Arizona/Utah Expedition (March 16-25)

[croz]

We're starting to nail down the route through Arizona and up through Utah before heading back east through Colorado.

Roams001 will be meeting me in Las Vegas on the 16th before we embark on our expedition. The list of trails and sights to see is growing but I'll name a few before putting down the final schedule, The following post will be reserved for dates and times.

If anyone would like to join us for any or all of this trip, you are most welcome but please PM me as we will try to limit this to a handful of rigs to limit all the logistics of planning for a large group.

We will start in Vegas and travel East, things we plan to see:

Arizona Segment

Hoover Dam - short visit for some pictures
Grand Canyon Skywalk - time permitting
White Hill trail - miles 22, difficulty 3, scenic 7
Packsaddle Mountain Loop trail - miles 17, difficulty 2/4, scenic 9
Flag Mine trail - miles 34, difficulty 5, scenic 9
O'Leary Peak/ O'Leary Basin - miles 23, difficulty 2/3, scenic 10
Broken Arrow (Sedona) - miles 3, difficulty 7, scenic 9
--may spend more time in Sedona--
Mogollon Rim Road - miles 42, difficulty 1, scenic 9
Chevellon Crossing Road - miles 24, difficulty 1, scenic 8
Petrified Forest Nat'l Park
Defiance Plateau Trail - miles 33, difficulty 2, scenic 7
Fluted Rock trail - miles 32, difficulty 2, scenic 9
Canyon De Chelly Trail - miles 30, difficulty 5, scenic 10
Tunitcha Mountains Trail - miles 18, difficulty 2, scenic 9
Lukachukai Mountains Trail - miles 12, difficulty 3, scenic 10
4 Corners - short "novelty" stop

Utah Segment

......more to come on our way up to Moab/Canyonlands/Arches Nat'l Park

 

[croz]

DAY 1 (Sunday, March 16th)

We leave Las Vegas and stop for a short look at the Hoover Dam,
-continue west to see the Grand Canyon Skywalk (probably have lunch)
Then first trail is the White Hill trail (22 miles), just to get a little wheeling in on our way down to the first scenic trail.
Packsaddle Mountain Loop trail - (17 miles) beautiful scenery with numerous mines and sights, fairly easy with some challenges near the end.
After Packsaddle, we'll head south down to Flag Mine trail (34 miles), this may be one of the more difficult trails on the trip and due to higher elevations, completion of this one is not guaranteed. We will determine where we setup camp for the night based on the weather/conditions.
CAMPING

Day 2 (Monday, March 17th)

Flag Mine trail will be the first trail of the day (really looking forward to this one) before heading west toward Sedona and the Sunset Crater Nat'l monument.
We will decide whether to go to Sedona or the Crater first but will probably spend a day or 2 here.
HOTEL stay

Day 3 (Tuesday, March 18th)

This day will be primarily exploring the beautiful area surrounding Sedona. Broken Arrow and some of the other more challenging trails promise to be some of the best wheeling ANYWHERE!!
HOTEL stay

Day 4 (Wednesday, March 19th)

Continue to explore Sedona area, depart west for Mogollon Rim Trail and Black Canyon Trail (conditions permitting). If not, we will alter route (but we will try to see Petrified Forest) and determine campsite and alternate routes.
CAMPING

Day 5 (Thursday, March 20th)

Start travelling North into Utah. Trails and route is TBD. We will attempt to do the Canyon De Chelly trail, This trail requires a "ride along" native tour guide.
CAMPING

Day 6 (Friday, March 21st)

Continue travelling North toward Moab/Canyonlands/Arches. Trails and sites TBD.
Made reservations at the Greenriver Holiday Inn for 3 rooms.
HOTEL stay

Day 7 (Saturday, March 22nd)

Shafer Trail and White Rim Trail (Canyonland Nat'l Park)
CAMPING

Day 8 (Sunday, March 23rd)

Depart White Rim Trail... (Tim and Dave head East)



........all subject to change and open to suggestions!!

 

[croz]

reserved for additional comments,etc.

 

[FlyNdrive]

Hey Croz,

Sorry I can't make it, but the good news is that if I quit my job before then I will be there.

-Ben

 

[croz]

Hey Croz,

Sorry I can't make it, but the good news is that if I quit my job before then I will be there.

-Ben

...we'll keep our fingers crossed! It's looking like we'll be in Az until about Thurs or Friday, then spend the weekend in Utah before coming home.

 

[Moody]

We just may cross paths during that time...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'll be in Moab during that timeframe (Easter Jeep Safari). Keep in mind this is literally the busiest weekend to be in the Moab area, trails can take twice the amount of time, dining can have an hour+ wait and lodging is booked solid... plan ahead to steer clear of the crowds if they are not your thing.

 

[croz]

We just may cross paths during that time...

Sweet, let me know where you'll be. I'd like to see that LX!

 

[croz]

I'll be in Moab during that timeframe (Easter Jeep Safari). Keep in mind this is literally the busiest weekend to be in the Moab area, trails can take twice the amount of time, dining can have an hour+ wait and lodging is booked solid... plan ahead to steer clear of the crowds if they are not your thing.

Thanks for the advice, I've been thinking about what we'll do when we get into Utah because of that very fact. There are 3 of us so far and we'll be content camping but we're still nailing down where we'll go once in Utah.

We'd love to have you with us if you're in the area and want to do a run or two with a couple 4R's and an FJ (so far). The other 2 guys also have HAM's, i don't yet.:1888fbbd:

 

[crawler#976]

Wow!

Don't want to bum ya out, but your AZ segment is very ambitious time wise, and large portions of it will be closed in mid to late March.

Even though the miles might not seem to far, the time required is always a lot longer than you'd expect.

The Mogollon Rim trails (Mogollon Rim Road, Chevellon Crossing Road) will probably closed due to the spring melt. They don't ordinarily open until late April at the earliest. The sections on the Navajo Res (Defiance Plateau, Fluted Rock, Lukachukai Mountains) can be virtually impassable in March due to mud, creeks, and snow. The Lukachukai's are mid chest deep in snow...

The sections near Kingman/Rte. 66 should be really nice, it'll be spring weather at the lower to mid elevations. You can drive to the bottom of the Grand Canyon via the road from Peach Springs on the Hualapai Reservation. The permit is like 6 bucks per vehicle per day.

Sedona and the surrounding area are open, and I'd recommend you check out Fossil Creek as an alternative to some of the area closed up on the Rim. Canyon De Chelly should be open - it's well worth the trip. The Cinders in Flag should be open. Painted Desert/Petrified NF are open.

If you have any questions on your route, contact the local authorities prior to your trip. The Navajo County Sheriff and Apache County Sheriff office's should be able to help, as well as the Navajo Nation Tribal Police.

Mark

 

[croz]

Thanks for the info Mark, as we learn more about these trails, we are certainly willing to adjust fire. We are still planning and trying to nail down a more definite schedule.We are taking nearly a full week and want to see as much of the beautiful and challenging (or not so challenging) parts of Arizona.

Why don't you just take the time and do this with us, would be great to have a local to help with the planning.:campfire:

I'd appreciate you monitoring here and offering your input, thanks

-dave

 

[crawler#976]

Sure wish I could! My vacation time is going to be used for a knee replacement this year - hell of a way to take three weeks off...

 

[nwoods]

If your Utah segment lines up right, it might be nice to join together. I am currently doing a solo trip with my family, but the last portion is going to be the hardest and I'd love to have another truck or two along with for safety (and possible recovery). Here is my itinerary:

Day 1 - Saturday, March 22
* Depart SoCal - drive through to Bryce Canyon, take sunset photos.

Day 2 - Easter Sunday, March 23
* Sunrise photos of Bryce. Nice way to start Easter.
* Hwy 12 to Escalante and start on the Hole-in-the-rock trail

Day 3 - Monday, March 24
* Hole-in-the-rock trail
* Slot canyoneering at Spooky and Peekaboo Canyons along Hole in the Rock trail

Day 4 - Tuesday, March 25
* Take Burr Trail (road?) through Waterpocket Fold, down to Bullfrog
* Take the ferry across Halls Crossing, then take the 276 east to Natural Bridges Monument
* Head south on the 261, up Moki Dugaway, down to Mexican Hat for steak dinner, then hotel in Bluff.

Day 5 - Wednesday, March 26
* Quick visit to Valley of the Gods
* Get onto the 163 east, and go up the east side of Combs Ridge, along Butler Wash Road to the 95
* Take the Arch Canyon Trail off the 95

Day 5 & 6 - Wed/Thursday, March 26-27
* Take a combination of trails off the 95, heading north through the Dark Canyon area towards Elephant Hil Loop.
* Possibly Cottonwood Walsh to the Cottonwood Canyon trails, to Beef Basin, to Bobby's Hole/Ruin Park trails
* To Elephant Hill Loop, and then exit east on 211
* Then north on the 191 to Moab

Day 7 - Friday, March 28
* Take the 70 westward
* Hit the Black Dragon trails near Capitol Reef (within 1/4 mile of the 70!)
* Maybe take the Three Fingers Petroglyph trail in the same area
* Overnight in St. George

Day 8 - Saturday, March 29
* Vegas! then home

Here is a map: http://www.nextstepdesigns.com/images/utah/Google_map-Utah-overview.gif

 

[cruiseroutfit]

If your Utah segment lines up right, it might be nice to join together. I am currently doing a solo trip with my family, but the last portion is going to be the hardest and I'd love to have another truck or two along with for safety (and possible recovery). Here is my itinerary:...

Lots of great routes in there... I've done them all over the years, if you have any specific questions, route info or need for GPS coordinates let me know!

 

[croz]

Post #2 with schedule updated