Road Trip Advise (Utah)

Hey All,

I will be doing a road trip from CA to Utah, leaving this Sunday and would love some recommendations on routes, places to see, things to eat, etc. I'm looking for isolation and "primitave" camping locations, preferably near streams / lakes so I can fish, swim, etc.

As of now, the general plan is as follows:

- Head through Reno and into Nevada. Probably stay a day or so in Nevada and checkout the Pyramid Lake, Black Rock / High Rock Canyon area.
- Drive through Salt Lake and Park City and head into the Uintas. I'd like to spend a few days here at least.
- Make our way south to see Grand Staircase and Zion National Park (Preferably these would be day trips and we'd camp somewhere outside the actual park...from the reading I've done the grounds are packed and crowded all summer...)

We have 10 - 12 days to play with.

The vehicle is a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. 2 inch lift running 265/75/16 Toyo RT tires. Sliders but no other non-stock protection. Just added a shell and Tepui RTT which my wife and I are pretty excited to break-in. We're traveling alone so mild to moderate trails would be best.

So, with that little bit of info...any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

IMO, 50 through NV is better than 80 unless you are in a hurry.

Wheeler Peak/Great Basin NP is a great place to camp if you take 50. Berlin Ichthyosaur state park is great too (fossils and a ghost town but no fishing that I'm aware of). Cave Lake state park is a nice spot to camp if you want to fish/swim

If you're on 80 the Ruby Mtns are a nice option for camping and there are plenty of streams for fishing.

Depending on what time of year the playa/black rock can be busy (I'd avoid it during the weeks leading up to Burning Man and for a few weeks after). In the spring and fall it gets muddy and its not somewhere you'd like to get stuck since it could take a while for someone to come along to help.

 

I would highly recommend going through Zion national park. Its pretty spectacular.