Moab in October

[ColoradoMike]

Almost forgot the most important tip! Pick up your favorite booze before you cross into Utah. Their liquor laws are...different

You're not buying a Powerball ticket there, either.

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[Craigger]

Spend a full day doing the trifecta. Best day of wheeling I've ever had.

 

[jadmt]

As others have said, Elephant Hill is beautiful. They only allow a few rigs in per day, so you have to grab a reservation at 8am the day before.

Absolutely do the Trifecta. It's a full day, but worth it.

The views from Top of the World are pretty damn amazing. Make sure you jump over the stupidly crack to the left. Nice bump of adrenaline there.

I have done elephant hill 2x the last being in June and both times we were only ones on the trail. The ranger told me they never fill up.

 

[jadmt]

The Wells book (which is sometimes full of sh!t) says something to the effect of "breakdowns are common" on Golden Spike/Trifecta. Did you see reason for that? Do you think I should shy away from Golden Spike on my 35s with the stock XR mini lift?

you will be fine. We have done golden spike 3x and only ever had 35's.

 

[jadmt]

Kane creek is one of the must do trails in my opinion. I also think Rose garden hill is worth doing.

 

[3TV]

Look up Jax Trax trail. I think it a very fun moderate trail that seems to have a little bit of everything on it. One of the named obstacles, called Diablo is as fun of a slick rock section as you are going to find.

 

[jadmt]

Look up Jax Trax trail. I think it a very fun moderate trail that seems to have a little bit of everything on it. One of the named obstacles, called Diablo is as fun of a slick rock section as you are going to find.

I liked Jax trax...kind of gets forgot about but agree it is worth doing. I also forget about strike ravine but that is also a good one......

 

[Matanzas]

In addition to what others have said Porcupine Rim & Hotel Rock are good intermediate trails. Onion Creek is perfect for an off-day, very scenic.

 

[Deen]

I'm headed to Moab from WA State in the morning for 9 days.

 

[ColoradoMike]

Headed to Moab for two weeks in October.

Trails I've done before -

Shafer / exit via Canyonlands, although I think we'll run it the opposite direction for a different perspective.
Fins
Hell's Revenge
Chicken Corners
Arches 4x4 trails - Eye of the Whale, Marching Men, Tower Arch, and the old park entrance.

This trip - open to suggestions. We have two weeks to play with.

Poison Spider?
Top of the World?
Onion Creek (or is that too tame/ not enough scenery?)

Looking for intermediate trail suggestions and any recent trip reports after the big rains... Really prefer trails that won't tear the fake rock rails off my completely stock Rubicon XR (4-door).

When are you going to be there? I will be there Oct 4-6 if you happen to be around.

 

[arnie_mueller]

Checkout the Facebook group “Moab friends for wheeling” you’ll get some locals who will wheel with you. I have a friend out there that has shown me some cool “secret” places.

Top of the world is really cool if you have a drone. Drone pictures/video is awesome, I did it the first time about a month ago, got some great footage. Had a 392XR who struggled at the biggest obstacle, got him on the right line and he got up. I’d take people there just for the pictures and video at the end. Rest of the trail is so-so I guess.

Elephant hill appears to still be closed. They had some heavy rains and washed out the last half of the trail. You want to do that part too, beautiful and a really awesome slot canyon hike, maybe next time for you. This is my favorite trail to date.

Poison spider I completed in a stock JLUR. I went back and didn’t scrape once after lifted 2.5” and 37s. Poison spider was my favorite trail until I ran elephant hill. It’s a very technical trail, a game of inches, a ton of fun.

Chicken corners was cool for the hike at the end. I was bored with it, it seemed so long. It was the first Moab trail I ever did though and I thought I was going to tip over and die. 22 degrees was scary at one part when I was alone, on my first trail, in my first 4x4, and no idea what I was doing.

If you’re into hiking, Mesa Arch in Canyonlands is cool but you have a crapload of photographers there asking if you’ll let them have your spot so they can take a picture, I hate them all. Get up earlier you jerks, I was here first and I don’t care about your social media BS. It’s worth a trip once.

Another amazing hike is Delicate Arch in Arches NP. This is my favorite Arch hike, do it during a sunset. Bring a headlamp and know how to navigate, you’ll walk back in the dark and it’s not a straightforward path. It gets busy up there too but it’s such a big space you’ll have a nice spot anywhere.

All that said, who knows if you’ll like anything I’ve said, I don’t know what you like but these are my favorites in Moab.

Best showers are at the KOA, $10 for a hot shower is well worth it after a week camping in the desert.

If you’re looking for firewood, go to the drugstore, Walker drug. Don’t buy any of the garbage from the gas stations or grocery store. It burns up too fast and full of sap. Walker has good firewood and it’s cheaper than the others, no one thinks to go there.

Check out Gearheads if you need water, they offer free filtered water in the back of the store, we always fill up there. Their camping stuff was lacking in June, it used to be great.

I love Moab and it’s only 6 hours from me.

Have a fun safe trip!! Don’t forget to check in for your badges!

 

[Ratbert]

Check out Gearheads if you need water, they offer free filtered water in the back of the store, we always fill up there.

The best spot that we've found for water is Matrimony Springs. Just bring a jug and fill up from the side of the mountain.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FfPoApyHrEDq9JCJ8

 

[Astro Jeep]

I did Elephant Hill and Poison Spider in August, and I highly recommend both.

 

[NWJeepr]

When are you going to be there? I will be there Oct 4-6 if you happen to be around.

Still nailing down the schedule but my opportunities for wheeling will be the 12th-17th or thereabouts. Be sure to report back with your adventures this week!

Checkout the Facebook group “Moab friends for wheeling” you’ll get some locals who will wheel with you. I have a friend out there that has shown me some cool “secret” places.

Top of the world is really cool if you have a drone. Drone pictures/video is awesome, I did it the first time about a month ago, got some great footage. Had a 392XR who struggled at the biggest obstacle, got him on the right line and he got up. I’d take people there just for the pictures and video at the end. Rest of the trail is so-so I guess.

Elephant hill appears to still be closed. They had some heavy rains and washed out the last half of the trail. You want to do that part too, beautiful and a really awesome slot canyon hike, maybe next time for you. This is my favorite trail to date.

Poison spider I completed in a stock JLUR. I went back and didn’t scrape once after lifted 2.5” and 37s. Poison spider was my favorite trail until I ran elephant hill. It’s a very technical trail, a game of inches, a ton of fun.

Chicken corners was cool for the hike at the end. I was bored with it, it seemed so long. It was the first Moab trail I ever did though and I thought I was going to tip over and die. 22 degrees was scary at one part when I was alone, on my first trail, in my first 4x4, and no idea what I was doing.

If you’re into hiking, Mesa Arch in Canyonlands is cool but you have a crapload of photographers there asking if you’ll let them have your spot so they can take a picture, I hate them all. Get up earlier you jerks, I was here first and I don’t care about your social media BS. It’s worth a trip once.

Another amazing hike is Delicate Arch in Arches NP. This is my favorite Arch hike, do it during a sunset. Bring a headlamp and know how to navigate, you’ll walk back in the dark and it’s not a straightforward path. It gets busy up there too but it’s such a big space you’ll have a nice spot anywhere.

All that said, who knows if you’ll like anything I’ve said, I don’t know what you like but these are my favorites in Moab.

Best showers are at the KOA, $10 for a hot shower is well worth it after a week camping in the desert.

If you’re looking for firewood, go to the drugstore, Walker drug. Don’t buy any of the garbage from the gas stations or grocery store. It burns up too fast and full of sap. Walker has good firewood and it’s cheaper than the others, no one thinks to go there.

Check out Gearheads if you need water, they offer free filtered water in the back of the store, we always fill up there. Their camping stuff was lacking in June, it used to be great.

I love Moab and it’s only 6 hours from me.

Have a fun safe trip!! Don’t forget to check in for your badges!

Thanks for the trail tips - that will be part of the trip too, at least some shorter hikes. Sad to hear about Elephant Hill, will read up on current status. I know the area has had some wild weather recently.

Sadly (or not?) we won't be camping. We're using our RV as our base camp, full utilities/hookups. There's nothing better than a long shower and a soft bed after a long day on the trail

 

[arnie_mueller]

The best spot that we've found for water is Matrimony Springs. Just bring a jug and fill up from the side of the mountain.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/FfPoApyHrEDq9JCJ8

Thank you!! I’ll check this out next time we’re out there.

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