Fall Expedition Trip: 11-19 Sept, 2021 - Elephant Hill to Moab Tour

Destination: Needles(Elephant Hill) then Moab

Working on full edit. Permits became an issue getting them because of group size. Itinerary changed.

11 Sept - Editing

12 Sept - Move towards Needles district, BLM land camping. (Within 2ish hours of entrance.)

13 Sept - Enter Needles District in AM. Elephant hill, explore make way to Camp at Bobby Jo 1+2. (This is an HARD DATE TIME. If your not with the group at the entrance you'll have to wait until we return to join the group.)

14 Sept - Exit Needles via Elephant hill. Make way towards Moab, BLM camp. Lockhart Basin Road Which may take us 2 days to traverse. Which will put us into Hurrah Pass and some cool spots. The End of Lockhart Basin road will have a difficult section. Its known as one as the "Tough Mile" Here is a video link to Trails Offroad doing the section. We will be coming in from the opposite direction though. https://youtu.be/wCzxdJWg_cI

15 Sept - Finish Lockhart Basin road or already be done and in a camp in some BLM land near Top of the World, or closer to Moab city. Can take the day to check out Moab city, get a shower in at one of the RV resorts that sell public shower access. Depending on time of day, possibly Top of the World this day. Being up there for sunset would be cool as hell. Plus, make the journey down a lil more "interesting in the dark"
15-18th - We gonna be in Moab. We can flex and do trails as wanted when we want.

19th Sept - Sadly, head home.

The only day that will be a hard we need to get moving day is the 13th to get into CanyonLands for our permit. Otherwise, its when we roll. However, it will be hot during the day. So, I figure, suns up at 0700 pretty much every day. Best guess, we'll be moving by 0900 the latest.
However, which ever day we want to do Hells Revenge, getting there the earlier the better. Gates open at 0700. It gets packed quickly with SXS rentals and tours.
.

Minimum Requirements:

• 4x4 only.
• Better than stock tires; 33"+ preferred.
• Skids, sliders. Can limit you on trails to run or high risk damage.
• Full self sustainability. Water, Food, Gas, etc. Plan to be self sufficient for up to 4days or more.
• Full size matching spare.
• Recovery Gear.
• Tools for your specific truck, plus spares. (1st Gen Tacoma/3rd Gen 4runner LBJ and bolts plus brake line and fluid; have em if this applies.)
• Comms: GMRS

Who's going?
@Sixthelement - Yes
@MR E30 - Yes
@PcBuilder14 - Yes
@chrslefty - Yes
@TailHook - Maybe?
Limited to 6 Trucks

 

Some friends and I were shooting for a Moab trip this Fall. None of us have ever been.

I’d be concerned that September/October might be pushing it for Colorado.

 

Who is us and how do I join that group?

I'm in Florida and went to wind rock this past fall everyone else I meant though was significantly more local. I had a real good time even trail damage and bushings exploding considered.

Want to get on more trips, in fact I wouldn't even mind going out west on a trip, and I think @pdaddy might be interested too.

 

Will, this is exciting stuff for sure.

The White Rim Trail appears to be exciting after reading about it, but definitely not a 7 day trail (some people make it 4 days it appears), as it's only 100 miles long. What else would you plan on doing in that time? This option is my top choice at the moment, just curious how we would spend the time.

 

Just depends on the weather. How soon the snow comes in. If Colorado is picked then the dates will be more focused on Sept than Oct. As the passes usually get closed around Halloween time frame.

 

Can easily spend the extra time in southern canyonlands. Elephant hill trail is a good one. Or if people want to do some trails in Moab proper that’s doable. Hells revenge is a day. Top of the world is a day. Type deals.

 

Also out of 7 days, two will be dedicated to travel. Leaving 5 days. Which should be plenty for White rim and taking time. Not rushing it. Extra exploration around it. Extra time stopping in Moab along the way.
Contingency day for any issues

 

I’d gladly join for any of the 3 to be honest. All of them are trips on my bucket list, except for Elephant Hill since I’ve been lucky enough to do that one before (will gladly do it again). Only voted for Moab because of the other local guys around me that wanted to try to go to Moab this Fall.

 

@Sixthelement Thank you for that info. I voted for Canyonlands then. I'm due for a slower, take it all in, sort of trip. Especially since reviews state that they ran into only a few other travelers.

@PcBuilder14 hope you can make it on this one. Been interested in meeting you since reading a turbodb thread (to Elephant Hill IIRC) that you were a part of. Plus, GFC is #drool.

 

Hoping I can too! I’m well overdue for a good off road trip. Always nice to put faces to usernames haha

Your description of White Rim trail is what I’ve heard too, which makes it pretty tempting.

 

Looking up permits and such for Canyonlands. White rim falls under the Island in the Sky district.
How Does the Quota Work for this Permit?
To minimize the impact on park resources, group sizes and number of vehicles (includes motorcycles and trailers) are limited.

Island in the Sky

• Vehicle campsites: 15 people, 3 vehicles
• Backpack: 7 people

Seems if the group is large enough, we would have to go the the Maze section.

Maze

• Vehicle campsites: 9 people, 3 vehicles; Flint Seep group campsite: 16 people, 5 vehicles
• Backpack: 5 people

 

Hey All, New-ish to AZ. I am from Colorado and grew up wheeling there. I wouldn't plan on running black bear much after about the 1st week in September. We ran it a couple years back the last weekend in August and it started snowing on us when we hit the 2nd from last switchback. It was fine as we ran it a couple years before in the rain but the snow came in hard and heavy and I wouldn't want to plan an entire trip around that area an NOT run black bear.

 

Yea, last year we were there the last week of September. No snow, but I know about a week after they closed it then the rest of the passes closed shortly after.
So far the vote is leading elsewhere. So, we'll see.

 

So, to clarify, this restricts the number of vehicles that can camp each night at specific sites? Which effectively limits your group size during the day?

If so, 3 vehicles may be exceeded with ease, as you are definitely going and I am definitely going.

 

I'd love to do any of these but I don't think I can swing it this year.

 

Count me in for this trip, just make sure it's not on a drill weekend.

 

Or break up the camping into two groups.

 

Once this vote is voted on. I’ll change it to picking dates.

 

I will say, if we do end up going with a slower travel schedule, meaning more time at camp, I'll do up some of my favorite glamping meals, including wood fired pizzas.

Sharing a meal is almost always a good time.

 

I would love to do the white rim ,maze ,elephant hill ect. Depending on the dates id like to go also.