| Author | Message | ||
     david summers (Texmoto) Member Username: Texmoto Post Number: 88 Registered: 12-2002 |
I am considering a trip to the Maze district of Canyonlands NP. I have ordered the only book I could find in regurads to 4x4 trails. Has anyone driven any of this area recently? If so, how do the trails compare to any others in the Moab area? Have been to Moab 3 times and driven multiple trails and so I'm familiar with the terrain. I would just like so comments from someone who has been there. Thanks | ||
| William C. Leek (Onionman) Member Username: Onionman Post Number: 112 Registered: 07-2002 |
Try contacting the park staff. Here is their web site. http://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm | ||
| Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1148 Registered: 02-2002 |
Your name is Will Leek!?!? And you buy a land rover? Good luck with that then!  | ||
| Randy Black (Snuffer) New Member Username: Snuffer Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2004 |
Hey David, the place must be a mystery to everyone. | ||
| david summers (Texmoto) Member Username: Texmoto Post Number: 96 Registered: 12-2002 |
Randy, Yeah, I know. I talked to a ranger out there, but she was of limited help. When she found out that I would be driving a Land Rover, she said "oh, you won't have any problem" in reguards to the trails. I would still like to hear from someone that has actually diven the trails, especially the portions that are NOT in NP boundries. David | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 808 Registered: 05-2003 |
David, Get in touch with Bill and Rachel Burke at www.bb4wa.com. They've got a trip going thru the Maze scheduled for April 13-18th. Good Luck, it sounds like a challenging area Jamie | ||
| Mark Devereux (Groupw) Member Username: Groupw Post Number: 128 Registered: 12-2002 |
I've done several trips to the Maze. There really aren't any trails like in Moab. Only very primitive/unmaintained roads with 10 to 20 miles between camps. Camps are reservation only, and you can only reserve them through the Hans Flat Ranger. All Canyonlands backcountry rules apply. The place is extremely remote. If you go, plan on carrying fuel, water, everything you need for a multi day event. Its about 70 miles from Green River to Hans Flat ranger station where the rangers will warn you that if your truck fails, they won't come get you. If you go in that way, plan for a lot of fun on the Flint trail and in Teapot Canyon. Unless it rains, then the bentonite at the bottom of the flint trail can kill your whole trip. The easy way in is through Hite and gunsight pass. The problem there is the Dirty Devil River. If the water is up, you may have to park for a day to wait for safe crossing. Overall, its probably one of the best outback trips in the US and well worth the effort. PS. Try not going with Bill Burke. It takes a lot of prep, research, planning, and at least 2 vehicles, but isn't that what makes the trip worth it? | ||
| david summers (Texmoto) Member Username: Texmoto Post Number: 116 Registered: 12-2002 |
Mark, Thanks for the info. This is exactly the kind of info that I have been looking for. I'm still, however, looking for a second (or more) vehicle(s) to go along. Please tell me more about rain and the bentonite. Thanks. David | ||
| Mark Devereux (Groupw) Member Username: Groupw Post Number: 136 Registered: 12-2002 |
Bentonite clay - as hard as concrete when dry turns to something like grease when wet. I don't think that there is a tire in the world that can handle it. I've actually seen stationary trucks slide off the road just from the camber of the road. The good news is that there is only a small area of bentonite at the bottom of the flint trail and it rarely rains there. Drop me a line off the list if you're going. I can give you lots of info. |
