Carl's Jeeping Trips

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Onion Creek

Rating: 2
This is a well maintained, graded road with multiple creek crossings. These crossings are what give this a rating of 2.

Location
This is northeast of Moab on Utah Highway 128.

Trailhead
The road is located on Utah Highway 128. It is 20 miles after you turn off of US 191 from the north side of Moab. GPS coordinates are 38°43'26.6"N 109°21'20.2"W (38.724054, -109.355616).

Description
This is an easy, well maintained road. it crosses Onion Creek multiple times. The scenery is great and makes the road worth every minute. If you have time, you can hike up the Onion Creek narrows to more fully enjoy the scenery.

Depending on weather, the difficulty can change drastically. In June 2015 there was a flash flood. Online I found reports where people had to wait about 3 hours for the water level to go down enough so they could drive out, and it still took 11-14 hours to get out because the road was badly damaged. I have not been on the road since the flood, and I don't know how long it will be before they repair the road.

GPS, map, and pictures coming soon!

Seven Mile Rim

Rating: 4
There are multiple ledges and torn-up climbs. This would be possible in a stock Wrangler, but it will require some work to get over some of the obstacles.

Location
This is located north of Moab.

Trailhead
The trail begins north of Moab. It is on US Highway 191. If you are traveling north, it is 0.6 miles after the intersection with Utah Highway 313 and is to the left. GPS coordinates are 38°40'47.0"N 109°41'30.7"W (38.679731, -109.691869).

Description
This trail starts and ends at the same location as the Buttes and Towers trail. The Buttes and Towers trail is easier and does not go onto the Rim. If you are looking for an easier trail, I suggest Buttes and Towers.

Once you are on the trail, the route is pretty well marked with signs at all the major intersections. Some of the signs are small and just say "7M," but they are easily seen and it isn't hard to follow.

This trail takes you along the 7 Mile Rim that overlooks Highway 191. You can also see arches in the distance. It has many great views and overlooks on the rim.

Most of the trail isn't very technical, but there are many small ledges and climbs to keep things interesting. Some of the climbs are loose and rocky, some of them are slick rock ledges. The variety of obstacles make this trail fun. This is a great trail for a vehicle with a lift and open differentials--you won't likely get stuck but it is still a challenge. I thought it was perfect for my XJ with 3" lift and 31" tires.

At the end of the rim you can stop and see Uranium Arch. This is a popular lunch spot since you can eat in the shade of the arch--there isn't much shade on the rest of the trail.

There is also popular lunch spot between the Monitor and Merimac buttes. These are massive buttes that you see during most of the trail. The road goes right between them, and there is a large and flat open slick rock area that also makes a great place to stop.

Download GPS file here! This file is from the Red Rock 4-Wheeler's site rr4w.com.

Download the GPS file that includes the gravel roads here (modified from Red Rock site).

Elephant Hill

Rating: 4

Depending on if it is torn up and the route you go, this could be done in a stock high clearance vehicle with some difficulty. Low range is necessary as there are many steps and short steep climbs. A stock Grand Cherokee (I believe it was the 1999-2004 body style) was behind us going over Elephant Hill and seemed to do well. A stock vehicle will likely take some work to get over a few of the obstacles.

Location

This is located in the Needles District of Canyonlands.

Trailhead

The road is well marked and there are signs directing you to the beginning of the trail. From the visitor center you travel 2.8 miles southwest down highway 211 to a left turn. 0.3 miles after the left turn you make a right turn. 0.2 miles after this turn you mike a right turn onto a well maintained dirt road. The GPS coordinates of the start of the dirt road are 38°09'00.5"N 109°48'02.7"W (38.150125, -109.800753). You follow this road for 2.7 miles. You come to a parking lot as many people park here and hike Elephant Hill. If you continue on the road it turns into Elephant Hill.

Description

This is a fun road that allows you to enjoy this portion of Canyonlands. The National Park Service does maintain this road, and you will notice holes have been filled with concrete to keep this acceptable to lightly modified vehicles. The beginning portion of Elephant hill is a short climb over a hill. There are many ledges, loose climbs, and tight switchbacks. One of them is tight enough that you actually travel in reverse through the length of one switchback because it is difficult to make the turn.

Once you go over Elephant Hill, there is a one-way loop that takes you through the area. There are multiple small obstacles and ledges to keep things interesting but most aren't difficult. There were a few areas I had to pick a different approach to make it up some of the obstacles.

One of the fun spots is called "The Sqeeze." This is a narrow channel through slick rock that you drive through. There is no way around. If you are in a large vehicle, take your time and make sure you have a spotter because it is easy to scrape your body on the rocks. There are many gashes left behind by the larger vehicles. We did take a Hummer through it (it was an H2), so if you are careful you can get through with a wide vehicle.

There is also an overlook to the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. It is a short hike with a great view at the end.

GPS and map coming soon!

This is Newspaper Rock, which is in a pull-out on the way to get to Elephant Hill.

I'm so proud of my wife!

I think it looks like my wife was having fun!

It was a TIGHT fit for the H2!

It was much easier for a TJ...

The confluence overlook is a great short hike!

We found this rock that was shaped like a chair, Molly loved it!

Monday, May 25, 2015

Lathrop Canyon

USE OF THIS ROAD REQUIRES A PERMIT FROM CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Rating: 3
In dry conditions, this is rated a 3. You need 4-wheel drive and low range due to a loose hill at the beginning that you have to come back up.

Location
This is in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. This is a spur off of the White Rim Trail.

Trailhead
To get to Lathrop Canyon you start from the Shafer Trail. The Shafer Trail starts 0.2 miles after the fee booth when you enter the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands. It is on your left as you enter the park. GPS coordinates are 38°28'17.4"N 109°48'41.3"W (38.471514, -109.811468).

After you go down the switchbacks you continue straight at the intersection at the bottom. Left takes you to the Potash Road and back to Moab. Straight is the beginning of the White Rim Trail.

You follow the White Rim Trail for about 11.3 miles from the Potash Road intersection. Lathrop Canyon is a left turn. The GPS coordinates of this turn are 38°24'01.5"N 109°47'39.6"W (38.400408, -109.794330).

Description
This is a fun trip that can give you an idea of what the White Rim Trail has to offer. This is a great way to see the scenery that the Island in the Sky has to offer.

The Shafer Trail switchbacks are well maintained and not difficult at all. The only reason I switched into low range was for gearing, but then it was a little too slow.

Once you get onto the White Rim Trail the road slowly becomes more rough. It isn't difficult, but low range is nice. There are some rough areas and rocky areas, but nothing technical.

About 3.1 miles from the Potash Road there is a short spur to an overlook. This is a great spot for pictures as you can drive your vehicle to the edge of the cliff (if your wife will let you).

0.2 miles after you pass the overlook (3.3 miles from the Potash Road intersection) Musselman Arch is on your left. It is a short hike (about 100 yards) to the arch. It is well worth the stop.

After Musselman Arch the road becomes more rough. There aren't any technical spots, but it does make the road a little more slow going. You continue to follow the rim for another 8 miles to get to Lathrop Canyon.

From here you drop down a steep hill off of the White Rim. You go through Lathrop Canyon all the way to the Colorado River. It is a short trip from the White Rim Trail to the river, about 4 miles. The first decent off of the rim is steep and loose. This isn't technical and any vehicle with 4-wheel drive and low range should be able to make it back up. If you have any concerns about making it back up then don't go down.

Once you reach the bottom of the steep decent there isn't many other difficulties. There are a few rocks you may have to maneuver around and a few small ledges you have to climb. Overall, the rest of the road is fairly easy and is actually a smoother road (and faster) than the White Rim Trail.

There is a pit toilet at the end of the trail, which my wife and sister-in-law greatly appreciated.

Here are the GPX and KML files from our trip. This is the entire trip through Shafer Trail, along part of the White Rim, and down Lathrop Canyon, then out the Potash Road. I appoligize that the route goes into Moab, I forgot to turn off my GPS and I was too lazy today to edit that portion out.

This is Mesa Arch. It isn't part of the White Rim or Lathrop Canyon, but I included it here because I like the picture. This is a short hike that you can take just past the Visitor's Center in the Island in the Sky.

This is an overlook from the Island in the Sky paved road.

Same overlook as the previous picture, but this one really shows the White Rim. If you look closely, you can see the White Rim Trail running along the edge.