Southern Utah Trip Ideas

My best friend and I are planning on finally doing the road trip we always talked about in highschool and college (were 31 now). Anyhow, we have 9 days for our trip. We plan on leaving Cincinnati on May 20th. and returning on the 29th. (not long, I know). We are going to Moab, UT since my friend is big into mountain biking and wants to ride slickrock. Our current plans are to make it to Moab in 2 long days of driving (about 1550 miles), tool around southern Utah (possibly northern Arizona) for a few days, and take 3 days to get back. My question is if you had 3 days in this area, what would you do? There seems to be so much stuff to do and see that I can't decide what's best on such a short stay. What would be a reasonable itinerary? Are there parks where more things are accessable by car than others, etc. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by monroeaccord

...we have 9 days for our trip. ... We are going to Moab, UT since my friend is big into mountain biking and wants to ride slickrock. .... What would be a reasonable itinerary? Are there parks where more things are accessable by car than others, etc.

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Welcome to the Forum!

Well, you certianly have chosen a wonderful 'jump off' point for visiting parks. If you're looking to spend a lot of time in Moab, there are 2 National Parks and 1 State Park within a short drive of Moab: namely Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park. I would personally spend a day at each park (Dead Horse Point SP, I see, has the Slickrock Trail that you've mentioned). Per my edition of Streets and Trips, both of the National Parks look to have quite a bit of area accessible by car. If you would rather get out of Moab, you can head down to Monument Valley.

As far as a reasonable itinerary, your 2 days on the road to get there may be cutting it close. Even with that, here's what I would set up;
Day1 - Day 2: Drive time from OH to UT
Day 3: Arches NP
Day 4: Dead Horse Point SP/Slickrock Trail
Day 5: Canyonlands NP
Day 6: Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, CO (right of the interstate on your way back
Day 7-9: Drive time back to OH

If you decide to hit so many National Parks and Monuments so frequently, I would definitely recommend picking up a National Park Pass, which will cover your entry fees for the remainder of the year.

Have a good trip!
Brad

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Originally Posted by monroeaccord

My best friend and I are planning on finally doing the road trip we always talked about in highschool and college (were 31 now). Anyhow, we have 9 days for our trip. We plan on leaving Cincinnati on May 20th. and returning on the 29th.

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Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! I think that it is an awesome plan. I have always loved the slickrock country. It is possible to hike for miles and never leave a footprint!

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Our current plans are to make it to Moab in 2 long days of driving (about 1550 miles), tool around southern Utah (possibly northern Arizona) for a few days, and take 3 days to get back.

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31 years old still has the huge advantage of youth, but that is really pushing it... and your car. Even if you are able to maintain 75 mph, the fastest average speed you can attain, (with rest stops, fuel breaks, etc.) is about 57 mph over that distance. Which works out to about 14 hours of driving per day. What kind of shape will you be in when you reach Moab? (I must admit to having done even greater distances and still worked events upon arrival -- so I know it can be done -- but I worry about those three days going home. Take plenty of breaks, eat high-energy food and stay alert!)

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My question is if you had 3 days in this area, what would you do? There seems to be so much stuff to do and see that I can't decide what's best on such a short stay. What would be a reasonable itinerary? Are there parks where more things are accessable by car than others, etc.

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I would spend as a day or so hiking around Arches NP -- my favorite place for getting away from the crowds is Cayonlands NP -- so many amazing places and few people ever go more than an 1/2 mile off of the paved roads. I really like the area around the confluence of the Green and the Colorado Rivers. Do a search for posts made by Killer he lives in the area and knows it pretty well. Here is a field report from the Capitol Reef area.

Go to Monument Valley as you leave the area --

Mark

I'm gonna be in visiting Moab that same week with my sister. We're planning on one day at Canyonlands, one at Arches, and not sure how we are gonna loop back yet (towards Vegas) hopefully through Monument Valley, unless we stay an extra day in Moab to river raft. That was what I wanted to ask about...
Is the river rafting in that area good for beginners (no experience whatsoever) and relatively inexpensive?

Thanks,
Brett

Rafting sounds like a good idea if it's not too advanced. I've never been before either. Another question, what are some good places to stay at near the parks? Would camping be a good idea at that time of year? Also, how far in advance should I book accomidations? Thanks for all of the help.

When passing through Moab a few weeks ago I met a couple of experienced cyclists who thoroughly recommended Arches National Park as a great spot for mountain biking.

I'm not familiar with the water rafting experience either, but to get you started, here are a few links to some Moab based companies that offer all kinds of adventure packages (horseback riding, canoeing, 4WD tours, etc):

Canyon Voyages
Tag-a-Long
Red River Adventures
Adrift

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what are some good places to stay at near the parks? Would camping be a good idea at that time of year?

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I guess it depends on your endurance but May should be ok, maybe a little chilly at night. As I wrote in that post, there are several campgrounds and cheap motels to choose from in the area of Canyonlands and Arches NP.

Gen

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Originally Posted by packman

I'm gonna be in visiting Moab that same week with my sister. We're planning on one day at Canyonlands, one at Arches, and not sure how we are gonna loop back yet (towards Vegas) hopefully through Monument Valley, unless we stay an extra day in Moab to river raft. That was what I wanted to ask about...
Is the river rafting in that area good for beginners (no experience whatsoever) and relatively inexpensive?

Thanks,
Brett

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My son and I did a white-water river-rafting trip in Moab a few years back. It was a kick but a piece of cake for the paying customers. You just hold on tight, paddle like heck when they tell you, and let the guides do most of the work. It was only the 2nd white-water rafting trip either of us had ever been on. And it was fine. Heck, it was a hoot! I think I spent about $40-50 for each of us and this included a light, riverside lunch and transport to/from the river. Very reasonable for what we got and for the memories.

Once you hit Denver and are driving, you are not going to want to travel I-70 in the dark. It's just to scenic to miss! Once you reach Utah, take exit 202 and take hwy 128 into Moab. Again, this is a very scenic hwy and should not be done in the dark. If it is dark when you reach this exit, then wait and take hwy 128 as you leave Moab instead...just make sure it's not dark!

We did the white water rafting trip out of Moab several years ago when our boys were young. We all LOVED it. It was so much fun! I was so scared the night before but it's a good beginners run and I was worried for nothing!

Utahtea

Good point! I never thought about the fact that we would be driving through the best scenery of the trip in the dark! We are gonna stop for the night in Golden, CO and head into Moab first thing in the morning. It looks like it would only be a 5-6 hour trip, so we will still have some day time left when we arrive. We are planning on renting a primitive cabin when we get to Moab. Does anyone recommend one place over the others?

Slickrock Campground in Moab has cabins. We've only camped there in our RV and never used the cabins, so I don't know what they are like inside.

Utahtea

I was checking my web traffic and saw referrals coming from this site. I'm Glad I did. I own Red River Adventures and am stoked to see folks who are so excited about the area.
For what it's worth here are some of my thoughts.
Hwy 128 is a designated national scenic byway and should be seen in the day light. That being said it sounds like you'll be heading back the way you came so maybe see it on the way out if that fits with your travel plans.
There are more than a few inexpensive campgrounds and motels in Moab. The slickrock campground does do an excellent job, we recommend them highly. There is also camping on BLM land adjacent to the Colorado river along HWY 128. I think the fee is $6 a night. It's primitive camping with fire grates and vault toilets but evening in the river corridor can't be beat.
As far as motels go the Adventure Inn can't be beat. It's owner operated, clean and inexpensive.
The rafting this time of year is fantastic and shouldn't be missed. Spring run-off is underway and the day stretch outside of Moab, the Fisher Towers section, is super fun and doable by anyone. Whether you boat with us or not spend a day on the river it's a completely different prospective.
Enjoy your journey and Moab.

Carl

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Originally Posted by emmasdad

Hwy 128 is a designated national scenic byway and should be seen in the day light. That being said it sounds like you'll be heading back the way you came so maybe see it on the way out if that fits with your travel plans. There are more than a few inexpensive campgrounds and motels in Moab. The slickrock campground does do an excellent job, we recommend them highly.

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Thanks for the local intel -- I wish I had time to go boatin' this year. I have floated the Green and Cataract Cayon a couple of times -- it is going to rockin' this year, from a look at the river flow meters.

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The rafting this time of year is fantastic and shouldn't be missed. Spring run-off is underway and the day stretch outside of Moab, the Fisher Towers section, is super fun and doable by anyone. Whether you boat with us or not spend a day on the river it's a completely different prospective.

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Sounds really great ---

Mark

Utah Highway 12 is an absolute must if you're in southern Utah. It goes from Capital Reef down through Escalante Canyons and Bryce Canyon. You'll go from desert brush up a few thousand feet until you're on a plateau in pine forests (might see snow) and then down through red rock canyons and grazing fields. I'd definitely rank it a top 10 scenic route in the country.

I did a very similar trip last summer, and let me tell you, it was everything I had hoped for and more. Utah has some amazing scenery. Arches is one of my favorite parks I've been to. Make sure you take the time to hike all of the way up to Delicate Arch. Absolutely breathtaking. I'm not entirely sure of what you and your friend are wanting to do, but may I make one suggestion? After going to Arches and doing some biking in canyonlands, maybe continue to head west. I know it's a pretty detour, but when I was out there, I decided to head west instead of south to see one of the World's greatest natural wonders, the GRAND CANYON. I can't tell you how happy I was making this decision. Pictures don't do it justice. Even if you don't make it there by car, see if you can find a cheap air tour, you won't regret it. Zion and Bryce Canyon are also a great idea if you have the time.

With that being said, one thing I can't stress is being careful when driving. Driving for those periods of times is hard on the driver and the passengers. Make sure you push yourselves too hard in the car, because I'm sure you'll be tired after doing all of your sightseeing. Speed limit is 75 in Utah and I think it's 75 in rural colorado and Nebraska. At those speeds, you'll definitely want to be at your top form at the wheel. If you end up going the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas (what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas). Make sure you go the speed limit. Cops every 10 miles in the median.

Thanks again for all of the input. I have finally nailed down our reservations for our trip. Per advise, we are going to stop short on the second day in Frisco, CO. We'll drive into Moab the next morning so that we can enjoy the scenery. We will be spending 3 days in Moab at the Sleep Inn (offers secured bike storage and is relatively cheap) and then we're off to Rocky Mountain National Park to spend a day there (Super 8) before heading back. Hopefully, all of the snow will be gone so all of the roads in the park will be open. This trip should be a blast!

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Originally Posted by monroeaccord

Per advise, we are going to stop short on the second day in Frisco, CO. We'll drive into Moab the next morning so that we can enjoy the scenery. We will be spending 3 days in Moab at the Sleep Inn (offers secured bike storage and is relatively cheap) and then we're off to Rocky Mountain National Park to spend a day there (Super 8) before heading back.

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We hope you have a wonderful journey and write again and share what you find out there. One thing I don't quite understand, you are spending one night at Frisco, CO (near Breckenridge) and then you drive to Moab (that seems OK) but why do you zig zag your way north again to go to Rocky Mtn NP (it seems more logical to see that on your way in)? In any case, while you are there be sure to stop by the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park -- it is great. There is a cool book I used for uncovering some of the good biking roads in the area -- And finally, most of the park will be closed this time of year -- the main road to the high country doesn't open until the end of May in any year.... You can still see a lot from the lower elevations, and here is field report from the area last year.

A big part of our trip is the drive itself, so the plan is to make a big loop north out of Moab and then turning east towards Rocky Mountain National Park so we can see more scenery. We'll be at the park on May 26th., so hopefully we might get lucky and the roads will be open. If not, I'm sure we'll find something else to do. The temps in Moab will already be getting hot, so we can't really wait to go later. None of the plans are written in stone, so if something sounds better to us, we're open to change. Thanks for the advise, we're gonna have a blast!

Well, 3 days to go before we hit the road! One last question. Our current plan is to take 191N out of Moab to 40E, and then take 34 through Rocky Mountain NP to Estes Park where our hotel is. It it worth it to go this way? I was hoping it may be a nice scenic drive compared to backtracking the same way we came. If anyone has a better route (more scenic), I'm open to suggestions. Also, we only have 1 day to spend at the park on our way back. What are the "must do's" in the park or nearby?

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Originally Posted by monroeaccord

Well, 3 days to go before we hit the road! One last question. Our current plan is to take 191N out of Moab to 40E, and then take 34 through Rocky Mountain NP to Estes Park

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If the Trail Ridge Road is open -- YES, it is one of the most amazing high altitude highways in America. Are you planning to do this stretch all in one day? I don't think that can be done. You will be going over a dozen high altitude passes this way and I doubt you will be able to exceed an average speed of 45 mph for most of the day. If you do the entire US-40 route east -- you have got to stop by Strawberry Springs, (near Steamboat Springs).

If this is intended to be a one day transit -- you need to jump on I-70 and maybe do the scenic byway suggested by AZBuck (below). You certainly need to contact the park and see if the Trail Ridge is open or you will not be able to reach Estes Park from the west side!

You also need to know that there is a bunch of construction underway at the intersection of US-34 and US-36 on the edge of Estes Park. Be sure to have a drink at the Stanley Hotel! One of the most gorgeous sites in the world. Say hello to the ghost for me too!

Mark

There is a very scenic road between I-70 and US-40 in western Colorado that I highly recommend if you have some extra time and are looking for quiet two-lane blacktop through the Rockies. It's CO-139 north between roughly Grand Junction and Rangely, and then a short jog on CO-64 west to join US-40. If you go this way, you might also want to think about a short detour into the Vernal, UT area to see Dinosaur National Monument. When I last went this way a few years ago, the roads were being repaired, so they should be in relatively good shape at the moment, but this will not be a speed run.

AZBuck

Thanks! That sounds good, and it knocks 87 miles off the trip (down to 442 miles now).

Well, I just got back at 4:00 this morning after 18 hours of non-stop driving (gas only). The trip was a blast. The weather could not have been more perfect. We did some mountain biking in Moab (Klondike Bluffs and Slick Rock trails) and did some hiking in Arches National Park (Delicate Arch, Devils Garden). During our stay in Rocky Mountain National Park we drove the Trail Ridge Road which was amazing and unnerving at the same time. We hiked some trails there as well. On Saturday we decided to drive the full way back from Estes Park, CO back to Cincinnati since we were tired of hotel stays. Glad we did it.

If you have time, we'd love to hear more details. And pictures! Pictures are always good.

Do you have any hints of great stops that are worth doing? Cool places to stay? Yummy restaurants worth trying? Not-to-be-missed sights/activities?

Remember, I'm stuck at home this weekend so I need to travel vicariously through you. LOL