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| Status: | Open |
| Typically Open: | Year Round |
| Difficulty: | 4-5
( MODERATE
- DIFFICULT
)
|
| Length: | 13.11 miles |
| Highest Elevation: | 5346 feet |
| Duration: | About 4 hours |
| Shape of Trail: | Straight Through |
| Best Direction to Travel: | South |
| Nearest Town: | Moab |
| Nearest Town w/ Services: | Moab |
| Official Road Name: | |
| Management Agency: | Bureau of Land Management |
| District: | Moab Field Office |
Highlights
Are you looking for a Moab offroad trail that isn't over the top like "Metal Masher" or "Hell's Revenge"? Seven Mile Rim is the perfect trail to gain your confidence to tackle those more difficult trails or to soak in the sights. Packed with views in its entire 13-mile distance, it has every terrain located throughout the Moab region, just not on the extreme level some trails have inherited. The trail travels along the rim of a mesa with fantastic views to the east and the south into Sevenmile Canyon. As a bonus, you can get up close and personal to "Uranium Arch," which is just as majestic as those found in the National Park. For new drivers to Moab, this is the perfect trail to get yourself and your skills ready for some fantastic wheeling found nowhere else in the world.
Route Information
Advanced Rating System 
Recommended Vehicle:
Lightly Modified 4X4 (Small Lift and Larger Tires)
Concerns:
Summary:
This trail gets its rating from the many ledges both up and down throughout the trail and moderate off-camber sections.
Technical Rating
Typically, more rock or undulated road surface. Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 18" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 18" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 36" inches. Tire placement becomes more difficult. Can be steep and off-camber.
Read more about our rating system Community Consensus
Description
This trail is a mixture of all that Moab has to offer from soft sand and gravel to 1-3 foot ledges and drops. There are many places where "slickrock" is traversed. This trail is a 13.1-mile loop trail that starts on "Thornburg Road" and ends on "South Road".
Waypoints
1. Trail Start (0 mi)
The trail starts about three miles down "Thornburg Road" past a couple of dispersed camping areas.
2. Small Ledge - Straight (0.67 mi)
This waypoint marks the first "Ledge Obstacle." While it is not difficult, the ledges will get taller from here on out.
3. Larger Ledges - Straight (0.75 mi)
Here there are a series of ledges in a staircase to negotiate.
4. Trail Intersection - Stay Left (1.11 mi)
There is a maze of unmarked and unnamed trails that criss-cross across this area. Stay left to stay on the trail.
5. Dropoff - Straight (1.59 mi)
This waypoint marks the first significant drop-down ledge. It is about three feet tall and drops down in three steps. Make sure you square your vehicle to the ledge as much as possible to avoid a typical roll-over situation.
6. Intersection - Turn Left (1.99 mi)
At this intersection, there is a sign pointing to "Uranium Arch". Stay to the left to stay on the trail and this trail will visit the Arch at Waypoint 12.
7. Three foot Ledge - Straight (2.4 mi)
The trick to this ledge is to stay as far to the right as possible and attacking the ledge as square to the ledge as possible. It does not take any power and with properly aired down tires you probably won't even spin a wheel.
8. Viewpoint - Straight (2.7 mi)
This waypoint marks the first viewpoint looking back down at Highway 191.
9. Intersection - Straight (3.52 mi)
This is another intersection with an unknown trail, stay straight to stay on the trail.
10. Intersection - Turn Right (3.6 mi)
At this intersection turn right to visit "Uranium Arch"
11. Big Drop - Straight (3.8 mi)
This drop-down to "Uranium Arch" looks terrifying but remember you are driving on "slickrock," which is not slick at all. With a firm foot on the brake, stay in the center, and even though it is at a 45-degree angle you can safely crawl down in total control.
12. Uranium Arch Viewpoint - U Turn (3.85 mi)
This waypoint marks the location for "Uranium Arch." This arch is just as grand as those in the "Arches National Park" and can even be walked across. The arch gets its name from the miles of Uranium Tunnels mined in the 1950s and lay hundreds of feet below Seven Mile Rim.
Most of the Uranium mined here was by the government to produce the country's first nuclear weapons.
13. Intersection - Left Turn (3.92 mi)
This waypoint marks a kind of roundabout. Take the first exit and then a left turn at the first intersection to stay on the trail and wind back up to the top for more viewpoints.
14. Stair Step - Straight (4.16 mi)
On your way back up, you will encounter a waterfall that looks formidable, but with proper tire placement and a good ground guide, you won't even spin a tire.
15. Turn Right (4.22 mi)
This waypoint marks a right turn and sends you back along the same cliff edge this trail has been following.
16. Viewpoint - Straight (4.39 mi)
This waypoint marks another awesome viewpoint of the valley below.
17. Staircase - Straight (4.7 mi)
This is the toughest staircase obstacle on the trail, but with some good tire placement and a good ground guide, it is easily mastered. The trick to this obstacle is not power but finesse. You can easily climb this without any mashing on the throttle. If you spin a tire trying to climb, back up 6 inches and give it a little bump, and you will pop right up. Then take the second ledge and then the final with the same technique.
18. Viewpoint - Straight (5.01 mi)
This waypoint marks a viewpoint looking back into the canyons to the east.
19. Intersection - Turn Right (6.26 mi)
The soft sand roads make for some quick time across the low ground, turn right here to stay on the trails.
20. Intersection - Turn Left (7.02 mi)
This waypoint marks another intersection with the maze of trails here. Turn left to stay on the trail.
21. Tight Squeeze - Straight (7.75 mi)
This waypoint marks a pinch point. All Jeeps and like-sized vehicles will have no problems threading the needle. If you are in a full-sized vehicle there is a ledge you can climb up on the right side to bypass.
22. Off-camber - Straight (8.32 mi)
This section of the trail is all on "slickrock." While you are driving towards this waypoint and see the black marks on the rock from other vehicles, the off-camber looks terrifying. Trust me, you will be fine. Just take it slow and stay on the track with others who have gone before, and you'll be past this section quickly. Another steep downhill follows, so be ready; a nice firm brake pedal is the key.
23. Intersection - Turn Right (8.46 mi)
At this waypoint is "Wipe-out Jeep Trail" where the famous "Wipe-out Hill" is located. To get to this section just continue straight. To stay on the trail turn right here. Shortly after, you will drive along the western edge of Courthouse Pasture.
24. Intersection - Turn Left (9.95 mi)
After some quick work through the sand with some whoops that are a lot of fun, you connect with this intersection. Turn left to stay on the trail and follow the trail through Tusher Canyon.
25. Intersection - Turn Right (11.19 mi)
At this intersection stay to the right. the left turn is a dead-end trail back into a canyon.
26. Trail End (13.11 mi)
This is the end of the trail. Turn right onto "South Road" to take you back to Highway 191.
Directions to Trailhead
Starting Point: Moab, Utah
You will find the trailhead about 11 miles north of Moab, UT, on Highway 191, just north of Hwy 313. This side road to the left is Thornburg Rd. Proceed on this road as it winds up about 3 miles to the trailhead on the left.
Camping
Dispersed
Designated
There are some camping areas close to the trailhead on "Thornberg Road".
Remember, when using free designated sites, you must remove all solid human waste from the area. Campers are required to possess, set up, and use portable toilets. Campers may not bury, or leave exposed, solid human body waste and soiled toilet paper. The disposal of solid human waste off public land is required. You must camp only in marked sites, and no woodcutting is allowed. Following these simple rules will ensure that the sites are attractive to future campers. Enjoy your stay! The Moab Field Office maintains 26 campgrounds. Many of the campgrounds are located close to Arches National Park along the Colorado River. These campgrounds offer views of spectacular red rock cliffs amidst a green ribbon of vegetation.
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/moab/recreation/campgrounds.html
For individual use only, not to be shared.
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