Cliffhanger Trail conquered by a standard Jeep Wrangler

author: FutureCar Staff    

I find myself on the edge, both mentally and literally, peering over the brow of the obstacle that has made this trail notorious. It consists of giant ledges flanked by loose rocks and a vast expanse of fresh air. While climbing, there are techniques to be used, such as left foot braking and smooth throttle control to maintain forward momentum. On the descent, however, the only option is to go full speed ahead with as much caution as possible. I drop the front and then the rear of the vehicle, clattering against the overhang and reshaping the tailpipes. I repeat this process multiple times, each time feeling my muscles tighten, until the terrain levels out and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. It then dawns on me that there is only one way to exit this treacherous road... the same way we came in.

The name of the trail, Cliffhanger, is quite fitting. However, despite multiple meetings with guides and experts, no one mentioned that we would be skiing down a diamond black run with sticks of celery attached to our feet. Our guide, Jim, did mention that the drops were long enough to read a book on the way down, but that was to be expected. What surprised me was maneuvering our box-fresh Wrangler through boulders the size of lorries, scaling rock walls that would typically be a dead end, and carefully navigating narrow paths carved into sheer cliff faces. I thought we were here to enjoy the scenery, not become a smudge on it.

If you've ever been to the Nürburgring, you know that the experience begins long before you crash your car into the Armco at turn two. You start noticing tuning shops on the drive into town, the number of interesting cars steadily increasing. Once you arrive, the track surrounds you, lined with iconic places to eat and stay. Moab is America's version of the Nürburgring, with less speed and more off-road capabilities. There are 4x4 workshops everywhere to fix up your vehicle, places to rent wheels if you don't have your own, and establishments like Milt's, Moab Diner, and Lin Ottinger's rock shop, filled with dinosaur bones and fossils that Lin has been excavating since the Thirties. Moab truly has it all.

This adventure was not meant to be a tale of danger and survival, but rather a story about the charming town of Moab in Utah. Moab is a mecca for off-road enthusiasts from around the world, who come here to challenge themselves and lose their no claims bonus. However, there is more to Moab than just adrenaline-fueled adventures. Founded by missionaries and miners, it was once the uranium capital of the world. These trails were originally plotted out in search of precious minerals using vehicles far less capable than ours. But now, with tracks like Hell's Revenge and Metal Masher, Moab has become a hub for four-wheeled tourism. The town has evolved to accommodate the influx of visitors with bars, restaurants, hotels, and plenty of novelty T-shirt shops to keep the thrill-seekers satisfied.

Our vehicle of choice for this journey is a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary 4XE. It's a plug-in hybrid with a four-cylinder petrol engine and twin electric motors, producing a total of 375bhp and 470lb ft torque. It has plenty of power for our purposes, and I even have about 25 miles of electric-only range for stealthy ascents. This anniversary model has a half-inch lift over the standard Rubicon, which I convince myself is more than enough for the terrain ahead, not knowing the severity of what awaits us.

We remove the doors and rear quarter windows to reduce weight and physical barriers, as well as to look cool for the cameras. We also peel back the roof and lower the tire pressure for better traction. In the UK, driving a Wrangler might be seen as a midlife crisis, but out here in Moab, with our spirits high and the sage green paint gleaming, it feels perfect. The Wrangler is built to withstand the ruggedness of the terrain, and it's evident in its construction. It feels twice as solid as the Ford Bronco we drove in from LA. We follow Jim, a senior trail guide for Jeep Jamboree, a few miles out of town, where a rusty metal sign marks the beginning of our adventure.

Our first obstacle is a set of steps that I wouldn't have the courage to tackle without Jim's guidance. We don't need to lock the differentials on the downward slopes, but we engage low gear and cautiously navigate our way down, occasionally hitting the bottom but mostly unscathed. Feeling confident, we continue on, only to be faced with a vertical rockface as high as my belly button. The geometry of the terrain is mind-boggling, and I'm about to learn just how important tire size is in these situations.

We have 35-inch tires, which may seem excessive for a camping trip, but they are considered small out here. Jim believes there is a line for us to take, so he places a couple of rocks on the ground to soften the angles. To my amazement, the front left tire finds traction, and the nose of the Jeep rises triumphantly. However, we soon slide sideways and become wedged between two rocks. The rear arch is resting on the boulder, the rear left wheel is shredded, and the side sill sliders are scuffed. I wonder how I will explain this to the Jeep's delivery driver when they come to collect it. After some head scratching, a group of motocross riders and mountain bikers pass by, adding to the chaos.

With no other options, Jim attaches us to his winch and pulls us free. We continue our journey, collecting more battle scars along the way. We navigate through smooth sections, sandy tracks, and treacherous rock formations. Our progress is slow and cautious, but we manage to avoid any flat tires or mechanical issues. It's a stark contrast to my experiences in London, where a minor scrape on a curb haunts me for weeks. Here, the sound of metal scraping against rocks becomes the norm, and I realize that this is exactly what the Jeep was designed for.

Our persistence pays off as the view becomes more breathtaking with each obstacle conquered. We see towering red rock formations, layers of geological history, and snow-capped peaks in the distance. Finally, we reach the top for the grand finale. The path that caused the initial suspense is perched above a valley carved into the landscape. It's an astonishing sight, but there is no room for error. Despite my lack of fear of heights, the constant reminder of impending danger makes me nervous. However, we survive the ordeal and take a moment to appreciate the view before turning around and doing it all over again in the opposite direction.

We stop for a sandwich on top of the world, enjoying the incredible view and reflecting on the adventure we've just experienced. The sense of accomplishment is overwhelming. Despite being slightly underprepared, Jim and his team guided us through, and our Jeep, a vehicle that can be purchased off the showroom floor, made it through unscathed. It's truly astonishing. Just like Moab, a little town in Utah that offers so much more than meets the eye.

FutureCar Staff