TheSamba.com :: View topic - Moab Area/Syncro Solstice Trail Runs 2011-2013 & beyond.

Fri Mar 01, 2013 5:03 pm

Hey All - trying to get an inventory of 2wd and 4wd trails in Moab area that Syncronaut & 2WD'sters have traveled/flogged their rides on in Moab area. List your favorite trail, a link/description, 2wd or 4wd, photos (?), and why its your favorite (scenery, tech, metal on rock action, etc).

Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:03 pm

Moab Area/Syncro Solstice Trail Runs 2011-2013 & beyond. :bay_blue: Go to the Solstice post lot's of pictures. The hardest and best run Hells Revenge, been there done that! This year will try something less hard! And less costly ! Also on U-tube . :D Syncro Solstice: May 16-19, 2013; Moab, UT
Solstice 2012: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=488956
Solstice 2011: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=439039
Hell's Revenge the movie: https://vimeo.com/43476654

Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:28 pm

There is a ton of great stuff to glean from the Syncro Solstice pages and the associated media. You get an idea of what the vans are really capable of, and what it takes to tackle a certain trail. There is a ton of stuff on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Syncro-Solstice/160698587418511, and a total shload in the gallery here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw//forum/album_search.php?search_keywords=Syncro+Solstice

I think for the average person and rig, it is really hard to beat Spring Canyon Bottom. The pics and videos are flat out bonkers, the scenery is outstanding, borderline terrifying, it is really fit for anyone. All around outstanding trail in my opinion. The kids hit that every year at the Solstice. Thank you Tom Ice, one of the Syncro Solstice Pioneers for this classic:

I'd be interested to hear some other favorites as well, both from the 2wd and 4wd drivers. Just in time, cus the sun is coming!

Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:39 pm

Onion Creek is a nice 2WD-friendly trail. Awesome scenery, good camping(if there's an empty spot), and you get to cross the same creek about twenty times. Fun stuff.

Sat Mar 02, 2013 6:06 am

from Hans J's post on the Syncro Solstice FB Page. Here is some commentary on the trails we did at SyncroZest, aka SyncroSandblast.
Lots of great trail info and pictures in this thread as well.

(sorry, cant cut copy and paste on my 3 incher, so just sent screen shots to photobucket)

The book he references is:
Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails 2nd edition [Paperback]
Charles A. Wells

Here are some of Vickery's descriptions pretrip of what trails we intended to take. FTR, I think we did all of these and even more 8)
dave vickery wrote:
These kind of go together because of where they are located.

Thursday afternoon (leave at 4:00 from Camp)
Picture Frame Arch near camp - 5 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=98
Or Tusher Tunnel off 128 North 20 miles scenic drive up 128 then 1 mile drive http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=182
Or a hike somewhere

Friday
Dellenbaugh Tunnel & Secret Spire Coming in from Dubinky Well Road off 313 out to secret spire, then return and take the spur out to Dellenbaugh tunnel.
(3/4) Secret Spire - 19 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=227
Dellenbaugh tunnel http://climb-utah.com/Moab/dellenbaugh.htm
Map http://www.traildamage.com/trails/secret_spire/maps/map_big.gif
Friday Afternoon – Mill Creek hike http://www.utah.com/thingtodo25112.htm

Saturday
Bull Canyon network of trails. (2/3)Bull Canyon - 6 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=24 You get there from 191 north of town, starts on Gemini Bridges road.
First turnoff is a spur through Little Canyon. This is too hard a trail (4/5) but we will be coming in from the Gemini Bridges easy side and can go as far as we want. http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=144
Then back out to Gemin Bridges road and down into Bull Canyon. Then back out and continue on Gemini Bridges to Arth’s Pasture trail which should be doable (3 /4) http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=225
It takes you out to highway 313. Gemini Bridges road also goes out to 313 if Arths is too hard.
This is the map of that network of trails http://www.traildamage.com/trails/bull_canyon/maps/area_map.gif
Then into town for supplies/gas before heading up to La Sal Pass Saturday afternoon/night
Find a camp somewhere up off the La Sal Pass trail
(2) La Sal Pas- 18 miles http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=133

Sat Mar 02, 2013 3:00 pm

The Kokopeli trail runs through there. I have found myself on it in a few places when I was just out exploring. I don't know the places that are manageable vs difficult, but here are some awesome photos of it to get you in the right frame of mind. The trail is a multi use trail that runs from Colorado to Moab and would be awesome on a supported dirt bike or mountain bike trip. Well, o.k. parts of it would be cool in a van too. Might take some digging to find access points for the easier sections.
http://www.google.com/search?q=kokopelli+trail+moa...mp;bih=448

Tue Mar 12, 2013 1:56 pm

bump!
Alright, see lots of vanagons in Moab when down there, what's your favorite trail/drive??

Tue Mar 12, 2013 5:54 pm

i did Dome Plateau in my syncro with another family with a jeep and we thought it was fun.

http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=213

it was not terribly difficult or death defying, but it had enough fun sections to keep it from being boring, and a few of the hard sections had hard or easy routes for those willing to take the option. the hardest non-option is at the very beginning where you have to clear a fairly decent sized ledge, but even that wasn't bad at all.

it also has some great vistas, some cool caves, old cabins, old mine shafts and even some cool arches. it's long, but i think not terribly bad for a big group because it's not a ton of hard stuff one after another. good all day ride for sure, but it's nice since there's lots of great places to stop along the way. you can even hit the old cave house on the side of the road on the way back.

Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:47 pm

For the 2WDs...

On pavement:
La Sal Road Loop (was going to do this last year but that bike ride left me half dead so I wasn't up for that much driving :| :lol: ; did the river drive instead)

Colorado River Byway (this year, I'm bringing my inflatable kayak... if anyone wouldn't mind being a one-way shuttle while doing this scenic drive, let me know)

Potash Scenic Byway

On dirt:
Haven't a clue.

Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:42 pm

Has anyone done White Rim in their Syncro?
I have on my XR650 several years ago...the only dangerous part is the first mile...is the turning radius okay for twenty hair-pins on the cliff?

Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:43 pm

GoWestyYoungMan - have driven the White Rim in my gen1 Xterra, mostly in 2wd (w/ LSD), and only had mandatory 4WD on a single climb. 4LO would be good for a couple of the descents, however. As for Syncro, I'd guess there would be no problems with a stock'er/no locker.

I've been up/down the switchbacks you referred to on both ends of the trail with my 2WD Westy, so no issue with those sections of road. Likely the aformentioned climb would be a showstopper for a 2WD w/out LSD. Not sure if LSD would be sufficient, as I dont know the capabilities of Westy w/ limited slip. (Dave V??)

Come on down to Solstice in May!

Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:11 pm

A Very Solstice Pic -

I don't know who took this, or where, but it is a rad pic. Perhaps this is Chicken Corners?

By the way, Solstice Registration is open!

www.SyncroSolstice.com

Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:03 pm

Hey Johnny - I'll claim that pic. Its Tom (Fairweather) on his way back from Lathrop Canyon last year. Great trail run!

Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:07 pm

I meant to make the pun a little more clear...A VERRY Solstice Pic.

But yes, Lathrop, ok. I didn't go down Lathrop with you guys, and bombed back to camp. Nice pic man! That was a late night for your guys if I remember.

Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:47 pm

Yes I was going to say that looks like Tom's rig, too. Lathrop was very cool. We did roll in rather late that day, I was glad Mamma Zestini saved some sketty for us!

Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:38 pm

tencentlife wrote: Yes I was going to say that looks like Tom's rig, too. Lathrop was very cool. We did roll in rather late that day, I was glad Mamma Zestini saved some sketty for us! That was some well placed sketty indeed. I am still waiting to collect on that :wink:
Rainbow Terrace was pretty cool for a night. Could not make it much past where we camped without some creativity though.

You guys are killing me with all this Moab talk....
thinking I will bring this one next time if I can shake it down in time, however, I cannot make it this year due to work. :cry:
This one came predented for me :idea:
what are the odds...

Tue Mar 26, 2013 6:00 pm

^^^ Carterzest, this is the third syncro that I looked at in the last couple months to be bought by a samba member in the last week. I dig that van, he had a lot of cool stuff to go with it and the price was reasonable. Glad to see all these vans getting snapped up by people that will treat them right.