Noob Warning- Looking for CO & UT Trails

[verbaltharhino]

OK- Gotta warn you all. Total noob here. No TRUE offroad experience, no lifts, no wheels, no nada.

My girlfriend and I will be getting married at the end of the summer and couldn't think of anything better to do than to go out "West". We're from Ohio and love the pics we see of places like Silverton, Moab, and Sedona.

I currently have a TJ that has seen some mud and ruts but not too much else. We'll be picking up a 2007 Unlimited in a couple months, which will be our mode of transport for our trip. My question: Can anyone recommend any noob-friendly, stock-class trails in CO (Silverton) and UT (possibly AZ) for us? Scenery is more important than anything else, but we'd also like to get a little dirty.

I'd like to thank you for any replies in advance.

[wunlimited]

I can't, several can here I'm sure though.

I just wanted to welcome you & say don't be afraid of noob questions at all

we all were at one time or another.

[moneypit]

Welcome to the forum.....If you look back at some past threads in this section there are a few good ones. Pictures and trails noted. I have bought the books by Charles Well for Co. and AZ. I will be in Sedona the end of March and will be renting a Jeep for 2 days. The book was worth buying. I will post up some pics and a write up when I get back.

Here is a link to his Co. book....
www.amazon.com/gp/product/096649766X/ref=pd_qpt_gw_1/104-4348054-6909558

[kb5xg]

I have the Wells books, one for southern and another for northern colorado, and also one by Massey & Wilson, titled 4WD Adventures Colorado, A lot of the same trails as in the Wells Books but a somewhat different viewpoint. I am in the process of planning a vacation there this summer and looking at lots of the trails. The Wells books rate the trails as easy, moderate and difficult, and give tips on what is what. Same with the Massey and Wilson books, both have pictures and warn about possible trouble areas on any of the trails. I ordered through amazon, and bought a couple of them used, but new condition, saved some bucks, make sure you get the latest editions as they also have GPS co-ordinates in the back if you are GPS equiped, I have an inexpensive hand held which works pretty well, You might want to try the Geocache stuff too.

[verbaltharhino]

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely try to find a couple books on ebay. I'll also look through the site a little more thoroughly. The pics of Silverton someone had here are the grounds for the trip there. We were looking for a place to go and need to see how beautiful it is in person.

[rlee]

There is also , "Guide to Moad, UT backroads & 4-WD Trails" by Wells.

[treeofliberty]

The wife, dogs, and I have camped in the Silverton area 3 times. First off, this web cam will keep you stoked for the trip:

ouraycam.com/

There are few places I can recommend higher than the San Juan Mountains. You will spend days trying to get your jaw out of your lap. I suggest you cut your teeth on the Alpine Loop. This is Engineer Pass over to Lake City, and Cinammon Pass back into Silverton. Plan to spend a day on this one. I drove it in a stock 1999 Tahoe back in the day, and more recently in the Jeep. These two trails are very pretty, and are probably the most visited trails in the area. You'll top out at 12,900, and go past a nice ghost town towards the end.


I also recommend you take the trail up to Clear Lake. It is pretty ride up to a small lake above the tree line.

Yankee Boy Basin is another interesting trail that has some of the best wildflowers in the area. It also sports some cool rock overhangs that you drive under. It is a jumping off point for Imogene Pass, which is one of the harder trails in the area. It also is the highest, with the summit over 13,000 feet.

Another great trail is Black Bear Pass. It is also difficult, but nothing a stock jeep couldn't handle. Black Bear is know for the series of switchbacks leading into Telluride on the back side. They are very tight, and very steep. But the view is well worth it.

I know you mentioned CO & UT in your email. However, if you have excess time on your hands, you will be close to the most spectacular views of the Grand Canyon: Toroweap. It is a little over 60 miles of dirt road from the highway, but you are rewarded with an overlook dropping 3000 feet to the Colorado River. You won't see anything like this at the main lodges at the North or South Rim. I can also recommend an out-of-the-way spot on the North Rim, which isn't so far and offers a nice 270-degree view. It's called Fire Point.

Here are a few Colorad pics to get you ready:







I removed a couple larger wide-angle pictures, because they stretched the text too much.

[treeofliberty]

Here is some more online information on the Colorado trails:

www.treknow.com/colorado/backroads/southwest/index.htm

And I almost forgot the most important thing. Be sure to run the trails with your top off (the Jeep's top). There is so much vertical scenery that you'll miss a bunch of it with the top on. Also, if you can find someplace to store your doors, that makes it even better.

Do everything you can to expose the view. You won't regret it.

[verbaltharhino]

Wow!! That is exactly what I was looking for. We were debating whether or not to go to the Grand Canyon, but we are open to ideas and if the scenery there is as nice as you mention, it might take precedence over UT.

I REALLY appreciate the time you have spent helping me out!

Mark

[chiefcheddar]

I swear one of these days I'm going to drop everything and move to Ouray and get a job washing dishes just to be able to go Jeepin.

[wanderer1951]

Very scenic area. Some members of the jeep club we belong to here go out the every summer.Maybe someday we'll maje it there too.

[chiefcheddar]

I want to quit my job here in FL, get a job washing dishes in Ouray and go Jeepin' during my free time.