Trail Run Planning Dinosaur Ntnl Mnmt Area - Sept 18-21, 2026 - Cool Cruiser Truck Club Camping Collab Continued - Please read first post

timmbuck2

timmbuck2

Land Use Coordinator
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Cruise Moab Committee
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6,050
Location
Denver
Please add me to the interested group! Checking schedules....
 
allen.wrench

allen.wrench

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Messages
829
Location
Syracuse, UT
Alrighty folks we are less than two weeks away from getting together in the Dinosaur Monument area. As of 09092026 1630 MT I have the following tally:

If you are in the INterested and Probably categories please confirm if you are or are not planning to be part of the group Sept 18-21 in the Dinosaur area. Who is 100% committed & confirmed, and who is going to plan on next year?

Everyone is totally welcome, primary reason I want to know is to account for you when we're out there. I.e. do we need to send out a search & rescue party, or did you choose to do something else?

Also, two general PSAs:

1) Checking the NPS and BLM websites it seems there are both Stage 1 & Stage 2 fire restrictions in effect throughout the route I planned. We will lean on the safer restriction, Stage 2, unless we are told otherwise by the authorities. So my understanding is we are allowed pressurized fuel fires such as propane or butane because they are contained and have a fuel on/off switch. If you have a propane firepit, please bring it. Group campfires are AWESOME!

If folks really want a wood fire and you can spare the room, there might be some rangers we could talk with to ask for fire restriction clarification in any specific area we are camping. But otherwise plan on propane, or other pressurized fire only.

The links I have been reading:
Dino NPS link: https://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/news...ment-implements-stage-2-fire-restrictions.htm
UT BLM: https://utah-fire-info-utahdnr.hub.arcgis.com/pages/active-fire-restrictions
CO BLM: https://www.blm.gov/programs/fire/regional-info/colorado

Please sanity check me on the fire restrictions. Sometimes it can be confusing. I want us to keep our public lands healthy and accessible for a long time. Being irresponsible with fire would ruin everything, so we will do our best to avoid that.

2) Folks are likely leaving similar areas at similar times. Maybe consider caravanning. I know @Wild-FJ reached out suggesting folks from the Denver area drive out together and/or get lunch before getting to Friday night's campsite.

Along with confirming commitment to join the group, everyone please feel free to comment on your travel plans.

I am only here to enable and help organize these shenanigans :D

Allen
 
Johnny Utah

Johnny Utah

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Joined
Mar 6, 2015
Messages
1,614
Location
Arvada
My buddy Scott A. and I are still committed. I can leave anytime on Friday if people want to caravan. I will be heading out west via I-70 to Rifle most likely.

Scott
 
Slingwing

Slingwing

Brand New
Joined
Apr 4, 2026
Messages
8
allen.wrench said:
Alrighty folks we are less than two weeks away from getting together in the Dinosaur Monument area. As of 09092026 1630 MT I have the following tally:

If you are in the INterested and Probably categories please confirm if you are or are not planning to be part of the group Sept 18-21 in the Dinosaur area. Who is 100% committed & confirmed, and who is going to plan on next year?

Everyone is totally welcome, primary reason I want to know is to account for you when we're out there. I.e. do we need to send out a search & rescue party, or did you choose to do something else?

Also, two general PSAs:

1) Checking the NPS and BLM websites it seems there are both Stage 1 & Stage 2 fire restrictions in effect throughout the route I planned. We will lean on the safer restriction, Stage 2, unless we are told otherwise by the authorities. So my understanding is we are allowed pressurized fuel fires such as propane or butane because they are contained and have a fuel on/off switch. If you have a propane firepit, please bring it. Group campfires are AWESOME!

If folks really want a wood fire and you can spare the room, there might be some rangers we could talk with to ask for fire restriction clarification in any specific area we are camping. But otherwise plan on propane, or other pressurized fire only.

The links I have been reading:
Dino NPS link: https://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/news...ment-implements-stage-2-fire-restrictions.htm
UT BLM: https://utah-fire-info-utahdnr.hub.arcgis.com/pages/active-fire-restrictions
CO BLM: https://www.blm.gov/programs/fire/regional-info/colorado

Please sanity check me on the fire restrictions. Sometimes it can be confusing. I want us to keep our public lands healthy and accessible for a long time. Being irresponsible with fire would ruin everything, so we will do our best to avoid that.

2) Folks are likely leaving similar areas at similar times. Maybe consider caravanning. I know @Wild-FJ reached out suggesting folks from the Denver area drive out together and/or get lunch before getting to Friday night's campsite.

Along with confirming commitment to join the group, everyone please feel free to comment on your travel plans.

I am only here to enable and help organize these shenanigans :D

Allen
Click to expand...
Allen, I am on the Probably list; unfortunately this is too close to our AZ friends visit. Hope this doesn't earn me demerits...these are trips I look forward to. Safe travels to all.
 
M

marcus clarkus

New-ish
Joined
Nov 26, 2025
Messages
10
Hey I’m 100% in and looking forward to it

I downloaded Gaia and your map works. I’ll have a few extra GMRS radios if someone needs to borrow one. Leaving from Denver area around noon on Friday and down to caravan.

One of my coworkers brought a propane firepit to our annual department camping trip and it was awesome. I’ll ask her if I can borrow it.
 
Wild-FJ

Wild-FJ

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2026
Messages
37
I am 100% all in. FJ Cruiser is half packed and I am ready!
My plans are to arrive in Dinosaur, CO around 12:30 - 1:30 ish.
Get a quick lunch, Gas and then migrate to the campsite for an early
afternoon set up. Anyone interested or will be arriving around that time
is welcome to join. The 7-10 day outlook for the weather looks great.
 
MileHigh80Guy

MileHigh80Guy

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Joined
Nov 19, 2024
Messages
129
Location
Arvada
Maintenance generally complete, new wheels and tires set up, radius arms and sleeping platform are next! (Plus some mounts for a roof rack from @nakman )... Need to get some miles on it, but looking good!

For the Denver guys, I was think to mixed up the scenery coming and going for the trip, unless anyone else is wiser and doing this route: Rifle/Meeker/Dinosaur to base camp and then Dinosaur/Elk Springs/Steamboat back to Denver? Maps, shows about the same travel time, but logistics are not factored into Google, so if anyone has a better idea, I'm all ears.

Also, toying with the idea of bringing a gluetread sidewall patches and other tread plugs instead of my 35" spare and having to move it out of the cargo area each night, plus taking up space. Trying to sleep inside vs a tent and I don't really have the space or a permanently secure mounting solution yet, expect the roof rack, which I don't love the idea of... Thoughts?
 
Johnny Utah

Johnny Utah

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Joined
Mar 6, 2015
Messages
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Location
Arvada
MileHigh80Guy said:
Maintenance generally complete, new wheels and tires set up, radius arms and sleeping platform are next! (Plus some mounts for a roof rack from @nakman )... Need to get some miles on it, but looking good!

For the Denver guys, I was think to mixed up the scenery coming and going for the trip, unless anyone else is wiser and doing this route: Rifle/Meeker/Dinosaur to base camp and then Dinosaur/Elk Springs/Steamboat back to Denver? Maps, shows about the same travel time, but logistics are not factored into Google, so if anyone has a better idea, I'm all ears.

Also, toying with the idea of bringing a gluetread sidewall patches and other tread plugs instead of my 35" spare and having to move it out of the cargo area each night, plus taking up space. Trying to sleep inside vs a tent and I don't really have the space or a permanently secure mounting solution yet, expect the roof rack, which I don't love the idea of... Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Bring your spare. Then you’re guaranteed not to need it.
 
W

Well Sorted

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2017
Messages
233
Location
Englewood, CO
I gotta bow out. My wife got booked on a work trip next week and I'd have to bring both kids. The 5 year old can handle it but the 3 year old isn't much for long rides and days on the trail. Next year I hope!
 
T

Trail Bum

Rising Sun Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2019
Messages
135
Location
Castle Rock, CO
Unfortunately, I have to back out because of a work conflict. I really hope it works out to go on this trip in the future. I was looking forward to this trip for a few years.
 
Runnin on E

Runnin on E

Wincher
Joined
Jul 7, 2026
Messages
55
Location
Outside
I am still committed and looking forward to this event. Might drive up (from La Veta) on Thurs or early Fri.
 
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