Poison Spider Mesa Trail

by The Flatlander for

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Summary: The 4-rated Poison Spider Mesa trail is one of Moab's most popular. It is just a short drive from town and offers a wide variety of obstacles with less difficult bypasses at some of the most difficult ones.

Location: Leave Moab going North on Highway 191. About a mile past the Colorado River bridge turn west on Highway 279. The trail head is about 6 miles farther down Highway 279 on the right. The trail covers the slick rock above and west of the steep Colorado River Gorge that Highway 279 followed to bring you to the trail head.

Scenery: Views back across the Colorado River Gorge toward the Behind the Rocks area are fascinating along with the panoramic view from the 1,000 foot cliff rim above Highway 191 near the end of the trail.

The Trail: The Poison Spider Mesa trail has scenery and obstacles for everyone. The one at the left is one of the obstacles that has a much more sensible bypass. A variety of rock ledges offer the most challenge while some steep slick rock looks more difficult than it may actually be. There is an optional sand hill that will be difficult when dry.

4X4NOW Same Day
Jeep Safari Trail Report
Tuesday, April 7, 1998

Photos by Sharon

Poison Spider Mesa is one of the first trails I explored in Moab years ago.  Since then I had been doing the first part of the trail as part of the Golden Spike.  This year I decided to do the complete trail.  Erosion has caused an increase in difficult rating from 3 1/2 to 4 since my first experience with the trail.

Forty-four 4Xs lined up in the Court House Wash parking lot North of Moab for the Poison Spider Mesa run.   The weather was cool but not raining (yet).  Doug McElhaney led us out promptly at 9:00 a.m.  Doug proved an excellent trail leader that kept things moving.

It was overcast as Doug led us up on the trail toward the first major obstacle.

The "Water Fall"  is a steep series of sharp and irregular ledges that contribute greatly to the trails 4 rating.  The irregular shape and spacing of the ledges make it easy to get a tire in the air so lockers are very helpful.

At the top of the Water Fall is a tall steep ledge that keeps tires screeching as most participants try the steepest part of it.  For more sensible 4-wheelers there is an easier bypass to the left.

Doug continued to lead us up the Spider's "Slick Rock" as the clouds loomed darker.  Just how slick is wet "Slick Rock"?  Would would find out.

The next major obstacle is the "Wedgie."  You can either drive it off camber on the driver's left side or straddle it as the 4X4NOW TJ is doing here.  If you choose to straddle it be sure to keep your right tire firmly against the wall or your right slide will slip down - potentially very hard on the right side of the body.  This happened to several people in our group but it appeared they did not receive any body damage.  See a Quick Time video clip with sound of two 4Xs as they slipped.   There is a safe and sane optional bypass for safe and sane 4-wheelers.

"Mid Gunner" Bob Keniston of Houston Texas Jeep'n Creep'n club raised up his left tire to waive at us as he exited the obstacle.  See a Quick Time video clip with sound of Bob's run through the Wedgie. 

This tall steep slick rock drop looked as if you were about to drive off the edge of the earth when viewed through the windshield from the inside.  Fun slick rock climbs and drops are characteristic of Poison Spider.  See a Quick Time video clip with sound of a driver doing one the hard way.

We were fortunate that the rain waited until after the lunch stop.  But when it did rain it poured.  I enjoy the sound of rain on a soft top.  I suppose it reminds me of pleasant family camping outings when I was growing up.  We found the "Slick Rock" to have traction every bit as good as or better than paved highways.

The rain treated us to some surrealistic vistas combing the unusual features of the area terrain with clouds that seemed to be rising out of them.

Doug led us back through the Wedgie on the way back down.  Sharon drove the 4X4NOW TJ through perfectly.  Even with the rain, Doug managed to get us back to the highway by mid-afternoon.

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Moab, Utah, 4WD Trails Map with Links to all 30 Trails
Trail Difficulty Ratings

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