krowe

We are going to Arches and Canyonlands to do some hiking in June. We are renting a vehicle and I am wondering do we need a 4 wheel drive vehicle or is a car ok? We want to do a lot of hiking.

rizzo0904

We rented a regular, cheapest we could find, kinda car. We had no problems getting around the parks.

When we got to Canyonlands, we rented a jeep for the day to go off-roading.

Have fun!!!! And try to fit in Bryce and Zion if you can. Zion has an AWESOME hike called Angel's Landing. You need to use chains that are in the side of the rock to get to the top.

Bill_H

Arches has 2-WD access (paved roads) to the main sites. There are a couple of sandy 4-WD roads you can take but they are not particularly interesting, IMO.

You don't have to have 4-WD to access Canyonlands but if you have one there are some very interesting off-road spots you can access, and if you enjoy this type of activity I'd recommend renting a jeep in Moab for a day and hitting the back country.

Bill

krowe

Rizzo0904
Where did you rent the jeep for Canyonlands? That sounds fun. Where did you go off roading in Canyonlands?

utahtea

We have rented a jeep Farabee Jeep Rentals in Moab UT a couple of times and have always been very happy with their service and their Jeep Wranglers.

http://www.farabeejeeprentals.com/

You really don't need 4 wheel drive in Arches or Canyonlands to get to the main hiking paths but it is fun to go 4 wheeling in this area. My favorite is the Shafer Trail with a side trip on the White Rim trail to Musselman Arch. If you take the Shafer trail up, then you end in Canyonlands. Then take Long Canyon trail back down - or visa versa.

Another drive we really liked was out Kane Creek (which starts out paved and then turns to dirt) and up Hurrah Pass. We were running out of time so we couldn't go any farther than Hurrah Pass...but next time we will!

We did Gemini Bridges which is really fun in the beginning...but we got lost so it was kind of scary. We did this years ago when we had our own suburban and didn't have the good maps that Farabee's will supply you with. They will also help with suggestions of roads to take.

My pictures (before digital camera) of the Shafer Trail. Oh, by the way, on the Shafer Trail you drive right by the location where Thelma and Louise drove their car off the cliff!

Utahtea

otownrob

yes....yes....rent a 4 wheeler. we rented a Montereo SUV at the salt lake city airport....had a blast in Moab.

but, do you NEED it???....no, of course not.