Sevenmile Rim

Trail Overview

Sevenmile Rim trail is a 16.3-mile point-to-point trail rated 4 of 10 located outside Moab in Grand County, Utah. Sevenmile Rim trail passes the old Cotter uranium mine and switches back to reach the cliff rim above the mine and Highway 191. The intense mining activity left a maze of core-drilling roads on the mesa top, and the trail seeks the most interesting of these. At the southern end of the rim the trail turns west to parallel UT 313. Along the way the trail passes Uranium Arch which is worth a stop. The trail joins other roads in the vicinity of Merrimac and Monitor Buttes before tucking up near Big Mesa. After passing the buttes the trail crosses over the top of Wipe Out Hill but does not descend. The trail passes near Determination Towers before entering into the Tusher Pass and dropping into Tusher Wash and the Estrada that follows. The trail route is near the Moab Fault, a geological fracture that left the trademark rocks of Canyonlands standing higher than the surrounding colorful Morrison formation. Entrada Sandstone cliffs are constantly in view. The rim views include Sevenmile Canyon, the Arches National Park area, and the Book Cliffs to the north. There is considerable two-track dirt trail, lots of slickrock, some sandy sections, a sandy wash bottom, and a sandy hill near the end. The Sevenmile Rim trail passes the old Cotter uranium mine and switches back to reach the cliff rim above the mine. The intense mining activity left a maze of core-drilling roads on the mesa top, and the trail seeks the most interesting of these. Most of the trail is easy but has an optional climb near Uranium Arch and a sandy hill near the end that is sometimes full of holes. A sidehill slickrock portion around the south side of Merrimac Butte may be intimidating due to the off-camber nature of the turn. The Uranium arch is unique, and Monitor and Merrimac Buttes, as well as the Determination Towers size is inspiring. The buttes are named for their likeness to the Civil War ships of the same name. There seems to be a constant wind that blows between the buttes so much that the ground is worn down to bar rock. After spending the entire trail riding on a sandy surface, it is a shock to come up on this area with no sand or vegetation of any type. There are several steps to either climb or descend as well as a couple of 3-foot ledges which the trail drops over. Some off-camber slickrock turns complete the list of obstacles that must be conquered on this trail. Once you are on the trail, the route is pretty well marked with signs at all the major intersections. Some of the signs are small and just say "7M," but they are easily seen and they are not hard to follow. Cell phone service is intermittent and the nearest services are in Moab.

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Difficulty

Trail consisting of loose rock, dirt, and sand with some slickrock surfaces. Some erosion; washes, gulches and rock steps no higher than 18". Tall tires (33" plus) and limited slip are a plus. 4WD is required. Enhanced suspension travel and good ground clearance are helpful. Good driving skills a plus.

Technical Rating