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Thank you to Sam Houston
for submitting these pictures.
Thank you to David Beihoff
for writing the descriptions.
Lion's Back is just a very big rock, that if you look at it from the right angle and from far enough away, it resembles a resting lion. You drive up the tail end, along the back and toward the head, getting ever higher off the ground.
Technically, it's only a little bit challenging, but it's scary and dangerous if you make a wrong move. Any 4WD vehicle with low range can make it. The driver is the weak point. Just wait until you get to the top and have to turn around!
David Lawrence
going up Lion's Back.
Rated a 3 1/2 the Poison Spider Mesa Trail is one of the more popular trails in Moab. To get to the trail head go approximatley 6 miles south on Hwy 279 from the junstion of Hwy 279 and Hwy 191 just north of Moab. Poison Spider Mesa is mostly slick rock climbing and sand. It has some challenging ledges for ground clearance challenged vehicles but all the most difficult ledges also have easier bypasses. At trail head you can see ancient Indian petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks. At the end of the trail there is a beautiful view across the Moab Valley. Instead of looping back on Poison Spider Mesa Trail you can choose to continue because the trail joins the 4+ rated Golden Spike Trail and then the 3 1/2 rated Gold Bar Rim Trail. If you follow the trail all the way through you come out on Hwy 191 at the start of Gemini Bridges Trail which is just south of the Hwy 191 and Hwy 313 junction. The entire trail is a full day of rock crawling that provides you with the most beautiful views of Moab and the surrounding areas.
The Moab Valley from the top of Poison Spider Mesa.
Perhaps the most recognized trail name in Moab. The name stems from the fact that the trail is marked by small golden spikes painted on the rocks for you to follow. They kind to hard to see. The rock cairns are easier to follow, when they're there. Still, it's an easy trail to get lost on. The trail is out in the open desert and the landscape pretty much looks all the same whether you go straight, left, or right. Since the area is mostly rocky plateaus, there're no trail markings from previous vehicles. It's an extremely hard trail, containing such obstacles as Launching Pad and Golden Crack.
Lunch on Golden Spike Trail.
David, Jan, Jacob Beihoff and Tim Bramble share one of the few
shady spots on the trail for lunch.
The crew on the trail ride.
Left to right and back to front:
Rick Curtis,
David Lawrence,
Roy Stroud,
Tony Schaber,
Tim Bramble,
Angie Houston,
Jan Beihoff,
David Beihoff
and
Jacob Beihoff. Veteran spotter and photographer
Sam Houston
is behind the camera.
Tim Bramble crossing the Golden Crack. As usual Tim, Rick and
Tony, demonstrating excellent driver skill and vehicle ability, made
short work of even Moab's toughest obstacles.
Rick Curtis crossing the Golden Crack.
David Lawrence crossing the Golden Crack. David had a little
trouble with the Crack and had to back up and take another run at it
from a slightly different angle. Once David had the right angle lined
up he had no trouble crossing the crack in his almost stock Wrangler.
David Beihoff crossing the Golden Crack. Jan wouldn't let
Jacob ride with his Dad for this one and reminded David that when
vacation was over she still had to use the Cherokee as a daily driver.
Tony Schaber crossing the Golden Crack.
The group gathering at the end of the trail to say their good byes.
David and Jan are very grateful to the Renegade 4WD Club members that
helped make their family vacation into some very cherished memories.
Thanks for visiting! Please view our other picture sets available on our Home Page.
Maintainer: Stefan Roth
Renegade 4WD Club, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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