Moab - Easy/moderate trails that don't involve shelf road?

[MoabRox]

Some additional recommendations:
3-D, Crystal Geyser and Dome Plateau.

There's also a network of mild trails north of Arches. There's an interesting/scenic route that starts out in the Klondike Bluffs area and ties into the Dome Plateau trail.

I also highly recommend the Tower Arch/Eye of the Whale trail in Arches.

Sounds like a great week.

Sponsored

 

[Scott M]

……and by night I took the other stuff (Shafer, Long Canyon, etc.). Beautiful and different experience Moab at night, it draws the attention of the passengers away from really how steep/deep the drop offs are. Just don’t take them back by day if they want to repeat offend…….

We did a similar thing last year - watched the sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park then headed down Long Canyon in the dark. Was a cool experience at night with the canyon walls on either side- ominous, almost claustrophobic feeling!
Took a similar photo too:

Dead Horse Point:

I love Moab, you really can't go wrong there.

Another thing we did which amazed us, was driving into Castle Valley on La Sal Mountain Loop Rd. around sunset. It's a paved road, but it was jaw dropping scenery the whole way.

 

[Scott R Nelson]

How about the White Rim Trail? It's 100 miles total and can be done easily in ten hours.

It's fairly easy to stay away from "heights" on most of it.

 

[broadicustomworks]

How about the White Rim Trail? It's 100 miles total and can be done easily in ten hours.

It's fairly easy to stay away from "heights" on most of it.

That was a suggestion I almost put out there.
Come in via Potash Rd. to avoid the switchbacks/heights.
To avoid the switchback climb back out on either end, maybe turn around sometime after Murphy campsites and come back out the same way you came in via Potash.
That "last half" is a bit more high/challenging for sure (compared to the 1st half) with the Hardscrabble Hill portion.
First half is easy-peezy soaking in the views.
OP would need to get the access pass to get on WR for the day, overnight camping permit if desirable.

To me, personally, any trip to Moab leaves something to be desired if people don't drive WR and get away from everyone and everything for a day or two.
It's amazing out there.

 

[Scott R Nelson]

OP would need to get the access pass to get on WR for the day, overnight camping permit if desirable.

If you go to the Island In The Sky visitor center, which is very close to where Shafer Canyon Road starts, they'll give you an access pass for free. I found that easier than getting one online. I was waiting outside the door when they opened, quickly got my pass, and hit the trail.

You need the pass, or if you meet a ranger on the trail anywhere you'll be sent back out. My first trip on the White Rim trail, nobody checked. The second time someone checked. Assume you'll have the pass checked.

 

[DefNotBuddyLee]

There is a lot of great advice, but I have now realized we have left out another option.

THIS DOCUMENTARY has another option available in dealing with your wife's fear of heights.

 

[stampede1]

In addition to the aforementioned Funtreks guide, you should contact the Red Rock Four Wheelers club. I did that before going to Moab recently because several trails were closed by BLM and I wanted to avoid the closures and not find out spontaneously that closures would create access problems. The club could not have been more helpful, they are a class act and I am sure would help you too. They have the lay of the land like very few others. You might also ask the instructors at Off Roadeo too. A word of advice, tread lightly on the trail, observing responsible guest etiquette and in town as well. Moab gets more and more visitors all the time and they truly appreciate the folks that respect their community. Good luck, and we expect photos of your trip!

 

[crenca]

Thank you so much everyone! Funtreks book is in hand now, already an OnX subscriber and will leverage the TrailsOffApp as well while I'm there for its detail of the Moab area.

With this list I will have plenty to choose from:

• Fins-N-Things
• Arches: (Back way into/Willow Springs) - Tower Arch, the high-clearance trail to Eye of the Whale (Arches)
• north of Arches: Klondike Bluffs and trail that ties into Dome Plateau
• Onion Creek
• Secret spire
• Dellenbaugh Tunnel
• Gemini Bridges (avoid the entrance/exit from 191)
• Tusher Tunnel
• Dome Plateau
• Secret Spire
• Dubinky Well
• La Sal Loop
• Castleton Tower
• 3-D
• Crystal Geyser
• White Rim (depending on area and access)
• White Wash Sand Dunes rec area (though 1.5 hours away)
• La Sal Mountain Loop Rd (paved - great views)

 

[Pseudoko]

Hurrah Pass. Very easy and beautiful views. It’s the first half of the drive to chicken corners.

haha we ate lunch at that spot … just up to the right closer to the edge.

 

[rmonticello]

Back way into the Arches was my wife's favorite. She was also fine with Fins and Things. Divorce and threats occured on Hells Gate.

I second this! I think it's the ten mile trail that takes you to the tower arch.... Much nicer hike and you can get some really awesome pictures because there aren't nearly as many people compared to the delicate arch.

 

[Felix808]

OnX app has ratings and trails rated 3-9

https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/blog/moab-off-road-trails

"Cliffhanger" is the scariest thing I have seen, glad Top Gear did it so I don't have to. I hope to do some of those moderate trails too later this spring.

You are missing out. But yes a lot of good suggestion such as Gemini bridges, Fins & things, Long Canyon, Bull Canyon, Four Arches Canyon Top of the World. As mentioned get the FunTreks Moab Bible

Cliffhanger is definitely not a trail that you want to take your wife on. That said, the presenter/driver from Top Gear is an excellent driver on pavement, just not at all on technical trails like Cliffhanger. He certainly did not drive it smoothly or expertly, and so, he made it look way worse that it is is. I would have like to have seen the Jeep representative's face when he returned the vehicle back to him!

Yep, my wife won't run that again. Had send her on a shopping spree last year for which I still don't want to know what that cost me but it was worth it to run it again

 

[AZ_Craig]

If you go to the Island In The Sky visitor center, which is very close to where Shafer Canyon Road starts, they'll give you an access pass for free. I found that easier than getting one online. I was waiting outside the door when they opened, quickly got my pass, and hit the trail.

You need the pass, or if you meet a ranger on the trail anywhere you'll be sent back out. My first trip on the White Rim trail, nobody checked. The second time someone checked. Assume you'll have the pass checked.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think you're allowed past Musselman Arch in theory with a day pass (basically given out to do a round trip to that point and turn around). In theory you need an overnight permit with camping booked to go beyond that point.

No idea how much it would be enforced, but based on the NPS posting about cracking down on people taking Subaru Crosstreks into trails like the Colorado River Overlook, I'd be a bit nervous as you could get a hefty fine.

 

[Scott R Nelson]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think you're allowed past Musselman Arch in theory with a day pass (basically given out to do a round trip to that point and turn around). In theory you need an overnight permit with camping booked to go beyond that point.

No idea how much it would be enforced, but based on the NPS posting about cracking down on people taking Subaru Crosstreks into trails like the Colorado River Overlook, I'd be a bit nervous as you could get a hefty fine.

Yeah, wrong. I have discussed it with rangers there and all you need is a normal day pass to do the White Rim Trail all the way through.

You are also supposed to have a high clearance vehicle with low range, which no Subaru qualifies for.

 

[AZ_Craig]

Yeah, wrong. I have discussed it with rangers there and all you need is a normal day pass to do the White Rim Trail all the way through.

You are also supposed to have a high clearance vehicle with low range, which no Subaru qualifies for.

Yes, don't see anything on their website about day permits not allowing full transit. I may be thinking back to before they were using day permits and perhaps at that point they were not recommending going past Musselman Arch without one (since obviously it's a pretty big drive back at that point and folks probably get in over their head in there periodically).

We did White Rim with 2 nights of camping and I wouldn't describe it as lesiurely at all. I feel like trying to power through it in 10 to 12 hours with a long day would not really give you time to fully enjoy the isolation, views and a lot of the small side hikes/trips that you can do (like the canyon that goes down to the remote takeout spot on the Colorado River; cannot recall the name).

Those back country car campsites that they have with 1 or 2 spots also are absolutely incredible.

Sponsored