This route climbs out of Pole Canyon on Entrada Bluffs Road and works its way up to the Power Pole Rim overlooks above the Colorado River. The first portion is a mellow dirt and slickrock two-track, but the trail tightens up and gets rocky once it splits toward the rim. Expect small ledges, loose rock, and narrow brush-lined stretches on the way to the overlooks.
Trail Summary
- Location: Near Moab, Utah, off Entrada Bluffs Road and Highway 128
- Distance: 10.3 miles
- Difficulty: Level 5
- Minimum Elevation: 4,042 ft
- Maximum Elevation: 5,337 ft
- Elevation Gain: 1,249 ft
- Travel Time: 1 hour 47 minutes recorded
Difficulty
Best suited for a lightly modified 4x4
A small lift and tires larger than stock are recommended, along with skid plates and rock sliders. The road surface is rocky, rutted, and undulated in sections, with ledges, drops, and short climbs up to about 2 feet. Careful tire placement is necessary on the steeper, looser, and off-camber stretches near the rim.
Elevation
The route climbs from about 4,042 feet near the start up to 5,337 feet at the highest overlook, gaining roughly 1,249 feet and losing about 1,239 feet over the course of the loop. The net change is minimal since the trail returns close to its starting elevation, but the gain is spread across several rolling climbs rather than one steady grade.
Terrain
The trail runs through mountain shelf roads and rocky two-track for most of its length. The lower section near Pole Canyon is dirt and slickrock with gentle grades. Past the junction with Power Pole Rim, the surface turns rockier and more uneven, with narrow sections where brush closes in on both sides. Pinstriping is likely on wider rigs.
4WD Experience
Low range comes in handy on the rockier pitches near the rim, and the narrow, brush-lined stretches call for careful line choice to avoid trim damage. The trail is a mix of relaxed cruising and short technical sections rather than sustained hard climbing, which makes it a good step up for drivers building experience beyond stock trails.
Travel Time
The recorded track shows a total time of about 1 hour 47 minutes with roughly 1 hour 27 minutes of that spent moving. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle running the same route should plan on 2 to 2.5 hours to allow for the technical sections near the rim, photo stops at the overlooks, and any tire placement decisions on the rockier ledges.
Highlights
The overlooks above the Colorado River gorge are the main draw, with views stretching across the canyon toward the La Sal Mountains. Several spots along the rim make for good campsites with wide open views in multiple directions. The lower canyon section also passes a few quieter viewpoints over Pole Canyon itself before the trail climbs toward the rim.
Trail GPS File
Map