Going on a cross country road trip over 4th of July and we're going to spend a day in Moab. Seems like a pretty big place with lots to see but I'll only be spending a day there. What are the "must do trails"? Or the best sights? My XJ is on 33s with long arms and an air locker in the front. Full armor all around and I'm an experienced driver. Thanks for the input!

 

I was there last year for the 4th....hotter then ****...must do, well shoot you can go for the well known like hells revenge or fins and things. I personally liked poison spider and gold bar rim. Do some research and you'll get an idea of what trails you would like. But these trails typically take awhile to do so you may only get 2 trails in.

 

Hell's Revenge. Ton of fun.

 

Cross country road trip, Need to be careful and conservative and save your rig.

Start early and do 'Chicken Corners'. Easy, simple mostly dirt road and well marked but will give you the most beautiful scenery. From Mcdonald's will take about 4 hours to end and back.

Then 'Fins and Things'. Gotta pay to get in. Well marked, mostly hardrock like a 'camel back' where you see the tire tracks on rock. Fun trail.

Then come back next year for more.

 

So far all the replies have been good.

I will however ask this question. Are you by yourself?

If so, that changes things drastically. Experienced driver or not, it is NOT the place to wheel the trails alone, especially in mid-summer.

Arches or Canyonlands is awesome for a simple day trip. Tons of traffic, beautiful scenery, not much hard wheeling, but if you get stranded that means quick help.

If you want to hit some trails away from regular traffic, Marty has some good suggestions, and alpine's suggestion of Hell's Revenge is good. Those are well travelled trails, and if you are by yourself, that means potential help if things go wrong.

My personal favorite trail is Cliff Hanger, but DO NOT run this trail alone.

Not trying to scare you, but do be aware, it is the middle of the desert, and is a harsh environment. People die out there all the time. Know your limits, go prepared, and have fun.

 

And there is NO cell service on the trails.

 

Thanks for the responses so far. I've heard a lot about Hell's Revenge and it looks like lots of fun. I'll have to check out the other suggestions.

I will be going as a solo rig (2 passengers) so I planned to stick to well traveled trails just in case something happens. I just installed a CB radio assuming there would be no cell phone service. I'll have spare parts with me including a driveshaft, tie rod, u-joints, and a hub bearing assembly along with extra fluids. Every time I've gone to a place to wheel alone, I always ask a group if I can tag along. I've been stranded before and it's no fun.

 

I had service everywhere I went? Verizon is what i have. Of course never bank on having service, but the times I have gone I have been good to go as far as reception.

 

Just for trail ratings-

Chicken Corners- 2- Country dirt road, light duty 4wd

Fins and Things- 4- lose rock, dirt, slickrock, steps no higher than 12", 4wd required, with good ground clearance and driver skill, aggressive tires and limited slip helpful.
This trail will tighten your sphincter in a few spots.

Hell's Revenge- 6-difficult, water to 12", steps not exceeding 24", 33"+ tires, traction devices required, winch a plus, enhanced suspension and ground clearance, excellant driver skill

This year at EJS we did all the 3s and 4s in XJ with 35" duratracs, lockers F+R, longarms, sliders and skids, 5" lift. We wheeled 'by ourselves' and had a Magellan TRX GPS and knew exactly where we were at all times. But we were 'by ourselves' no group or guide the whole time, and there were scattered others on the trails.

Getting lost like we did the year before really sucked and was scary and dangerous.

Be smart, wheel safe. You probably have much of your cross country trip to go.

 

Hey Marty are you rating hells revenge a 6 or you getting that from end? I honestly don't think it's too hard. I did it on 31s and no lockers.

 

I was going to say, all my friends that have done Hells Revenge have open differentials and said it wasn't a huge issue. A few spots where you need to carry momentum to get up the rocks but no biggie

Lift + big tires + airing down definitely helps though

EDIT:
Here is the majority of the fun stuff

 

Most of the harder obstacles on HR have bypasses. It really is kind of a mild trail.

Here's a link to the dirtopia page...kinda surprised me that half of the trails there have no info...

http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/Moab

...and a link to an article in Jp magazine

http://www.fourwheeler.com/project-v...rails-in-moab/

 

Right from EJS Red Rock 4-Wheelers rating.

I did notice that if a trail has 1 tough spot, which usually has a bypass, the whole trail will get the 'higher' rating even though 95% of the same trail is easier.
And like every trail, there are easier lines and tougher lines.
Even the easier trails would have one or two fun spots and we would go up and then back down, up again and take the tougher line, even reverse up it.
And airing down to 20-25psi makes a big difference.

Verses here locally for me like at Rausch Creek, if a trail is Black or Red, the whole trail is Black or Red not just a small portion.

 

a good beginners package is 7 mile rim, chicken corners/Hurrah pass, Fins, dome plateau, baby lions and Hells with the bypasses. drop your tire pressures to about 12 -15 PSI, only use 4LO when you really need to. The traction on the sandstone is unreal. have a good spotter, dont go alone, Go to the Pizza joint down town, go to the brewery. Get the Book and GPS card. The grocery store(city market) is spendy but good, grab groceries in Grand JUnction if you plan to camp and then get perishables in Moab. Mavrick has great breakfast burritos and coffee. I stayed at Kens lake in a tent and drove in to town every day. If you wish to tour arches NP or Canyonlands....get there before 7am, seriously. as soon as the parks open, they get over run with people.

 

This has been really helpful, thanks guys! Now just to get the jeep prepared for the trek.