Moab or Telluride?

Doing Moab or Telluride next month. We’re road tripping from AZ to Silverton CO and then we’re gonna camp on trails for about 3 days. We’re currently weighing the options of staying and exploring in the Ouray/Telluride area then heading home vs going west and through southern Utah on our way home. Both are about 8 hours from home so there’s no advantage time or distance wise. I wanna make the most of what little time I’ll have there (2-3) days. What are gonna be my best few trails to spend time on? What are some good camping spots? I’ve got the trail guide book and I’m doing some online research as well. Any first hand advice would be appreciated. I’ll be in my 5th gen which is a pretty solid overland set up. I’ve attached a link to my build.
https://www.4runners.com/posts/275776/

 

Have fun !

Show us the pics when your rocket is properly baptized by the run and looks good and messy.

 

No trail advice but nice rig OP!

 

Some nice trails that are stated difficult, I have done them some years ago with another vehicle; I have to say that these trails became more difficult, most likely erosion played a big role in the deterioration of the landscape.

The 4runner off-road prowess is outstanding; the Dobinsons lift & Bfg’s KO 2 made it possible to do these trails without rubbing or any scratch on the 4runner. The only vehicles seen on these trails (Jeeps with 37” tires & the Hummer in front of me with lockers in front and rear).

Camping & Trails: Kens Lake - Close to Steelbender Trail - Lots of camping on I-128 next to the Colorado river. Top Of the World Trail - Elephant Hill - Poison Spider Mesa - Hells Revenge.

I can give you more info if you like, just shoot your questions.

In other words, this is Jeep land. Not necessary so!

 

It’s definitely been good and dirty plenty of times. No mall crawling here

 

LOL. I'm not one to talk...still waiting for my Runner's first mud run.

 

Within 24hrs of owning the 4Runner I brought it up to the trailhead to get its first Arizona pinstripes. It clearly set the tone that the car is not a mall crawler and instead should be treated like the tool it was meant to be. So happy I did that.

+1 on watching this thread to see pictures. I have no advice for off-roading. Not sure what is all around there.

 

Title change: We may be doing some of the CO trails instead. Trying to decide between Telluride/Ouray and Moab. Both are on the short list of next adventures. We may wanna take a solid week to do Utah. I’m in AZ so mountains and pines sound a little more novel than red rocks and canyons. Either way I’ll have some good pics to post.

 

Right now, the famous CO trails are seriously dangerous, I have a friend that just came back from CO attempting Imogene & Black Bear Pass. He is an experienced off-roader with a very capable modified Jeep Rubicon; his remarks; life at risk no matter what you drive & how much experience you have, the torrential rains as of latently eroded these trails badly.

I have done these trails multiple times and the last time in 2019 was already much more difficult than 2015. Be safe.

 

Thanks, that might make the decision easier. I don’t see sandstone eroding too much.

 

Well, the rocks in Moab have eroded quite a bit as well, the biggest difference in CO ravines don't take prisoners. You have a much bigger choice of trails in Moab, and if you like trailing in the green and be around lakes, the La Salle mountains are 20 minutes away and part of Moab.

 

So far I’m looking at Hell’s Revenge and Top of the World. Those are bucket list trails for me.

 

They are nice and for sure doable with your vehicle air down to 18 Psi and go slow if you do the Top of the World; Hells Revenge is easy. Highly recommended is Elephant Hill, most likely one of the most scenic trails in Moab and not to hard, easy doable with your nice rig.

 

I've been to Moab twice. In the Spring when it is busy if your going on well known trails getting stranded wouldn't be a big concern because you'll be running into people. Jeep week is coming up but that is still over a month away, I wouldn't go to Jeep week in Moab the place is an absolute zoo.

Never been to Telluride but it looks like a cool place. I can say from experience Moab has good trails, but it can be crowded depending on time of year.

 

I usually air down to 18, I have my auto deflators set there. They make life a little easier.
Staun Automatic Tire Deflators (Standard Duty 6-30 PSI)

$100 Staun Tyre Deflators | The Australian Original Tire Deflator | Automatically Airdown Tires to 6-30 PSI

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QBPBLWY?_encoding=UTF8

 

Coming back from the top of the World driving on 128 take onion creek trail and then Thompson trail as an extension this will bring you to the La Salle Mountain Loop and coming down to kens Lake, you can easily do this in one day.

 

Is there camping at Kens lake?

 

Yes, nice camping and view on the water-falls.

 

I’m using this. I have the AZ version which has been pretty helpful so far.

 

I've been both places many times. For me, I like the scenery of Ouray/Silverton better. Another option to consider is the other side of the mountain range (West side) along the Dolores River. There's several trails over there, however most are very easy forest roads, but very scenic. A cool trail takes you from highway 145 at Scotch Creek, then up and over the mountain range and ending up in at the Purgatory Ski resort. There's lots of dry camping along HWY 145, as well as a national forest campground near Barlow Creek ("Cayton Campground") and a private campground called Priest Gulch.

 

This is a good guide, I still have the first edition from 20 years ago.

In case you camp on kens lake, very close by is the entrance of Steelbender Trail very nice trail which you can access from the golf course or close to Kens lake, if you are on the trail and think it's a bit hairy you can easily turn back.

Another hint, from Kens Lake you are a half a mile from Highway 191 and can take a left and than about 12 miles take a right to Canyon Lands National park this will bring you to Elephant hill which is easier than Steelbender trail.

 

I have done both areas a lot and stayed in the Purgatory Ski resort lodge with the kids & grandkids, and I like the Million Dollar highway area as well, different than Moab, It's more Alpine. Unfortunately, right know everything around there is muddy, slippery because of the weather. Both areas have different charm. I think because OP short stay and weather conditions Moab is a safer bet. Just my 2c.

 

We can deal with pretty reasonably hairy trails, If the books are accurate across state lines. We’ve done plenty of the “difficult” rated trails in the AZ book. I guess my biggest thing is getting the best bang for my buck with the limited time there.

 

That's why I try to help, I know you are limited in time, you can have a blast trailing, .E.G. Steelbender will take you a day, don't do the trail when raining, some incline & decline clay, skidding down will happen, so, not advisable in wet weather.

Hells revenge goes into Hells gate if you want to make it a day.

 

Sweet! I’ll look into both those and see about finding camp sites on the way.

 

Kens lake, this is the best spot if you are limited on time.

Poison spider mesa from kens lake, go to Highway 191 take right and pass through Moab town, around 1.3 miles after crossing the Colorado River, go left on Highway 279 - (lots of rappelling) on 279) Go south about 6 miles than right you will see a parking lot; on the trail look for red arrow signs, sometimes a bit confusing. The most technical part of the trail is the waterfall which flows into the wedge, very scenic & good adventure.

 

We just spent a month & 3600 miles traveling trails through Az, NM, Colorado & Utah with a rented but surprisingly capable Wrangler Sahara. Had a great time everywhere we went. The Sahara never failed us, even on some gnarly places. It took a lot of patience and careful planning obstacles and spotting in difficult spots, but I avoided putting any visible dings in it, and only touched lightly underneath a bunch of times at barely crawl velocity.

In the areas you mention we based out of Ouray & Moab. We far preferred Ouray, with several great passes up to Telluride and lots of other cool places to go and work the suspension and brakes. Hot spring pools at night, green lush forests and we could quickly get far away from the crowds on beautiful trails and passes, which is often difficult around Moab unless you go a ways down toward Escalante or Bears Ears. The Trail Guide books came in really handy.

 

So we ended up getting rained out of CO and we’re too short on time to do Moab. We ended up doing a quick trip thru Valley of the Gods, Monument Valley, and the Grand Canyon. Here’s a link to pics. https://www.4runners.com/threads/valley-of-the-gods.22485/

 

No bad choices once you leave the pavement! Sounds like a great trip!