California -> Arizona -> Utah -> Colorado and Back *VERY pic heavy*

[inv3ctiv3]

Ok so I'm not even sure where to start on this.....My friend and I set out to Boulder Colorado on Monday July 6th from Santa Barbara, our original route was supposed to take us to Crown King, AZ and those trails but we had to re-route due to a time crunch and went straight to Flagstaff, AZ where we camped that first night.

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

The 2nd night we headed for Utah and went through Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods a series of offroad trails between there and Lockhart Basin. We camped the 2nd night outside of Monticello, UT and then started Lockhart Basin on the 3rd day, Lockhart Basin was an awesome trail, not too difficult minus the very steep rocky end section (we ran from South to North) but it's very scenic with some fun sections and I wish we had camped off it instead of where we did the night before.

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Valley of the Gods:

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Random trails on the way to Monticello:

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

It's hard to believe that this kind of terrain is right by the desert, it's insane!

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Absolutely beautiful Collard Lizards out there:

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

 

[inv3ctiv3]

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

I have some video of me going down the steep stuff but everything on my gopro looks like a graded fire road so it's pointless, the trail wasn't too difficult but I def slammed my rear leaf shackle, axle, sliders and cross member pretty good.

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

As you can see I am still slightly rubbing my fenders....

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

 

[inv3ctiv3]

After finishing Lockhart Basin we camped in Moab and unfortunately had to cut the trip short because my friend who I was taking back to Boulder had an instrument he built for NASA in the back and was worried it was getting damaged from the vibrations of the offroad trails We had to make the call and hit the pavement straight to Boulder where I stayed for a few days and checked out the city.

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

So while in Boulder I wanted to do some trails around there and one of the ones we did was Jenny Creek Trail which was a lot of fun due to the amount of water! A few river crossings and some really tight trails made for a good day:

Water holes on the way to the trail are always fun:
Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

The trail wasn't difficult at all, there are some steeper rocky sections but for the most part it's just tight rocky/dirt road with mud holes everywhere:

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

The first real creek crossing right before where you decide to go left or right on the trail:

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

On my way back I did a bunch of trails behind Glenwood Springs, CO (Coffee Pot, Grizzly Jeep Trail, Adams Lake and Transfer Trail) and camped off trail that night, I did some fishing on a lake off trail and just enjoyed my first solo night of camping, so peaceful and quiet I loved it:

Starting the fire road up to the trails I stopped to air down:

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

************ rig I saw on the trail:

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

 

[inv3ctiv3]

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

After a while you just start trying to avoid the mud haha
Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

 

[inv3ctiv3]

The next day I finished down Transfer Trail and headed for Escalante, I camped in Dixie National Forest next to a little stream and headed out the next morning to find these slot canyons I had heard about on the way to Zion and this was hands down the highlight of my trip home! Hwy 24 and Hwy12 are incredibly beautiful that's for sure!

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

I had these secluded slot canyons all to my self and the drive up the dry river bed was super fun in the deep sand, very un-assuming from the river bed:

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

After that I headed to Zion which for me was a disappointment, I hate National Parks and think they ruin the experience with all the tour buses, construction crews, gift shops, trash, traffic, etc. It is beauitful don't get me wrong but sitting in traffic while taking in the sights with giant tour busses blocking the view it's not that cool.....

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

 

[inv3ctiv3]

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

After that I just wanted to get home and headed straight back for Santa Barbara but not without stopping at Exotic Pets in Las Vegas first!

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

Offroad-trip 2015 by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

 

[SDDiver5]

Awesome pics dude. You weren't kidding when you said pic heavy haha.

 

[inv3ctiv3]

Awesome pics dude. You weren't kidding when you said pic heavy haha.

Haha yea I'm a photographer/videographer so I take my work on vacation too.....

 

[Wh1t3nukle]

After finishing Lockhart Basin we camped in Moab and unfortunately had to cut the trip short because my friend who I was taking back to Boulder had an instrument he built for NASA in the back and was worried it was getting damaged from the vibrations of the offroad trails We had to make the call and hit the pavement straight to Boulder where I stayed for a few days and checked out the city.

Wait, he didn't do transportation random vibration analysis on it prior...? :Wow1:

Btw, I really dislike your photos.














Thanks for sharing! So evokes the want to go back.

 

[jerdog53]

Some really nice photos there Jim!

 

[Maxcustody]

Outstanding Pictures, look like a great trip!!

 

[chet6.7]

Some nice photos.

 

[4x4x4doors]

Nice. Thanks for sharing. Great views and photos, too!

 

[Longrange308]

Awesome. Can you please provide me with the exif data on those first two shots? They are just amazingly beautiful and are giving me ideas for my own photos.

 

[jgraphix73]

Beautiful shots and thank you for that trip report!