We're based in Denver, Colorado, at the foot of the Rockies—so when the itch to explore hits, we don't fight it. We loaded up the rig and set out west with one mission: find the kind of off-the-beaten-path adventures that test your limits and reward your courage. Hidden gems, iconic landmarks, and the kind of weird roadside discoveries you only make when you commit to the road less traveled. This is how we did it.
Stop 1: Moab, Utah – Where the Earth Shows Its Bones
The adventure started before we even reached Moab. Right where I-70 meets Route 191, there's Area 52—an alien-themed gas station decked out in UFO murals, sticker-bombed walls, and gold toilets. We grabbed their legendary jerky, snapped a photo with the extraterrestrial décor, and fueled up for the red rock wilderness ahead. The best road trip stops are always the ones you didn't see coming.
Moab itself is a proving ground—for spirit, for gear, and for anyone who thinks they've seen rugged terrain. We drove straight to the Sand Flats Recreation Area, home to the world-famous Slickrock Bike Trail, but kept going. The 17-mile Sand Flats Road ends where the pavement gives way to dirt and the reward is a breathtaking, crowd-free vista overlooking a massive valley and sheer cliffs. The kind of place where you unfold your camp chair, sit down, and don't say a word for a while.
The Whole Enchilada mountain bike trail is a rite of passage out here. A grueling 27-mile, expert-level descent that drops over 7,000 feet from the alpine forests of the La Sal Mountains to the desert floor. You book a shuttle to the top and commit to 5 to 8 hours of relentless trail, finishing at the Porcupine Rim Trailhead parking lot. For four-wheeled thrills, Area BFE is a 320-acre private off-road park built for pushing UTVs and 4x4s to their limits on challenging slickrock obstacles. We closed out Moab with sunset at Arches National Park and a well-earned meal at Arches Thai.
Moab to Sedona: Valley of the Gods & Ancient Lands
Southern Utah doesn't let go easily, and we weren't in a rush. Heading south on Highway 191, we stopped at Wilson Arch—a massive 91-foot span of Entrada Sandstone, just a five-minute hike from the road and worth every second.
The real find on this stretch was the Valley of the Gods. Just north of Mexican Hat, a 17-mile dirt loop winds through the valley floor on BLM land. Free to enter, uncrowded, and stunning in a way that earns the name. Towering red rock buttes and mesas rise from the desert like ancient monuments—Monument Valley's quieter, wilder counterpart. The graded gravel road doesn't require 4x4, although we recommend it, but it feels a world away from any paved highway.
Here's a tip most people will never find. At coordinates 37°18'53.0"N 109°51'29.6"W along the Valley of the Gods Road, just north of Castle Butte, there's a small parking pullout on the right at the base of a giant rock formation. You'll know you're in the right spot if you look over the hill and see an old abandoned rusty car riddled with bullet holes—that's your landmark. From there, head north into the mountains up a trail that will quickly fade into a dried riverbed. The trail isn't marked, and the terrain is steep and loose in places—expect scrambling and real route-finding. Push through and the far side of the rock opens up into a wide, flat area. Remote, quiet, and one of the best dispersed camping spots we've ever found. The full loop around the rock is about a mile and drops you right back at the road. This is the kind of place Furnigami gear was made for: uneven ground, no flat surfaces, and a view that makes it all worth it.
The San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff rose on the horizon as we continued south—the highest mountain range in Arizona, volcanic cones standing as a testament to the region's fiery past.
Stop 2: Sedona, Arizona – In the Shadow of the Red Rocks
Sedona commands attention the moment you arrive. Towering red rock formations, ancient history carved into the landscape, and an energy that's hard to put into words. We fueled up at Freeform Coffee and went looking for ruins. SR 89A west to Forest Road 525, about five miles in where FR 525 veers left—we continued straight onto FR 795 to the Palatki Heritage Site, where ancient cliff dwellings are tucked into the rock face. A few more miles down FR 525 brought us to the Honanki Heritage Site—self-guided Sinagua ruins that offer a profound connection to the people who called this place home centuries ago.
The afternoon was all adrenaline. We rented a UTV and tackled the Outlaw Offroad Trail—a rugged 4x4 route through the dramatic Lousy Canyon Ravine, across the historic Woodly Bridge, and up the famous Schnebly Hill Road. The climb delivered panoramic views stretching for miles across Sedona's iconic red rock landscape. That night, dinner at Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano was the reward a day like that demands.
Stop 3: Joshua Tree, California – Where Two Deserts Collide
California hit like a different world. Joshua Tree is stark, surreal, and deeply quiet—a landscape that invites you to slow down and pay attention. We drove to Keys View, perched on the crest of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, where panoramas of the Coachella Valley, the Salton Sea, and the San Andreas Fault stretch out below. Near the park's south entrance, free dispersed camping on BLM land gave us a night under a sky so full of stars it didn't look real. The Bajada Nature Trail—a short, flat loop through the Colorado Desert's unique flora—was the perfect way to settle in before dark.
Stop 4: Ojai, California – A Hidden Valley
After weeks of dust and desert, Ojai delivered something different. This town sits nestled in a valley northwest of Los Angeles, and it has a way of resetting everything. We checked into the historic Hotel El Roblar, a beautifully restored 1919 property where the resident Aldabra giant tortoises—Abra and Cadabra—set the pace. North on Highway 33, Wheeler Gorge offered roadside swimming holes like Mosler Rock—pull off to the side of the road and scramble down for a freshwater dip that washes the trail dust away. We kept driving Highway 33 after that, and it earned its title as Hagerty's 2024 Road of the Year. The road winds and climbs over the Topatopa Mountains to over 5,000 feet, with summit views that stretch to the edge of the earth.
Stop 5: Mount Diablo, Bay Area – The View That Earns Its Name
California had one more summit to offer. Mount Diablo State Park near Walnut Creek delivered one of the most expansive views of the entire trip. The drive to the 3,849-foot summit is short, but the payoff is enormous—the Bay, the Central Valley, and the Sierra Nevada all laid out in a single, staggering panorama. We set up our camp chairs at the top and stayed longer than we planned. Some views demand that.
The Home Stretch: Bonneville Salt Flats & Salt Lake City
With the California leg behind us, we turned east on I-80 and headed back into Utah. Just before Salt Lake City, we pulled off at Exit 4 near Wendover for one last stop: the Bonneville Salt Flats. Thirty thousand acres of hard, white salt crust stretching to the horizon. When it's dry, you can drive right out onto the flats—no speed limit, no landmarks, just an endless expanse of white. The legendary home of land speed records, and the perfect, otherworldly bookend to a trip that started in the red rock desert.
Our last night on the road was Salt Lake City. If you find yourself passing through, make it count. The fried chicken sandwich from Pretty Bird is a crispy, spicy, perfectly balanced masterpiece—one of the best in the country. And Spritz! is a downtown spot serving creative sodas topped with cream, coconut, and other inventive additions. No alcohol, just perfectly crafted fizzy drinks that hit different after weeks on the road.
The Road Goes On
We left Denver looking for off-the-beaten-path adventures, and the American West delivered in ways we never expected—alien gas stations, ancient cliff dwellings, salt flats, swimming holes, and summit roads that tested everything we brought with us. This trip was a reminder that the best moments are the ones you earn. The road is still out there. When you answer the call, tag us at @furnigamicamp. We can't wait to see where it takes you.
