Steel Bender

Steel Bender begins just off Westwater Drive, northeast of Spanish Valley. You may want to air down prior to hitting the trail since there is not much room at the trailhead. The first half mile of the trail passes through private property. Please be respectful as you drive this first stretch of the trail, and remain on the designated road.

The trail enters a thick covering of cottonwood trees as you navigate the first of three creek crossings along Mill Creek. Although this creek is normally only a few inches deep, it can become a raging river during heavy rain.

Surrounded by towering slickrock walls, this large pullout is a great location for a refreshing dip in the creek on a hot summer day,

The first rock obstacle is a rutty, slickrock waterfall that has no bypass. There are several routes, but the left side is the easiest. Be prepared to drag while going down this obstacle. Please keep in mind you have to come back out this way. If you don't think you can get back up this, do not go down it. The trail only gets harder from here on out.

Immediately after the waterfall drop, climb out of the wash over a steep, 31-degree, rocky, rutty, and slightly off-camber hill. Be careful with your line choice, as it is easy to bottom out on this climb.

The first uphill waterfall is a long one. At over 100 feet long, this slickrock obstacle will put your skills of picking a good line to the test. Take your time and plan your line accordingly. The hill is wide and offers a variety of routes different for each vehicle.

This is the beginning of the Steel Bender Loop. Turn left/northwest and follow the trail clockwise. You will return to this intersection at the completion of the loop. Turning right /southeast takes you to Flat Pass.

After a sandy section, the trail widens and traverses several rocky ledges. The e==ledges range from smooth to chunky. The first ledge climbs at a 31-degree angle.

This smooth waterfall is slightly off-camber and can be very deceiving as it is often covered in sand and lacks the traditional slickrock sticky traction. This obstacle will flex your suspension. Lockers might be needed. The easiest line is to the right, while a harder, more rutty line exists on the left.

Stay straight passing the intersection of D2341 and continue trekking along patches of slickrock. D2341 is a short and rocky spur route connecting to Waypoint 24.

At the y-intersection, stay left to continue to The Wall obstacle, the hardest obstacle along the trail. Bypass this obstacle by staying right and reconnecting at Waypoint 13.

The Wall is a 10-foot tall waterfall obstacle with two different routes, both of which are difficult. The climb up the obstacle is steep enough to cause vehicles to roll over backward. Careful tire placement is needed. The only bypass around this obstacle is the alternate route starting at Waypoint 11 and ending at Waypoint 13. 35'' tires and lockers are highly recommended for this obstacle.

Continue straight as the bypass route begun at Waypoint 11 reconnects from the east.

Climb out of a ravine and make a slow u-turn across the slickrock following the white dashes on the rock. Continuing down the ravine enters a wilderness area clearly marked as non-motorized.

After a rocky descent, there's a y-intersection. To the left is the opportunity to traverse a slickrock fin,skeletal remains of an ancient sand bar. To the right is a shortcut, bypassing the fin and taking you quickly through the soft sand to Waypoint 17.

This 300-yard-long, narrow slickrock fin, the only one along the trail, feels like driving along the back of a monstrous petrified snake. Slither your way over the fin and drop back into the sand as the trail makes a hard turn east.

Continue straight, passing the shortcut spur from Waypoint 15. From here, the trail becomes very soft and sandy and will have your vehicle bobbing up and down as you bomb through countless whoop-de-doos.

Continue straight. The dead-end road to the north ends at an overlook of North Fork Mill Creek and the Mill Creek Canyon Wilderness. The overlook has room for 4 to 5 vehicles and would be a great campsite.

Continue straight passing the D2340 trail, an easy sandy connector road that takes you back to the southwest end of the loop near Waypoint 10.

The trail traverses a section of chunky and fractured slickrock. Slow down and select your line wisely.

This 4-way intersection can be a bit confusing. Steel Bender continues to the southeast as marked by directional signage. To the northwest, a faint road connects to D2340. Straight ahead, D2343 heads southwest and reconnects to Steel Bender near the Flat Pass intersection.

The trial drops down a rocky ledge with a 31-degree pitch. Although this drop is steep, it is relatively smooth and should not cause many issues.

Come to a T-intersection with Flat Pass. To continue the loop, turn right and head north. Flat Pass crosses The Fall, a series of massive ledge obstacles. Only experienced drivers in highly modified vehicles should only attempt this obstacle.

Continue straight. D2341 heads north and reconnects to Steel Bender at Waypoint 10.

The loop ends back at Waypoint 7. From here, turn left/southwest to return to Waypoint 1 and exit the trail where you started.