Forum Discussion

SuperBus's avatar
SuperBus
Nomad
Oct 29, 2023
Solved

Utah's Big Five & Off-roading - Vehicles other than a Jeep?

An interesting facet of the "Big Five" is the option for off-roading. My trusty guidebook points out a few of the park roads such as Burr Trail Road in Capital Reef and Shafer Trail Road in Canyonlands. It does refer to these roads as requiring a "high clearance 4WD" vehicle and uses a Jeep looking vehicle as an icon. We travel towing our short wheelbase Ford Expedition (4x4, with Hi/Lo on the t-case, skid plates). For anyone who has traveled these park roads/trails, are they passable in something other than a true Jeep, such as our toad? Ground clearance is comparable between the two vehicles, believe or not, but the big difference is in approach and departure angles, a Jeep clearly being superior. Are there a lot of obstacles which need to be driven over? Thanks!
Roads and Routes
  • Carl_n_Susan's avatar
    Carl_n_Susan
    Nov 18, 2023

    Two of us did the Schafer Trail going downhill. I used my F350 CC longbed and my buddy used his F450 CC longbed. Other than I had to make a 3 point turn on one corner (the F450 has a much netter turning radius), there were no problems / Low range just for the ease of decent and both had plenty of clearance.  No major ditches or washes to cross, so no issue with vehicle overhang. 

  • Carl_n_Susan's avatar
    Carl_n_Susan
    Nomad II
    Nov 18, 2023

    Two of us did the Schafer Trail going downhill. I used my F350 CC longbed and my buddy used his F450 CC longbed. Other than I had to make a 3 point turn on one corner (the F450 has a much netter turning radius), there were no problems / Low range just for the ease of decent and both had plenty of clearance.  No major ditches or washes to cross, so no issue with vehicle overhang. 

  • profdant139's avatar
    profdant139
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2023
    No matter what truck you have, don't go if the roads are wet -- they get very slick. There is a lot of bentonite clay. Nasty stuff.
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2023
    I did the Shafer years ago in a S10 pickup - going up. No need for low range. Nor do I recall any special ground clearance issues. On the return drive I took Long Canyon down, and appreciated the low range braking. But I also drove Long down in a SUV using only brakes.

    I also intended to take Burr in that SUV, but that was right after a major storm, and the stream crossing at Bullfrog was mud covered. Made the loop around through Capital Reef. I'd just camped at Hall's Crossing, and taken the ferry across. But last I read, that ferry wasn't running because Lake Powell was too low.
  • Ro_n_Joe's avatar
    Ro_n_Joe
    Explorer II
    Oct 29, 2023
    Your Expedition will be fine on Shafer's Trail. We did it in our Grand Cherokee and highly recommend taking it. Also suggest starting up from Moab. Sorry...didn't do Burr Trail.
  • Tinyandthegang's avatar
    Tinyandthegang
    Explorer
    Oct 29, 2023
    Both of those roads can be easily traveled in any vehicle with some ground clearance. They are both just gravel roads.

About Bucket List Trips

13,487 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 18, 2025