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Golden Spike Trail

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Summary: The 4+ rated Golden Spike trail is one of the most popular at the Jeep Safari and is offered for more days than any other. Challenging obstacles, nonstop scenery, and a road surface between obstacles that makes for a comfortable slow steady pace helps keep this long trail popular. The trail was developed at the 1989 Easter Jeep Safari as a connection between the Poison Spider Mesa and Gold Bar Rim trails. A group of 4-wheelers started breaking trail from each of the original trails and worked toward each other until they met. Realizing the similarity to the meeting of the railroads coming from the east and west which was also in Utah, they christened the new trail the Golden Spike.

Location: Go northwest out of Moab on Highway 191. A little over a mile past the Colorado River bridge, turn south on Highway 279 (Potash Road). The trail head for the Poison Spider portion of the trail begins in about 6 miles and just before the river and road start bending west. The trail works it's way back northeast above the Colorado River and Highway 279 and then northwest near the rim above Highway 191 and the Moab Canyon. Following that is the long trip down the Gold Bar Rim trail and then back toward Highway 191 through Little Canyon.

Scenery: From the high, sloping layer of Wingate Sandstone which most of the trail is on, scenic views open in all directions. To the south are glimpses of the Colorado River gorge, to the east views of the fin country across the Colorado River in the Behind the Rocks area and to the north are breathtaking views down from the cliff rim that overhangs above Moab Canyon and Highway 191. Stay well back from the edge as these overhangs have been known to break off.

The Trail: The first part of the trail covers a good portion of the 3 1/2 rated Poison Spider Mesa trail. Poison Spider obstacles provide enough challenge to get your attention and force many to make more than one try unless the bypasses are taken. The Wedge forces you to either tenuously straddle it with a very real chance of sliding in and doing some real body damage or going along the south side with a nerve testing tilt. The first major Golden Spike obstacle is the Launching Pad, an incredibly steep slick rock climb with a bump near the top. Suzuki Hill will require more than one attempt by many 4X4s. The hill is so named because Zuk, as skilled Suzuki driver, rolled his 4X4 there. Following that is a long stretch with few obstacles that makes for a nice steady pace and time to enjoy the scenery along the way. The Golden Crack marks the beginning of the final obstacle rich, challenging mile to Gold Bar Rim. The Golden Crack is perhaps the most famous obstacle on the trail. The first year or two the trail was open, there was a big rock in the crack to help get across. But 4-wheelers learned a tenuous, bumper scraping method of crossing the crack without that "crutch" and it has been removed. The Golden Stairs have laid more than one 4X4 on its side and often deals fits to those without lockers. Perhaps the most challenging obstacle in Moab may be attempted just after the Wall. The Double Whammy probably breaks more gears, driveshafts and other drivetrain parts than any other obstacle in the area. Roll overs are also common there. It has a bypass which is the recommended route for all but the most fool hearty. If you make it this far be careful of the Body Snatcher. If your wheels spin inside it's jaws you may need side window replacement and body work. After that, it's a long bumpy drive down Gold Bar Rim, then the road through Little Canyon and back to Highway 191.

4X4NOW Same Day
Jeep Safari Trail Report
Sunday, March 30, 1997

Dar Colton lead around 20 4WDs to the Golden Spike on Easter Sunday, the last Sunday of Jeep Safari. Since the trail is long it lines up an hour earlier than most other trails.

The Golden Spike begins on the Poison Spider trail which is an interesting trail with some challenging obstacles of its own.

The Wedgie is an optional obstacle on Poison Spider that is used as part of the Golden Spike trail. At the beginning of the obstacle you can either drive up a steep slope on the seemingly 45 degree sideslope or straddle the sideslopes and try to keep level and keep from slipping and ruining one side of the body. At the end their are many exit lines, some of which produce some dramatic "air".

The Launching Pad soon looms ahead. It is a steep drop down to its base and an even steeper climb back up. See a Quick Time video clip of a trip up the Launching Pad.

Our group made good steady progress and reached the rim overlook of Arches National Park by about 1:00 p.m. The photo shows Hwy 191, the park entrance road, the visitor's center, and a good bit of the Park itself all hundreds of feet below us.

The Golden Crack is usually the site of some exciting crossings and a lot of picture snapping. See a Quick Time video clip of a trip across the Golden Crack.

Next come the Golden Stairs. vehicles without lockers (and some with) often have problems on the second stair.

The Wall is right around the corner. There are several good lines up the wall.

The Double Whammy is the most difficult obstacle on the trail. It has a reputation for breaking drivetrains and causing roll overs. There is a bypass. Only two members of our group tried the obstacle. Neither was successful and one broke an engine mount and had to be towed back to town. See a Quick Time video clip of a CJ5 attempting the Double Whammy.

The Golden Spike is a long but beautiful and challenging trail. It took our group about 11 hours from the time we left town to the time we returned. With larger groups and more breakdowns it can take much longer.

1999 Golden Spike Report
1996 Golden Spike Report

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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