (mmmm, fruit pies).

Again, all of this is pretty easy dirt trail. Hardest parts are sandy washes and mud if you hit it wrong.

Current claims posted to the inside and outside of this shack; couple others in the area fully collapsed

Two big mine openings (gated) out of frame upper right

Portal used for men and ore. Men would ride a 36" diameter bucket into the hole (now grated) and send ore up in the same bucket.

Road block/Washout

 

[Dkretden]

@GearWhore

both of the trails above are perfect for this thread. I like them so much, I’m going to do them! THANK YOU for posting some great images and descriptions.

 

[PortlandJo]

Hello everyone! I wanted to let you know that I'm working on a solution that will create a really nice map along with your pictures. There is a charge for it, but I think it will work great for this. I'm willing to front the cost with this for a year. I'm trying to figure out how to get a form that will send the data to the mapping software. My hope is to get with these forum admins and put something up in front for folks. Appreciate all the entries so far! Pretty awesome stuff!

 

[DadJokes]

When someone does the trail they can just record it with Gaia, OnX, etc and share. That’s what Overland Bound members do. They’ll share the GPX file with a description like these.

 

[PortlandJo]

When someone does the trail they can just record it with Gaia, OnX, etc and share. That’s what Overland Bound members do. They’ll share the GPX file with a description like these.

This software imports GPX files also.

 

[dsgrey]

Oklahoma
The easy trails around Beavers Bend. Anywhere from 1 to 8 miles long and of course you can take the challenging K-trail about an hour north. I did find the spouse isn't one to take offroad after going up this section about 200 yards and finding out it was closed. No place to turn around so backed down the section. Yes, my inexpensive dashcam reset the date to 2015.

 

[_olllllllo_]

"Utah”
I was recently in Bullfrog, Utah. and found a short cut to Bolder,Utah. Part of the route was Burr Trail Road. The first section, BLM1200 road from Bullfrog was nothing but the Burr Trail Road was beautiful. I want to go back and spend some time exploring side roads when it isn’t hot weather in the 90’s.
Burr Trail road

90˚ is mild weather for some of us, but that sounds like a great place to explore. This is a great thread.

 

[_olllllllo_]

Arizona
Schnebly Hill (Bonus it’s also a trail Badge....don’t ask me why. Not difficult at all)

If starting from the bottom out of Sedona, it is just simply a fairly rough ride. Sedans and minivans probably can't handle the lower 5+ miles, but it isn't technical at all. Beautiful views though and it was my first (and so far only) badge of honor trail. Broken arrow is a lot more fun and challenging.

 

[blnewt]

Nevada

If you make a trip to Las Vegas and want to get away from the strip (or have lost almost all of your money ) take a trip out to Red Rock Canyon. It costs $15 park entry but is well worth it, so many cool trails to explore on foot. This 4x4 trail toward the end of the scenic drive is a fun bonus, you would go opposite of the sequence listed here and you can turn back if you don't want to hit the rock garden
https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/979-rocky-gappotato-ridge-road

Great thread @Dkretden !!!

 

[_olllllllo_]

Arizona

Locket Meadow just outside of Flagstaff. Dirt road suitable for any vehicle that leads up to a meadow at 8600' that has campsites and hiking trails. Beautiful place and will definitely go back and actually camp and hike in the summer months.

 

[beachbumm78]

If starting from the bottom out of Sedona, it is just simply a fairly rough ride. Sedans and minivans probably can't handle the lower 5+ miles, but it isn't technical at all. Beautiful views though and it was my first (and so far only) badge of honor trail. Broken arrow is a lot more fun and challenging.

Yep. Still haven’t made it to broken arrow but it looks so fun

 

[MSteeves]

Colorado

Phantom Canyon Road, just east of Canon City, Colorado. There's a bit of shelfing but it is not at all difficult. It runs north on State Highway 67 where it intersects with US 50, up to Victorville and Cripple Creek. There is some dispersed camping along the way.

 

[MSteeves]

Colorado

Then there's the Shelf Road, another easy one, from Canon City, Colorado, to Cripple Creek. There is dispersed camping along the road, but there is also a lot of private property. There is little sympathy for trespassers, so be careful.

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