---
title: "Moab EV Trip Pack — EV Backroads"
description: "Build a Moab week from calm creek roads to steep slickrock. Stop at the stage that fits your vehicle, skill, and comfort."
canonical_url: "https://www.evbackroads.com/adventures/moab-easy-to-harder"
last_updated: "2026-08-09"
---

![An electric truck on the Shafer Trail switchbacks near Moab](/media/photos-ai/17-shafer-trail.webp?v=20260808)

![Moab route collection](/media/map/moab-trip-pack-pin.svg)

ADVENTURE ROUTE COLLECTION · UTAH

# Moab: Easy Roads to Harder Lines

Build a Moab week from calm creek roads to steep slickrock. Stop at the stage that fits your vehicle, skill, and comfort.

QUICK READ

Route stages

8

Plan length

5–7 days

Typical season

Spring and fall; check heat, storms, and closures

Base area

38.5733, -109.5498

Save trip pack offline Print trip plan Mark plan ready MOAB COLLECTION 8 stages, in order
- [01 Onion Creek easy](#stage-1)
- [02 Long Canyon easy](#stage-2)
- [03 Chicken Corners moderate](#stage-3)
- [04 Shafer Trail and Potash Road moderate](#stage-4)
- [05 Baby Lion's Back moderate](#stage-5)
- [06 Fins and Things difficult](#stage-6)
- [07 Hell's Revenge expert](#stage-7)
- [08 Poison Spider Mesa expert](#stage-8)

WHY IT FITS

## Why this progression can fit your trip.

The pack starts with scenic dirt and shallow crossings. Each later route adds one clear demand: exposure, a longer day, steep grades, slickrock control, or larger ledges.

WHAT CAN CHANGE THE ANSWER

Rain, flash floods, heat, snow, closures, traffic, and trail damage can change every stage. Shafer Trail is closed for washout repairs at publication. Use the live source before each drive.

## This is a progression, not a checklist.

Start with the first route. Add the next route only when the previous drive felt controlled. You do not have to finish every stage. A good Moab trip ends with battery, daylight, and confidence in reserve.

## Use one base camp.

Stay near Moab. Return to a verified charger after each route. Review tire condition, energy use, and driver fatigue before you choose the next stage.

## Walk the hard line first.

Stop in a safe place. Check the ledge, the exit, and the space under the vehicle. Use a spotter when the driver cannot see a tire or an edge. Do not follow another vehicle into a line that does not fit your vehicle.

ROUTE PROGRESSION

## Add one skill at a time.

Drive only the stages that fit your vehicle, experience, weather, and current access. A later stage is not a required finish.

![A red Rivian R1T crossing Onion Creek below the red canyon walls](/media/adventures/moab/photos/onion-creek.webp)

ROUTE VIEW · AI-ASSISTED EV PLACEHOLDER WHERE NOTED 01 easy

### Onion Creek

Route distance

10.5 mi

Allow

2–3 hours

Follow a narrow canyon road through many shallow creek crossings. Use it to learn slow speed, tire placement, and how the EV responds on wet rock and firm dirt.

SKILL ADDED

Practice a steady speed and deliberate wheel placement without a required rock obstacle.

Access note: Water depth and the road surface can change after rain. Do not enter when flash flooding is possible.

[Open on the Backroads Map](/map?lat=38.66530&lng=-109.38630&z=11&trails=1&packs=1)[Open onX Offroad](https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/utah/onion-creek-n2qvlvldrz95)

![Topographic route map for Onion Creek](/media/adventures/moab/maps/onion-creek-moab.png)

TOPOGRAPHIC ROUTE MAP · ROUTE LINE FROM ONX OFFROAD · BASEMAP FROM USGS

TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE

### Onion Creek, from start to finish

Climb

+1,648 ft

Descent

−101 ft

Elevation sampled from AWS Terrain Tiles along the published route. Small terrain and GPS differences are normal.

![A silver Rivian R1S passing beneath the rock on Long Canyon Road](/media/adventures/moab/photos/long-canyon.webp)

ROUTE VIEW · AI-ASSISTED EV PLACEHOLDER WHERE NOTED 02 easy

### Long Canyon

Route distance

7.5 mi

Allow

1½–2½ hours

Drive a short through-route with a steep grade, broad canyon views, and a rock tunnel. The road adds exposure and braking control without making the day long.

SKILL ADDED

Add grade control and shelf-road awareness. Stop if exposure, loose rock, or the road width is outside your comfort zone.

Access note: Storm damage can change the grade and the rock tunnel. Check a recent report before entry.

[Open on the Backroads Map](/map?lat=38.54180&lng=-109.72250&z=11&trails=1&packs=1)[Open Trails Offroad](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/568-long-canyon)

![Topographic route map for Long Canyon](/media/adventures/moab/maps/long-canyon-moab.png)

TOPOGRAPHIC ROUTE MAP · ROUTE LINE FROM TRAILS OFFROAD · BASEMAP FROM USGS

TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE

### Long Canyon, from start to finish

Climb

+97 ft

Descent

−2,238 ft

Elevation sampled from AWS Terrain Tiles along the published route. Small terrain and GPS differences are normal.

![Electric trucks on the Chicken Corners route above the Colorado River](/media/adventures/moab/photos/chicken-corners.webp)

ROUTE VIEW · AI-ASSISTED EV PLACEHOLDER WHERE NOTED 03 moderate

### Chicken Corners

Route distance

11.4 mi

Allow

4–6 hours from Moab

Follow Kane Springs Canyon, climb Hurrah Pass, and continue on benches above the Colorado River. The route is an out-and-back, so every mile out is also a mile home.

SKILL ADDED

Add a longer day, shelf-road exposure, and written battery checkpoints.

Access note: The route can change after storms. Confirm access and keep enough time and energy to return the same way.

[Open on the Backroads Map](/map?lat=38.50000&lng=-109.60780&z=11&trails=1&packs=1)[Open Bureau of Land Management](https://www.blm.gov/visit/chicken-corners-trailhead)[Open onX Offroad](https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/utah/chicken-corners-x36w954pmzyk)

![Topographic route map for Chicken Corners](/media/adventures/moab/maps/chicken-corners.png)

TOPOGRAPHIC ROUTE MAP · ROUTE LINE FROM BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT · BASEMAP FROM USGS

TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE

### Chicken Corners, from start to finish

Climb

+738 ft

Descent

−1,066 ft

Elevation sampled from AWS Terrain Tiles along the published route. Small terrain and GPS differences are normal.

![A Cybertruck on the Shafer Trail switchbacks below Island in the Sky](/media/photos-ai/17-shafer-trail.webp?v=20260808)

ROUTE VIEW · AI-ASSISTED EV PLACEHOLDER WHERE NOTED 04 moderate

### Shafer Trail and Potash Road

Route distance

37.5 mi

Allow

3 hours or more

When Shafer Trail is open, descend the switchbacks below Island in the Sky and return to Moab by Potash Road. The route adds sustained exposure and a long unpaved exit.

SKILL ADDED

Use controlled descents, patient passing, and a complete exit plan. Decide at pavement because turnaround space becomes limited on the switchbacks.

Access note: Shafer Trail is CLOSED for washout and flood repairs at publication. Potash Road is open but rough. Do not bypass the closure.

[Open on the Backroads Map](/map?lat=38.45940&lng=-109.80800&z=11&trails=1&packs=1)[Open National Park Service](https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/driving.htm)[Check current access](https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm)

![Topographic route map for Shafer Trail and Potash Road](/media/adventures/moab/maps/shafer-trail.png)

TOPOGRAPHIC ROUTE MAP · ROUTE LINE FROM NATIONAL PARK SERVICE · BASEMAP FROM USGS

TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE

### Shafer Trail and Potash Road, from start to finish

Climb

+281 ft

Descent

−1,713 ft

Elevation sampled from AWS Terrain Tiles along the published route. Small terrain and GPS differences are normal.

![A Cybertruck and Rivian R1S climbing Baby Lion's Back near Moab](/media/adventures/moab/photos/baby-lions-back.webp)

ROUTE VIEW · AI-ASSISTED EV PLACEHOLDER WHERE NOTED 05 moderate

### Baby Lion's Back

Route distance

0.5 mi

Allow

20–40 minutes

Use this short sandstone climb and descent to practice a straight line, a slow crest, and controlled regenerative braking on a steep grade.

SKILL ADDED

Add steep slickrock in a short session. Stop before the climb if the approach, crest, or descent is not clear.

Access note: Confirm that the marked route is open and dry. Do not use an unmarked line.

[Open on the Backroads Map](/map?lat=38.57750&lng=-109.53500&z=11&trails=1&packs=1)[Open onX Offroad](https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/utah/baby-lions-back-k1mzjrr0d6d7)

![Topographic route map for Baby Lion's Back](/media/adventures/moab/maps/baby-lions-back.png)

TOPOGRAPHIC ROUTE MAP · ROUTE LINE FROM ONX OFFROAD · BASEMAP FROM USGS

TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE

### Baby Lion's Back, from start to finish

Climb

+29 ft

Descent

−33 ft

Elevation sampled from AWS Terrain Tiles along the published route. Small terrain and GPS differences are normal.

![A Rivian R1T climbing a sandstone fin on Fins and Things](/media/adventures/moab/photos/fins-and-things.webp)

ROUTE VIEW · AI-ASSISTED EV PLACEHOLDER WHERE NOTED 06 difficult

### Fins and Things

Route distance

10.2 mi

Allow

3–4 hours

Move to a marked Sand Flats route with repeated slickrock climbs, descents, sand, and ledges. Use the main route. Skip optional lines that do not fit your vehicle or experience.

SKILL ADDED

Combine steep control, line choice, and repeated obstacles. Use a spotter before a blind crest or ledge.

Access note: Pay the Sand Flats entry fee. Stay on the marked route. There are no open play areas.

[Open on the Backroads Map](/map?lat=38.55880&lng=-109.52100&z=11&trails=1&packs=1)[Open Trails Offroad](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/utah/trails/539)

![Topographic route map for Fins and Things](/media/adventures/moab/maps/fins-and-things.png)

TOPOGRAPHIC ROUTE MAP · ROUTE LINE FROM TRAILS OFFROAD · BASEMAP FROM USGS

TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE

### Fins and Things, from start to finish

Climb

+869 ft

Descent

−868 ft

Elevation sampled from AWS Terrain Tiles along the published route. Small terrain and GPS differences are normal.

![A Cybertruck crossing the slickrock on Hell's Revenge](/media/photos-ai/28-hell-s-revenge.webp?v=20260808)

ROUTE VIEW · AI-ASSISTED EV PLACEHOLDER WHERE NOTED 07 expert

### Hell's Revenge

Route distance

6.5 mi

Allow

2–3 hours

This iconic Sand Flats route has steep slickrock climbs, narrow ledges, and optional obstacles. The Bureau of Land Management describes it as extremely difficult and suitable only for very experienced drivers with advanced vehicles.

SKILL ADDED

Use only after the earlier stages feel controlled. Stay on the main marked route and skip every optional obstacle.

Access note: The route is day use. The posted speed limit is 15 mph. Stay on the marked route and pay the Sand Flats entry fee.

[Open on the Backroads Map](/map?lat=38.57530&lng=-109.52260&z=11&trails=1&packs=1)[Open Bureau of Land Management](https://www.blm.gov/visit/hells-revenge-trailhead)

![Topographic route map for Hell's Revenge](/media/adventures/moab/maps/hell-s-revenge.png)

TOPOGRAPHIC ROUTE MAP · ROUTE LINE FROM BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT · BASEMAP FROM USGS

TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE

### Hell's Revenge, from start to finish

Climb

+856 ft

Descent

−1,051 ft

Elevation sampled from AWS Terrain Tiles along the published route. Small terrain and GPS differences are normal.

![The sandstone ledges and desert mesas along Poison Spider Mesa](/media/adventures/moab/photos/poison-spider-mesa.webp)

ROUTE VIEW · AI-ASSISTED EV PLACEHOLDER WHERE NOTED 08 expert

### Poison Spider Mesa

Route distance

16 mi

Allow

5–7 hours

Use this as an advanced extension with an experienced group. Expect ledges, sand, slickrock, route finding, and a long series of decisions. This is not a first solo hard trail.

SKILL ADDED

Combine the earlier skills during a longer and more consequential route. A capable vehicle, experienced spotter, and complete recovery plan are required.

Access note: Use a current route guide. Do not continue to Golden Spike or Gold Bar Rim unless the group planned and equipped for that harder combination.

[Open on the Backroads Map](/map?lat=38.53240&lng=-109.60800&z=11&trails=1&packs=1)[Open Trails Offroad](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/582-poison-spider-mesa)

![Topographic route map for Poison Spider Mesa](/media/adventures/moab/maps/poison-spider-mesa.png)

TOPOGRAPHIC ROUTE MAP · ROUTE LINE FROM TRAILS OFFROAD · BASEMAP FROM USGS

TOPOGRAPHIC PROFILE

### Poison Spider Mesa, from start to finish

Climb

+1,127 ft

Descent

−450 ft

Elevation sampled from AWS Terrain Tiles along the published route. Small terrain and GPS differences are normal.

ROUTE READINESS

## Do seven checks before you leave pavement.

01

### surface

Dirt, water crossings, shelf roads, sand, slickrock, and rock ledges

02

### clearance

Use a high-clearance AWD or 4WD EV for the early stages. Later stages need a capable 4WD EV, durable tires, and suitable recovery points.

03

### remoteness

Most stages are near Moab, but a slow recovery can still take hours.

04

### charging

Verify the charge before each route. Keep the return and weather reserve separate from trail energy.

05

### cell Coverage

Download every route and source page. Do not depend on service in a canyon.

06

### weather

Do not enter a wash or shelf road when rain or flash flooding is possible.

07

### turnaround

Stop when the route needs a line, clearance, traction, or exposure that the driver did not plan for.

BEFORE YOU GO

## Make these decisions while you have a signal.

- Check every land-manager page and route report on the morning of the drive.
- Choose the required charger and set a return-energy limit before leaving pavement.
- Download the route, map, topographic profile, and contact plan.
- Inspect tires, recovery points, underbody clearance, and the full-size spare or complete repair plan.

TURN AROUND WHEN

## Follow the limits that you set.

- A closure, flood warning, wet slickrock, or active wash blocks the route.
- The route needs a line, clearance, or recovery tool that the group did not plan for.
- Battery use, heat, tire damage, driver fatigue, or daylight spends the written reserve.
- The next stage does not feel like a controlled step from the last one.

CARRY

## Prepare for common problems.

- Offline maps, a satellite communicator, and the check-in plan
- Tire repair, inflation gear, a suitable spare plan, and rated recovery equipment
- Water, food, sun protection, warm layers, and shelter for a delayed return
- The charge adapters and cables needed for the verified backup charging plan

![Topographic route plate for Moab: Easy Roads to Harder Lines](/media/adventures/moab/maps/shafer-trail.png)

FEATURED ROUTE MAP Use the full trail path for orientation. Confirm current access with the land manager.

OPEN THE LIVE MAP

## Check the drive home.

See the route with open chargers and road-distance charging gaps. Planned stations do not change current coverage.

[Build this trip plan](/plan?pack=moab-easy-to-harder)[Open near this trail](/map?lat=38.57330&lng=-109.54980&z=9&trails=1&packs=1)[Open Canyonlands National Park](https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/driving.htm)[Open onX Offroad](https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/blog/moab-off-road-trails)[Browse all adventure collections and trip packs](/adventures)[Share what changed after your trip](/guides/trail-commons?kind=trail&sourceAdventure=moab-easy-to-harder)

## Sitemap

See the full [EV Backroads sitemap](/sitemap.md) for every published page.