Rainbow Rocks (Rainbow Terrace)

4.7/5 (4 reviews)
Moab, Utah (Grand County)
Last Updated: 03/11/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Hidden behind the iconic Tombstone Butte, Rainbow Rocks is a windshield full of towering red cliffs. Also known as Rainbow Terrace, its name comes from the multi-layered Entrada Sandstone cliff faces. The vertical red wall creates a colorful boundary along most of the trail. The rocks are particularly stunning in the early morning or late afternoon sun. You'll begin by rolling up and down sandy hills, taking glimpses of Lost World Butte through lush desert vegetation. You'll twist through the maze of house-sized boulders that make any vehicle look small. While the views are amazing, the trail has enough challenges to entertain even the most hardened wheeler.

Combing Rainbow Rocks with Dee Pass, Salt Wash Road, and Crystal Geyser trails creates the Easter Jeep Safari "Crystal Geyser" route.



Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.7/5 (5)
This trail guide's difficulty was changed on 03/15/2023
Official Crew
4850
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 10/13/2021

I didn't actually run most of the main Rainbow Terrace trail, but I wanted to correct something in this listing. The intersection at waypoint 6 does not actually lead to a dead-end, but to an awesome looping/connecting trail which splits off at waypoint 2 and then rejoins the main Rainbow Terrace trail at waypoint 6. This side trail gets closer to the butte across the valley and descends though a neat slickrock area before following the wash back to the main trail. It is well-defined and marked with cairns on the slickrock sections. This side trail (D2624 in the BLM's route inventory) is being considered for closure in the likely preferred alternative of the Labyrinth Rims / Gemini Bridges travel plan, and the off-road community needs to defend it. I highly recommend running it as a loop with Rainbow Terrace, and I hope other people will run it and comment asking for it to stay open in the next public comment period. I've attached some pictures of this side-trail as well.
1100
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 04/23/2021

I agree with Paul. The double-shelf at waypoint 4 was tricky said another guy with IFS. Looked taller than 18" to me. Rock stacking to the rescue. Used Center Diff Lock in my GX470 and my buddy turned on all the tech in his new TRD Pro 4Runner. Other than that, the views were terrific. Super fun. Enjoyed tooling along the sandy parts. We went in late afternoon after visiting Dellenbaugh Tunnel.
6250
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 04/10/2021

I would update rating to a 4 - the steps at WP4 have gotten pretty chewed up and are more difficult... for IFS vehicles anyways :) The trail is fun route with a few obstacles. The shelves and slick rock sections are pretty fun from WP3-4. The rest of the road is dirt or sand. The views and rock formations near this trail are beautiful.
Official Crew
30300
Open
Visited: 06/26/2019

It's been 5 years since I have been on this trail and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. A few mild challenges and great views from the terrace.

From the Community

Start a free trial and get this level of detail on every trail guide
Start Free Trial