The morning after the eclipse, we talked with a ranger inside Canyonlands’ bustling visitor’s center. We were looking for some place without the crowds we could do in an afternoon. They had just the ticket.

A nearby road simply marked “HIGH CLEARANCE REQUIRED” (highlighted map below) led through 7 miles of Oh. My. God. four-wheeling to soaring cliffs overlooking the Colorado River. At times it was relatively easy single-track, while others we were turned on our side or hoping to clear one giant boulder or another.

The first time taking our F-250 off-road and this is what we do?

Hearing word from returning drivers, shaken from their own bouncy rides, that the last mile or so was particularly treacherous, we ditched the truck along a cliff and hiked the remaining distance to view the river below. It was remarkable how well sound carried, and we could hear the conversations of boaters way, way down.

After inspection, Carl probably could’ve made his way up over the two particularly technical areas, but it was better safe than lose an axel, especially since we were in a cellular dead zone with hardly anyone else around.