Hell's Revenge is the most famous trail in Moab — and one of the most technical. A wrong line can mean body damage, a rollover, or worse. Here's how to decide if you need a guide.
Short answer: Yes, if it's your first time.
Hell's Revenge is the most famous trail in Moab — and one of the most technical. The slickrock terrain, steep climbs, and cliff exposure make it unlike anything you've ridden before. A wrong line can mean body damage, a rollover, or worse.
A local guide knows every obstacle, every line choice, and every spot where first-timers get in trouble. They'll walk you through technical sections before you hit them and make sure you actually experience the iconic features (like Mickey's Hot Tubs) instead of riding right past them.
If you've done Hell's Revenge multiple times and know the trail, you don't need a guide. Everyone else should seriously consider one.
What Makes Hell's Revenge Different
Hell's Revenge isn't hard because it's long or remote. It's hard because the terrain punishes mistakes.
Slickrock doesn't behave like dirt. The grip is incredible — until it isn't. Wet slickrock is ice. Dusty slickrock is unpredictable. The camber on some sections isn't visible until you're on it.
The exposure is real. Several sections have significant drop-offs. A wrong line doesn't mean getting stuck — it means going over the edge. This isn't theoretical. It happens.
Trail ratings lie. Hell's Revenge is rated "difficult" but that single word doesn't capture the variance. Some sections are moderate. Some sections are expert-level. You won't know which is which until you're staring at them.
The iconic features are unmarked. Mickey's Hot Tubs, Potato Salad Hill, Tip-Over Challenge — these are the moments people come for. First-timers ride past them constantly because there's no signage.
What a Guide Does on Hell's Revenge
A guide who's run Hell's Revenge dozens (or hundreds) of times provides:
Pre-obstacle briefings. Before every technical section, they stop, explain what you're looking at, show you the line, and tell you what speed to carry. You're not guessing.
Real-time spotting. On the hard stuff, they'll position themselves where they can see your line and call out corrections before you commit to something bad.
Line selection for your vehicle. The right line for a Wrangler isn't the right line for an RZR. A guide adjusts based on what you're driving.
Recovery expertise. If you get stuck or tip, they've gotten people unstuck in that exact spot before. They know whether to winch, stack rocks, or back out.
The full experience. They make sure you hit Hot Tubs, they know the photo spots, they'll tell you the stories behind the obstacles. You leave feeling like you actually did Hell's Revenge — not like you survived it.
When You Don't Need a Guide
You've done Hell's Revenge before and remember the lines.
You're going with someone who has and they're willing to spot you through the hard sections.
You're an expert-level rock crawler who reads terrain instinctively and has recovery gear + experience using it.
If none of those apply, a guide is worth it.
What It Costs
Moab guides typically charge $200-400 for a full-day Hell's Revenge run, depending on group size and whether you're combining it with other trails.
Compare that to:
- Body damage from a bad line: $500-5,000+
- Recovery/tow if you get stuck somewhere bad: $300-1,000
- A ruined trip because you spent day one damaging your rig: Priceless
The guide fee is insurance that also makes the experience better.
How to Book
Through Gather Offroad:
- Browse guides who list Hell's Revenge as a trail they cover
- Check their reviews, experience, and rates
- Send a booking request with your skill level and what you're driving
- Chat with them to confirm details
- Meet up and ride
Most guides are flexible on scheduling and can adjust the day based on conditions and your comfort level.
Still Not Sure?
Ask yourself:
- Have I ridden slickrock before?
- Do I know how to read camber and choose lines on rock?
- Do I have recovery gear and know how to use it?
- Am I comfortable with exposure (cliff edges, steep drops)?
- Do I know where the obstacles are and what lines to take?
If you answered "no" to more than one of those, book a guide. Hell's Revenge will still be there next time if you want to try it solo after you know what you're dealing with.
