High hopes for family fun (Mojave, Bryce Canyon, Moab, Colorado Springs, Grand Canyon

[ncdeuce]

Hello to all of you,

After browsing the forums for months on end i have the opportunity to take an epic road trip of my own. My family and i will be moving from Hawaii to Arizona in June so we are going to take a few weeks to roam the western states before getting back to work. We are looking to make stops in all the locations listed in the post title, however, i am looking for any advice on trails (Nothing crazy) suggested equipment and overall suggestions from more experienced people. I have a 2010 Toyota Tacoma CC 4X4 with a Snugtop Shell. We will be traveling with a 6 year old and a 2 year old so we will spend a few nights camping and the rest in hotels. I want to ensure that i have enough information to make the trip fun and most importantly safe for us all. My experience level with overlanding is ZERO, so i plan to do plenty of research on the areas we will travel and ensure we have enough supplies and basic knowledge of the areas to make it a fun and safe trip. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ayden

 

[habanero]

National Parks pass (if you hit enough of them to make it worth the cost) and Junior Ranger workbooks (National parks, usually free or nominal cost) they get a plastic badge, my son loves to do them) for the kiddos? Sooo much to do, sooo many mild off road adventures. I've found a lot of them in guide books by Charles Wells. We go out that way on a similar 2 week vacation but with camping every day ever since my son was 2. Assuming late enough in June that the passes are open...
There's lots of parks to check out that don't require much walking to see stuff- but still enough to stretch little legs-
Zion from the east side- and early in the am, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Moab's got a great little oasis of a city park too, and the Moab diner. Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, or go from Silverton (Black Bear cafe, walk over to where the Durango/Silverton stops) over to Lake city via off road, lots of off-roadish stuff 'round there complete with mining stuff to look at and a ghost town or two. Gunnison's Hartmans Rocks, Crested Butte's local park and more passes around there. Devil's head lookout tower, (3 mile strenuous hike with long stair climb in the middle, especially with kids in packs) and more in Co Springs/Denver area, Casa Bonita (terrible food, kinda pricey, my kid talked about it for, well, ok, 6 years later he's still talking about Black Bart), Guanella pass- end at Georgetown and there's a neat little playground there, Mount Evans....
Lots of stops, local playgrounds and sightseeing are nice breaks for the kids.
I always have trouble deciding where to go- too many choices!
Bring winter coats/a warm layer for up high and a few cheap construction toys to play in the dirt and sand with at campgrounds.

 

[cnynrat]

Lot's of options here. In fact, I would guess the biggest risk would be to try to do too much in the time you have. It might help to be more specific about any time limitations you have. Also, where will you be starting from, and where in AZ you need to end up

Zion National Park, Escalante, Capital Reef, Goblin Valley, San Rafael Reef, Natural Bridges National Monument, Canyonlands National Park, are all in the general area and depending on your time frame and overall trip plan might fit with your itinerary.

 

[ncdeuce]

habanero,

Thanks for such great information. I think i have enough to keep my face stuck in this computer for the next two weeks just doing additional research on all the areas and options you listed, thats ok with me though. You also hit on a good point, so much to see and not enough time to see it all. We will likely spend about two weeks making our rounds through these areas just to ensure we are not rushed at any one location. I also bought one of the books you recommended (Charles Wells guide to Moab and 4x4 trails) it should be here in a few days so I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully i will be able to convince my wife to do a bit more camping because i believe Moab would be an awesome place to spend a couple nights under the stars. Thanks again for the information and as i begin to narrow down all the options ill keep you guys posted with plans and questions. (THIS FORUM IS GREAT!!)

 

[ncdeuce]

cnynrat,

Thanks for the advice on these great locations. As far as time frame goes, we will likely spend about two weeks traveling. We will start in San Diego and end up in Sierra Vista AZ. We will be traveling from late May to Mid June. I hope that amount of time allows for us to actually enjoy some light hiking with the kids and a few excursions on some mild 4x4 trails/roads. One of my main concerns is having enough of the right equipment to venture off road for a few hours. Living here in HI our options are limited for trails as well as off road gear suppliers. We will stop by REI in San Diego to get a few items and i am going to buy a gas can/jug and a water jug prior to departing San Diego. I plan to have all my camping gear in a couple tough boxes stored in the back with our clothes and a cooler. After seeing how some of these rigs on here are outfitted i feel well behind the power curve on preparedness, however, i don't plan on doing anything too extreme with the family on board so basic camping, cooking, medical and recovery equipment will be about all i pack. Any suggestions on recovery kits or essentials will be appreciated. Thanks again for your advice and assistance.

 

[nwoods]

Gear is really not overly necessary. Your stock Taco will do it all. I would focus on a few things:
1. ARB Saftey Seal tire patch kit
2. Cheap MV-50 based air compressor ( around $80 at most places)
3. Good maps and books.

You can get maps for free at AAA offices, or inexpensively at most gas stations in what ever area you find yourself
In addition to Charles Wells, try "Backcountry Adventures" which focus more on the type of adventure you are describing.

From SanDiego, you might dip your toe into the trail network via the iconic and easy Mojave Trail, heading east.

 

[habanero]

Camping at Moab's Sand Flats recreation area is pretty cheap and the potties are pretty nice for a camping area. You can watch the stars while you're.....'reading the paper'.
The mosquitos in the evening can be annoying sometimes. Even my sister enjoyed camping there- my hair dryer bringing sister (it was an all camping trip). I usually go there in late July/early August where you can about count on afternoon storms in both CO and UT so we do stuff before 3pm and are most of the time ok. We keep well hydrated with gatorade, not plain water. I know Poison Spider bikes have showers, I'm sure other places do too. They also have a very nice visitor's center. When it's dry, we love Negro Bill canyon for an easy-ish 3 mile hike with a surprise at the turn around. Lots of poison ivy, though we've been able to avoid it without trouble. You'd have to carry the 2 year old, only you know what the 6 year old can do. There's a few creek crossings. I don't know what the dangers of flash flooding is in Negro Bill but anytime I'm in areas like that I always keep the possibility in mind.
The hike to Delicate Arch is neat, too. Neither of these places is without risk, especially with kids.
And because when you're in the desert and you can get yourself into a mess I highly recommend reading http://www.gcsar.org/silt.htm . The stories may be old but there's a lot to be learned about being sensible. Not scared, sensible. I wish they'd kept them up, someone wrote really well.

And because I helped out a guy who didn't have a jack, correct size socket for the lugs and a flat spare- make sure you've got that stuff and because I helped another guy with a frozen spare holder (rusted solid, wouldn't lower the spare)- make sure you've got that covered too. You don't want some chick in a powder blue truck handing you a bike pump because your spare is flat.

 

[cnynrat]

With only a couple weeks time I would think you will want to narrow down the places you plan to visit. That will allow you to spend some time at each location rather than being on the move every day. I would think with the young kids and what sounds like a first time for this type of trip that will be important in order to make this a postitive experience and encourage future more adventurous trips.

All of the National Park websites have great information on things to do while you are there. You might start by spending some time with them to begin to prioritize your time. You could easily spend the better part of a week at the Grand Canyon for instance.

You mention camping a few nights and the rest staying in hotels. There is camping and then there is camping. Something to think about is whether you are interested in primitive camping on your own where you would not have any facilities, or camping in established campgrounds, or a bit of both. With a 2 year old and given that this sounds like it may be a first time experience I might lean towards established campgrounds, but that's up to you.

Most of the National Parks in the area have nice campgrounds, but other than the Grand Canyon most do not have showers available. Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon also have hotels/lodges both inside the park, and just outside the park as well. Obviously, if you make it to Moab you are basically in a small city with all the normal businesses you'd expect.

We have stayed at a couple Utah State Park campgrounds and they both had very nice facilities including showers. One is just outside Escalante, and the other at Goblin Valley.

Once you begin to narrow down your itinerary there are lots of people here you can give you some specific suggestions about things to do and places to stay along the way.

 

[jenifer123]

There are lots of places here so, try to find a guide for you because he can give you best advice for this. San Rafael Reef, Canyonlands National Park, Zion National Park, Goblin Valley, National Parks etc. are the best places for it.