![]() They’re Moab’s most respected experts a few also rank among this country’s very best off-roaders and have guided us on unforgettable adventures. Not all are dedicated to aspiring rock-crawlers: Several of these pros also cater to drivers of crossover vehicles or newbies wanting to learn how to exploit their vehicle’s traction control settings. It’s well worth the cash, and Moab is home to several off-road aces that guide trips and offer instruction. And anyone who aspires to completing intermediate or advanced routes can fast-forward their progress by working with an expert. Others prefer to learn alongside a master who can minimize the consequences of newbie mistakes. Some people prefer to learn through trial and error, even when errors can include sustaining damage to your vehicle or getting it stuck. ![]() Guides and Rentalsĭeciding whether to hire a guide comes down to two things-your risk tolerance and your ambition. Drive one if you’re so inclined, just mind your trail manners. Also, because OHVs are faster, louder, and easier to operate than standard vehicles, they’ve garnered rancor from local recreationists and land managers who claim that the proliferation of careless OHV drivers is spiking trail erosion and user conflict. Rental motorcycles and side-by-sides, also known as UTVs, are available too, but note that off-highway vehicles (OHVs) aren’t allowed in Arches or Canyonlands National Parks. Such upgrades certainly improve the vehicle’s rock-crawling capability, and they’re common features among the rental Jeeps offered by Moab outfitters, but they’re not a requirement for negotiating the area’s easier routes. Many of Moab’s avid Jeepers modify their vehicles by lifting the suspension, swapping in larger, 35-inch tires, and fitting protection plates to the doorjambs and undercarriage. ![]() Jeeps are even more maneuverable, thanks to their shorter wheelbase and compact dimensions that let them whip around tight switchbacks and clear deep, V-shaped washouts (where trucks might drag a bumper). It’s also helpful to have low-range four-wheel-drive, which improves slow-speed traction on steep pitches that are loose or rocky. With their higher ground clearance, stock pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) allow newbie off-roaders a more forgiving array of line choices, because these vehicles generally clear all of the rocks or ledges you’ll encounter on Moab’s easy to easy/moderate routes. Just make sure your rig has all-terrain tires capable of handling rock and gravel, which can damage tires that are optimized for pavement. Careful drivers might even steer AWD or 2WD vehicles over rougher paths that include small ledges or ruts. All-wheel-drive Subarus and two-wheel-drive vans easily handle Moab’s graded dirt and gravel roads (though rain can change road conditions dramatically see note below). Most guided trips let you drive your own or a rental, and a wide array of adventure-mobiles can successfully navigate the area’s routes. You can bring your own capable vehicle to Moab, or plan on renting one once you’re there. Don’t drive anywhere that’s not explicitly signed as being open to motorized vehicles. Instead, off-road driving refers to off-pavement travel, on trails that range from graded dirt roads to rugged, boulder-strewn routes. The following tips apply to both, and offer ideas for solo and guided trips.īut first, a clarification: Off-road driving doesn’t actually mean driving off the road, which is environmentally irresponsible because it destroys the network of plants (including a living crust composed of algae, cyanobacteria, and fungi) that prevents erosion of the sand and soil. Although the town of Moab does get crowded (tallying about 3 million tourists each year), its plethora of route options disperses vehicles and lets off-road drivers enjoy surprising solitude on routes that range from high-stakes rock crawling to smooth, dirt-road driving and overlanding. And it’s vast, comprising some 1.8 million acres of public lands with nearly 1,000 miles of motorized trails. Think that’s hyperbole? Consider the backdrop: Swaths of fossilized sand dunes, eroded red sandstone pinnacles, and tiered canyons cut by mighty rivers make for mesmerizing scenery. Moab may be the best place on the planet for off-pavement driving.
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