Golden Spike

Golden Spike is a challenging and very well-known 4x4 trail outside of Moab, UT.  It was developed in 1989 as part of the Easter Jeep Safari that year and has been a popular destination for enthusiasts ever since.  Though considered by many to be their favorite trail in Moab, you'll tend to see less traffic here than in other areas due to the remoteness of the trail and its overall length.  Golden Spike itself is just over 6.5 miles, but to run it you have to also run part of Poison Spider and and Gold Bar Rim - bringing the overall mileage on trail to around twenty.

Features
Much of this trail runs just inside the rim and as such it provides excellent views of Moab valley.  The trail features a mix of steep climbs, descents, rocky sections, tight squeezes between rock walls, and off-camber areas. Some parts of the trail involve advanced rock crawling techniques, and there are sections that might require precise tire placement and vehicle control.

A few notable obstacles along this trail are

Difficulty
The Golden Spike trail is one of the more advanced trails in the Moab area, suitable for experienced off-road drivers with only the most capable 4x4 vehicles. The area is remote and towing is not generally considered an option.  As such, be sure to bring the gear you need to ensure your rig can safely make it out.  Though some of the most difficult obstacles have bypasses, you need to be prepared for the large number of required obstacles on this trail.

Vehicle Recommendations

If you're interested in finding out more about this trail, check out this great video from the crew at Trails Off-Road and they share their experience running Poison Spider, Golden Spike, and Gold Bar Rim in one day!