There are thousands of miles of backcountry jeep trails through the red rock canyons in the Moab area. Some will challenge your driving skill (and test your courage) while others are merely scenic. Presented below are descriptions of a variety of routes. On subsequent pages are a List of Outfitters who rent 4wd vehicles and/or offer guided tours Other Information   Monitor and Merrimac Easy 13.2 mile loop 2 hours The Monitor and Merrimac Trail traverses red rock country past the impressive Determination Towers monoliths and the large Monitor and Merrimac buttes. Near the end of the route is the trailhead to the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Hiking Trail and its fossilized dinosaur tracks and bones. The route begins off Hwy. 191, 15 miles northwest of Moab. Gemini Bridges Easy 14 miles one-way 2 hours The Gemini Bridges Trail is an easy route through pretty wooded sections and red rock formations with good views of the Behind the Rocks area and Arches National Park. At about the midway point are the Gemini Bridges, a pair of impressive natural arches. To get your heart pumping a bit, you can make a frightening and hazardous drive across the spans of the two arches. The route begins off Hwy. 313, 22 miles south of Hwy. 191. Jughandle Arch Easy 38 mile loop 3 hours Jughandle Arch Loop starts at the Jughandle Arch off Hwy. 279 along the Colorado River. It winds into Canyonlands National Park on Shafer Trail Road and up a terrific series of switchbacks (1,200' climb) to the park's main scenic drive (Hwy. 313). Your return includes a nice descent through Long Canyon. The route has 9 miles of paved road and 29 miles of 4wd roads.

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Poison Spider Mesa Moderate 16 mile semi-loop 3 to 3-1/2 hours Poison Spider Mesa Trail climbs switchbacks up and across Poison Spider mesa providing very attractive views over the Colorado River of the Behind the Rocks area and Moab Valley. The route across the mesa involves sections of open slickrock requiring some trail finding skills. A few short spurs to the right give the best views. The small loop that begins at mile 5.6 should be driven counterclockwise to avoid having to ascend a sandy hill. At mile 6 is the accurately named Little Arch. The route begins along Hwy. 279, 6 miles south of Hwy. 191. Moab Rim Road Difficult 6.5 miles out/back 2 hours The Moab Rim Road is a primitive and difficult trail up some very steep slickrock and past harrowing drop-offs. You'll need some good route finding skills. Often your only clues are black tire marks from previous drivers. The route affords nice views of the Colorado River, Moab Valley and the Behind the Rocks area. There are also some good Indian petroglyphs near the end of the trail. Your route begins off Kane Creek Road 2.5 miles southwest of downtown Moab. Pritchett Canyon Difficult 9 miles out/back 1-1/2 to 2 hours Pritchett Canyon Trail is a very difficult 4wd road that runs up canyon to Pritchett Arch. Along the way is good canyon scenery and nice views of the Behind the Rocks area, as well as looks at some smaller arches. The route starts 4.8 miles down Kane Creek Road, just before the road turns up Kane Creek Canyon as a dirt road. A private landowner charges a toll of $2 per vehicle for use. Chicken Corners Easy 43 miles out/back 3-5 hours Chicken Corners Trail travels through pretty Kane Creek Canyon, crosses Kane Creek (which should not be attempted in high water), climbs to Hurrah Pass and then descends to benches above the Colorado River. Chicken Corners refers to a tight spot between rocks and a fall off near the Colorado River where guides let "chicken" passengers get out and walk. This is a very easy 4wd route, of interest for the scenery rather than challenging driving. Your route begins at the mouth of Kane Creek Canyon where Kane Creek Road turns to dirt (5 miles from Moab). 4wd Routes in Canyonlands and Arches Canyonlands offers some of the best 4wd opportunities in Utah, if not the country. Within Needles is famous Elephant Hill as well as numerous other routes. Maze Districts offers the tortuous Flint Trail and miles and miles of other routes. The wonderful White Rim Road circles the Island in the Sky District. For details, select Needles-4wd/Biking, Exploring the Maze, or Island in the Sky-Backcountry. The opportunities in Arches are much more limited. For a description see Arches-Recreation.

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