Utah recommendations

[Mtpisgah]

@Jeepeto very true. We camped a lot during the winter, but the summers are just too hot and humid. We would do it 20 years ago, but not now.

The AluCab canopy camper does not have a bottom, so it is not a slide in. It has to be sealed with sikaflex, or similar, to keep dust out. With the fit kit and sealant, it does not come out easily. The Khaya camper is a slide in.

It was great when we used it. Now we are considering a trailer or a vacation house.

Sponsored

 

[Jeepeto]

@Jeepeto very true. We camped a lot during the winter, but the summers are just too hot and humid. We would do it 20 years ago, but not now.

The AluCab canopy camper does not have a bottom, so it is not a slide in. It has to be sealed with sikaflex, or similar, to keep dust out. With the fit kit and sealant, it does not come out easily. The Khaya camper is a slide in.

It was great when we used it. Now we are considering a trailer or a vacation house.

I feel you on the heat and humidity, it can definitely ruin a trip. Bummer it didn’t work out for y’all, but it’s hard to go wrong with real estate.

 

[Rubi SoHo]

So Tocqueville falls is almost 5hrs south of Salt Lake City, and 6hrs west of Moab. It’s near Zion National Park, and very close to Sand Flats recreation area. But probably not a “check it out when I’m in SLC for a concert” type of trail.

in the vicinity of Salt Lake, I recommend:

1. American Fork Canyon (variety of trails of differing difficulty levels)

2. Five Mile Pass recreation area. Lots of trails, but lots of stoner motocross and ATV types. Not bad, but be safe there, people get reckless.

 

[Jeepmojave85]

So Tocqueville falls is almost 5hrs south of Salt Lake City, and 6hrs west of Moab. It’s near Zion National Park, and very close to Sand Flats recreation area. But probably not a “check it out when I’m in SLC for a concert” type of trail.

in the vicinity of Salt Lake, I recommend:

1. American Fork Canyon (variety of trails of differing difficulty levels)

2. Five Mile Pass recreation area. Lots of trails, but lots of stoner motocross and ATV types. Not bad, but be safe there, people get reckless.

Thanks! I’m working on researching all the recommendations. That 2nd one sounds annoying lol, I hate when those dudes are on a trail. They ride around you recklessly and their fumes stink

 

[Rubi SoHo]

Thanks! I’m working on researching all the recommendations. That 2nd one sounds annoying lol, I hate when those dudes are on a trail. They ride around you recklessly and their fumes stink

Yep, it’s not like anyone out there is going to threaten you; I’d feel safe other than dealing with folks who don’t use their ATV’s in a safe fashion.

AF Canyon is cool though. I’m a fan of Forest Lake trail. Mary Ellen Gulch and Mineral Basin are cool too. Plus the Alpine loop from AF canyon into Provo canyon is beautiful. You could even make a day out of riding a trail, and visiting Timpanogos Cave National Monument (if you planned ahead and got reservations).

https://www.nps.gov/tica/index.htm

 

[txj2go]

Which vehicle would be more fun in that area, I’ve never been to salt lake. Any recommendations on places to go, see, trails to drive? Places we can camp with a RTT? TIA.

There is a lot of discussion about Moab. If you tell us your general route through Utah we can make suggestions for where to go and what to see along the way.

You can check this thread too.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/beginner-trail-suggestions-in-moab.68208/

 

[hoch]

Yep, it’s not like anyone out there is going to threaten you; I’d feel safe other than dealing with folks who don’t use their ATV’s in a safe fashion.

AF Canyon is cool though. I’m a fan of Forest Lake trail. Mary Ellen Gulch and Mineral Basin are cool too. Plus the Alpine loop from AF canyon into Provo canyon is beautiful. You could even make a day out of riding a trail, and visiting Timpanogos Cave National Monument (if you planned ahead and got reservations).

https://www.nps.gov/tica/index.htm

AF Canyon is great but gets VERY crowded. Go on a weekday.
With the record snowfall this year, I’m going to guess lots of trail damage and erosion. Which means, mild trails might be very challenging now. Forest Lake has seen lots of this over the years. I took a stock Tacoma up there 15 years ago but probably wouldn’t attempt it now.

 

[Rubi SoHo]

AF Canyon is great but gets VERY crowded. Go on a weekday.
With the record snowfall this year, I’m going to guess lots of trail damage and erosion. Which means, mild trails might be very challenging now. Forest Lake has seen lots of this over the years. I took a stock Tacoma up there 15 years ago but probably wouldn’t attempt it now.

probably right with the erosion. I did forest lake last year in my Rubicon. Got through it well, but I did punch a hole in the plastic bumpers air dam in the rock garden at the beginning of the trail. Any wrangler (or Gladiator TBH) could do it; but maybe a beginner is better suited elsewhere in AF canyon.

 

[Jeepmojave85]

There is a lot of discussion about Moab. If you tell us your general route through Utah we can make suggestions for where to go and what to see along the way.

You can check this thread too.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/beginner-trail-suggestions-in-moab.68208/

Thanks, i will check that out! When I made this thread I didn’t know Moab was even really on the way to SLC. But ill be taking I-70 through Colorado past Moab and then 191/6 up through Provo into SLC.

 

[Tank2112]

Personally I'm not a big fan of Moab. Too much of a crowded off-road Disneyland for my tastes with conga lines on the trails. Primitive dispersed camping is also prohibited in much of the Moab area due to overuse, littering and human waste issues.

As an alternative to consider, check out TrailsOffroad.com. You will be driving past TONS of off-road trails from I-70 to SLC that you can have practically to yourself. So much so that you could be off-road nearly 90% of the way through Utah with primitive dispersed camping most of the way. TrailsOffroad.com will provide all the trail details you need and you can find any level of difficulty you want.

Just bring a lot of water and always keep fuel management in mind. It's possible to be 100 off-road miles from the nearest gas station in that area. It's true desert wilderness overlanding. And expect zero cell service. At best you may get 1-2 bars in particular places.

And if you break down...?
Sounds like he my be solo?

 

[txj2go]

Thanks, i will check that out! When I made this thread I didn’t know Moab was even really on the way to SLC. But ill be taking I-70 through Colorado past Moab and then 191/6 up through Provo into SLC.

There are things to see west of Moab too. Look on the map and find Castle Dale and Green River- between them is the northern part of the San Rafael Swell. Instead of 191 you could drive the dirt roads through the swell- look up Buckhorn Draw. There are interesting side trips off of this road. Of you can go south of I-70 towards Hanksville and see lots of interesting things along there- San Rafael Reef, Goblin Valley, Mars overlook, even into Capitol Reef. You can overland from Capitol Reef back up to I-70.

And if you break down...?
Sounds like he my be solo?

I would advise not breaking down. All of the road from Grand Junction to Price or beyond is going to be fairly remote and if you get off the pavement you might be by yourself. There are parts of the San Rafael Swell that are infested with side by sides so you won't be alone there, and the popular trails around Moab can be busy, but the less popular routes might take you 5 miles from the nearest human. Cell coverage is very spotty so I always take a Garmin Inreach if I need to call for help.

 

[Reinen]

And if you break down...?
Sounds like he my be solo?

I'm usually solo. If you break down you fix it. But preferably you do your maintenance so that doesn't happen and adjust your risk tolerance accordingly so you don't do something stupid.

Worst case scenario, radio or satellite emergency communication. Something every off-roader should have.

 

[Cyber_Jeeper]

AF Canyon is cool though. I’m a fan of Forest Lake trail. Mary Ellen Gulch and Mineral Basin are cool too. Plus the Alpine loop from AF canyon into Provo canyon is beautiful. You could even make a day out of riding a trail, and visiting Timpanogos Cave National Monument (if you planned ahead and got reservations).

https://www.nps.gov/tica/index.htm

AF Canyon is great but gets VERY crowded. Go on a weekday.
With the record snowfall this year, I’m going to guess lots of trail damage and erosion. Which means, mild trails might be very challenging now. Forest Lake has seen lots of this over the years. I took a stock Tacoma up there 15 years ago but probably wouldn’t attempt it now.

Forest lake is definitely a good test of my skid plates on my stock height rubicon. The rock garden at the beginning is tough. The lake at the top is kind of a let down though.
Mary Ellen Gulch is probably my favorite. It’s a decently tough trail for a stock jeep, but I think that it has the best views. It is difficult to pass other vehicles on much of the trail though, so the weekday is better than the weekend. I’m worried what all the extra snow may have done to the trail.

 

[hoch]

Forest lake is definitely a good test of my skid plates on my stock height rubicon. The rock garden at the beginning is tough. The lake at the top is kind of a let down though.
Mary Ellen Gulch is probably my favorite. It’s a decently tough trail for a stock jeep, but I think that it has the best views. It is difficult to pass other vehicles on much of the trail though, so the weekday is better than the weekend. I’m worried what all the extra snow may have done to the trail.

I’m hoping with all the snow this year, Forrest Lake will be filled up to more than a puddle like years past.

Miller Hill is another good beginner’s trail.

I also like just staying on the main road, heading up over Pole Line Pass, down to DeerCreek campground and over to Cascade Springs and let kids run around there. Then to Midway for a meal.

 

[Jeepmojave85]

There are things to see west of Moab too. Look on the map and find Castle Dale and Green River- between them is the northern part of the San Rafael Swell. Instead of 191 you could drive the dirt roads through the swell- look up Buckhorn Draw. There are interesting side trips off of this road. Of you can go south of I-70 towards Hanksville and see lots of interesting things along there- San Rafael Reef, Goblin Valley, Mars overlook, even into Capitol Reef. You can overland from Capitol Reef back up to I-70.


I would advise not breaking down. All of the road from Grand Junction to Price or beyond is going to be fairly remote and if you get off the pavement you might be by yourself. There are parts of the San Rafael Swell that are infested with side by sides so you won't be alone there, and the popular trails around Moab can be busy, but the less popular routes might take you 5 miles from the nearest human. Cell coverage is very spotty so I always take a Garmin Inreach if I need to call for help.

Lol I’ll do my best not to break down. I’ll add all of this to my list.

I'm usually solo. If you break down you fix it. But preferably you do your maintenance so that doesn't happen and adjust your risk tolerance accordingly so you don't do something stupid.

Worst case scenario, radio or satellite emergency communication. Something every off-roader should have.

Good point, I admittedly have not thought about a satellite phone or anything. I am going to grab a new spare for my truck so I’m set there. Apple has satellite service now, so that’s a help I hadn’t considered yet. I just tested it, it does work.

Sponsored