Conditions report (Gemini Bridges, Pucker Pass/Long Canyon)

[Scott P]

Here is my condition report from Thanksgiving weekend if anyone is interested. We spent the last few days off-roading and hiking in the Moab area. My brother had a Suzuki XL-7 and new to 4wd driving so we couldn’t do anything too rough. Both trails below are excellent beginner routes and still some favorites.

Moab is a changed place from the not so distant past. Thanksgiving used to be the off-season, but there were huge crowds down there now on both the hiking and 4wd trails.

Long Canyon is a bit rougher than in the past and is quite slick going up Pucker Pass. It was passable to a Suzuki XL-7, but just barely. Something like a Jeep, 4Runner or Pathfinder will have no problem.
Gemini Bridges Trail is in good “normal” conditions. There are a lot more spur tracks at the bridge than there was in the past, so maybe the BLM should mark the main route right at the bridge.

We did Pritchett Canyon on foot and it is as rough as it always was. Several motorcyclist were driving off the main track, but they didn’t have license plates to report.

We also did lots of hiking as well, but I’ll put that on the hiking section of the forum.

Anyway, here’s one question. Has anyone done the Eye of the Whale Trail recently? It used to be not bad at all, but this time the ranger in the visitor center says the road is impassable to a stock SUV and is for modified Jeeps only so we didn’t do it. Is this really true? It used to be pretty standard for a 4wd road.

[JP]

Thanks for that update Scott

[ExpUt]

What day were you on Long Canyon? We ended up coming through there Friday night after a day on the White Rim Trail.

Our weekend: We ended up running the White Rim Trail & Long Canyon on Friday, then over the Abajo Mtns and into Montezuma Creek (southeast of Monticello) for camp Friday night. Finished the drive south and then spent the afternoon at Hovenweep, down through Arizona to Four Corners and Shiprock (new mexico) for lunch, back to Monticello on Rt 666 and then camped out on the edge of the mesa overlooking the Green near Spring Canyon (Hey Joe Canyon). Woke up this morning and made our way back out to 191, spent some time in the Swell on the way home via Black Dragon Wash and up Buckhorn to Huntington. A ton of driving (over 1100 miles and nearly 400 of that in the dirt) but an amazing trip and the rigs help up!

[Scott P]

What day were you on Long Canyon?

It was Friday, early afternoon.

We ended up coming through there Friday night after a day on the White Rim Trail.

White Rim is one of my favorites, but my brother didn't want to do it.

[moab mark]

The trail to eye in the whale can be done by a SUV, it has a few difficult spots but not to bad. You have to go in from the salt wash road since the best part of the trail washed out and the park service so nicely just closed it instead of fixing it. It's amazing what they can get away with without public input. It's really not worth the drive out there as far as jeeping unless you just want to see the arch. When you could make the loop it was a fun jeep trail but no more. I have heard just hiking to the arch on the hiking trail is pretty good?
Yea it was pretty packed over the weekend.
Mark

[Scott Card]

Pucker Pass That is one of the finer names out there. I take it that ain't the kissing type pucker they are referring to?

[Scott P]

Pucker Pass That is one of the finer names out there. I take it that ain't the kissing type pucker they are referring to?

The name comes from the huge boulder that you drive under that fell off the cliff and is leaning against the wall. It's a really neat drive.

[PolarXJ]

One of my favorite pics is driving under that rock.