Flat Iron in Reverse

This trail runs the Flat Iron Mesa trip in a backwards direction, thereby increasing the difficulty rating. Due to this, the equipment requirements are: NO long wheel bases (e.g. long bed or extended cab pickups, Suburbans, etc.); minimum 35" tire diameter; front and rear locking differentials. Body damage is a real possibility on this trip. We also suggest that it would be helpful if participants had run Flat Iron Mesa in a normal direction prior to signing up for this trip.

Our Officials describe this as "a very fun and scenic trail with enough of a challenge to make it entertaining". If you have the right equipment, sign up and see for yourself if they are right.

Scenery

First up is a beautiful look into the bottom of West Coyote Wash as you squeeze by a rock outcrop. Later are views of Hatch Wash and late in the day a look down into Muleshoe Canyon. The LaSal Mountains tower above for most of the trip.

Surface

Broken rock, dirt, rock shelves, and occasional boulders.

Trail Details

The entire narrow section in the Easter Egg Rock area easily encompasses the equipment requirements for this trip. Just after having to squeeze by the Intimidator, Easter Egg Rock features a narrow, twisting approach between large rocks that leads to a rock stacking ascent of a large and angled shelf that just happens to require a sharp left turn as the rear tires are still climging the shelf. A side slip here can result in a lot of damage to left side body and roof panels.

After the Easter Egg Rock area, a lot of shelfs that were no big deal coming the normal way become obstacles that have to be climbed instead of descended. The Shelves approaching the Tilt-a-Whirl area are particularly tall, and then there awaits the ascent of the Tilt-a-Whirl itself.