The southeastern Utah town of Moab is world famous for its scenic and recreational opportunities. Situated on the Colorado Plateau, the geology of the area is quite varied and is what gives Moab its considerable charm. From alpine mountains to sandy deserts, Moab offers it all to the backcountry explorer. It could be said that Moab's greatest attraction is its "slickrock" - petrified dunes of sandstone that delight four-wheelers, motorcyclists, and bicyclists alike.
Great oceans once covered the land, leaving deposits that we see today. Sharp-eyed and patient explorers still find fossils of sea creatures and shells in the backcountry. Dinosaurs later roamed the area and evidence of their passing is etched in the sandstone around Moab. The dinosaur tracks at the entrance to the Poison Spider Mesa Trail are just a few of many here. Later, the Anasazi (Navajo for "ancient enemy") moved into the area and built many impressive dwellings which make for interesting ruin exploring.
3-D Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 44' 4.31" / Lon: 109 47' 4.12"
Getting There: This trail tours Hidden Canyon, Lunar Canyon, and Brink Spring north of Highway 313 and west of Highway 191. The trailhead is about 14 miles north of Moab on Highway 191 near Mile Marker 141.
Description: From canyon bottom to canyon rim to an even higher scenic overlook, the 3-D Trail gives you a taste of what it's like to four-wheel north of Moab. The canyons consist of smooth red and white Entrada sandstone layers, and the slickrock portions of the trail are on the white layer that caps the Entrada. The trail travels wash bottoms, two-track dirt roads, some slickrock, and a few loose climbs and rock ledges. For the uninitiated, some of the climbs look tougher than the square rating denotes, but few people have had problems negotiating them.
Behind the Rocks Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 26' 24" / Lon: 109 25' 44"
Getting There: From Moab, take Highway 191 south about 13 miles to the county road on the right and head west. Follow the county road above Kane Creek Canyon to the top of the Prichett Canyon Trail, and then turn up Hunter Canyon.
Description: The original Jeep Safari Trail has much to offer. Exploring the land behind the rocks is scenic and, depending on the route chosen, challenging. Most of the trail is circle- or square-rated, but Nosedive Hill, Upchuck, Phil's Hill, and White Knuckle Hill make the trail a double diamond. The trail goes down White Knuckle Hill, but even going down it's quite hard. Going back up for fun is one of Moab's toughest challenges. Highlights include Picture Frame Arch and Hunter Canyon, a beautiful drive. Once through Hunter Canyon, you can continue down Pritchett Canyon, if your equipment is up to it, or return on the maintained county dirt road.
Chicken Corners Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 28' 55" / Lon: 109 37' 29"
Getting There: Head out of Moab on Kane Creek Road at the McDonald's on Highway 191. Follow Kane Creek Road for about 11 miles, then take the right toward Hurrah Pass. From there, it's about 9 miles to the end of the trail.
Description: The trail gets its name from earlier days when only the least "chicken" would travel the narrow road. Today, the road is much wider and easier, but the scenery remains. The trail follows the Colorado River, then goes through Lower Kane Springs Canyon and up over Cane Springs Anticline (the spelling is in dispute), then up over Hurrah Pass and back over the river, ending across from Dead Horse Point. There are petroglyphs along the road, and the Kane Creek crossing can be dry or impassable after a storm. Chicken Corners is a point where the road tips toward the river 400 feet below.
Cliff Hanger Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 31' 27" / Lon: 109 36' 5"
Getting There: Head out of Moab on Kane Creek Road at the McDonald's on Highway 191. About 1 mile or so after Kane Creek Road splits away from the Colorado River Gorge, there's a small trailhead on the right. This is where Cliff Hanger begins.
Description: Cliff Hanger is the only vehicular access onto Amasa Back, a high, isolated area with unusual and spectacular views. The creek crossing at the beginning of the trail can be difficult if the water's high. The trail climbs a rocky plateau with some ledges to surmount, then rounds a point and hangs on the edge of a 1,300-foot cliff! There's a little ledge obstacle in the middle of the cliff portion of the trail that's interesting. You come back the way you went in, and the climb from the creek to Kane Springs Road has gotten to be quite challenging.
Copper Ridge Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 38' 38.02" / Lon: 109 40' 5.26"
Getting There: The trail heads east off of Highway 191, about 3 miles north of the Colorado River bridge.
Description: North of Moab and west of Arches National Park, the Copper Ridge Trail passes through beautiful sandstone formations with great views of the surrounding area including the Klondike Bluffs, Tower Arch, and other arches in the distance. A highlight is the spectacular pour-off of lower Sevenmile Canyon. When dry, the trail is quite easy, but when wet, a portion of the trail gets so slippery as to become impassable, so steer clear of this one on rainy days. The square rating is for eroded portions of the trail that will challenge stock vehicles.
Crystal Geyser Trail Rating:
Getting There: The trail turns off of Highway 191, just a little north of Moab.
Description: This trail is south of Green River township and visits the Crystal Geyser, one of several man-made boreholes that tap CO2 and cold water, making for occasional but spectacular displays about twice a day. Clay and shale road surfaces can get slippery during storms. The old mining roads have deteriorated in places and sometimes have large rocks that test vehicles with low ground clearance. The Rainbow Rocks area is very colorful.
Dome Plateau Trail Rating:
Getting There: The trailhead is near the Dewey Bridge crossing of the Colorado River, about 30 miles northeast of Moab on Highway 128.
Description: The Dome Plateau Trail explores a large highland area east of Arches National Park and north of the Colorado River. The trail can be reached by turning left off of UT 128 after crossing the Dewey Bridge. The southern highlands portion of the trail passes through juniper and pine country and accesses a spectacular overlook of the Colorado River and UT 128. Back to the north, you enter the Poison Strip and Yellowcat, two highly prolific uranium mining areas peppered with old roads and mines. A highlight here is the great sandstone caves, where many different people have stayed over the ages. Check out the rock art and graffiti around the caves.
Elephant Hill Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 8' 31" / Lon: 109 49' 35"
Getting There: This trail is in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, about 75 miles from Moab. Take Highway 191 south out of Moab for about 40 miles, then turn west on Highway 211 and go another 35 miles. Maps can be found at the ranger station.
Description: This trail is in Canyonlands National Park, so an entrance fee is required. Also note that NO pets are allowed - even in a vehicle. The Elephant Hill Trail starts at Elephant Hill, which can be difficult for some even though the NPS filled some holes with concrete. The switchbacks on the backside are interesting as you drive forward till a switchback, then back down to the next switchback, and so on. The Silver Stairs features some ledges that are interesting, while the Squeeze is a very narrow slot that fullsize vehicles sometimes have trouble with. The Elephant Hill Trail travels through Cedar Mesa Sandstone, which gives Canyonlands its beautiful color.
Fins and Things Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 34' 47" / Lon: 109 29' 55"
Getting There: The trail begins a few miles east of Moab on Sand Flats Road. You pass the Moab dump, Lion's Back, Hell's Revenge, and the Slickrock Bike Trail along the way. The trail starts shortly thereafter on the right, although there are a number of turnoffs.
Description: Accessed by the Sand Flats Road, Navajo sandstone fins northeast of Moab supply the fun on this trail. As with almost all Moab trails, Fins and Things Trail is exceptionally scenic. There are views into deep Negro Bill Canyon and of the red rock rim at the base of the La Sal Mountains. There are some steep ups and downs that will cause those with longer overhangs to scrape. Frenchie's Fin and Ken's Climb are very steep and a lot of fun.
Flat Iron Mesa Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 21' 26" / Lon: 109 26' 2"
Getting There: The trailhead is about 18 miles south of Moab on Highway 191. Flat Iron Mesa is the area south of Kane Creek and west of Highway 191.
Description: This great trail south of Moab looks into Kane Springs Canyon as well as affording some fabulous overlooks of Hatch Wash and West Coyote Canyon. The diamond rating comes from a couple of obstacles that also have easier bypasses. There is one interesting narrow spot that's off-camber and tips you toward the cliff edge of West Coyote Canyon. Fullsize vehicles sometimes have a problem here. Running the trail in reverse ups the rating to double diamond and requires locking differentials and some skill. Flat Iron Mesa is beautiful, and its diverse scenery makes it a must-see trail.
Golden Spike Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 32' 44" / Lon: 109 35' 43"
Getting There: Head northwest out of Moab on Highway 191. A mile or so past the Colorado River bridge, turn south on Highway 279 (Potash Road). After about 6 miles you'll find the trailhead for Poison Spider Mesa, which shares its beginning section with Golden Spike. The trail winds back above the Colorado River and Highway 279.
Description: One of Moab's premier hard-core trails, Golden Spike takes in much of Poison Spider Mesa and Gold Bar Rim, adding its own tough obstacles between the two. With lots of ledges that can hang up even experienced drivers, you need to be careful not to let your guard down. The scenery is great, with 360-degree cliff-edge views of Moab and its surroundings. Watch out for the Golden Crack, Golden Stairs, and the infamous Double Whammy.
Gold Bar Rim Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 35' 59" / Lon: 109 44' 22"
Getting There: The trail leaves Highway 191 to the west, about 7 miles north of the Colorado River bridge. The trail follows Little Canyon, then turns back toward the rim through Gold Bar Canyon.
Description: Gold Bar Rim Trail climbs Arth's Rim just like Metal Masher, but turns the other way to climb out of Little Valley. Some of the road is sandy, but much of it is slickrock as you climb to the rim's edge. At the rim, there's a 360-degree view of the local country, taking in the La Sal Mountains, Moab, the Book Cliffs, and spectacular views everywhere else you look. Except for a few ledges and a tough little climb on the way back out, Gold Bar Rim's draw is more scenery than tough obstacles. The trail is also used as the end of the Golden Spike Trail.
Hell's Revenge Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 34' 31" / Lon: 109 31' 19"
Getting There: The Hell's Revenge Trail begins just a little more than 1 mile northeast of Moab on Sand Flats Road. You'll pass the Moab dump on the right and Lion's Back on the left.
Description: Moab's premier slickrock trail is popular with 4x4s, mountain bikers, and motorcyclists alike. Hell's Revenge traverses the slickrock between Sand Flats Road and the Colorado River. The view from all parts of the trail is wonderful. Stock 4x4s can travel much of Hell's Revenge, but some obstacles are double diamond. All obstacles can be driven around though, so enjoy the trail. It's amazing how steep an obstacle can be climbed on the slickrock domes of Hell's Revenge. Recently painted flames on the rock mark the trail to make it harder to get lost.
Hellroaring Rim Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 55' 13" / Lon: 109 48' 18"
Getting There: Take Highway 191 north out of Moab to Highway 313, then go west past the Dubinky Well Road. The trail is on Mineral Point between Highway 313 and the Green River.
Description: Hellroaring Rim Trail's final overlook of the Hellroaring Canyon's confluence with the Green River at Labyrinth Canyon is exceptional and worth the trip. The trail is north of Moab, with the four-wheeling part on the Mineral Point part of the Mesa Country between Hellroaring and Mineral Canyons. A pleasant family trail, there are some switchback portions and rocky areas where you will need four-wheel drive, plus a sandy hill that might offer some problems when it's completely dry. Hellroaring Window can be viewed from the canyon rim and 360-degree, 50-mile views can be had from the ridge top.
Hey Joe Canyon Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 38 47' 18" / Lon: 110 0' 5"
Getting There: Take Highway 191 north out of Moab, then turn west on Highway 313. The trail spurs to the left off the junction with Dubinky Well Road about 1-1/2 miles after leaving Highway 313.
Description: The Hey Joe Canyon Trail consists of pavement, good dirt roads, and a spectacular ledge road that winds down to Spring Canyon, then a brushy, interesting route along the Green River in Labyrinth Canyon to the old mining site in Hey Joe Canyon. The trail has no set obstacles, but rockslides and erosion change it every year giving it a square rating. The scenery is wonderful, especially Spring Canyon, which is a jewel, and Bowknot Bend, a large loop where the Green River doubles back on itself. Parts of this trail can be scary when dry and terrifying when wet.
Hole in the Rock Trail Rating: Trailhead: Lat: 37 29' 47" / Lon: 110 33' 38"
Getting There: This trail is nearly 150 miles from Moab. Take Highway 191 south past Blanding, then take Highway 95 west. At Highway 176, turn left toward Hall's Crossing. The Hole in the Rock trailhead is on the west side of the small airport. The trail itself is 30 miles each way.
Description: The eastern portion of the trail is cut out of solid rock and is known as the Hole in the Rock Trail. Long and bumpy, the trail follows an old pioneer path. The dugway has rock steps and handholds cut into the side of it, and if you climb up to the first plateau, you'll find the remains of an old wagon. Obstacles including the Chute and the Toe Tapper test neophytes' driving skill.
Hotel Rock Rating:
Getting There: Exit Highway 95 just as you climb out of Comb Wash between Mile Markers 107 and 108. After turning north off Highway 95, go north 2.3 miles. Just before crossing the creek, turn left along the creek's south side. In a few tenths of a mile, you'll go through a gate and there will be a registration box for the Arch Canyon Trail. The trailhead for Hotel Rock is within sight of the registration box but back to the east and on the north side of the creek.
Description: Both trails are in southeastern Utah, about 20 miles west of Blanding, off Highway 95. Arch Canyon is an easy to moderate trail about 8 miles long that stays in the bottom of the canyon the whole way. It crosses the creek more than 30 times. Hotel Rock is a shorter but much more difficult trail located above Arch Canyon Trail on the north side. Both offer incredible scenery and the chance to view some Anasazi ruins.