West Arths Rim

West Arths Rim is a scenic and rarely visited side spur off the Metal Masher Jeep Safari trail, which leads out to a spectacular scenic overlook looking down on Highway 313 and across to Seven Mile Rim. Prior to the trail closures in 2023, it formed a loop with another road that followed the cliff tops along Arths Rim back around to connect to Metal Masher, but that road was closed. Now, it is just an out-and-back spur accessed from the optional Widow Maker branch of Metal Masher. This route splits off before the actual Widow Maker Hill and the portion of the Widow Maker trail between it and the eastern junction with Metal Masher is easy, so any vehicle can reach it. While the trail is mostly rocky with broken slickrock, there are no real obstacles, and any 4x4 should be able to drive it.

The trail starts at an unmarked and easy to miss intersection in a grassy meadow that may be overgrown. It then descends into and crosses a small valley before climbing up the ridge to Arths Rim. The final climb to the edge of the rim crosses a large slickrock slab with scraped aside rocks marking the path. The road reaches the rim at a spectacular overlook marked with a large rock cairn. This is the main attraction of the trail, with views looking out the opening of Seven Mile Canyon along Highway 313 and to the east up Box Canyon and across to Heatwave Butte.

The road actually continues a short distance past the main overlook, turning back to the west, where it dead-ends at a flat parking area. You can park here and then walk a short distance out to the end of the point, which has amazing views up and down Seven Mile Canyon and some fun rock scrambling. While this spot would make a great campsite, camping is prohibited along most of this trail except near the beginning at the junction with the Widow Maker trail.