Chasing Dirt Roads: A Weekend Through Moab’s Backcountry
, by OFFICIALLETWESAF, 3 min reading time
There are plenty of ways to see Moab, but I didn't drive all the way out to Utah to stay on the easy roads. I wanted dirt, rocks, open desert, and a campsite far enough away that I could actually forget about traffic for a couple of days.
So I loaded up the truck, checked the recovery gear, strapped down the cooler, and headed toward the backcountry around Moab. The plan wasn't complicated: spend the day exploring the 4x4 routes, find a legal campsite before dark, and spend the night somewhere with a view.
Moab is one of those places where the drive is part of the adventure. Red rock cliffs rise out of the desert, dirt roads cut across open terrain, and some routes quickly take you away from the more developed areas. I wasn't trying to turn the weekend into a race. The whole point was to slow down once I got off the pavement.
The Road Was the Destination
The first few hours went exactly how I wanted. We bounced along dirt roads, stopped to air down when the terrain got rougher, and pulled over whenever the landscape looked too good to drive past.
Out here, you pay attention to things you normally ignore. Tire pressure matters. Fuel matters. Water matters. A small tool kit and recovery gear can suddenly become much more important than they seemed back at home.
I also kept an eye on the time. Getting stuck somewhere remote after sunset isn't part of the plan, especially when you're still trying to find your campsite.
By late afternoon, I found a designated camping area that worked for the night. I parked the truck, unloaded the tent, and started setting up while there was still plenty of daylight.
Desert Camp After Sunset
Once camp was ready, I didn't do much. We cooked dinner, opened a few cold drinks, and watched the last light disappear behind the rocks.
The desert gets dark fast.
There aren't many lights out here, and once the sun is gone, the landscape feels completely different. You can hear things moving in the distance without being able to see where the sound came from.
I set up my LETWESAF camping perimeter alarm around the campsite before turning in. When you're camping somewhere this open and remote, I like having an extra layer of awareness around camp while I'm inside the tent.
It's not about expecting trouble. It's just part of my setup when I'm spending the night somewhere far from the nearest town.
One More Trail Before Heading Home
The next morning started with coffee, a quick breakfast, and another look at the route.
We spent most of the morning exploring a few more trails before packing everything back into the truck. There was no need to squeeze every possible attraction into the trip. Some of the best parts were the random stops—walking around a rocky overlook, checking out an old trail, or simply pulling over to take in the view.
Before leaving camp, I made sure everything was packed and the site was clean. Remote doesn't mean rules don't apply. I followed the camping restrictions for the area and made sure nothing was left behind.
The drive home was dusty, dirty, and exactly what I had hoped for.
That's what I like about off-road trips like this. You don't need a complicated itinerary. Give me a capable truck, a rough road, enough supplies, and a legal place to camp, and I'm pretty happy.
LETWESAF just comes along as another piece of gear that helps me feel prepared when the campsite is a long way from everything else.
