Poison Spider Mesa 4x4 Trail, Moab, UT

Hiking in Utah

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Difficulty: Difficult
Length: 11.3 miles / 18.2 km
Duration: Half day

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Overview: This is one of the most popular trails in Moab and is often combined with Golden Spike and Gold Bar Rim. (Both available as FunTreks eGuides.) Poison Spider Mesa is a fun-filled combination of challenging obstacles and incredible scenery. Don't miss impressive Little Arch near cliff edge overlooking Moab. Mountain biking is extremely popular on this trail. Drive with caution and be courteous to bikers at all times. Open all year weather permitting. Best time to go: Spring and Fall. Located on BLM land. For current status call Bureau of Land Management, Moab Field Office at (435) 259-2100.

Rating:

Difficult. Huge, awkward ledges and many tippy spots. For modified vehicles with very high ground clearance, lockers, large tires and good articulation. Route-finding on loop portion of trail is very challenging. Follow tracklog and painted Jeep symbols.

This trail is one of 55 trails from the book, Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, 2nd Edition, by Charles Wells, and is available at www.funtreks.com. This trail is also in FunTreks ATV Guide for Moab.

Tips: Allow half day minimum. Will likely take longer, if only to gawk at the incredible scenery. Take plenty of drinking water especially in the hot summer months. Make sure your vehicle is in tip top condition and always travel with other vehicles. Many people driving this trail turn off the trail before the loop to connect with Golden Spike, perhaps Moab’s most famous Jeep trail (Golden Spike is also available as an eGuide from FunTreks at EveryTrail.com.)

Trail conditions can change without notice. FunTreks, Inc. and its owner and employees are not responsible for injury, death, or vehicle damage as a result of using this guide. The content of this guide is the property of FunTreks, Inc. and is made available to the user pursuant to EveryTrail’s Terms of Service (http://www.everytrail.com/tos.php)

Points of Interest

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Start of Trail

Start of trail is well marked with large parking lot and vault toilet. Soon after leaving parking area, you’ll bear right and climb rocky switchbacks to top of mesa.

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The Waterfall

After stretch of easy trail, you enter narrow, sandy canyon and encounter the first big obstacle called “The Waterfall.” Carefully choose a line to avoid tipping over. We go up the right side.

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The V Notch

Also called the Wedgy, this obstacle is easier than it looks if you stay centered down the middle. For extra thrills, drop a tire into the bottom and see what happens (can you say rollover?). This obstacle can also be entirely bypassed on the left side. Some incredible views follow. Watch for lots of hikers, mountain bikers and dirt bikers.

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Drop Down Big Ledge

After a long flat stretch across “High Speed Mesa,” you’ll return to slickrock and drop down a big ledge on the right. Left is a bypass.

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Start of Golden Spike Trail

You’ll climb a ledge up onto a slickrock fin and swing left. Stretched out in front of you is the famous Golden Spike Trail. To continue on Poison Spider, bear right down the other side of the slickrock.

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Start of Loop

The trail is nearly invisible at this point. Look for Jeep symbols painted on the rock. Follow tracklog left to drive loop in clockwise direction. Right goes direct to Little Arch, which you’ll see later as you complete the loop.

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Sand Hills

Cross small area of fun sand dunes. Make sure to stay clear of cryptobiotic crust and desert wildflowers.

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Official End of Poison Spider

To reach the overlook at the end of Poison Spider, you’ll head northeast from the loop up a series of small ledges. Great views looking down on Moab. When done, return to loop and turn left.

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Another Overlook

Take another side trip from loop to another overlook, then return to loop and continue south.

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Little Arch

Trail curves downhill as it passes to the west of Little Arch. You have to walk east a short distance to see the arch. After stopping to see arch, you’ll drop down a steep section and head west back to start of loop. From here, return the way you came. Many people continue north on Golden Spike Trail.

Pictures in this guide taken by: FunTreks, FunTreks

Copyright 2011 FunTreks, Inc

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