Spinnin' Fours 4x4 Club of Southern California

I am going back to San Rafael Swell this fall. This area is about as scenic as it gets in Utah, in fact, in any other state it would be a National Park! I have heard that the Obama administration is considering the area as a National Monument, so I want to go there as much as possible before that happens and there are too many rules and closures. Right now it is all BLM with many designated routes and several Wilderness Study Areas, but not many rules and regulations beyond that.

The area is extremely scenic, with rock formations, high altitude grasslands, slot canyons, petroglyphs and historic mining and cattle ruins. The wheeling is mostly dirt roads with more difficult options available. Last year I did not do much more than easy 4x4 since I was by myself. I intend to push that this year to 4x4 only areas, especially if someone is with me.

I am going 9/25/10 to 10/2/10. That will be Saturday travel days. This is a long haul, just 2 hours shy of Moab, off of I-70 between Richfield and Green River.

We will use a great campsite I found last year as a base camp and return there each night. There is plenty of dead fall Pinyon Pine and Juniper wood in the area, so no need to bring firewood. This is total primitive BLM camping. The nearest water and gas are 45 min to 1 hour away in Green River. So bring extra of both.

The campsite is northeast of I-70 about 20 minutes via graded dirt road and the last mile a primitive road. I made it no problem in my 2WD Dodge with camper, towing the 4 Runner. BIG motorhomes would not like it, but smaller motorhomes should be fine. There are areas where larger motorhomes could get in, closer to I-70. Those sites are better known and more crowded though.

Watch this first post. I will update it as needed.

Going at this point: Updated 9/17/10

Me (12 hour drive up on Sat)
Fred and Veneta (splitting up the drive, spending Fri night in Mesquite, staying until Wed)
Tim and Nancy (Sat and Sun, then back home to SLC, returning Thur) (Tim is the guy I met there last year. He built the camp and blazed the access road to it. He has been going to the Swell for 30 years!)

<update 8/20/10> I got my vacation time approved. The trip is on 100%.

Now for some pictures:

What a beautiful area! We plan to go if we can work out our visit with our daughter and grandchildren which is scheduled around the same time. To make for shorter travel days we're probably going to leave Friday and stay either in Las Vegas or Mesquite that evening and continue on to Utah Sat. morning.

OK Fred. Let me know when you decide if you are going or not.

We can meet up somewhere in Utah on Sat. You will never find the camp without me.

Will do....
Fred

Wish I could tag along

I do too... It is an awesome area, in fact, it is my new favorite place to go in Utah. It says a lot that I have only 1 week for a wheeling trip other than KOH and I will go to The Swell every time, as often as possible, before they make it a National Monument and RUIN it.

Maybe you can make it next time?

Steve, here are some pics of the new axle housing I put in the 4Runner, as I mentioned in my PM to you...

Cool ! That will work.

We've made reservations at Mesquite for the 24th (Friday)-thought we could meet up with Mark sometime Sat. morning....

Sounds good Fred. I will call you next week to firm everything up.

At this time I plan to leave at 5 or 6 AM on Sat. So I should be rolling through Mesquite around 11 or 12. I tow at 70 to 75 (hills allowing) once I get out of CA, so you may want to get ahead of me and let me catch up if you don't like to travel that fast. With the help of cell phones we will meet up.

I am really glad that you and Venetta are able to make it!