Page Topic 6 Trails Listed by Area 7 Trail Locator Map 8 Trails Listed by y, Ratings Defined 10 Trails Listed Alphabetically & Author s Favorites Contents 11 ITRODUCTIO 13 How to Use This Book 13 Selecting the Right Trail for Your Vehicle 14 Moab and Its Backcountry 16 Moab Easter Jeep Safari 16 Safety Tips 18 Desert Survival 20 Checklist 21 Your Responsibilities as a Backcountry Driver 23 Canyonlands ational Park 24 Arches ational Park 24 ational Forest Service & Bureau of Land Management 25 Route-Finding Tips 25 Backcountry Driving Lessons 31 Other Activities, Final Comments 32 Map Legend 33 THE TRAILS (Individual trails listed on next page) 34 Area 1- orthwest Moab & Arches ational Park 74 Area 2- Central Moab 140 Area 3- East Moab & Manti-La Sal ational Forest 172 Area 4- Southwest Moab & Canyonlands ational Park 214 Extreme Trails 215 APPEDIX 216 Glossary 217 Helpful Books and Maps 218 Addresses & Phone umbers 220 Moab 4x4 Clubs, Safari Contact Information 221 About the Author 222 ATV Trails Guide, Moab, UT Elephant Hill, Trail #53,. 4 5
Trails Listed by Area Pg. o./trail, Rating (, Mod., Diff.) 34 AREA 1 orthwest Moab & Arches ational Park 36 1. Book Cliffs, Sego Canyon (E) 40 2. White Wash Sand Dunes (M) 42 3. Tower Arch (M) 44 4. Tusher Tunnel (E) 46 5. Hidden Canyon Overlook (M) 50 6. Hidden Canyon (E) 52 7. Bartlett Overlook (D) 56 8. Bartlett Wash (E) 58 9. Sevenmile Rim (D) 62 10. Rainbow Terrace (M) 64 11. Secret Spire, Dellenbaugh Tunnel (M) 66 12. Spring Canyon Point (E) 68 13. Spring Canyon Bottom (E) 70 14. Hey Joe Canyon (M) 72 15. Mineral Point (E) 74 AREA 2 Central Moab 76 16. Gemini Bridges (E) 78 17. Metal Masher (D) 82 18. Long Canyon (E) 84 19. Bull Canyon (M) 86 20. Gold Bar Rim (D) 88 21. Poison Spider Mesa (D) 92 22. Golden Spike (D) 98 23. Cliff Hanger (D) 100 24. Hurrah Pass (E) 102 25. Moab Rim (D) 104 26. Pritchett Canyon (D) 108 27. Kane Creek Canyon (D) 112 28. Behind the Rocks (D) 116 29. Strike Ravine (D) 120 30. Picture Frame Arch (E) 122 31. Flat Iron Mesa (D) 126 32. Hell s Revenge (D) 130 33. Fins & Things (D) 134 34. Sand Flats (E) 136 35. Steel Bender (D) 6 Pg. o./trail, Rating (, Mod., Diff.) 140 AREA 3 East Moab & Manti-La Sal ational Forest 142 36. Onion Creek, Fisher Towers (E) 144 37. Dome Plateau (M) 148 38. Top of the World (D) 150 39. Dolores Overlook (E) 152 40. Rose Garden Hill (D) 156 41. Thompson Canyon, Polar Mesa (M) 160 42. Castleton Gateway (E) 164 43. Geyser Pass (E) 168 44. La Sal Pass (M) 172 AREA 4 Southwest Moab & Canyonlands ational Park 174 45. Potash, Shafer Switchbacks (E) 178 46. White Rim (M) 184 47. Lathrop Canyon (M) 188 48. Chicken Corners (M) 190 49. Lockhart Basin (D) 194 50. Lockhart Canyon (M) 196 51. Canyon Rim Overlooks (E) 200 52. Overlook (M) 202 53. Elephant Hill (D) 206 54. Lavender Canyon (M) 210 55. Beef Basin (E) 214 Extreme Trails Photos, directions and GPS locations: Area BFE Potato Salad Hill Rusty ail For information on ATV trails, see page 222. SALT LAKE CITY 70 Green Ruby Ranch Green Salt Lake City 2 AREA 1 Pg. 34 CAYOS UTAH Area Detailed Below Floy Exit 175 Crescent Junction Exit 182 Blue Hills Rd. Dubinky Well 7 5 6 10 8 14 12 11 13 DEAD 15 HORSE POIT STATE 53 46 1 4 17 16 20 22 19 18 21 45 47 52 Trail Locator Map Thompson Springs Exit 187 Trails Trails Trails See individual area maps for more detail. ote: Exit numbers have changed recently. Correct as of Jan. 2008. 50 9 48 49 3 ARCHES 23 24 211 25 26 128 Moab AREA 4 Pg. 172 54 51 55 70 35 27 28 30 GRAD JUCTIO 32 33 31 Exit 204 eedles Overlook 211 34 29 128 37 Cisco 36 Castleton/ Gateway AREA 2 Pg. 74 Exit 214 38 40 46 La Sal To Monticello Dewey Bridge 41 La Sal Mtn. Loop 43 44 AREA 3 Pg. 140 39 42 MATI- LA SAL FOREST COLORADO 0 10 miles 7
Trails Listed by y Trails are grouped into three major categories: easy, moderate and difficult. Within each group, trails at the top of the list are easier than at the bottom. If you drive a trail and find it too easy, try one lower on the list. Conversely, if you find a trail too difficult, try one higher on the list. You may have to skip several trails on the list to find a significant difference. Trail Ratings Defined Trail ratings are very subjective. Conditions change for many reasons, including weather and time of year. An easy trail can quickly become difficult when washed out by a rainstorm or blocked by a fallen rock. You must be the final judge of a trail s condition on the day you drive it. If any part of a trail is difficult, the entire trail is rated difficult. You may be able to drive a significant portion of a trail before reaching the difficult spot. Read each trail description carefully for specific information. 8 * trail Go to * www.funtreks.com updates Easier More Pg. o./trail 160 42. Castleton Gateway 134 34 Sand Flats 56 8. Bartlett Wash 164 43. Geyser Pass 142 36. Onion Creek, Fisher Towers 66 12. Spring Canyon Point 196 51. Canyon Rim Overlooks 36 1. Book Cliffs, Sego Canyon 100 24. Hurrah Pass 120 30. Picture Frame Arch 44 4. Tusher Tunnel 50 6. Hidden Canyon 72 15. Mineral Point 76 16. Gemini Bridges 210 55. Beef Basin 150 39. Dolores Overlook 82 18. Long Canyon 68 13. Spring Canyon Bottom 174 45. Potash Rd., Shafer Switchbacks : Gravel, dirt, clay, sand, or mildly rocky road. Gentle grades. Water levels low except during periods of heavy runoff. Full-width single lane or wider with adequate room to pass most of the time. Where shelf conditions exist, road is wide and well-maintained with minor sideways tilt. Four-wheel drive recommended on most trails but some are suitable for twowheel drive under dry conditions. Clay surface roads, when wet, can significantly increase difficult or may be impassable. Pg. o./trail 194 50. Lockhart Canyon 156 41. Thompson Canyon, Polar Mesa 206 54. Lavender Canyon 200 52. Overlook 40 2. White Wash Sand Dunes 64 11. Secret Spire, Dellenbaugh Tun. 178 46. White Rim 168 44. La Sal Pass 42 3. Tower Arch 184 47. Lathrop Canyon 188 48. Chicken Corners 46 5. Hidden Canyon Overlook 84 19. Bull Canyon 62 10. Rainbow Terrace 144 37. Dome Plateau 70 14. Hey Joe Canyon : Rutted dirt or rocky road suitable for most sport utility vehicles. Careful tire placement is often necessary. Four-wheel drive, low range, and high ground clearance required. Standard factory skid plates and tow hooks recommended on many trails. Undercarriage may scrape occasionally. Some grades fairly steep but manageable if dry. Soft sand possible. Sideways tilt will require caution. arrow shelf roads possible. Backing may be necessary to pass. Water depths passable for stock high-clearance vehicles except during periods of heavy runoff. Mud holes may be present especially in the spring. Rock-stacking may be necessary in some cases. Brush may touch vehicle. Pg. o./trail 58 9. Sevenmile Rim 148 38. Top of the World 52 7. Bartlett Overlook 130 33. Fins & Things 190 49. Lockhart Basin 202 53. Elephant Hill 116 29. Strike Ravine 108 27. Kane Creek Canyon 98 23. Cliff Hanger 126 32. Hell's Revenge 152 40. Rose Garden Hill 88 21. Poison Spider Mesa 122 31. Flat Iron Mesa 78 17. Metal Masher 86 20. Gold Bar Rim 136 35. Steel Bender 102 25. Moab Rim 92 22. Golden Spike 112 28. Behind the Rocks 104 26. Pritchett Canyon : Some trails suitable for more aggressive stock vehicles but most trails require vehicle modification. Lifts, differential lockers, aggressive articulation, and/or winches recommended in many cases. Skid plates and tow hooks required. Body damage possible. Grades can be steep with severe ground undulation. Sideways tilt can be extreme. Sand hills very steep with soft downslopes. Deep water crossings possible. Shelf roads extremely narrow; use caution in full-size vehicle. Read trail description carefully. Passing may be difficult with backing required for long distances. Brush may scratch sides of vehicle. 9
AREA 2 Central Moab 16. Gemini Bridges (E) 17. Metal Masher (D) 18. Long Canyon (E) To I-70, Crescent Junction 16 19 17 18 DEAD HORSE POIT STATE 19. Bull Canyon (M) 28. Behind the Rocks (D) 20. Gold Bar Rim (D) 29. Strike Ravine (D) 21. Poison Spider Mesa (D) 30. Picture Frame Arch (E) 22. Golden Spike (D) 31. Flat Iron Mesa (D) 23. Cliff Hanger (D) 32. Hell s Revenge (D) 24. Hurrah Pass (E) 33. Fins & Things (D) 25. Moab Rim (D) 34. Sand Flats (E) 26. Pritchett Canyon (D) 35. Steel Bender (D) 27. Kane Creek Cyn. (D) 20 23 22 21 Kane Creek ARCHES Moab 25 26 32 Kane Creek 128 Potato Salad Hill 33 35 Spanish Valley Drive To Area 3, I-70, Cisco 34 128 AREA 2 Central Moab Fourteen of twenty trails in Area 2 are rated difficult. They include nationally known names like Poison Spider Mesa, Golden Spike, Moab Rim, Pritchett Canyon, Behind the Rocks and Hell s Revenge. Obstacles include, among others, White Knuckle Hill, the Golden Crack, Rocker Knocker, High Dive, Hell's Gate and the Escalator. Many of the trails are featured in the popular Easter Jeep Safari. Where possible, trails match the routes driven during the safari. However, some longer routes have been shortened and include only the best parts of the trails. Other routes like Steel Bender, Bull Canyon and Hell's Revenge have been expanded, with new side trips and obstacles. When I drove Area 2 back in 1999, for the first edition of this book, route-finding on slickrock trails was almost impossible. This time, trails were better marked with painted symbols and black tire marks. It was much easier to find my way. This allowed me to simplify my directions and to use fewer GPS waypoints. Strike Ravine, Trail #29, is new to this book. The trail has taken on extra importance because of its proximity to newly opened Area BFE, a privately owned extreme 4x4 playground open to the public. (To find Area BFE, see page 214.) CAYOS 24 Chicken Corners Trail #48, see Area 4 27 30 28 To Manti- La Sal.F. 29 Area BFE Grid size - 5 miles 2008 FunTreks, Inc. MII KEY Paved Unpaved More Trails Shadowed portion of trail described in text. 31 To La Sal 46 To Area 4, Monticello Descending final section of Moab Rim, Trail #25, above the,. 74 75
Gemini Bridges 16 Location: From Moab, head north on Highway about 10 miles and turn left into a large parking lot. The turn is 1.3 miles before Highway. y:. The once-rocky road has been tamed with rock-grinding equipment. One steep hill after Waypoint 02 still requires four-wheel drive. Features: Beautiful scenery on way to remarkable Gemini Bridges. The bridges are not apparent until you get close and look down. An extremely popular mountain bike route. Please slow down to minimize dust when passing. To view bridges from below, see Bull Canyon, Trail #19. Turn left on road before Gooney Bird Rock for good camp spots. Mountain bikers walk across one of two bridges. It's a long way down, so be careful. View from high shelf road. GPS Waypoints (Datum WGS84) 01 38º 39.38 W 109º 40.66 02 38º 36.00 W 109º 40.41 03 38º 35.78 W 109º 41.63 04 38º 35.23 W 109º 42.58 05 38º 35.52 W 109º 43.47 06 38º 35.74 W 109º 44.18 76 Gemini Bridges MII KEY Paved Unpaved More Trails Shadowed portion of trail described in text. To Canyonlands ational Park To Hwy. METAL MASHER Trail #17 06 Gate Four-Arches Canyon 05 Arths Pasture P 04 2008 FunTreks, Inc. To I-70 METAL MASHER Trail #17 03 Gemini Bridges Campground P 01 Gemini Bridges High shelf road Gooney Bird Rock 02 Start BULL CAYO Trail #19 To Moab GOLD BAR RIM Trail #20 Grid size - 1 mile Time & Distance: It is 7.8 miles to Gemini Bridges and another 5.6 miles to Highway. Allow 2 to 3 hours for this 13.4-mile trip, plus return time. Trail Description: Reset odometer when you turn left off Highway [01]. Pass through parking lot, cross railroad tracks and turn left. Follow road south along the tracks and turn right uphill in less than a mile. Follow twisting shelf road as it continues south, high above Highway. Watch for busy traffic. Descend into a wide valley and continue south past distinctive Gooney Bird Rock. At 4.9 miles [02], turn right at T intersection and climb steep hill. Bear right at 5.4 miles (left goes to Bull Canyon, Trail #19). Bear left at 6.5 miles [03] (right goes to Metal Masher, Trail #17). At 7.5 miles, bear left (right bypasses Gemini Bridges). Stay left into clearing at 7.7 miles. Continue short distance and find a place to park at 7.8 miles [04]. Hike 0.2 miles south downhill to arches (trail is marked with white painted dashes). Return Trip: Return the way you came or exit west to Highway. To exit west, reset odometer, head north from where you parked and turn left. At 0.9 miles [05], turn right at T (left goes to interesting Four Arches Canyon). At 1.6 miles [06], turn left on wide gravel road and head west. When you reach Highway in another 3.7 miles, turn right to return to Moab. Left goes to Canyonlands ational Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. You can also return to Moab by turning left on Highway and going down Long Canyon, Trail #18. From there, a left on Highway returns to. Services: Gas and snacks available at campground on Highway, just north of Highway. Fee parking lot at start sometimes has porta-potty. Vault toilets at view areas along Highway. Trail Information:, Moab Field Office (see appendix). 77
Bull Canyon 19 Starting Point: From Moab, head north on Highway about 10 miles and turn left into parking lot for Gemini Bridges, Trail #16. Reset odometer. Cross railroad tracks and turn left. In less than a mile, follow the road right uphill, then south along a high shelf road. Continue through valley past Gooney Bird Rock to T intersection at 4.9 miles. (Gold Bar Rim goes left here.) Turn right and climb steep hill. Turn left at 5.4 miles to start. spots have bypasses. y:. Much of this trail follows a rocky creek bed which can change after storms. A couple of difficult spots have bypasses. Suitable for aggressive, high-clearance SUVs. Features: Fun drive through narrow canyons and sandy swales that goes past hiking trailhead to bottom of Gemini Bridges. Park here and hike short distance to incredible view of bridges from below. Trail continues west from Waypoint 04 and eventually narrows where you must turn around. Take short trip south to Surprise Overlook into gaping Day Canyon. Sandy road through canyon is fun to drive. HWY. 84 Bull Canyon MII KEY Paved Unpaved More Trails Shadowed portion of trail described in text. Gemini Bridges 2008 FunTreks, Inc. 04 05 METAL MASHER Trail #17 GEMII BRIDGES Trail #16 Grid size - 0.5 miles Hike to bottom of Gemini Bridges. HWY. 01 02 Steep hill Start 03 06 Day Canyon GPS Waypoints displayed in Degrees and Decimal Minutes (Datum WGS84) 01 38º 35.80 W 109º 40.87 02 38º 34.93 W 109º 40.90 03 38º 34.69 W 109º 40.66 GOLD BAR RIM Trail #20 Surprise Overlook Little Canyon () 04 38º 34.88 W 109º 42.13 05 38º 35.07 W 109º 42.30 06 38º 34.62 W 109º 40.37 Time & Distance: From start to bridges is about 3.2 miles. Trail continues about a mile west after the hiking trail. Surprise Overlook is 0.4 miles more. This trip, by itself, is a good half day adventure from Moab. Trail Description: Reset odometer as you turn left off Gemini Bridges [01]. Head south on wide road that gradually narrows and gets rougher. Stay right at 1.1 miles [02]. ( to left is difficult side trip through Little Canyon that connects to Gold Bar Rim, Trail #20.) At 1.5 miles, turn right downhill into Bull Canyon [03]. Trail winds through narrow wash then opens up into a valley with towering rock walls. Stay on the main route at all times. Stay off illegal side hills. Continue straight at 2.1 and left at 2.9. Wind between sand hills, until you reach hiking trail on right at about 3.2 miles [04]. Park here and hike north about 0.3 miles to reach bottom of Gemini Bridges. [05]. Trail continues west and narrows to point where it is difficult to turn around. Use caution not to go too far. To reach Surprise Overlook, return to Waypoint 03 and turn right. Stay left in sandy wash until trail ends at sandy knoll after another 0.4 miles [06]. Walk south for view into Day Canyon far below. Careful, no guardrails. Return Trip: Return the way you came. (Option: Little Canyon) Services: Gas at campground on Highway, just north of Highway. Trail Information:, Moab Field Office (see appendix). 85
Cliff Hanger 23 Steep ledges at start of trail. Pick your level of difficulty at the Z-Turn. arrow shelf road along cliff edge. Starting Point: From the McDonald's Restaurant on Highway on the south side of Moab, head west on Kane Creek. Bear left at the first major fork and follow Kane Creek south along the river. Continue on a wide gravel road after pavement ends. After a parking lot for bikers, continue a bit further to Amasa Back Bike Trail on the right. Total distance from McDonalds is 5.9 miles. y:. This trail was filled in with dirt for maintenance recently, but the dirt is quickly washing away. Make no mistake, this trail is strictly hardcore with many big ledges and challenging obstacles. Although the big step on the ledge road is tamed somewhat, a new tippy spot has developed farther down the trail. Trail not suitable for most stock vehicles. Features: Real challenges with incredible scenery, especially at the end. Heavy bike traffic. Be courteous. Pull over and let bikers pass. Time & Distance: Main route is 4.3 miles one way. Add 1.4 miles for side trip to overlook. Allow 3 to 4 hours for everything. Vehicle slips dangerously off ledge at Waypoint 03. 98 04 Cliff Hanger MII KEY Paved Unpaved More Trails Shadowed portion of trail described in text. 2008 FunTreks, Inc. Dangerous tippy spot 03 TRAIL #45 Jackson Ladder bike carry Jackson Hole Grid size - 0.5 miles 01 38º 31.45 W 109º 36.10 02 38º 31.15 W 109º 37.12 02 Big step on ledge road. Turn around at final overlook. Start of Trail #21 Z-Turn P COLORADO RIVER MOAB 01 P TRAILS #24, #27 GPS Waypoints displayed in Degrees and Decimal Minutes (Datum WGS84) Kane Creek Start Kane Creek 03 38º 31.80 W 109º 38.01 04 38º 31.63 W 109º 38.54 Trail Description: Reset odometer as you turn right off Kane Creek [01]. Air drive down immediately and drop down steep ledges. At bottom of hill, cross creek, follow trail to left up difficult ledge. Stay right at 0.4 miles. Driver's choice at 1.1 miles; circle around to right or cut across slickrock. Bear right at 1.7 where a lesser road goes left before reaching the Z-Turn at 1.8 miles. Zigzag right then left uphill. Stay left at 2.2 miles [02]. on right goes to great overlook of Poison Spider Mesa and. As you proceed north on the main trail, it narrows and drops down along the cliff edge with a big step down at 2.5. Continue straight at 3.1 where a lesser road goes right to another overlook. Be very careful at 3.3 miles [03]. You must straddle a narrow ledge that tips you to the right. It's easy to roll over if your right tire slips into the soft dirt. The trail appears to end at 3.5. Make a hard right here up some big ledges. Once on top, swing right then back to the left. At 3.6, climb to opening at top of barren slickrock. At 4.0, stay left up bank. Turn around at scenic viewpoint at 4.3 miles [04]. Great spot for lunch. Caution: dangerous cliffs have no guardrails. Return Trip: Return the way you came. Option: Add side trip to overlook. Services: one. Return to Moab. Trail Information:, Moab Field Office (see appendix). 99