I’ve always had a sense of envy for those who, while I’m barely moving, fatigued, and sweating profusely on my mountain bike, cruise by me in a Jeep listening to cool tunes with a cold beverage at hand soaking up that sweet desert heat. I enjoy mountain biking, depending on the day, and love dirt biking. But there’s just something about a Jeep that seems enticing.
Exploring the amazing area that is Moab in a Jeep was something that Tyson and I both had a strong desire to do. Thanks to Twisted Jeeps, we were able to take one of their highly equipped 4-door Jeeps out for 24 hours. We were so excited and didn’t want to waste a minute of the opportunity.
Everyone at Twisted Jeeps was accommodating in every way, including letting us pick the Jeep up the evening before as we wanted to get some photos at night, showcasing the beautiful desert sky. Tyson and I are by no means “Jeepers” and I continued to emphasize how I just wanted to go cruising on some dirt roads and not endure anything too extreme.
Joe suggested that we do an iconic 4×4 trail, Fins & Things, and explained that it wasn’t difficult but was a classic example of a Moab jeep route. I was hesitant but figured it would be fun to experience what real Jeepers do with their Jeeps.
We picked up the Jeep with ease and headed back out to our campsite on Potash to eat some dinner before heading out with the Jeep. We had ridden dirt bikes over Hurrah Pass before, and thought it would be a beautiful nightscape and backdrop. It’s an amazing drive during the day but everything changes at night. The desert at night is more silent than any silence I’ve ever experienced and stars flood the night sky making it one you could only ever dream of.
If you make it to the top of Hurrah Pass in a Jeep at night, or anywhere for that matter, make sure you shut her down for a minute so you can experience this epic silence. It’s unimaginable.
We left for Hurrah Pass around 8 pm and made it back to camp just after midnight. We made it to the summit and then proceeded down the backside for approximately 2 miles (we stopped a ton and took photos so this is not a good reference of timing). It’s an incredible area to explore and will lead you eventually to Chicken Corners where you can overlook the Colorado River.
Immediately after returning to camp we got settled into the tent and set our alarms for bright and early. We wanted to catch the first morning light. Our alarm came far too soon, but we were excited and eager for what the day had in store for us.
We left from our campsite on Potash Road by about 5:30 and headed up Long Canyon Road, and up Pucker Pass, which got us to the top of the mesa. It’s incredible to be driving into a canyon lined with steep, towering walls and thinking eventually, we’re going to be on top of that mesa way up there. Long Canyon road is not only a gorgeous road on the way up but the views at the top prove to be more than amazing and overlook the tiny dirt track you were just traveling.
Our plan for the day was kind of scattered, as there were a few roads we really wanted to explore. We would make a bit of a loop, but as is most adventures we embark on, our plan would be adjusted throughout the day. Ultimately, we wanted to head up Pucker Pass, down Gemini Bridges road, back up the pavement to Canyonlands, and down the Shafer Switchbacks onto the dirt road that leads back to Potash Mine. After reaching Potash, we would then head into town and out to Sand Flats Recreation Area for Fins & Things.
Only a few miles down the road from where Long Canyon Rd. comes out on pavement is the turn for Gemini Bridges. We headed east into the sun. Gemini Bridges was a pretty simple dirt road and it was neat to stop and check out the bridges. We were slowly easing into the jeeping experience. There were some enticing landscapes on Gemini Bridges Rd. and I was constantly in awe of our surroundings. Hank was banging and bouncing around in the back and I’m not so sure he was loving the experience.
We made it down to Highway 191 without any problems, except we started to feel a bit like we hadn’t gotten much sleep as were up a little early. After turning north on Highway 191, we took off towards the Canyonlands and Dead Horse State Park turnoff, which was only a couple of miles up from the Gemini Bridges turn.
Going into Canyonlands, we were a bit uneducated with what we needed to do our how we could get to Shafer Switchbacks. We also were unsure if we need a permit if we were only going down the switchbacks and out Potash Road (upon further investigation, if you are only doing the switchbacks and not heading out on the White Rim, we were told that we did not need permits). The lady at the guard station of the park could not give us any answers and told us we could continue down the road to the ranger station, where they could help us with answers, but only after paying a $25 entrance fee.
We didn’t feel like it was worth the $25 to head down the switchbacks (which at the time we didn’t even know if it was possible) so we turned around and came up with a different plan. Instead of unexcitingly cruising back down the highway, we decided to head down Long Canyon Rd. It wasn’t a super challenging or time-consuming road and we loved the views. From there, we would cruise west on Potash and head up the Schafer Switchbacks.
Near the top of the pass, with steep narrow walls and hallow sandy draws, we stopped so I could walk down and take some photos of the Jeep crawling down. As I crested the blind hill, I could see a couple Jeeps on their way up so we waited while they made their way up. One Jeep passed after only a few seconds of waiting but the other vehicle wasn’t moving. We waited some more. They never moved. We parked the Jeep on the very little bit of a turnout that there was and went down to the struggling couple.
There, in the middle of this not overly challenging but definitely tedious at times road, were two Chinese people scampering about trying to figure out what to do. Their rented 4-runner wouldn’t make it up a steep sandy section of road. They were trying to get to Canyonlands and perhaps looked at a map and took the most direct route there. Little did they know, we were far below the nicely paved highway that went straight to Canyonlands.
The husband literally said, “we straight from Hong Kong,” and wondered if we could help them get their car up. We knew deep down that we weren’t really Jeepers but figured that we could be more help to them than them not having any help.
They didn’t speak much English and when Tyson asked if the 4-Runner was four wheel drive or all wheel drive, he replied with a simple “yes.” We assumed it was all wheel because we could not find a button or switch for 4-wheel. It sure didn’t seem like a 4-runner as it slipped and skidded up the sand and in the same position every time, it would spin out and stop.
It was not working. Tyson stuck his head up under the body and realized that in fact, this nice couple had rented a 2-wheel drive vehicle. It refused to make it up the loose and sloppy section. The husband was very persistent, and he wanted Tyson to continue to try. So he did.
Finally, Tyson persuaded the two-wheel drive 4-Runner up the sandy mess and the couple couldn’t be more pleased! They told Tyson that they would never forget him, and they continued up the rocky route towards Canyonlands.
Moving forward, we knew we didn’t have time to go out Shafer Rd. so we headed towards town where we would catch Fins & Things in the Sand Flats Recreation Area.
Within 10 minutes of being on the trail, Tyson was already screaming! I was lucky enough to have the job of taking photos so I got to get out of the Jeep through all the hairy (in our opinion) sections! The steep drops were intimidating but the Jeep barreled through everything without a problem.
Fins & Things was really pretty with a emblematic desert backdrop and the La Sal Mountains towering in the background. We were glad it was recommended, as it was a classic Moab 4×4 trail experience.
We started the trail around 1 pm and, just as Joe had suggested, it took us 4 hours to complete. We arrived back in town just in time to hit the car wash with the Jeep and get back to the Twisted Jeeps Shop by 6.
Being in a Jeep for 24 hours was not only a fun experience but it gives you access to so many beautiful views and areas that without a Jeep or other off-road vehicle, many would not be able to experience.
In the Utah desert, opportunities to explore are endless and having an off-road capable vehicle like a Jeep, makes the exploration much more enticing and easy! If you’re interested in renting a Jeep in the Moab area, be sure to check out Twisted Jeeps. Not only do they offer highly equipped Jeeps, their customer service and genuine friendliness is unrivaled. The Jeeps are equipped with larger than stock tires and wheels, a winch, aftermarket suspension, off-road bumpers and more so you can make it through the most difficult Moab trails, or any simple dirt roads with ease and piece of mind.
