A Winter Desert Road Trip in a Tesla: Solitude, Sandstone, and Snow-Capped Canyons
by Zach Lindsey
Winter Desert Roadtrip
The holidays were coming fast, and I found myself waiting for an excuse to quit my job. I just needed something small—my friends had rented an Airbnb in Joshua Tree for New Year’s, and I knew I wanted to be there. That was enough of a plan.
My boss predictably gave me the push I needed. A week before Christmas, I left work for the last time and started driving south in my Model Y, with no real timeline and no obligations. Just food, water, and some vague idea that the desert would help me sort things out.
Starting in Joshua Tree
A few days in the desert with friends was the best transition I could have asked for. We hiked, made food together, played music, danced a lot—nothing dramatic, but enough to reset something in my brain. After they left, I stayed. My trip was just getting started!
East to Sedona and Flagstaff
I headed east to Sedona and spent a couple of quiet days walking around, just looking at the landscape. The red rock formations are so strange and deliberate, almost like the nature was curated rather than formed.
From there I kept driving north until I hit snow in Flagstaff. That storm was the first real test for my Tesla in winter conditions. I had new chains but hadn’t yet researched how to install them. That would come later. I waited out the storm, walked through town, and watched the snow change the color and texture of everything around me.
Grand Canyon: Walking Down to the Colorado
From Flagstaff, the drive to the Grand Canyon was quiet and stunning. Driving up to the rim of the canyon and cooking a veggie burger out of the back of my car was one of those “I can’t believe this is real” moments. I found a free Rivian charger near the South Rim and parked there overnight.
I woke up the next morning around 4am and bundled up in some warm clothes, grabbed my camera, and started walking down the South Kaibab trail. I’ve always wanted to hike Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim, but the trail up to the North Rim was closed for the winter. I did make it down to the Colorado River and back, and I got some nice snaps on my camera along the way!
Northeast Arizona: Sandstone and Space
After the canyon, I drove through the northeast corner of Arizona and stopped at Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Monument Valley. Some of the rock formations feel impossible even when you’re standing in front of them. Wind did this? Water? Aliens???
This part of the drive felt slow in a good way. I wasn’t rushing, wasn’t trying to check anything off a list. Just stopping when something caught my attention.
First Time in Utah
Crossing into Utah, I got pulled over almost immediately in a 20mph zone in Blanding. The officer got me in what felt like one of those small town speed traps, but I didn’t argue. It felt like a small toll for getting to be here.
I rolled into Moab late and found a charger at a hotel that was closed for the season. When I showed up to Arches National Park I had few other tourists to contend with. In fact, I went to the famous Delicate Arch to watch the sunrise and had the entire place to myself for an hour. I’ll never forget that feeling, almost like I was living in a beautiful post-apocalyptic world.
Canyonlands
The Needles District of Canyonlands was even quieter. In the pre-dawn freezing air I went to the first coffee shop that opened in Moab to warm myself, and that friendly barista would be the only human I encountered that entire day.
I finally got to use those tire chains on a dirt road that was mostly covered with snow and ice. It was a “4-wheel-drive only” road, which I would later find out does not include “all-wheel-drive” vehicles. I took it slow, and my car easily got me there as the temperature plunged to 1 degree Fahrenheit (-17C).
I put on my layers and departed with food and water on the 17 mile loop I had planned. the only sounds were my feet crunching through the snow, and the only other footprints were from the desert animals that lived here. It is one of my favorite walks I have ever taken, and I often found it hard to believe that I was still on the same planet!
Capitol Reef and Sparse Charging
Capitol Reef was a shorter visit. I spent a few hours hiking and left wanting to return—especially to the southern part of the park, which is more remote and harder to access.
This was the only stretch of the trip where EV charging became a little complicated. I found a small B&B that let me plug in for $10, which felt more like a favor than a business transaction. Other than that, I didn’t pay for a single charge on the whole 3,000-mile trip.
Bryce Canyon: Snow and Red Rock
Bryce was one of the places I had been looking forward to most. I wanted to see snow on red rock, in that regard Bryce Canyon was a masterpiece. The air was bitingly cold, and descending into the depths of the canyon felt like walking around in a different century.
Everything was quiet, again with very few people. I took a lot of photos but still don’t think I captured what it felt like to be there.
Zion: One Last Climb
Zion was the last major stop before heading home. I got a permit for Angel’s Landing with no trouble (another perk of traveling in the off-season). I’ve never been too afraid of heights, but that hike made me pay attention. The chains were icy in spots, and I definitely held on tighter than usual.
At the top I was alone again. Looking out at the immense empty space and stillness of Zion, I thought about how little I miss the version of life I’d left behind. I don’t need to be wealthy. I just want to keep doing things like this.
This trip was long, quiet, and at times uncomfortably introspective. But that’s when I tend to learn the most about myself. I turned my car into a small camper so that I could go on an adventure whenever I felt the urge to go. The intention was to orchestrate a life that left room for trips like this to happen.
Looking back, the best parts of my life have come from decisions like that.
Adventure logged by Zach - meet Zach!
About Zach Lindsey
Known by his trail name ‘Scratch,’ Zach is a thru-hiker, adventurer, and professional sommelier. In 2024, he completed the Pacific Crest Trail, a testament to his love for the wild. Zach is often torn between two worlds: bartending in California’s coastal cities and embarking on epic adventures in remote, breathtaking wilderness. With the Pacific Crest Trail now under his belt, the call of the trail is louder than ever. He’s now setting his sights on conquering the Triple Crown of hiking, with the Continental Divide Trail and Appalachian Trail next on his list.
