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Poison Spider Trail / Portal Overlook Trail

Two great hikes across varied terrain with incredible views you won't find anywhere else in the area.

★★★★

Wow factor

★★★★

Overall rating

★★★★

Difficulty

★★★★★

Trailhead access

★★

Crowds

Poison Spider is one of Moab’s premier mountain bike and jeep trails, The Portal Overlook Trail is for hikers and bikers only. This 11 mile loop combines the best of both but you will need a second vehicle to save an additional 2 miles of road walking.

To get to the trailhead turn  off highway 191 onto highway 279 and drive 6.2 miles to the parking lot. The jeep trail begins 1/4 mile from here. If you have a second vehicle then you should drop that first at the 4 mile point at the Jaycee Park campground. – the trailhead for the Portal Overlook Trail

 

The loop offers awesome views over Moab for the hiker. It may be popular but it’s not always busy. A mix of extreme jeep trail and narrow track, it winds across slickrock, past high sandstone cliffs and follows the rim high above the Colorado. To join the two trails together you'll need a map to freestyle your way from the Poison Spider Trail to the Portal Overlook on the rim. 

This is a strenuous trail, much of it shadeless, with around 1200 feet in elevation gain, but the rewards are many, with views over Behind the Rocks, Arches, Moab and the Colorado portal. The hike down the very exposed, narrow and steep single track to the Portal Overlook trailhead is stunning.

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