Moab & Southern CO Trip 05/24 - 06/2

Looking for recommendations or offroading companions!

Here's the trip:

5/24-5/25 - Driving, stops in Dallas and Walsenburg, CO
5/26 - Great Sand Dunes NP
5/27 Alpine Loop (if weather permitting)
5/28-5/30 Moab - Arches, Canyonlands, Sand Flats, etc.
5/31 - Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods
6/1-6/2 ~24hr drive home with stops in Albuquerque and Dallas

I'm looking for any sort of recommendations (trails, campsites, restaurants, etc.) and I'm also making this post to see if anybody else wants to meet up and ride. We live in AL so this is a big trip for us, lol

Planning to do The Alpine Loop in CO, Fins & Things, Chicken Corners, and a couple others in Moab, and Valley of the Gods on thew way to Monument Valley. (2.5" on 33s)

 

The road from the Sand Dunes NP to Medano Pass is a FSR if it's dry. I was there Memorial Day 2023 weekend and it was extremely wet and crowded. The last mile to Medano was a huge muck pit and impassable for most. And please keep to the road, I saw way too many vehicles going around obstacles they could not clean. Keep an eye on the weather history.

 

If you wanted to keep it off road you could look in to Moab to Montrose via Rim Rocker Trail...it's not really technical, but the views are nice.

 

Hi! I used to live in Moab. I wasn’t huge into the wheeling scene while I lived there but I can give you some recommendations on the other things you asked about!

So as far as food goes, if you’re driving in from the north, I’d highly recommend a quick detour to Green River if you like Mexican food. Tacos La Pasadita doesn’t look like much, it’s just a food truck parked at a decommissioned gas station but has AMAZING food. In Moab, higher end options include the Sunset Grill (up on a hill, awesome views of the Rim) or Desert Bistro. Thai Bella is excellent. Zax has decent Americana with a nice atmosphere and Spitfire does good barbecue with a nice bar indoor or outdoor. The Moab Brewery has decent beer but I never cared for the food. The Moab Diner is surprisingly good if you like that vibe and has great ice cream. For breakfast check out Sweet Cravings (mostly handhelds and bakery with a Mexican flair), Moab Garage Co, or Love Muffin. AVOID Canyon Pizza Co, Antica Forma is a better option.

Campsites will depend on the economy in May. It’s a busy time for domestic spring break travelers. That being said last year town was dead even in early May. I’d recommend figuring out your accommodations WAY ahead of time. There are great campsites all along River Road (128) both east and west of town and a few small spots down Kane Creek road (usually occupied by climbers). There’s boondocking out to the east on River Road near the top of the world area but it can be hard to find. To the north the closest option is Utahraptor state park (formerly Willow springs and free, now $15-30ish a night). It’s always crowded AF and full of dirtbags. If you’re looking to boondock stay north of town, anywhere from Fallen Peace Officer trail to north Klondike - there are slick rock areas on BLM or state land suitable for camping. To the south you could head up into the La Sals depending on snow conditions - I really enjoy Warner Lake. A closer option to the south not up in the mountains is Kens Lake, with the benefit of being near the lake, the La Sal loop road and having the Steel Bender trail nearby. The sites in the mountains are mostly pay sites but there’s primitive as well if you’re willing to look. Kens Lake is a pay site and might be busy that time of year.

Other advice, if you want to go to Arches, reserve ahead of time if you want to get in and go early if you want to avoid a 2 hour wait in line. Main Street (191) is always busy and most traffic lights can be avoided by bypassing to the west using 500 W and Kane Creek road. Showers can be had at the Lazy Lizard (south side, kinda dirty, cheaper) or the Moab Aquatic Center (north side, really nice, more expensive).

If you’re a hiker or want to get into the canyons I can give you some good recommendations for those too! Hope this helps.

 

Moab to Gateway is a fun 4WD. Gateway to Montrose can be done in a passenger car.

 

I agree, and since you're going to telluride anyway I would suggest when you hit highway 141 just turning a right and its not that far to telluride

 

Thank you for the input! I've heard differing opinions about it online, so I'm not 100% we will take it. Will have to watch weather

 

I've been doing a little research this morning and the Gateway - Moab section definitely sounds like it's my speed. Thank you and @Springsboy for the input!

 

Thank you for the input! My wife is normally the one to pick restaurants/bars so I've sent her a screenshot of your post.

Regarding the campsites - we will be using a ground tent, and we aren't that picky as long as there's somewhere nearby to shower. I'll be lookign up those you gave recommended. There's nothing I hate more then going to bed without a shower lol.

 

You bet! Any other questions feel free to DM me, I don’t know everything but I know a fair amount. There’s a couple campgrounds with showers (KOA comes to mind), otherwise the public facilities I mentioned. Hope you have a great trip!

 

medano pass is the main trail from the sand dunes. as others said, its hit or miss in may depending on weather and snow pack.

hermit pass is just north on the east side of the sangre de cristos. its an out and back, not terribly difficult. i took my stock tacoma up there as my first off road trail, but it was more of a rocky, bumpy forest road. it got tight in spots, but the tacoma handled it much more than i did. a number of camping spots up there too, just not too close to the start of the trail.

 

You may wanna think twice about Kane Creek. Top of the world will be easier.

 

Can attest to Kane Creek being hard, I used to guide canyons and it was always seriously built rigs back there. It’s known in town for being difficult. But I wasn’t really into the wheeling scene so take what I have to say with a grain of salt

 

Whats your plans for telluride? Imogene or Ophir, or?

 

You're definitely right. I think I had gotten Kane Creek mixed up with another trail. I've been referencing Red Rock 4-Wheeler's website and I'm gonna stay away from anything rated higher than a 5. Having just recently paid off my Taco and not having sliders or skids I'd like to keep body damage to a couple scratches at most.

 

I think we may actually be 86ing Telluride. Going to go Great Sand Dunes -> Black Canyon NP -> straight to Moab

 

I just read your build thread (nice rig btw)...you mentioned in one of your posts on that thread your trip route, I was thinking you were starting in moab and heading to colorado but I see its the other way around. Looking at your plans, I would give my recommendation just as something to think about: after leaving the dunes, I would skip the black canyon and turn off at Lake City and take part of the Alpine Loop, to Animas Forks, out Huricane Pass / Ironton, go through Ouray and turn at Ridgeway to access the Rim Rocker off of Highway 141. It would be a shame to come all the way to Colorado and miss the best parts of it imho.

 

Thanks! Just from a couple brief google searches on the places you mentioned - that's definitely something I will have to consider. Alpine Loop looks very cool

Would you say Black Canyon is rather lackluster? Or is it still worth the stop?

One of the main items on my bucket list is to visit all 63 US National Parks. I'm 23 and I've currently been to 11, and will be adding either 4 or 5 this trip. I'd hate to drive so close to one and not stop in for at least a few hours to be able to check it off my list.

 

The Black Canyon is totally worth going to. I say that as long as you understand what it is...a one way in/out paved road that you will spend about a hour exploring...if you are going to do that then you will want to include the National Monument in Grand Junction also.

 

CO National Monument is amazing, better than Black Canyon IMHO. Great hiking. Take CO 141 North from Gateway to Grand Junction and then a bit west to CO National Monument. If you are into mtn biking Fruita (north of CO National Monument) is world class.