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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.

Flatlander's Trail Report, Sunday, March 31, 1996:

Click the small pictures to view 640X480X16 million color versions.

This is the "wedge." If your tire slips off the steep rock face on the right, you will take home some sheet metal "souvenirs" on the right side of your 4X4. This is actually still part of the Poison Spider trail. There are several nice obstacles on that trail before beginning the Golden Spike.

This is the very steep launching pad. Believe me, it looks even steeper when you are facing it head on at the wheel of your 4x4. We had two Hummers in our group, one was the trail gunner. Both were of tremendous help in strapping lesser vehicles out of spots they couldn't make it through on their own.

This is just a shot along the trail. There is a great variety of scenery along this along trail and it is all very refreshing.

This is the overlook of the Moab valley from the edge of the cliff near our rest stop. Be careful about getting too close to these cliffs. It is a long way down and the cliff overhangs sometimes fall. Highway 191 is in the valley below.

The Golden Crack. Here a Flatfender is doing it the "right" way.

This is the 4-Runner way. Both 4-Runners in the group did this. This does tend to make 4-Runner drivers a bit nervous at the Golden Crack. But they do make a great show for the rest of the group!

This is the Double Whammy obstacle. It is probably the most difficult in Moab. The wheels on a CJ-7 will contact both ledges at the same time making it almost impossible for vehicles with that length of wheel base to do the obstacles. Only the two Hummers in our group made it up.

The Golden Spike is a long trail so it departs an hour early. It was a long day but it was the first time I got down off this trail before the sun did. We had the normal complement of broken hubs, driveshafts and axles but still made it out in good time. Our group contained about 40 vehicles.

1999 Golden Spike Report
1997 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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