Poverty Flat Road to Chicken Corner — Moab’s Canyon Edge Run Above the Colorado
A cliff-edge shelf run with zero margin above the Colorado.
Chicken Corner earns its name honestly. The crux is a narrow sandstone shelf maybe eight feet wide with a sheer drop-off to the Colorado River hundreds of feet below on your right — no barrier, no second chance. The approach from Moab heads southwest on Kane Creek Road, then climbs onto the Lockhart Basin desert bench through red Wingate sandstone walls and across open slickrock benches. The route passes through Hurrah Pass first — a classic warm-up with embedded rock and loose shale — before dropping into the Colorado River canyon country proper. The entire drive is a lesson in Moab geology: Entrada, Navajo, Moenkopi strata cycling past your windshield like a textbook you can touch.
Moderate difficulty overall, but Chicken Corner itself demands nerves and precise line choice — one wrong move and you’re into the canyon. A stock Jeep JK or similar short-wheelbase rig is ideal; long-wheelbase trucks will struggle with the tight shelf turn at the corner. No permit required, but Moab gets crowded spring and fall — plan for weekday runs or early starts. Best seasons are March through May and September through November. Water is scarce; carry your own. Dispersed camping is available on BLM land along the bench. Cell service vanishes past Hurrah Pass.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 15 mi / 24.1 km |
| Duration | Full day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4800 ft |
| Best season | March-May, September-November |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD, short wheelbase preferred |
| Nearest town | Moab, UT |
| Land manager | BLM Moab Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Chicken Corners Page |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a full-size truck or long-wheelbase rig run Chicken Corner?
Technically possible but not recommended — the shelf road narrows severely near Chicken Corner itself, and longer wheelbases dramatically increase your overhang exposure on the cliff edge. Short-wheelbase rigs like a TJ, 4Runner, or FJ60 are the sweet spot here.
What months should I avoid this trail?
Skip December through February — snow and ice on the shelf sections with zero barrier above the Colorado is genuinely life-threatening. Summer (June–August) is doable but brutal heat on exposed slickrock makes mechanical problems dangerous fast. Spring and fall are the windows.
Do I need a permit or pay a fee to run Chicken Corner?
No permit required and no fee to drive the trail — it's BLM land managed out of the Moab Field Office. Standard dispersed camping rules apply: 14-day stay limit, 200 feet from water sources and trails, pack out everything.
What's the scariest section and what actually makes it hard?
Chicken Corner itself — a narrow rock shelf cut into the canyon wall with a sheer drop to the Colorado hundreds of feet below and no guardrails. The technical challenge isn't just the rocky surface, it's keeping composure and tire placement precise when one mistake means falling off the planet.
Is there any water or gas between the trailhead and the end, and how far is the nearest fuel?
There is zero water on route and zero cell service the entire 15 miles — carry all your water and a full tank before you leave Moab, which is your last fuel stop roughly 15–20 miles from the trailhead. Don't count on a bailout if something goes wrong out there.
Trail track
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