Getting remote - Escalante Grand Stair Case Trip With R1T

[Bobrobheimer]

Took the R1T on what has been an annual spring trip to the Utah desert. This was the one thing we did each year where I wasn’t sure an ev could manage, but with some modifications to our usual plan it went well.

We normally camp the whole trip, but to make it work we had to rent a hotel room in Boulder UT that has a level 2 charger so that we could charge overnight on the way to and then again a few nights later on the way back. I had a few periods of range anxiety but we didn’t cut it too close at any point.

Love how the tuck can handle on road so well and then also go to off road mode. I do need a more durable set of tires that don’t impact range though. Got my second puncture in the stock 21s on this trip. Plugged it, aired it up and carried on though.

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[No_Name5330]

I also go down there a few times a year with the Riv! The roads down there are just perfect for what they can do both on and off the pavement. I am surprised that you didn't just charge up in Escalante instead of going all the way to Boulder Mtn Lodge for the night.

 

[mikehmb]

Took the R1T on what has been an annual spring trip to the Utah desert. This was the one thing we did each year where I wasn’t sure an ev could manage, but with some modifications to our usual plan it went well.

We normally camp the whole trip, but to make it work we had to rent a hotel room in Boulder UT that has a level 2 charger so that we could charge overnight on the way to and then again a few nights later on the way back. I had a few periods of range anxiety but we didn’t cut it too close at any point.

Love how the tuck can handle on road so well and then also go to off road mode. I do need a more durable set of tires that don’t impact range though. Got my second puncture in the stock 21s on this trip. Plugged it, aired it up and carried on though.

Where did you go? I've been all around Southern Utah but still (still!) haven't done it in my Rivian. Used to be a 1-2x/year adventure, and I'm itching to go back. Considering going and staying a night in Escalante on the way in and out to charge, then hitting Hole-in-the-Rock all the way to the end.

 

[Bobrobheimer]

We were coming from the front range and usually do a few things/spend a night or two at the San Rafael swell on the way down. That made our last fast charger Green River and put Boulder Closer than Escalante. After that we headed down hole in the rock road for a couple nights - did peekaboo and spooky and then out Harris wash road to see the cosmic ashtray for the first time.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

That toilet though. I could never convince my wife to go do this kind of thing!

 

[Bobrobheimer]

That toilet though. I could never convince my wife to go do this kind of thing!

My wife is not a big camping fan! She liked the two hotel nights. The first few years it was just me and my older one on this trip.

(A while back I built out a very nice sprinter van and we did a couple month trip in that - my wife still felt like that was roughly it! I mostly backpack camp solo or with just my kids these days - much easier to pack for! )

 

[mikehmb]

We were coming from the front range and usually do a few things/spend a night or two at the San Rafael swell on the way down. That made our last fast charger Green River and put Boulder Closer than Escalante. After that we headed down hole in the rock road for a couple nights - did peekaboo and spooky and then out Harris wash road to see the cosmic ashtray for the first time.

I've never done Harrish Wash rd or gone down to Cosmic Ashtray, but spent plenty of time along HitR to Spooky and Peekaboo, then Egypt 3, Neon Canyon, and a bunch of others. Amazing area. I've got a picture of me hanging upside-down rappelling through the hole above the pool at Neon ... somewhere around here.

Looks like a great trip. Thanks for the tips! Really gotta get back out there ...

 

[No_Name5330]

We were coming from the front range and usually do a few things/spend a night or two at the San Rafael swell on the way down. That made our last fast charger Green River and put Boulder Closer than Escalante. After that we headed down hole in the rock road for a couple nights - did peekaboo and spooky and then out Harris wash road to see the cosmic ashtray for the first time.

The Cosmic ash tray is a pretty amazing sight especially when you can almost drive right up to it. before i knew about the alternate entrance we would do the 8 mile hike in from the backside which wasn’t quite as enjoyable but still amazing views!
Also would recommend Egypt 1 as a nice and easy starter canyon if you have the gear for it.

 

[Bobrobheimer]

The Cosmic ash tray is a pretty amazing sight especially when you can almost drive right up to it. before i knew about the alternate entrance we would do the 8 mile hike in from the backside which wasn’t quite as enjoyable but still amazing views!
Also would recommend Egypt 1 as a nice and easy starter canyon if you have the gear for it.

Cool shot!

I haven’t done any technical canyoneering to date but as my kids get a bit older I would like to dabble. I have wanted to do Egypt 3 for years and we have done the hike route into the start a few times but haven’t actually done it - last year there was too much water.

 

[Thunderbolt Adventure]

Wow! That looks like a fantastic trip!

 

[HyperionMark]

Curious about your punctures in your 21s. Do you think regular AT tires would have saved you in those cases? (off roading newb but trying to learn more)

 

[Bobrobheimer]

Impossible to say for sure but I have gotten a lot of flats in ev tires the last few years while getting zero flats in the last two decades with other tires and vehicles. I have gotten two punctures in the r1t stock tires so far (less than a year ownership) and my wife has had three pictures in our model 3. (About one per year) The vehicle weight probably plays a role but I also had a sprinter van that was heavier and had no flats. I ran the S/T Maxx tire on that and my Tacoma. I think there’s just so much more material on the type of AT tire that it just takes more to actually puncture. Pretty sure those particular tires would crater range on the Rivian though.

My plug flailed today - I think the puncture was too long really to be plugged. I had to swap on my spare which was the previously punctured tire that was plugged and patched. I was really wanting to get full use out of the stock tires but I feel like I might just need to abandon ship on the 21s rather than keep buying new tires!

 

[HyperionMark]

Impossible to say for sure but I have gotten a lot of flats in ev tires the last few years while getting zero flats in the last two decades with other tires and vehicles. I have gotten two punctures in the r1t stock tires so far (less than a year ownership) and my wife has had three pictures in our model 3. (About one per year) The vehicle weight probably plays a role but I also had a sprinter van that was heavier and had no flats. I ran the S/T Maxx tire on that and my Tacoma. I think there’s just so much more material on the type of AT tire that it just takes more to actually puncture. Pretty sure those particular tires would crater range on the Rivian though.

My plug flailed today - I think the puncture was too long really to be plugged. I had to swap on my spare which was the previously punctured tire that was plugged and patched. I was really wanting to get full use out of the stock tires but I feel like I might just need to abandon ship on the 21s rather than keep buying new tires!

If you are looking for ATs that aren't horrible on range (and even have a 3PM logo for what that's worth) you should consider the Nitto Nomad Grapplers. I've loved mine and they aren't horrible on range or noise.

 

[SLVRon]

I took my R1S to Escalante last week. Coming from SW Utah I left home with 100%, charged up to 99% again at the Supercharger in Bryce Canyon City, and that was enough for a few days running around the desert (Cosmic Ashtray, Devil's Garden, etc.). Needed about 30 minutes of charging at Bryce again on the way home to get me home with ~20%. There was a hotel with a Tesla Destination L2 charger in Escalante, but I didn't need to use it.

I didn't air down for Hole-in-the-rock as I have the 20's and I'm used to driving on rough roads. Aside from a patch of deeper sand on Harris Wash it was pretty smooth sailing.

Got pizza (twice) at the Escalante Outfitters

Cosmic Ashtray. It was blowing a gale that day so tough to get a good shot.

The Devil's Garden is also worth a stop.

 

[hikerneil]

I LOVE seeing this post as I am a huge fan of Southern Utah / Northern AZ. I make at least one or two trips to this area from Southern California every year. Zion, Escalante, Kanab, Buckskin Gulch, and White Pocket are some of my favorite spots. I have held off pulling the trigger on an R1S to date as I was concerned about range and getting to these remote areas. I currently travel to these spots in my 2024 Lexus GX550 Overtrail and I have had great experiences with off-roading through miles and miles of deep sand to get to places like White Pocket. It's very encouraging to see your trip report - it may be exactly what I need to finally pull the trigger.

Here's my question: I am planning to buy a 2026 R1S Dual, Max Pack, 20" All-Terrain Wheels (comes with Soft Sand Mode & Underbody Shield), Sound & Vision Package, & Autonomy+. Will that spec give me what I need for trips like the one you decribe above? Or, do I need to also add the Performance Upgrade?

Thanks!

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