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Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > USA road trip. Denver, Moab, Las Vegas
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DSC-off



Member Since: 16 Oct 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 1342

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
USA road trip. Denver, Moab, Las Vegas
The main reason for going to the USA this year was a return visit to the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab Utah. Previous trips we had flown into and out of Salt Lake City, so this time a different route was chosen to see more of the country before and after the main event. As the plan came together it became more than just a few tag-on days. For anyone considering a first trip to the South West, this might give an idea of what is possible and I’ll include a few Land Rover pictures along the way!

Friday 12/4. Landed in Denver, -5 deg C and snowing, jackets and hats were quickly unpacked at the airport. Shuttle to hotel, a beer and bite to eat, then crash out.

Saturday 13/4. Spent the day around Lower Downtown area, sheltering between snow showers before the sun came out, “a typical Denver spring day” we’re told. Union Station (now bars, restaurants and a hotel) and the State Capitol building (1 mile above sea level) are worth a look.


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Sun 14/4. Pick up hire car, drive up into the Rockies on I-70, past the ski slopes, through the Eisenhower Tunnel and across the Continental Divide. Then downhill, drop below the snowline, through the magnificent Glenwood Canyon and lunch stop in small town of Glenwood Springs. I didn’t get any photos as I drove all day but one of our group flew Denver to Moab to meet us later and it looked like this on the 50 minute flight.


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Beyond Glenwood it becomes flatter and the temperature goes up to 25 deg C as we follow the Colorado River to the Utah border.


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After the ghost town of Cisco, take Scenic Byway 128 all the way to Moab.


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Monday 15/4. 07.00 up early, make packed lunches. 08.00 collect rental jeep. 09.00 meet up for Hell’s Revenge trial run. Our rental jeep has a few limits on where we can take it, the Hot Tubs, Hell’s Gate and the Escalator are out, but other than that we do the whole trail. A good start.
Lunch stop at Hell’s Gate.


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A few days later a friend rolled his jeep onto it’s side at this spot, Mickey’s Hot Tub.


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Tuesday 16/4. Gold Bar Rim trial. More rock steps than the slick rock of Hell’s Revenge. One road in and out, going down this dried up waterfall means there’s only one way back.


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The view from the top.


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Wednesday 17/4. Flat Iron Mesa. Great trail, a good mix of terrain sand, dirt trails, ledges and slick rock and another dried up waterfall.


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Thursday 18/4. Poison Spider Mesa. Steep climbs, ledges and slick rock, from the Colorado river up to the ridge above the town. A good mix of vehicles on this run, from 1940’s to 2019.


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Lunch Stop.


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Back down again.


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Last edited by DSC-off on 25th May 2019 11:39pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #774944 25th May 2019 8:38pm
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DSC-off



Member Since: 16 Oct 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 1342

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
The offroad machines in Moab are amazing everything, motorbikes, quads, side-by-sides, buggies, jeeps and trucks of all sizes. This started as a 90 before it was narrowed and extensively modified.


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This Range Rover built by Petersen’s magazine, has a Cummins R2.8 engine, also axle and transmission swap.


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Friday 19/4. Went to the Offroad Expo show. Loads to see, latest tyres, suspension stuff, lights, winches, supercharger kits.
LS engined mail Jeep!


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Four wheel steer Toyota truck.


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Salt Coast Defenders 90. For sale at $100,000! Not much Landrover left under there.


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Then out to Potato Salad Hill, a popular spectating spot.


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Saturday 20/4. Big Saturday, everyone meets in town for 25 of the official trail runs, to set off together at 9.00am. Some trails leave earlier if longer distances.


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It takes about 20 minutes for the convoy to pass heading North, South bound convoy is a little quicker due to fewer trails that way.


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Once the traffic clears we take the car up into the La Sal Mountains, down Castle valley and part way down the Shafer Trail. Scenic and easy to do.


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Sun 21/4. Late start from Moab, sad to leave. Heading South on long roads, through wide open spaces. We pass a few long disused gas stations.


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Four Corners is our first stop, the only place in the US where 4 states meet at 1 point. Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.


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Then on to Bluff, Utah for our overnight stop.


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Last edited by DSC-off on 25th May 2019 11:08pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #774948 25th May 2019 8:50pm
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Sulisuli



Member Since: 30 Oct 2016
Location: South west
Posts: 4788

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
Stunning pics wow 2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90
Post #774950 25th May 2019 8:58pm
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discomog



Member Since: 09 May 2015
Location: Notts/Lincs Border
Posts: 2494

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
Absolutely brilliant photos. Thanks for sharing. Thumbs Up Defender 90XS SW
Mini Countryman Cooper S
Morgan Plus 8
Post #774952 25th May 2019 9:07pm
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DSC-off



Member Since: 16 Oct 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 1342

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Thank guys, pt2 uploaded, more to follow.
Post #774979 25th May 2019 11:17pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
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United Kingdom 
Love it, thanks for sharing, love the FJ.
Post #774985 26th May 2019 5:42am
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discomog



Member Since: 09 May 2015
Location: Notts/Lincs Border
Posts: 2494

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
No wonder you like the FJ Greeni, must be something to do with the colour Whistle I must admit that they do look the business (and going up in value). Defender 90XS SW
Mini Countryman Cooper S
Morgan Plus 8
Post #774998 26th May 2019 7:31am
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Zed



Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3000

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Looked like a helluva trip. Some proper Mad Max machinery there.

Thanks for sharing.
Post #775004 26th May 2019 8:00am
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williamthedog



Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 PU Tamar Blue
Cracking write up and photos Thumbs Up
Post #775006 26th May 2019 8:11am
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DSC-off



Member Since: 16 Oct 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 1342

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Back to the road trip properly now.

Monday 22/4. Fuel up, ready for a long day and leave Bluff heading West. We’re soon back in Arizona and in a different time zone, +1hr, though we don’t realize until we check in at the hotel that evening. Highlight of the day is Monument Valley, stunning.


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On to Flagstaff for a 2 night stay, elevation 11,000 Ft. The temperature gets cooler as we climb out of the desert, trees and greenery are a welcome sight and we’re on the old Route66.


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Tuesday 23/4. Day trip to Grand Canyon. We take a 45min sightseeing flight from Tusayan, definitely worth it, then drive round the South Rim view points.


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Wednesday 24/4. Leave Flagstaff early, heading West again. After Williams we leave the new road and take the old Route 66 to Seligman, the birth place of the Route 66 revival.


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Next stop is Kingman and lunch at a proper Route 66 diner, Mr D’z.


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Leaving the ’66, on to the Hoover Dam.


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Arriving in Las Vegas after sunset, just as it is coming alive.


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Thursday 25/4. This day had been planned for a trip over the border into California and Death Valley. To be honest, we needed a day off, spent the morning in the pool and afternoon shopping. Afternoon temperature hit 36 deg C “and it’s only April…”. In the evening we hit the casino then spent our winnings on dinner.

Friday 26/4. Last day, lazy breakfast, pack and leave. One last treat for the petrol heads on the way to the Airport. The Carroll Shelby museum and factory. Wow, I want one of each please.


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Taking out the week in Moab, the trip was 1400 miles in 7 days. A good average per day, allowing time to stop off and see things. A few tag on days turned out to be packed full of iconic places and raises the bar for the next trip.
Post #775017 26th May 2019 10:19am
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6260

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
looks like you're having a great time - very envious.
Post #775024 26th May 2019 10:52am
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DSC-off



Member Since: 16 Oct 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 1342

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
It was great, it's taken a month to settle down again and find time to put the pictures together.
Travelling in the US is very easy, no language problems and everything is familiar.
Doing it is easy too once you have a route picked. Book flights, car hire, hotels, ESTA (tourist visa) and away you go. Thumbs Up
Post #775034 26th May 2019 11:59am
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Sulisuli



Member Since: 30 Oct 2016
Location: South west
Posts: 4788

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
Love to see the Hoover dam amazing piece of civil engineering Thumbs Up 2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90
Post #775101 26th May 2019 8:02pm
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williamthedog



Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 PU Tamar Blue
Great pictures and write up again. Bow down
Post #775105 26th May 2019 8:19pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
Thanks for sharing that. It looks fantastic. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #775111 26th May 2019 8:52pm
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