Utah Trails

Metal Masher

5/5 (6 reviews)

Moab, Utah (Grand County)

Last Updated: 10/21/2022

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Trail Information

Highlights

Moab, Utah is one of the premier off-road and four-wheel drive destinations. Comprised of some of the most well-known trails in all of the United States, it has trail types that suit all drivers' wheeling desires. Some would call it an "off-roader's paradise". Amongst these trails, Metal Masher is one of the more popular "hard" trails in the entire area. Comprised of slick rock, sand, and dirt, this trail offers drivers everything they are looking for and more. Not only do you get amazing wheeling, you can also take in the inspiring views of the slick rock hills, see the arches off in the landscape, and enjoy snow-capped mountains in the background.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

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Josh Noesser

Official Crew

Trail Navigation

Metal Masher is one of the more popular, harder trails in Moab. The trail is comprised of slickrock, sand, towering cliffs, and dirt with plenty of waterfalls and hill climbs. Even though most obstacles have a bypass, there are still several obstacles that you have to do. Expect 6 foot+ waterfalls, steeper than 50-degree inclines, and plenty of drops that you drag off. It is recommended that you have a lift and lockers before trying this trail. While on the trail, you will be offered some amazing overlooks of Moab and Arches National Park. Note: The .gpx track available here is of EJS 2016 Route. Stop at each obstacle and pick your route. When in doubt, follow the white tracks painted on the road surface.

1. Trailhead (0 mi)

Trailhead of Metal Masher. There is a parking area with plenty of space to air down before taking on the trail if you choose to wait this long. Most people air down right as they turn off the highway.

2. Intersection - Stay Right (0.7 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 2: Intersection - Stay Right

Stay right to continue on Metal Masher Trail. Follow the signs.

3. Stay Right At Next Two Roads (1 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 3: Stay Right At Next Two Roads

Continue to stay right on Metal Masher. Follow the roads with heavy traffic wear.

4. Ledges (2.3 mi)

The first set of ledges gives you a basic idea of what to expect. These ledges are roughly 4 feet tall and slightly slick. Some momentum might be required.

5. Fork - Stay Left (2.4 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 5: Fork - Stay Left

The trail curves to the left. Follow the Metal Masher signs.

6. Rock Ledges (3 mi)

Here you will climb roughly a 4-foot tall ledge that steps up and is broken into several pieces.

7. Ledges (3.3 mi)

The first of the hard play areas, this one section is full of options to try. But please note, there is no easy bypass around this, and each vehicle is required to take a hard route. The hardest route is a 12-foot tall vertical wall that is slightly rounded on top and dug out at the bottom. The required route is a 2 1/2 foot vertical stepped ledge with a 2-4 foot steep hill climb above it. Lift, large tires, and lockers are required for either route.

8. Ledge (4 mi)

The next set of play areas. This part of the trail offers something for everyone. Just watch out for the overhang and try not to break. Largest wall is roughly 10 feet tall and slowly tapers off to a bypass that is flat ground on the right side.

9. Tailpipe Hill (4.1 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 9: Tailpipe Hill

Tailpipe Hill has a hard five-foot vertical ledge to climb on the left with a less hard, but still hard route on the right. Following the ledge is a long rocky hill climb that is roughly 80 feet long.

10. Rock Chucker (4.2 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 10: Rock Chucker

Rock Chucker is one of the named obstacles of the trail. Large tires and a short wheelbase make this obstacle seem doable.

11. Mirror Gulch (4.3 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 11: Mirror Gulch

The trail edges up the cliff and gets very narrow, roughly as wide as a JK. Wide vehicles will have problems here. There are several ledges that are very slippery and will cause problems. The largest ledge is roughly 4 feet tall. Some momentum might be required.

12. Misty's Thumb (4.4 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 12: Misty's Thumb

Immediately following Mirror Gulch is Misty's Thumb. This set of ledges will give you something to work through. There are two lines. Hard: which s-turns up through the rocks, and Harder: which climbs directly up the steep ledges.

13. Overlook (5 mi)

Here is an overlook of Moab, Arches, and surrounding area... Watch out! That first step is a big one!

14. Intersection - Turn Right at Arths Pasture Road (6.9 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 14: Intersection - Turn Right at Arths Pasture Road

Follow Metal Masher to the right. This takes you to Widow Maker. If you go straight, you go back to the Gemini Bridges on Arths Pasture Road.

15. Widow Maker Bypass (7 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 15: Widow Maker Bypass

Left takes you around Widow Maker. This trail isn't easy either with several large ledges and rocky hill climbs. Right takes you to the bottom of Widow Maker. The GPS track takes the bypass route. If you want to attempt Widow Maker, stay to the right.

16. Bypass to Top of Widow Maker (8.3 mi)

Metal Masher - Waypoint 16: Bypass to Top of Widow Maker

Straight is the bypass to Widow Makers takes you above the obstacle so you can drop back down and check it out. Right takes you down to the top of Widow Maker.

17. Widow Maker (8.3 mi)

Widow Maker is one of the named obstacles on the trail. This obstacle has caused many rollovers and is something to take seriously. Large tires, lockers, lots of horsepower, and a longer wheelbase will help you greatly.

18. End (13 mi)

This is the end of the trail. From here, you can go left and go back out the way you came in, or go right and head out to Highway 313.

19. Mother-In-Law Hill ( mi)

An additional challenge, Mother-In-Law Hill offers drivers a challenge like many others on this trail.

Trail Reviews

5/5 (6 reviews)

Scott Osumi

350

Status: Open

Visited: 04/26/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Great trail. Almost everything is bypass able. The Widow Maker approach from the right trail is harder and a little sketchy. Widow Maker itself was completely undoable without a winch for all 10 in our group. RR4x4 rated is a 7. Maybe 12 years ago but today its a 10. 90% of tghe good stuff is before the look out. After that just follow the high ledge and cut out early unless you have to try Widow maker

Trail Review: Metal Masher - Scott Osumi

Jesse Almanrode

6400

Status: Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 03/15/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Superb trail. The views along the rim were spectacular! None of the obstacles were too difficult or had a bypass if you looked at them and went; “yeah… no”! Would do this trail again.

Scott Mitchell

Official Crew

12150

Status: Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 04/26/2021

Great trail, killer views. It was windy and chilly when we ran it, and with three capable rigs, we were able to do it in about 4 1/2 hours. Most of the named obstacles have bypasses but we chose to attempt all of them except Rock Chucker due to waning daylight. It would be a great trail even without the obstacles but they sure make it interesting!

Trail Review: Metal Masher - Scott Mitchell

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Jacob Adkisson

2500

Status: Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/30/2020

Since it was our first time in Moab and wheeling alone we didn't plan on running Metal Masher but ended up running into a few other fellow Jeepers at Top of the World and tagged along that afternoon to check out Metal Masher. Even though we didn't try the Widow Maker obstacle, we did check it out. Metal Masher is a very scenic trail and once I recommend. We had not real issues out on the trail other than finding the trail head.

Brian Spittell

1250

Status: Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 11/25/2019

I ran this trail with my '98 cherokee on a 4.5 inch lift with 31x10.5s and a rear locker. I did have to winch on "Mirror Gulch" because I wasn't willing to use momentum to get up the obstacle. I was on the trail by myself with my family and I didn't want to risk damage. It's a great trail. I chose it because there are very few off camber spots and limited exposure to heights and cliff edges. I had a passenger who is very sensitive to heights and "tip over" sensation. If I were by myself, I would choose Poison Spider over of this trail. This one is still great, though.

Metal Masher

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Trail Difficulty and Assessment

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Trail Navigation

1. Trailhead (0 mi)

2. Intersection - Stay Right (0.7 mi)

3. Stay Right At Next Two Roads (1 mi)

4. Ledges (2.3 mi)

5. Fork - Stay Left (2.4 mi)

6. Rock Ledges (3 mi)

7. Ledges (3.3 mi)

8. Ledge (4 mi)

9. Tailpipe Hill (4.1 mi)

10. Rock Chucker (4.2 mi)

11. Mirror Gulch (4.3 mi)

12. Misty's Thumb (4.4 mi)

13. Overlook (5 mi)

14. Intersection - Turn Right at Arths Pasture Road (6.9 mi)

15. Widow Maker Bypass (7 mi)

16. Bypass to Top of Widow Maker (8.3 mi)

17. Widow Maker (8.3 mi)

18. End (13 mi)

19. Mother-In-Law Hill ( mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Josh Noesser

Metal Masher

Trail Information

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Highlights

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

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Summary:

Community Consensus

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Trail Navigation

1. Trailhead (0 mi)

2. Intersection - Stay Right (0.7 mi)

3. Stay Right At Next Two Roads (1 mi)

4. Ledges (2.3 mi)

5. Fork - Stay Left (2.4 mi)

6. Rock Ledges (3 mi)

7. Ledges (3.3 mi)

8. Ledge (4 mi)

9. Tailpipe Hill (4.1 mi)

10. Rock Chucker (4.2 mi)

11. Mirror Gulch (4.3 mi)

12. Misty's Thumb (4.4 mi)

13. Overlook (5 mi)

14. Intersection - Turn Right at Arths Pasture Road (6.9 mi)

15. Widow Maker Bypass (7 mi)

16. Bypass to Top of Widow Maker (8.3 mi)

17. Widow Maker (8.3 mi)

18. End (13 mi)

19. Mother-In-Law Hill ( mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Josh Noesser

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