Steel Bender Trail

by Meach for

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Summary: The 3.5 rated Steel Bender trail follows a historic wagon road that works its way up from a beautiful canyon to elevations above 6,000 feet. It features 2 creek crossings, numerous steep ledges, and two challenging rocky climbs that have bypasses.

Location: Steel Bender starts on private land immediately northeast of the Moab Golf Course. It lies between Highway 191 and the La Sal mountains.

Scenery: Panoramic vistas of rock canyons and mesas mixed with serene creek canyons and up-close views of the snow covered La Sal mountains.

After airing down and locking up, our group proceeded down into a beautiful canyon with cottonwoods and brush lining a small creek. We crossed the creek, and worked our way up the wash for a few minutes, then we came to some sandstone ledges. The left side was the most challenging. The more prudent drivers took the right side.

We drove up, across, and down a solitaire slickrock fin, then across some loose sand two-track that let us clean out the cobwebs in the carburetors. Then we came to this short steep slickrock hill. This hill made some tires chirp and scraped a few chassis going over the top, but everyone made it over.

This F350 Crew Cab with Twin Stroke Turbo Diesel was gigantic! The driver was a local, and did a great job of winding the big rig through the tight trail without damage. Just before our lunch break, we went down a couple of 2 foot ledges on a tight turn. A few rigs climbed back up the ledges during lunch. The big Ford crawled right over the ledges, with it's huge tires making them look small.

Shortly after the lunch break, we reached the first major obstacle. Some say this is called the " Dragon's Tail ". It is a rocky steep slope with an S turn and a couple of large pointed differential busting rocks right at the apex of the second turn. There is a bypass to the right for the more prudent. This Bronco II tried an alternate route straight up to the left, and almost rolled off the left sidehill before being strapped over the hill.

Keeping the entertainment level high, this CJ showed the left side was possible, but then landed on a large boulder exactly in the center of his transfer case skid plate. The result was all four wheels off the ground. No problem! He just gunned it. The torque tipped the jeep just enough for the left rear wheel to touch. This caused the jeep to do a quick 360. No problem! A little more speed, and the jeep spun off the rock putting all four on the ground again!

The second major obstacle is similar to the dragon's tail, but it adds a dirt ledge at the top where some rigs catch air under their left front tire. Again, there is a bypass for the more prudent. This lifted and locked TJ eased it's way over this challenge keeping all four tires down on the dirt at all times (what else is new? Ho-hum!)

This clean vintage Commando didn't fare as well. After catching gobs of air under the left front tire, he got hung up on a rock under the rocker panel. He eventually broke a ring and pinion in the rear end trying to get off the rock.

After a few miles of easy two track, we descended down into Mill Creek. The climb out was easy, but gets a little slicker towards the end of the line when over 30 vehicles have driven up the embankment.

The Steel Bender trail is well rated at a 3.5. It is passable by good drivers in stock vehicles, but it will challenge them. The two major obstacles require skilled driving and good wheel placement. Many hard core jeepers enjoy running this trail as a kicked back day to relax from the 4+ runs and enjoy some of the greatest scenery on earth.

Pictures and story by Gil Meacham

1998 Steel Bender Trail 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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