Cliff Hanger Trail

by The Flatlander for

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Summary: The 4 rated Cliff Hanger trail lives up to it's name. You will be hanging on a cliff, negotiating some formidable ledges with Jackson Hole several hundred attention getting feet below.

Location: Take Kane Creek Road turning off Highway 191 in Moab near McDonald's. The Cliff Hanger trail spurs to the right about one and one-quarter miles after Kane Creek Road leaves the Colorado River Gorge and enters Kane Creek Canyon. The turn off should be around 5 miles from McDonald's.

Scenery: Splendid panoramic views of the Colorado River and beyond entertain those that successfully negotiate the trail. But the most unique views are of Jackson Hole, where the river flowed in millennia past with the 'cliff hanger' portion of trail hanging several hundred feet above.

The Trail: The trail begins with a crossing of Kane Creek which can be impassible just after a ran. It can also contain quick sand. Check carefully before driving in. The climb up out of the creek and the obstacles just after are difficult. The ledge obstacles along the cliff hanging section are the most attention-getting.

4X4NOW Same Day
Jeep Safari Trail Report
Sunday, April 5, 1998

Photos by Sharon

Ray Marler lined us up at Swanney Park in Moab on a beautiful sunny morning.  It was going to be one of those ideal spring Jeep Safari days.  Sunny but not hot.   A group of about 35 aired down on Kane Creek Road at the turn off to the Cliff Hanger Trail.

I was a bit apprehensive about the creek crossing itself.  Last year the trail had to be cancelled because the creek was too high.  A pre-run had floated and capsized a 4X that had dared to challenge the deep swift spring runoff.   This year was much different.  Ray gave of directions on avoiding some nearby quicksand and we crossed the shallow waters easily.  The eroded climb just the other side of the crossing required some attention though.

During a pause Ray stopped by the 4X4NOW TJ to let us know how a trail repair was coming.   Ray is a patient and thoughtful trail leader.  Believe me, patience is a key attribute for an Easter Jeep Safari trail leader.

Ray lifts a wheel for the camera on one of Cliff Hanger's many moderate obstacles.  I hadn't been on this trail for many years and had forgotten how many of these obstacles add interest and fun to the trip.  I can still remember when Gene Ferris took me up Cliff Hanger several years ago.  It was my first serious 4-wheeling and I was driving a nearly stock Bronco II with only some oversized tires and a locker in the back.  Gene took me up Cliff Hanger in the morning and then the Moab Rim that afternoon.  I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.  I knew then I'd be visiting Moab often.

Since then erosion has taken its toll and the trail has been upgraded to a 4 rating.  But the 4X4NOW TJ was up to everything the trail had to offer.   The BFGs and flexible suspension were ample for most obstacles.  The rear ARB was engaged just a few times when it looked like it might be wise.

The cliff-side ledge that gives the trail its name overlooks Jackson Hole, an abandoned river course with central butte.  The vertical drop to the bottom must be a thousand feet or the better part of it.  The views are incredible but watch where your driving.  It's a looooong way down!

The scenery all around is spectacular - as you can see in the background as the 4X4NOW TJ surmounts another obstacle near the lunch stop at the top of the trail.  It was quite pleasant eating lunch in the Moab sun in such incredible surroundings.

The trail returns the same way it came up.  The major obstacle is on the cliff-side.  You definitely do NOT want to slide off the right side of the obstacle into the thousand foot deep Jackson Hole.  See a Quick Time video clip of another Jeep negotiating Cliff Hanger's most notorious obstacle.

This is another view of the cliff-side portion of Cliff Hanger.   The major obstacle is about 50 yards behind the white Jeep in the right foreground.   As you can see it is right on the cliff edge.  Most in our group negotiated it with little problem - at least those with rear lockers.  This trail can be very challenging for stock vehicles - which are discouraged on it during Jeep Safari due to the long delays they cause while working them (winching or towing many times) through the trail.

The 4X4NOW TJ climbs the final obstacle on the way back up to Kane Creek road.  The obstacles between the creek crossing and road can provide quite a challenge depending on how you choose to approach them.  We had a great day on Cliff Hanger.

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

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