Trail Review Presented By Fabtech Motorsports: Metal Masher

Off Road Xtreme believes education and getting informed can create a better all-around experience for enthusiasts while out on the trail. If you have never been on a particular off-road adventure and do not have an informed guide, things can get tricky. Of course, experience always is an advantage, and knowing is half the battle. Off Road Xtreme is here to share some notes and we are starting with Metal Masher Trail located in Moab, Utah. 

Trail Review Presented By Fabtech Motorsports: Metal Masher

The Metal Masher trail experience includes the Gemini Bridge road out.

During Easter Jeep Safari 2022, we had the chance to run Metal Masher with Warn Industries and Fabtech Motorsports hosting our group of 20 vehicles. It was an awesome experience for me as I had never been to Moab, Utah. Additionally, it was the first time testing out our newly built 2021 Wrangler Rubicon ORXtreme JL project vehicle. You can read about the build in Part 1 and Part 2, and hear about our complete adventure of how we made it out to Easter Jeep Safari and back.

Metal Masher Trail Vehicle Of Choice: ORXtreme JL

Our ORXtreme JL vehicle modifications were the perfect upgrades to get us on the trail. The list of parts consists of a Fabtech Motorsports Long Arm Crawler System, 37-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T Tires, 17-inch Dirty Life Engima Wheels, Body Armor 4×4 Bumpers and Spare Tire Carrier, Rock Slide Engineering Step Sliders, Warn VR EVO 10-s Winch, Factor 55 Hawse Fairlead and UltraHook, 4122 Hitch Slider, and Bolt Lock Accessories.

Trail Review Presented By Fabtech Motorsports: Metal Masher

A lightly modified 4×4 with a small lift and 35-inch tires or larger is the bare recommendation. Front and rear lockers would be ideal, and no winch is necessary. After seeing and traversing this trail in its entirety, I could see a stock JL Rubicon being able to manage Metal Masher on 33-inch tires. The trail bypasses diverting around the more difficult obstacles would make this possible. 

Trail Review Presented By Fabtech Motorsports: Metal Masher

Metal Masher Trail Challenges

Various trail resources are available with differing descriptions and ratings. Red Rock 4-Wheelers has determined Metal Masher as a Level 7, while onX Offroad gives it a Technical Rating of 8. Described with a difficult-extreme rating on TrailsOffRoad.com with five 5-star reviews, they suggest you will be pressed with mandatory level 6 difficult obstacles and level 10 extreme optional challenges if you dare.

Trail Review Presented By Fabtech Motorsports: Metal Masher

No worries about desert pinstriping on the doors if you do not run any!

To successfully navigate this trail, tire placement is critical. If you are not careful, you can expect scraping of the vehicle body, undercarriage, and pinstriping. The trail surface consists of mostly slick rock, and slippery sand. There are plenty of off-camber ledges, staircases, and waterless waterfalls with some inclines as steep as 50-degrees.

Trail Obstacles And Points Of Interest:

  • Tailpipe Hill
  • Rock Chucker
  • Mirrors Gulch
  • Misty’s Thumb
  • Arth’s Rim Overlook (Point Of Interest)
  • Widowmaker Hill
  • Mother In Law Hill

Metal Masher Trail Review and Guide in Moab Utah 4K UHD

The most challenging obstacles Metal Masher has to offer include Rock Chucker and Widowmaker Hill. Both of which include an optional bypass. I would recommend only a seasoned and experienced off-roader attempt these climbs. Perhaps the trail highlight is the Arth’s Rim overlook about 5 miles into the trail. Standing at 1,300 above Highway 191 it is an incredible feeling looking out over Moab!

Trail Review Presented By Fabtech Motorsports: Metal Masher

Do not get to close to the edge, or drop your key fob!

Besides the amazing views, the nice thing about this route is its short distance. At around 13-miles, Metal Masher can easily be completed in six hours. Trail details include a maximum elevation of 1,746 feet and amazing scenery featuring Arches National Park, Moab Valley, and the La Sal Mountains. The best time to enjoy this area is during the spring and fall. Summer can be manageable since you are on an elevated plateau, but you should be prepared for triple digits. 

To access Metal Masher’s Trailhead start down the Gemini Bridges route near Highway 191. After a little over 6-miles, the Metal Masher Trailhead signage should appear. GPS coordinates are listed as 38.60330208, -109.7010503 on the BLM.Gov website. This area is only a short 20-minute drive outside of downtown Moab.

I had so much fun on the Metal Masher Trail. It was my first introduction to off-roading in Moab, Utah, and was a really terrific experience. I would recommend this trail as a must-do for an off-roader craving for challenges, elevation, and good views.

Have you completed the Metal Masher? Tell us about your experience! Or if you have an off-road trail that you want to know more about, let us know? What trail review should we do next? Drop a comment below and share with your friends.

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About the author

Micah Anderson

Micah is a 20 year authority in the off-road industry with extensive experience founded on marketing, events, and racing. Professionally skilled in all things creative, Micah is passionate about faith, freedom, and anything powered by adventure.
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