Memorial day weekend in Moab

I'm heading out to Moab this weekend with the new . We'll be there Thursday night through Tuesday and I plan on spending most of my time there north of town kind of near the secret spire area. Anyone have some suggestions for some semi low consequence trails I can get my feet wet with and learn and get comfortable off-roading with my manual transmission?

 

If you have time, consider the Shafer Trail followed by Fins and Things.

Shafer will treat you to some beautiful views of Canyonlands as you go up the switchbacks and is akin to a fire road in difficulty: should be slightly easier than Secret Spire. As a plus, if you enter from 279 (from the bottom) it’ll spit you out on 313.
Fins and Things will get you on ledges and slickrock with steep approach/departures. It’s a fun trail a bit harder than Secret Spire: while a spotter and a hitch will help it’s fine stock.

Slickrock (without sand) will give you all the traction you want, but you’ll want to use 4-low while moving slow to save your clutch.

 

Just remember with a manual especially, 4lo is your friend. You can burn your clutch out easily offroading in 4hi when you should really be in 4low.

Automatics are far more forgiving in that regard

 

@MuddySquirrel and @eon_blue Thank you for the advice! I'll definitely check out Shafer trail before I head too far down Secret Spire! The camp spot I have in mind is before anything gets too technical (from what I recall, it has been a few years since I was there last) so hopefully I should be good!

 

I'm in Moab now.

For low consequences, similar to Schafer, I'd also suggest Long Canyon Trail as well as monitor and Merrimack trail. Both are 4x4 trails without anything super hairy. Long canyon has one section near the top that is a little bit of a rocky climb. M&M is mostly Sandy washes and pretty minor rocks.

 

@sooner07 Thanks! I'll try and check those out as well!

 

How did it go?

 

@sooner07 It went great! Was only able to do Shafer's Trail and Secret Spire, as we were tent camping and got winded out on sunday, but it was a blast! Busted my receiver on a small drop on SS but nothing too bad. I'll try and get some pictures posted later today!

 

Here are some pictures I promised!!

 

I know that exact spot on Shafer. Cool views down into the Colorado from there.

 

Yeah it was gorgeous!! Those desert views will never cease to amaze me!