Metal Masher Trail

by The Flatlander for

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Summary: The 4 rated Metal Masher trail includes some challenging obstacles and a 1300 foot high view from Arth's Rim which overlooks Highway 191 between Gold Bar Rim and Highway 313.

Location: Leave Moab going North on Highway 191. Turn west on the dirt road that leads into Little Canyon about 7 miles north of the Colorado River Bridge. The trail includes the area between Little Canyon and Highway 313 to the west.

Scenery: The pretty vertical walls and the impressive "Goony Bird" in Little Canyon are absorbing. The latter stop on Arth's Rim overlook provides long engaging views in all directions including into Arches National Park.

The Trail: Metal Masher has plenty of well named obstacles to threaten your sheet metal. At the left is "Widow Maker". Other obstacles include "Mirror Gulch" that will try to take off the mirrors on a full sized 4WD, "Mother-in-Law Hill" and the optional 4+ "Rock Chucker Hill."

4X4NOW Same Day
Jeep Safari Trail Report
Saturday, March 29, 1997

It was "Big Saturday" when over a thousand 4WDs line up along Moab's main street (HWY 191) ready for one mass departure for the trails. Local police would stop Hwy traffic at both ends of town until the departure parade was complete. Metal Masher trail leader Frenchie LaChance, owner operator of Western Adventures, gives Metal Masher participants last minute instructions over the radio in Moab.

The first optional obstacle on the trail is the Rock Chucker. Only one brave Jeep in our group successfully went up and down the two step 4+ obstacle. The adventurers are shown going up the bottom step and coming down the top step.

Next is Mirror Gulch, so named because of its tendency to lean vehicles into its walls and take off their mirrors. The gulch also contains several challenging steps.

Frenchie had us break for lunch at the top of Arth's Rim. The view from here is fantastic. The view to the east includes the Moab Valley, Arches National Park, and the La Sal Mountains.

The main obstacle on Metal Masher is the Widow Maker. These steps favor a CJ-7 - Wrangler length wheel base. It tends to be too steep for shorter wheel bases and tends to high center longer wheel bases. Watch that first step - it's a big one. See a Quick Time video clip of a 4WD coming up Widow Maker.

There's rarely a dull moment on a trail with Frenchie. He likes to tease acquaintances as he is here by dangling a tow strap in front of them.

The last obstacle on the trail is Mother-in-Law. It is optional and there are several different routes that can be taken on this eroded hill side. The Bronco is attempting one of the 4+ routes.

The Gooney Bird is a local landmark found in Little Canyon. It can be seen above the Bronco as we headed back to town.

Frenchie entertained over 40 vehicles with his humor and expert trail leadership. Another Easter Jeep Safari Big Saturday is over. Most participants are already making plans for next year. It is not unusual to find participants who have been attending the Easter Jeep Safari regularly for over a decade.

34th Annual Easter Jeep Safari (2000)
33rd Annual Easter Jeep Safari (1999)
32nd Annual Easter Jeep Safari (1998)
31st Annual Easter Jeep Safari (1997)
30th Annual Easter Jeep Safari (1996)
Moab, Utah, 4WD Trails Map with Links to all 30 Trails
Trail Difficulty Ratings

Utah Trail Guidebooks, Trail Maps, and Trail Videos

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