Utah Off-Road Trails

Are you looking for a trail close to Moab that provides an iconic Moab experience and is a Jeep Badge of Honor Trail? Then start the motor and head to Sand Flats Recreation Area for Fins and Things! This particular trail packs a tremendous amount of fun and grand views of the La Sal Mountains in the background while driving on the mysterious-looking "Fins and Things." "Fins" are the Navajo Sandstone slickrock formations northeast of Moab, and the "things" are what remain as the fins erode. The fins started as wind-blown dunes over 200 million years ago that got cemented into sandstone, and they are now going full circle back to sand blowing in the wind. The term "slickrock" emerged when early western settlers crossed this sandstone in wagons with wood wheels on steel rims. Those steel rims definitely didn't have the traction we have today with rubber tires. As a matter of fact, they found it rather "slick." Imagine facing down a 40-degree slope on wood and steel wheels! Fins and Things is the penultimate trail for proving just how grippy slickrock really is. You'll probably have a pretty tight grip on your seat cushion as well.

Welcome to Hell's Revenge, the world's most famous slickrock trail. Slickrock is petrified sand. The slickrock moniker dates back to when horse-drawn wagons would try to cross the seemingly easily traversed undulating sandstone. Metal horseshoes and steel-rimmed wagon wheels found no grip on the sandstone. Thus, it was called slickrock. Modern tires love the course sandstone. Moab's Hell's Revenge is considered a must-do for many wheelers. It's also in most folks' top 5 Jeep Badge of Honor Trails. When picturing Moab, the slickrock rollercoaster, fins, steep climbs, insane traction, and the two rubber tracks cresting over the hills off into the distance of Hell's Revenge is what comes to mind. If eavesdropping on conversations at any Moab watering hole, you'll hear names like Hell's Gate, The Hot Tubs, Car Wash, Micky's Hot Tub, The Escalator, and Tip Over Challenge mentioned reverently and constantly at the heart of any good Moab story. They are all on Hell's Revenge.

Traversing the red rock benches above the Colorado River, Chicken Corners is a scenic, out-and-back adventure that treats users to panoramic views of the river, Dead Horse Point State Park, and the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. The trail culminates at Chicken Corners, a narrow, sloping section perched about 400 feet above the river, where early travelers would often dismount due to the exposure. Wildlife sightings, such as desert bighorn sheep, and geological features like catacomb caves and unique rock formations add to the trail's allure. Ideal for drivers seeking a scenic and less technical offroad experience, Chicken Corners provides a memorable journey through some of Moab’s most breathtaking terrain.

Moab is one of the premier off-road and four-wheel drive destinations. Comprised of many of the most well-known trails in all United States, it has trail types that suit all drivers wheeling desires and is often called an off-roader's paradise. Amongst these trails, Poison Spider is one of the most popular and challenging trails in the area. You get amazing wheeling, and you can also take in the inspiring Little Arch with a view of the Colorado River behind it. The bold will continue to Golden Spike, Where Eagles Dare, and finish on Gold Bar Rim. Very few complete what is known as "The Trifecta."

Whenever you see the photo of an offroad-ready rig on a sandstone slab jutting out over a glorious-looking red valley, that's this trail. That is right, Top of the World is a famous trail! It is most famous for its challenge and iconic views, let alone being a Jeep Badge of Honor Trail. The inspirational view from the top is going to automatically increase your bucket list to include Onion Creek, which you will have a birdseye view of as you nest on the perch above. The challenging drive to the top, its 360° view, and the unique photo opportunity make Top of the World a story you will tell for years to come.

Moab can quickly be described as "unbelievable rock formations," and the main attraction on this trail is Gemini Bridges. Gemini Bridges are a pair of twin natural bridges that sit not far off this four-wheel drive road and are accessible via an easy hike. The bridges might be a destination, but this trail offers one heck of a journey! On top of being a great beginner road, the beautiful shelf section climbing out the valley, Gooney Bird Rock, other iconic offroad trails, and the overpowering view of the La Sal Mountains make this a trip you don't want to pass up.

Steel Bender is one of the more popular hard trails in the entire Moab area. Extremely close to town and easy to access, this trail offers an entire Moab experience in just over 9.5 miles. With towering Canyon walls, water crossings, sand dunes, slickrock fins, epic views, and ledges requiring the famous "Moab Bump", Steel Bender is non-stop fun and perfect for any adventure seeker or Jeep Badge of Honor trail hunter.

Elephant Hill, a remote Jeep Badge of Honor Trail, takes you deep into the interior of the otherworldly scenery within the Needles District in Canyonlands National Park. Many call it one of Utah's most technical 4WD routes, which may or may not be true depending on your driving skills. Without question, this trail has the most pristine scenery and solitude in the area that a remote four-wheel drive can offer. The route immerses you in thousands of colorful sandstone spires reaching up from the desert floor. Adding to this topographical wonderland, arches, washes, plateaus, and narrow slot canyons are scattered along the ever-changing trail. The park only gives out 24 day-use permits per day for Elephant Hill, so plan ahead.

Are you looking for a Moab off-road trail that is not as intense as Metal Masher or Hell’s Revenge, but still delivers the full Moab experience? Sevenmile Rim is arguably one of the top five trails to run in Moab if you only have one day. Over its 13-mile distance, the route packs in slickrock, ledges, sand, rim views, and classic red-rock landmarks. The trail travels along the rim surrounding Courthouse Pasture, with fantastic views east and south into Sevenmile Canyon. As a bonus, you can get up close to Uranium Arch, a majestic sandstone arch that feels right at home among the formations found in the national parks. Sevenmile Rim is an ideal trail for newer Moab drivers looking to build confidence while still experiencing the world-class scenery and wheeling that make this region famous.

Imagine yourself in the slickrock of Moab. Now, on that one trail that tested your rig's abilities time and time again. Lastly, picture yourself on that epic multi-day adventure away from the stress of everyday life. Now, combine each of those aspects into one breathtaking bucket list-worthy opportunity. That is just the surface of this grandiloquent adventure. Pack up your vehicle and prepare your mind to follow along a path rich in history dating back to the winter of 1879. The Mormon Pioneers decided to try a shortcut from the town of Escalante to what is now the town of Bluff. 6 weeks planned was the journey that quickly became a 6-month mission to reach their final destination. Once they transported their wagons and equipment across the Colorado River (now Lake Powell), they found that their journey was about to become arduous. Today, we have the ability to experience this strenuous trek in the comfort of motorized transport; however, it is a far cry from relaxing and easy. This journey will push you and your rig over the course of 16+ hours. Although it may be technical and demanding, be sure to bring your family and friends on this lifetime experience, taking in some of the most incredible sights that this part of Utah has to offer.

Potash Road is striking, with scenic natural, and unnatural personalities introducing themselves to you as you drive and explore the trail. Intricate canyons and hoodoos captivate you on the western end, followed by the Colorado River in the middle that begs you to pull a chair out and sit and stare at it all day. Then you reach the alien-post-apocalyptic landscape of the potash mines, asking yourself, "where on Earth am I, and what the heck is potash?" Combine all that with the stimulating Schafer Trail, and you have a great beginner's offroad adventure into Canyon Country.

Located a short distance from downtown Moab, Pritchett Canyon is an iconic trail producing a continuous adrenaline rush. This trail's insane climbs, off-camber turns, and daunting ledges test the skills and endurance of the most experienced drivers and well-built machines. With a reputation of being the gnarliest Jeep Badge of Honor trail in the Moab area, this heart-pounding trail demands careful navigation and technical prowess, rewarding those who conquer its challenging obstacles with breathtaking views of towering cliffs and expansive vistas. If you want to put your off-roading skills to the ultimate test, gear up, grab some buddies, and embark on the journey of a lifetime through one of the most renowned offroad destinations in the world.

A short distance north of downtown Moab, Metal Masher features steep ascents and descents, off-camber sections, and numerous ledges up to 48 inches tall. The trail is peppered with large boulders, narrow ledges, and tight squeezes. All demand precision driving. A popular trail not only for its technical rock crawling challenges but also for its breathtaking scenic views from atop Arth's Rim, it's no surprise Metal Masher is recognized as a Jeep Badge of Honor trail.

Easy and iconic, the Shafer Trail is a must-do when visiting Moab or the Canyonlands. The road was originally a cattle trail built by John Sog Shafer in 1917. Later, in the 1940s and 1950s, it was constructed into a useable road for trucks hauling uranium ore from the benches below. Long gone are the remnants of the old mining days, but the incredible and imposing rim walls still stand to remind you of how grand planet Earth really is.

Easily one of the most famous off-road trails in the United States, if not the world. Golden Spike, home of the famous Golden Crack obstacle, is at the top of people's favorite trails in Moab, Utah. Full of amazing scenery, challenging obstacles, and even better stories, this trail is the perfect recipe to make any 4x4 trip legendary. You can easily say that this trail is one of those trails that offers it all. The trail has slickrock, fins, sand, narrow scenic canyons, waterfalls, ledges, long steep hills, amazing overlooks & viewpoints, wild obstacles, and sometimes standing water. If you are lucky, you might even see Golden Eagles soaring high above or catch a glimpse of a natural arch. So whether this is your first time in Moab or you are a seasoned vet, if you haven't done Golden Spike yet, this trail needs to be put at the top of your list to see why most people call this the best trail in Moab.

Offering stunning views of the surrounding canyons, rock formations, La Sal Mountains, and the desert landscape, Long Canyon is a picture-perfect trail for anyone visiting Moab and wanting to see big views. Along this steep drive, you'll encounter towering cliffs, expansive vistas, and unique geological features, including a one-of-a-kind rock tunnel you actually drive through. To get the most breathtaking experience, this trail is best done on a clear day, about an hour before sunset, to really highlight the scenery.

Traveling over a great distance and deep into the heart of desert and canyon country, a sense of freedom is the feeling you get when on the Lockhart Basin offroad trail just outside of Moab, Utah. It is remote and far from the traffic jams you experience on many other popular trails in the area. This route is often used to avoid pavement from the Moab area to the Canyonlands Needles District. Along the way, you witness the fortress-like walls of Hatch Point to one side of you, and the intricate and humbling canyon benches that were formed over time by the mighty Colorado River to the other. The trail is excellent for a long day or can be combined with other trails for a multi-day overland trip for capable rigs.

One of the closest 4wd trails to the town of Moab, Moab Rim is a difficult and dangerous trail that requires your undivided attention but rewards you with awe-inspiring views of the Colorado River and the town of Moab. Climbing 950 vertical feet from the base of the canyon next to the river, you will encounter many rock ledges and tight turns, all of which you must traverse while leaning off-camber towards the cliff edge. With tons of obstacles and epic scenery, this trail is sure to entertain even the most hardcore wheeler. This off-road trail is also a great trail if you are short on time or want to hit one quick trail while passing through town.

Tucked away in Moab's offroad paradise lies Kane Creek Canyon. This extreme, breathtaking trail offers one of the best all-around epic adventures you can experience in Moab. From dramatic red rock walls and countless water crossings to intense washouts and technical rock obstacles, Kane Creek Canyon offers adrenaline-pumping moments and jaw-dropping scenery. In the spring and early summer, the cool flowing water of Kane Springs Creek leaves behind mud and quicksand but feeds the towering cottonwoods that thrive in the refreshing water under the shadows of desert sage and junipers that dot the cliffside. Late summer monsoons bring intense rain, often creating narrow washouts and constantly changing the trail. Whether it is your first time on the trail or your 50th, Kane Creek will always be an adventure.

Located outside Hurricane, Utah, Toquerville Falls, a cascading waterfall within a colorful desert landscape, makes you grateful to have an offroad vehicle. Toquerville Falls is accessible enough to bring the whole family for a weekend camping or just a quick day trip to escape the daily grind. The trail offers spectacular views of the mountains and La Verkin Creek, winding through the canyon below as you work your way to the waterfalls. Because of the snowmelt, the water flows pretty well in early spring, but it's also freezing. During the summer, it offers the chance to wade in the lower pool and enjoy the fresh mountain runoff. The route has numerous side trails where you can choose a campsite along the canyon's edge and relax under a blanket of stars.

Located 10 minutes from downtown Moab, Cliff Hanger is an intense trail with a world-renowned namesake obstacle that literally takes drivers to the edge of their abilities, as well as their vehicles. Nonstop slickrock ledges and epic canyon views await those who can calm their nerves as they traverse the side of Kane Springs Canyon en route across the only motorized trail on the Amasa Back. This trail rightfully earns its status as a Jeep Badge of Honor trail and is easily one of the most memorable trails in the Moab area, making you excited to tell your friends all about it.

Situated near Moab, Utah, and partially within Arches National Park and Utahraptor State Park, Willow Springs Road is a great way to experience the Arches backcountry without the crowds. Desert washes, dinosaur tracks, and unique rock formations make this a great road to combine with Eye of the Whale and Tower Arch for a great day of wheeling within both a National and a State Park.