Poison Spider in Moab: A Complete Trail Guide [2024]
THINKING ABOUT VISITING POISON SPIDER IN MOAB?
You’ve come to the right place! We have spent months traveling around Southern Utah, enjoying as many 4×4 trails as we can. We loved our Poison Spider adventure! This trail strikes a perfect balance of thrill without being too scary. We are happy to share the tips and insights from our time on the trail to help make your experience an epic one you won’t forget!
The Poison Spider in the Moab Valley is becoming a very popular trail in the area. The trail is great because of the beautiful views and challenging trail that, for most rigs, is not going to cause damage. The trail is a great combination of an exciting and adventurous trail in the Moab area but not an overly stressful trail.
Many people who ride this trail also enjoy the different speed varieties you will encounter. At times you will be at a crawl going over obstacles, and the next mile, you could be driving 20+ miles per hour on the mesa top through a sandy wash bottom.
You will enjoy this popular place, and we have written a comprehensive guide to getting you through these miles of trail.
Where is the Poison Spider trail in Moab?
Poison Spider Mesa is located in the BLM land surrounding Moab, Utah. It is close to the Jeep arch hike and the Corona Arch hike. On your way to the Poison Spider Jeep Trail, you will also pass a frequented climbing section along Hwy 279 and some great petroglyphs that can be seen right from the road. Hwy 279 is also known as Potash Road.
The GPS coordinates for the start of the trail are 38.53248929182973, -109.60907087301678.
- Difficulty Rating: 6 out of 10
- Miles: 13.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
- Route Type: Out and back with a loop toward the end
- Road Surface: The trail is mostly slickrock, with a short section at the beginning of bare rock that is a little bumpy. As you get down the trail, there are some sandy sections where you can go a little faster.
- Speed Limit: 5 to 25 MPH
- Time to Do the Trail: 3 to 5 hours
A jeep will take longer than an OHV. We did the trail in our RZR in about 3 hours, including stopping for lunch. The usual lunch stop is at the little arch.
Scenery on Poison Spider in Moab
Poison Spider has some great views because of the mesa that it is on. At the top of the mesa, you will be able to see Moab below you and the La Sal Mountains in the background. There is a small arch just after you start the loop portion of the trail if you take the loop starting on the right.
The GPS coordinates to “Little Arch” is 38.56368055919035, -109.58580610894046.
What kind of OHV do I need for Poison Spider?
It is recommended to have 35-inch tires and front and rear lockers with high ground clearance for this trail. However, an aggressive stock vehicle could possibly make it through the trail. There is a high risk of some body damage and significant scraping of your undercarriage without the proper clearance and off road upgrades.
We saw a stock Land Rover making its way up the trail. They could not make the whole trail and turned around after a couple of obstacles.
Because the Poison Spider Moab trail is situated as an out-and-back trail, if you get to an obstacle that appears too much, you could turn around and not finish the trail.
Getting to Poison Spider Trailhead
Poison Spider Mesa is just north of Moab on Hwy 191. As you cross the bridge over the Colorado River as you are leaving the city of Moab, you will turn left on Hwy 279, which is a nice scenic byway. You will follow that road for about 6 miles, with signs marking the parking lot.
The parking lot is just up a little dirt road off Hwy 279.
Poison Spider Notable Obstacles
For the first 2 miles, there are not really any named notable obstacles. There are multiple switchback climbs that are notably difficult. Those who do not have lockers and high clearance will struggle on this first ascent and switchbacks.
If you do not have lockers and sufficient clearance, a spotter may need to help you through.
We made it through the entirety of the trail with our Polaris RZR PRO XP4 on 30-inch tires without too much trouble. It did require some technical skill.
The Waterfall
The Waterfall is the first notable named obstacle you will encounter. We did not find this obstacle very challenging but could be a little nerve-wracking because you ascend and you are a little off-camber. We actually found the beginning portions of the trail more challenging than this obstacle.
For this obstacle, you should keep to the right in the beginning and then move left for the ledge part of the waterfall.
V Notch or Wedgie
The V Notch is a really fun section that is optional. There is a bypass, and it is easy to find. When going through the Wedgie, it is important to keep your tires pushed against each side of the V. If you get too far to one side or the other, you will slide down into the V.
We had to help winch out a Can-Am side-by-side that had fallen into the V and was tipped on its side. The sweet thing about this obstacle is if you slip into the V, it will not cause too much damage, and a friend can easily help winch you out if needed.
Make sure you keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle. If you tip to one side, you do not want to put your hand out. Your vehicle can fall on it and crush your hand or arm.
There are only two notably named obstacles on the Poison Spider Mesa trail, but that does not mean the other parts of the trail are easy. We found the named obstacles not to be overly challenging but super fun.
For a good overview of all the obstacles, you can watch this video.
Poison Spider Mileage Log
Miles 0-1
The first mile can be a bit of a challenge. There are switchbacks along a steep drop-off, but we never felt as though we had to be close to the ledge. The first mile does have some significant climbs. If you make the first mile, you will not have too much trouble with the rest of the trail.
Mile 2.3
Just after two miles, you will run into the Waterfall obstacle of the trail. If you stay to the right of the waterfall and then go left at the ledge, you should find this obstacle not to be overly challenging.
Mile 2.8
This is where the V Notch or Wedgie section starts if you want to try the V Notch, it is a fun and technical obstacle that many people enjoy. Take it slow and make sure you sufficiently straddle the V.
Mile 4
Around mile 4 is when you will get to what is called the High-Speed Mesa. In this section, you will be able to travel at faster speeds, and it is a very nice change of pace from the slower rock crawling sections.
Mile 5
At mile five, you will see a noticeable fork that gives you the option to stay on the Poison Spider Mesa trail or go left onto the Golden Spike Trail. Stay to the right to continue on Poison Spider. A short drive later, you will arrive at the loop section of Poison Spider Mesa. The Loop is typically done in a clockwise direction, but either way is a good option.
Poison Spider Loop
The loop section of the trail is just under 5 miles long. It is not overly challenging, and some people will turn around here because you will have already passed most of the difficult obstacles. There are still plenty of obstacles on the loop with some great overlooks.
We would not recommend skipping the loop unless you have done the trail before. We enjoyed this section, and is a great area to stop for lunch.
After completing the loop, you will return the way you came back through the notable obstacles such as the Waterfall and the Wedgie.
Poison Spider Map
You can view a map of the Poison Spider Trail in Moab here.
Guide to Moab, Utah Off-Roading Trails
One of the best guides if you are going to be doing any off-roading in Moab is called The Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails by Charles A. Wells & Matt Peterson. This is a great book to learn about the trails and to locate where the trails are. They also have a fantastic detailed Mileage Log.
If you’re going to be driving Poison Spider and the other notable trails in the area, we highly recommend bringing this book with you. It is very informative and came in handy quite a few times.
➡️ SHOP Off-Roading in Moab Guide Book
FAQ: Poison Spider in Moab
How difficult is Poison Spider?
Poison Spider is rated a 6 out of 10. It is a fantastic trail for those who have a good 4×4 capable rig with some experience. We did not think the trail was overly challenging or scary. This trail was one of our favorites that we have gone on.
How long does it take to complete Poison Spider?
How long it takes to complete this trail will depend on many factors. If you are going in a group, the trail will take much longer than if it is only one or two rigs. If you are in a Jeep, you will typically go slower than an OHV will.
We completed the trail in our Polaris RZR Pro XP4 in about 3 hours. We did the entire trail, stopped for lunch, and didn’t take any of the bypasses.
Why is it called Poison Spider Mesa?
The trail got its name from the legend that a little girl named Mary Jane Francis was killed by a poisonous spider bite on the trail in 1896.
Conclusion: Poison Spider
We hope you have a great time in Moab. There is a lot of fun slickrock area to explore along with the exciting cliff edges. Poison Spider Mesa is one of the increasingly popular trails, but it is not so crowded that it gets overrun with people.
If you have your kids with you in the same parking lot, you will find dinosaur tracks at the east end of the parking area. This is a fantastic, fun trail and could possibly be our favorite trail. I am sure you will have a blast while exploring a great trial that is not a vehicle buster.
If you’re going to be exploring some of the other trails in the area, be sure to check out our Guide to Hell’s Revenge and our Guide to Fins and Things – two of our other favorite trails in Moab.
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