Where is good...

[1badcj8]

So myself and a few others were planning on going to Moab the week before the Safari. Well when we went to make reservations everyone kept telling us that we were on the week of Safari not the week before. To make a long story short one of the guys going told us that the Safari was from the 29th to the 6th of March. Well clearly not true, as all knows its from the 23rd-31st, well none of the rest of us bothered to check before setting our PTO days at work and set them to go from the 23rd on. Well we (for sure I) have no desire to go to the Safari (sit in line with a butt load of others for hours to run a 4 hour trail in 10? No thanks).

So I thought I'd come on and ask if there are any other cool places to wheel out there since we have our time set up already? I had read about and thought about Price before but read through the thread on the trails there but really don't want to snow wheel any way. So if any one has any ideas please chime in. Oh and I should add that most in this group are more in the moderate range level of trail. Thank you.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'll bet you could sell your reservations no problem.

CHeck out "21 road", I think it'd be right up your alley.

 

[Chevycrew]

I have been during the safari and its not that bad. Get up early and hit the trails anyway, or wait till evening, or just pick different trails than the safari is running. There is lots to Moab other than the official EJS runs.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Have you been to Moab during EJS? The official trail schedules are well advertised, choose different trails or stagger your start times and you'll have no problems enjoying the trails. I've never waited in line @ EJS but I don't hang out at Potato Salad or try to run Pritchett on Saturday at 9am

 

[Herzog]

The 23rd to the 28th you'll be just fine. That's the time I usually like to head down. The first part of the week for safari is not bad at all, it's quite calm. Thursday night all the spring breakers or whoever start rolling in and Friday and Saturday are a no go on most trails as they will all be clogged up.

So if I were you, I'd plan on having a great time for the first part of the week and then maybe the last few days heading to the outskirts to hit some other trails. Maybe even head into the Swell and do some adventuring during that time or head up around Mount Peele for some higher up adventuring..

 

[1badcj8]

Yeah I don't have one to cancel or sell, could have gotten one but only for part of the time we were going to go for. So I didn't make one once I knew what was up with the dates and yes I've wheeled GJ, don't want to spend vacation for something I can do in a weekend easily that is only 3 hours away.

Yes I have been from mid week on and its hammered. It is a little easier going on your own but eventually you run into one of the large groups. Least that was my one experience.

Herzog that makes since that it would be easy in the first of the week but for once I wanted to go and stay for more than just a few days, every time I've been out there it was for 3 days and head home.

Thank you all for the suggestions, I was hoping there might be a place to go that I just didn't know about but its all good, we may just head down to AZ and come out there later in the year, even though it would be a 3 dayer...

 

[Bart]

St George has a great trail system and it seems there are groups that way during EJS to get away from the crowds. I don't know where the trails are but I'm sure someone does.

 

[Jinx]

2nd on st George.

Just got back and had a great time.

Check www.utah4x4club.com for trail info.

 

[1badcj8]

This is what I was looking for... I tried the site for the club but had to register and have not gotten a confermation email yet.

Is there lots of trails or is it a big play ground.

 

[mattyj]

I have been during the safari and its not that bad. Get up early and hit the trails anyway, or wait till evening, or just pick different trails than the safari is running. There is lots to Moab other than the official EJS runs.

X2

Ive been to Moab during EJS & not participated in the RR4W runs. You can still get plenty of quality wheeling in, just avoid the EJS runs. And dont forget BFE!

 

[XJEEPER]

This is what I was looking for... I tried the site for the club but had to register and have not gotten a confermation email yet.

Is there lots of trails or is it a big play ground.

I concur with St George area being a good option to avoid the EJS crowds. Sand Hollow Rec Area is where the bulk of the trails are located, actually in the Hurricane area, just 10 minutes N of St G.

Anything 7 rated or less could be considered moderate, with optional obstacles for an added challenge. Sliplock Gulch, Johns Trail, Double Sammy are great runs that a modified DD can handle.

Read the descriptions and rig requirements, they are accurate. http://www.winterontherocks.com/#!trails/c221s

 

[jmaxj]

Sand hollow is a great place to avoid them, the trails are empty but the dunes are full, I've spent the last 3 yrs down there over Easter cause I got tired of the ejs BS

 

[N-Smooth]

I never have an issue with crowds during EJS... In fact before the last friday it's usually pretty empty. Just my opinion

StGeorge is amazing but unless you're going with someone that knows the trails you will probably spend a lot of time looking at your GPS. I'm not sure what type of rig you have either but a lot of the StG trails are either pretty easy or very tough, not a lot of middle ground (in my opinion) but it is still spectacular.

 

[1badcj8]

Thank you all for your input, now StG is on my radar whereas before I never knew it existed. But we are going to hit Las Cruces this time. I've never been and its been on my radar for a while now, one of the guys going has been to the Chili Challenge years ago and he came up with the thought of heading down there.

Nate I was kind of gathering as well that there is not much middle ground there. The trails and vids that I found look fun but like you said either easy or quite hard. While I didn't find any pic's or vids of middle of the road stuff there are lots of pic's of more stock rigs at the winter on the rocks and I'm thinking there is no way some of those did the vids I watched. None-the-less I now want to visit StG.