Spanish Pipeline

Trail Overview

Spanish Pipeline is a premier high-desert route that offers a "little bit of everything" for the seasoned off-roader. This long, scenic "rip" across the foothills provides an ever-changing landscape of rolling hills, long stretches of smooth sand, and technical rocky segments. As you navigate the trail, you are treated to a visual feast of Great Basin geology: the southern section passes directly between the magnificent rock clusters of Pink Butte and the towering Mexican Butte. As you head north, the massive silhouette of Big Ten Peak dominates the eastern horizon. This area is a massive sanctuary for wild mustangs and Pronghorn Antelope; it is common to see multiple large herds grazing in the shadow of the buttes. Because this is an active open range, you may also encounter striking white cattle along the track. While much of the trail maintains a solid 3-rating for its sandy and rutted sections, the overall difficulty is a 4 due to two significant technical "gatekeepers." These are steep, non-bypassable obstacles located near each end of the trail that require careful throttle control and high clearance to conquer. A high-clearance 4x4 with low-range capability is mandatory for the end-of-trail obstacles. Aggressive all-terrain tires are highly recommended for the mix of soft sand and jagged volcanic rock. Expect no cell service for the duration of this trail. The high peaks of the Big Ten and the surrounding buttes create a total signal shadow. Download offline maps before leaving town.

Photos of Spanish Pipeline

Want to see more?

Login

Difficulty

Be prepared for long sections of soft sand where maintaining momentum is important. There are also several deeper washouts that require slow approach speeds to avoid bumper damage. Rated a 4 specifically for the two steep obstacles at the northern and southern ends. These obstacles have no bypasses; if you cannot clear them, you will have to turn around.

Technical Rating

Spanish Pipeline can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV
• SxS (60")
• ATV (50")
• Dirt Bike