Rock Therapy Road Trip: Grand Canyon, Zion and Moab

Anyone from Arizona interested in turning Rock Therapy into a road trip, join me.
I am leaving out of Tucson mid day on Friday May 27
I will update the itinerary as I work out more details.

Tentative Itinerary:
Fri May 27 (Day 1) - Head to Grand Canyon (havasupai Point Camp) 372 mi
Sat May 28 (Day 2) - Horseshoe Bend (Lone Rock Beach Camp) 187 mi
Sun May 29 (Day 3) - Mt. Carmel Junction -Barracks Trail to Coral Pink Sand Dune- Hurricane City Zion, UT (Camp on Mesa Ridge Just Outside Town) 190 mi
Mon May 30 (Day 4) - Zion Sceenic Byway/Bryce Canyon/Red Canyon (Casto Canyon to Losee Canyon Loop) 100 mi
Tues May 31 (Day 5) - Hole in Rock/Glen Canyon (Camp) 90 mi
Wed June 1 (Day 6) - ?Potential Float Day?
Thurs/Sat June 2 (Day 7-9) - Moab RT 2016 190 mi
Sun June 3 (Day 10) - Head Home 570 mi



-Current Route-

Anyone have ideas for good trails to hit at GC, Antelope, and Zion please let me know.
Great Stuff has been coming in and I have updated my route. Will Continue to as well.

Notes:
Zion - OHV Trails
Red Canyon

 

I know an awesome spot to camp on the rim of you want. I'll find my thread on it

 

Please do, that would be fantastic

 

Will do at lunch. I think it's in post #2 of my 4Runner build. Click on it in my sig

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Pho...bac!2m2!1d-112.0740373!2d33.4483771!3e0?hl=en

My buddy and I did this 2.5 years ago on the way to his wedding in Moab.

Phoenix to Gooseberry Mesa outside Hurricane, UT. Slept on the rim to wake up looking north towards Zion NP. Rode a some of the Gooseberry trails on our MTBs.

It was during the Gov't Shutdown, so we got to drive thru Zion and Bryce for free on Day 2, but couldn't stop or explore. Camped off Hole in the Rock Rd outside Escalante, UT the second night.

Between Escalante and Boulder, UT is an incredible change in scenery to start day 3. Turned east from Boulder on Burr Trail Rd which eventually turns to dirt in the Grand Staircase Escalante Nat'l Monument. Stayed on dirt all the way south of the Henry Mtns until hitting the highway again. Debated and kinda unsuccessful on finding/deciding on a good site that afternoon, so hightailed it the rest of the way to Moab.

Spent a few days there riding and offroading, then he got hitched on Saturday before hauling ass home Sunday. Almost all the driving was daylight except late on day 2 to maximize scenery. There a TONS of dirt road options in the southern half of UT if you're willing to get off the beaten path and avoid all the looky-loos in the parks. Rainbow Rim is also a pretty awesome spot to camp on the Grand Canyon North Rim.

 

Here you go. PM me for details if you'd like them.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lake-powell-to-the-grand-canyon.387159/

 

I have a route change suggestion. If you don't go so far north from Zion, you can cut more northEAST to hit Bryce Canyon (amazing) and the highway through the Escalante is awesome, then jump a little more north to drive through Capitol Reef... and then loop it to I-70 over to the Moab area. Taking 89 to I-70 means missing a hell of a lot of cool landscape and points of interest.

 

Gooseberry Mesa looking towards Zion

Gooseberry Mesa



Approaching Bryce Canyon



Camping off Hole In The Rock Rd


Vista east of Escalante





Grand Staircase/Henry Mountains

 

Rainbow Rim, north rim of Grand Canyon/Kaibab National Forest

 

I am so excited, thank you guys soo much!

 

I'm in, unless something crazy happens at work... filed for leave today!

 

Now we just need to get Phil @TucTaco520 to commit!

 

You know I want to! We'll talk more tomorrow.

 

Andrew @JeepAndrew if you interested in doing more than just RT, let me know sir

 

Might just be RT bud, but I will keep you posted!

 

DO IT

 

Went to horseshoe bend on the way home from Moab 2 years ago, it was awesome. I recommend going to Lower antelope Canyon since it's like 5 minutes from there





Also, myself and @Mademan925 and @stroM- will probably be in Zion the same time as you on our way to Moab. I'll check in when it gets closer to confirm

 

I need to find a map of the slot canyons.
You guys doing any stops or sightseeing on the way? If so whats your plan?

 

Still up in the air. Nothing really solidified as of yet, just that we are going to Zion first

 

See you in Moab COUSIN! I got the time off, I hope it's ok if a 4Runner comes.