Pre Trip post: VA to Moab

[Seemego4WD]

About 15 years ago a guy at work took a month off, went out west exploring, camping, off roading and hiking. I’ve been dreaming of doing the same since and it is finally happening. I leave in 2 weeks and I plan to be gone the entire month of June.

I’m taking my Jeep(2024 rubicon), have a sleep setup for the inside. Basic camping stuff. I plan to primitive camp as much as possible.

The plan:
Week 1:
Drive out to Colorado from VA via Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma and up into Colorado. I plan to camp each night on the way out.

Week 2:
In Colorado I plan to run Engineer pass and Imogene pass. I’ll wander around hoping to see some old mines and find some hiking. I’ll explore the areas near these trails and the San Juan national forest.

Week 3:
I’ll drift over to Moab.
I plan to check out peek a boo slot canyon.
Main trails I want to drive: Hells revenge, Finn’s and things and chicken corners
Monument valley, Arches, Canyonlands are the national parks I’m planning to see.
(I’ll be living it up in an AIRBNB in Moab as I have some family flying in)

Week 4:
Back on my own after I drop them off at SLC.
I’ll point the Jeep east. I plan to explore Medicine bow national forest for a few days. Then continue on through Nebraska, Missouri, Kentucky and on back to VA again hoping to find primitive camping along the way.

If you have any recommended camping spots, hikes or scenic spots I should add to the list please let me know. Trying to keep things very tentative except for the firm AIRBNB reservation.



Once the trip gets underway I’ll post updates and pictures.

Thanks.

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[Jeepa]

Sounds great good luck.

 

[jadmt]

sounds great. not sure what the snow conditions are in the san juans but last year we did engineer june 9th and it had just opened. you will have a great time. just out of spanish fork there is a great campground off of hwy 6 called Diamond campground. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233869

 

[Dudley Dawson]

Awesome. I will be following for updates. Also live in VA and have wanted to do a trip like this! Safe travels and have fun.

 

[beewil]

Will be out there (MOAB) in June as well to celebrate my 60th bday.

 

[wibornz]

sounds great. not sure what the snow conditions are in the san juans but last year we did engineer june 9th and it had just opened. you will have a great time. just out of spanish fork there is a great campground off of hwy 6 called Diamond campground. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233869

Colorado got very little snow in the mountains this year. When I drove through in the end of April, there was almost no snow to be seen on the mountings off of I-70.

 

[wibornz]

About 15 years ago a guy at work took a month off, went out west exploring, camping, off roading and hiking. I’ve been dreaming of doing the same since and it is finally happening. I leave in 2 weeks and I plan to be gone the entire month of June.

I’m taking my Jeep(2024 rubicon), have a sleep setup for the inside. Basic camping stuff. I plan to primitive camp as much as possible.

The plan:
Week 1:
Drive out to Colorado from VA via Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma and up into Colorado. I plan to camp each night on the way out.

Week 2:
In Colorado I plan to run Engineer pass and Imogene pass. I’ll wander around hoping to see some old mines and find some hiking. I’ll explore the areas near these trails and the San Juan national forest.

Week 3:
I’ll drift over to Moab.
I plan to check out peek a boo slot canyon.
Main trails I want to drive: Hells revenge, Finn’s and things and chicken corners
Monument valley, Arches, Canyonlands are the national parks I’m planning to see.
(I’ll be living it up in an AIRBNB in Moab as I have some family flying in)

Week 4:
Back on my own after I drop them off at SLC.
I’ll point the Jeep east. I plan to explore Medicine bow national forest for a few days. Then continue on through Nebraska, Missouri, Kentucky and on back to VA again hoping to find primitive camping along the way.

If you have any recommended camping spots, hikes or scenic spots I should add to the list please let me know. Trying to keep things very tentative except for the firm AIRBNB reservation.



Once the trip gets underway I’ll post updates and pictures.

Thanks.

You could run the Rim Rocker trail from Colorado to Moab. Disney OK should be on your list for a day stop. Monument Valley is just okay in my experience. When you come out of Monument Valley, by Mexican Hat, look for Valley of the Gods. In Moab, get a day pass the day before to run the White Rim trail. It is an all day drive on the trail, but should not be missed.

 

[3TV]

I recommend Johnson Canyon Rd. in southeast UT. It is a two-track shelf road that goes along the shelf at the base of Muley point and above the San Juan River. The entire road is 30 miles long and goes through some of the most spectacular scenery in all of UT. Driving up the Moki dugway and then taking the turn to Muley point is also spectacular. Standing at the edge of Muley point and looking straight down, you can see a narrow two-track road at the base of the cliff. That is Johnson Canyon Rd, which is accessed from a dirt road that starts just off of the road to Gooseneck state park.

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