Moab and vicinity

4runnerguy wrote:
We ran across a large gathering of Scamps or Casitas up at Horsethief CG last fall. Might have been 20+ in the CG.

Horsethief will be one of our stops. I think some of the folks on this trip may have been part of that group.

If you see a NC tagged Tacoma with a 19' Scamp and an old, fat, white headed guy hanging around a good looking younger gal, that would be me. Drop by and chat for a bit.


Al

huachuca wrote:
We'll be part of a group of sixteen molded fiberglass campers (Scamps, Casitas, Escapes, Olivers etc.) that will be exploring public lands in southern Utah for three plus weeks in May.

We ran across a large gathering of Scamps or Casitas up at Horsethief CG last fall. Might have been 20+ in the CG.

We'll be part of a group of sixteen molded fiberglass campers (Scamps, Casitas, Escapes, Olivers etc.) that will be exploring public lands in southern Utah for three plus weeks in May. The plans are to spend most of the time hiking and/or driving rather than the campground centered activities of most rallies. Hopefully, I'll have some good suggestions for you by June.

Thanks for the thread and for the advice of those who've responded so far.

We have been to Moab about 6 times over the past 6 years and never run out of things to do. Just getting to some areas like the sections of Canyonlands will take time. The Valley of the Gods and Moki Dugway are not really near Moab--try staying closer in Bluff--it is about 120 miles south of Moab. Enjoy the scenery.

Keep in mind that for November you'll have an 'average' temperature of 60 for days and 35 for nights. Dress for it!

If you don't have 4-wheeling experience be honest with the rental agency so they can guide you to doing the correct runs. In November there won't be a lot of wheelers on the trails to help you.

If you have extra time you could go down to Monument Valley for a tour if you've never been there. The park has a lodge and there's also one at Gouldings just outside the park. If returning to Salt Lake City - from Monument Valley either head to Page, AZ and then to Zion Nat'l Park then to I-15 north to Salt Lake. Or...from Monument Valley head north again a short distance to Blanding and take 95 to 24 to Torrey (Capitol Reef Nat'l Park) and take Hwy 12 to (Bryce Nat'l Park) to 89 north to Salt Lake. Of course, you won't have time to really explore those extra parks but a drive-through will entice you to come back for more! Have a good trip!!

I've heard the La Sal Loop Road is great for a relaxing drive. I'm doing this next time.

Between Price and Moab is the San Rafael Swell and the Green River Desert you could easily spend a week there

These websites certainly aren't the cats meow for each location but give general idea a quick search will reveal more you could link several of these togethor on the way down

Rochester Creek Panel
https://www.roadtripryan.com/go/t/utah/san-rafael-swell/rochester

Buckhorn was panel
http://www.utahoutside.com/2012/05/explore-buckhorn-wash-in-the-san-rafael-swell/

head of sinbad panel one of my favorites
http://www.sanrafaelcountry.com/san-rafael-swell-head-of-sinbad.html
on this website there is a maps section that may be helpful for several of these sites

swaseys cabin
http://www.sanrafaelcountry.com/san-rafael-swell-swaseys-cabin.html

black dragon canyon
http://www.sanrafaelcountry.com/san-rafael-swell-black-dragon-wash-rock-art.html

Great Gallery this is one of the best in the world a bit out of the way but imho worth it
http://www.hikingwalking.com/destinations/ut/ut_se/canyonlands/horseshoe_canyon/horseshoe_canyon_detail

In Arches National Park make sure and due the primitive loop hike at the end of Devils Garden as well as Delicate Arch not sure how much you hike but we can do both in the same day as well as see the other main points in the park
https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/upload/ARCHmap.pdf

Canyonlands National Park
Island In the Sky Mesa Arch, Shafer Trail for the ride back to Moab
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/maps.htm

Dead Horse Point on the way to Island in the sky anytime great sunrise, sunset super great, night sky if clear awesome
https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse/

Needles District
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/needles.htm

Hike to Druid Arch, going through Chessler Park, return through the Joint and Devils Kitchen long day but so great. You can cut substantially by looking at map and turning around or taking variations back to trail head if you hike this is stuff you don't want to miss
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/maps.htm

Gemini Bridges, Utah 128 through Fischer Valley, Las Sal Mountain Loop Road the list is endless out there

Best breakfast in town is at the Moab Diner

Thanks all for your suggestions! I had talked to the Moab travel bureau and they indicated September and October are very busy, which is why we chose early Novemver.

We know we won't see everything, and we'll be back again when we have more time. I just hate to miss out Simply waiting until we have more time.

4runnerguy, I'm looking forward to the Moab brewery already!

Again, I appreciate everyone's suggestions, keep them coming!

Hey, six days there is better than a lot of people do. We always joke about the people we see with a camera hanging out the window, taking a video. We call it the six NP's in five days tour. ;) When they get home, they can look at the videos and see what they should have seen when they were there.

From SLC, I'd head right down to Moab and spend your time there.

The biggest limitation in November in the short days. We have been out there for several Thanksgivings and sometimes we have to hit the trail when it's still pretty cool in the morning as the sun sets so early.

If you like hiking, I'd plan on two full days in Arches. Just hiking to the major arches like those in the windows section and Sand Dune and Broken Arch takes some time. Head up to Delicate Arch near sutset for great pictures. If you have the stamina, hike the trail out of Devils Garden. Lots of arches along the trail and the side trails. Return via the primative trail.

Definitely do a tour of the Island in the Sky at Canyonlands. There are some shorter hikes up there, but nothing major. Mesa Arch and Aztec Butte are sdcenic and interesting. At the end, Grandview Point is another sunset picture opportunity.

I don't know how much 4x4 experience you have, so the will determine what to try. One reasonablly non-technical route we love is the White Rim Trail around Island in the Sky. The White Rim is nearly 2000' lower than the Island in the Sky. Several short trails off of it. It will take most of a day to do it, so start early. The hardest part are the approaches to Murphy Hogback but any decent jeep can handle it. I've always dropped in on Shafer Trail and done the loop clockwise, but if you go down Mineral Bottom first, you can exit via the Potash Road which eventually parallels the Colorado River. There are some interesting petroglyphs on the walls alongside the road when you're eight or so miles below Potash.

Don't miss the drive up river along UT 128. The hike out to Fisher Towers is interesting. That time of year you might have the trail to yourselves.

Plenty of rooms available in November as the crowds have thinned. One interesting place we have stayed a couple of times is the Inca Inn. Funky might best describe it. Bathroom tile is from the 50's but it is clean. Rates quite high on TripAdvisor, but I think it's because it is quaint. Most of the big motel chains have places there.

For restaurants, we like the Moab Brewery. (Or is that because of the beer?) Pasta Jays has outdoor seating, and even in the fall, they have plastic windows they roll down to keep the heat in. If you're hungry, Zax's has a pizza/salad buffet. The Blu Pig looks interesting but we haven't been there yet.

If you have a shopping card from one of the Kroger affiliated stores, you can use it at City Market for gasoline. Generally the best prices in town.

6 days is better than none. 2 weeks is what you at LEAST want. So beautiful there.