GPS
MOUNTAIN BIKING IN MOAB
Welcome to the home of the greatest mountain biking on the planet. Moab offers a huge variety of trails for mountain bikers of any experience level, from beginners looking for a scenic ride through beautiful canyons and mesa tops, to seasoned bikers looking for the ultimate challenge.
Moab is well known for the world famous, and highly technical, Slickrock Bike Trail. This challenging 9.6 mile trail is considered by many to be the ultimate mountain biking experience. Moab, however, also contains an assortment of easy and extremely scenic biking trails. The Bar-M Loop Trail, for example, provides a great introduction to the varied terrain and beautiful scenery adjacent to Arches National Park. Look around this page and create your own mountain biking adventure!
SELECTED TRAILS
The following trails represent just a sample of the numerous trails in the Moab area. Please note that these descriptions and maps are meant to serve as an introduction. Before embarking on any trail make sure that you have a detailed trail map. Detailed maps can be purchased at many of the retail establishments in Moab, and at the Moab Information Center on Main & Center Street.
Baby Steps
 Trail Map |
Trailhead
Klondike Bluffs Trailhead, 21 miles north of Moab
Difficulty
Don’t be fooled
into thinking that the name of this trail means it is easy. It is the
quintessential desert ride with all types of terrain. The first two singletrack
sections were specifically designed for mountain bikes and offer some
fun, semi-technical riding that will challenge any rider. The last singletrack
section back to the valley floor is one of the funnest downhills you’ll
find anywhere. PLEASE be considerate of the trail markings, STAY ON THE
TRAIL, and keep it single track.
Type of Ride
Jeep trail, slickrock, singletrack,
FUN!
Length
Ridden from the Highway 191trailhead,
the trail is approximately 20 miles long. Allow 3 hours for the complete
loop. There are numerous options for a shorter loop if time is tight.
Elevation
@ Trailhead
4700’
Season
Ideal in spring or fall; extreme midday heat
in July and August.
Area Attractions
Dinosaur tracks, mine sites, singletrack, beautiful
views.
Directions
Drive 17.5 miles north of Moab
on Hwy 191 and turn right on Klondike Bluffs Rd. Proceed 3 miles to trailhead
on left.
Description
At the first intersection past the sandy wash
and big cottonwood trees, look for the Baby Steps sign pointing left. Ride
along through Little Valley (also part of the Copper Ridge Jeep Route),
and keep an eye out for the right hand turn that leads to some fun sloping
slickrock, and cairns marking the route all the way to the first singletrack
section. This is not high speed singletrack, more like tight, semi-technical
maneuvering. Keep your speed in check to eliminate blowing out of the corners
and creating unsightly, environmentally unfriendly, tracks. At the intersection
of more slickrock, go left and look for dinosaur tracks as you peddle
to the next singletrack. The trail intersects a jeep road and traverses
slickrock until it intersects the Klondike Bluffs Trail. Baby Steps turns
to the left and climbs up the hill and over the ridge. This next section,
sometimes referred to as The Three Passes, offers some challenging climbing,
fast riding, interesting mining sites, and a great downhill! Once back
in Little Valley, hang a left that will lead you back past the beginning
of the Baby Steps ride.
BAR-M LOOP
 Trail Map |
Trailhead
Bar-M Ranch, 9.5 miles north of Moab on Hwy 191
Difficulty
Physically easier, technically easy
Trail Surface
Rocky 4WD road, slickrock
Length
7-mile loop (can be shortened to 4 miles)
Elevation @ Trailhead
4600’
Highest Elevation
4800’
Elevation Gain
275’
Season
Ideal in spring, fall and winter; extreme midday
heat in July and August
Directions
Drive 9.5 miles north of Moab and take a right
at the sign for the Bar-M Chuckwagon. Take first right turn and park in
large lot on right. Trailhead kiosk is at the south end of the parking
lot.
Description
The Bar-M Loop is a great introduction to mountain biking fitness
and skills, especially for families with kids. The ride has fun slickrock
riding, great views of the Windows Section of Arches National Park,
and bailout options if your kids keep asking “how much further, Dad?”
Popular with local trail runners as it is the flattest route near town.
Best direction to travel is counterclockwise from the trailhead; connects
to the Sovereign Trail system to the North, the bike path via the Old
Highway to the South, and the bottom of the Gemini Bridges Road to
across the highway. *
LOWER MONITOR & MERRIMAC TRAIL
 Trail Map |
Trailhead
Mill Canyon Trailhead, 16 miles north of Moab
Difficulty
Physically moderate, technically easier
Trail Surface
30% graded road, 20% 4WD road, 50% slickrock
Length
7.5-mile lollipop
Elevation @ Trailhead
4500’
Highest Elevation
4950’
Elevation Gain
550’
Season
Ideal in spring, fall and winter; extreme midday
heat in July and August
Directions
Follow Hwy 191 north from Moab 16 miles and take
a left on the Mill Canyon Rd. Park at the trailhead on your right. Ride
half of a mile and take a left where indicated. Stay left at the first
intersection and take the first sandy right.
Description
This is the best slickrock playground
(stay on the rock!) in Moab for novice mountain bikers - less intimidating
than Bartlett Wash or the Slickrock Trail. Sandy sections will hopefully
be rerouted in the near future. It’s easy to confuse this loop with
the Monitor & Merrimac
Jeep Trail, which is mostly beach sand and heavily used by vehicles.
The historic Halfway Stage house and the fossil quarry at the Mill
Canyon Dinosaur Trail can both be visited on this ride. *
KLONDIKE BLUFFS TRAIL
 Trail Map |
Trailhead
Klondike Bluffs, 21 miles north of Moab
Difficulty
Some sections physically challenging, technically
easy/moderate
Trail Surface
50% Rocky 4WD road, 50% slickrock
Length
9.5-mile out & back (15 mile out & back
from highway)
Elevation @ Trailhead
4700’
Highest Elevation
5400’
Elevation Gain
800’
Season
Ideal in spring or fall; extreme midday heat
in July and August. Clay content of trail makes sections impassable when
wet. Avoid if forecast calls for rain or snow.
Directions
Drive 17.5 miles north of Moab on Hwy 191 and
turn right on Klondike Bluffs Rd. Proceed 3 miles to trailhead on left.
Description
The Klondike Bluffs Trail represents a step up in terms of exertion
and skills required, but is still enjoyable for fit novice mountain
bikers. The route follows a jeep trail across Moab Member slickrock
imprinted with fossilized dinosaur tracks. The jeep trail terminates
at the boundary of Arches National Park, where a short hike leads to
the top of the bluffs and an impressive viewpoint. The Klondike Bluffs
Road is bumpy but maintained for passenger cars (except when wet) and
it’s worth driving to the trailhead and skipping the ride on the dirt
road. The Baby Steps Loop (see description above) provides an option
for those looking for more challenging riding than the Klondike Bluffs
Trail.*
SOVEREIGN SINGLETRACK
 Trail Map |
Trailheads
Willow Springs Rd (most popular), Dalton Wells
Rd, Archview Campground (primarily OHVs) 11-13 miles north of Moab on Hwy
191.
Difficulty
Physically challenging, technically moderate/difficult
Trail Surface
80% singletrack (with long rocky and technical
as well slickrock sections)
Length
16 miles point-to-point, several out & back
and loop options
Lowest Elevation
4350’ @ Willow Springs Road
Highest Elevation
4950’ @ top of Garden Mesa
Season
Ideal in spring or fall; extreme midday heat in
July and August. Avoid when raining or snowing.
Directions to Willow Springs
Trailhead
Follow Hwy 191 north 11 miles to Willow Springs Rd and turn
right. Proceed 2.5 miles to trailhead. Note: road can be sandy and difficult
for low clearance vehicles.
Directions to Dalton Wells Trailhead
Follow Hwy 191 north
to Dalton Wells Rd and turn right. Take left fork and park. Close the gate
behind you and ride. Road comes to a fork at 1.5 miles and a trailhead
kiosk. The left fork access singletrack to Garden Mesa (cairn marks the
entrance a quarter-mile up the road on your left); the right fork intersects
the singletrack in 1.25 miles).
Description
Of the many miles of ATV, jeep, and motorcycle trail in the Sovereign
Trail System, the Sovereign Singletrack is the best suited to mountain
bikes (along with roads marked on the map). Shorter out-and-back rides
can be started from trailheads at Willow Springs (a popular option)
or Dalton Wells Rd. The singletrack climbs and descends ridges of the
Morrison Formation; rocky, technical sections are interspersed with
smooth and flowing trail. Expect to encounter motorcycles. Bring a
map as entrances to the singletrack at road intersections have been
camouflaged to discourage ATV use. Thank Ride with Respect for developing
this multi-use trail system. *
AMASA BACK TRAIL
 Trail Map |
Trailhead
Amasa Back Trailhead on Kane Creek Road, 5 miles
southwest of Moab
Difficulty
Physically challenging, technically moderate/difficult
Trail Surface
Ledgy 4WD road
Length
Up to 9 mile out & back from trailhead, 21 mile
out & back
from town
Elevation @ Trailhead
4000’
Highest Elevation
5250’
Elevation Gain
1400’
Season
Ideal in spring or fall; extreme midday heat
in July and August. Creek crossing can be dangerous during heavy rains.
Directions
From Center & Main in Moab, take Main St south
and take a right on Kane Creek Rd (or take the Mill Creek Bike Path to
500 West and turn left). Follow Kane Creek Rd for 5 miles; Amasa Back parking
is the second lot after the pavement ends. The jeep trail leaves the
road less than a mile later.
Description
The Amasa Back Trail is a jeep trail that climbs just over a thousand
feet to a mesa top overlooking the Colorado River and the Kane Creek
Anticline. The trail surface is mostly Kayenta Sandstone and has many
small ledges (less than 1’) and a few bigger ones. Challenging and
fun for experienced mountain bikers only a short bike ride from town.
*
SLICKROCK BIKE TRAIL
 Trail Map |
Type
Slickrock; Loop Ride
Difficulty
Physically difficult, technically difficult
Attractions
The Slickrock Bike Trail possesses a terrific
combination of challenging riding and scenery. The practice loop offers
an introduction to riding on slickrock.
Length
10.5 miles (main loop); 2.2 miles (practice loop)
Trailhead
On Sand Flats Road, 2.3 miles from the intersection
of the Sand Flats Road and Mill Creek Drive in Moab.
Description
The Slickrock Bike Trail is located on a heavily
eroded sandstone plateau between Moab Valley and the Colorado River in
the Sand Flats Recreation Area. To reach the trailhead from Moab, drive
2.3 miles east on Sand Flats Road from the intersection of Mill Creek Drive
and the Sand Flats Road. The Slickrock Trail is normally used from March
through November although the spring and fall months are the most popular.
Snow usually covers the trail from late December through February.
Early morning and evening rides are best during the summer when mid-day
temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Trailhead facilities
include a parking area, rest rooms, and information boards. There is
no drinking water in the area. The Sand Flats Recreation Area is managed
through a unique partnership between Grand County and the Bureau of
Land Management. A day use fee is charged.
Trail Basics
The Slickrock Bike Trail was established in 1969
for motorcycle riding and is open to both motorcycles and mountain bikes.
It is not suitable for three-wheel and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles
because the trail crosses steep side slopes and traverses narrow ledges.
The routes of both the main trail and the practice loop are indicated by
painted white dashes. Trail intersections are also painted on the rock.
Short sections of sand provide a change from the rock. There are tough
spots that may, for some, require walking bikes.
The Main Trail
The complete trip along the main trail from
the trailhead out to the loop, around the loop, and back to the trailhead
covers a distance of 10.5 miles, not counting any spur routes. The trail
constantly changes elevation as it crosses a series of Navajo sandstone
domes and fins. Because of the numerous steep ascents, many riders need
4 or 5 hours to complete the trail. Several portions of the main trail
are marked with yellow dashes where the trail follows narrow ledges or
abrupt drop-offs. Riders are cautioned to be especially careful at these
locations and anywhere else the trail approaches a cliff, changes grade,
or crosses rutted rock.
The Practice Loop
For riders with less time and/or experience,
there is a 1.7 mile practice loop. The practice loop begins at the top
of the first rings, about 0.2 miles north of the trailhead, and returns
to that point via a segment of the main trail. While the practice loop
is easier than the main trail, it is still a difficult trail and should
be approached with respect.
GEMINI BRIDGES TRAIL
 Trail Map |
Type
Dirt Road; Shuttle Required
Difficulty
Moderate
Attractions
Gemini Bridges, a pair of natural rock
spans; spectacular views of Behind the Rocks; and colorful rock formations.
Length
13.5 miles
Trailhead
On Highway 313 at a point 0.9 mile west of the
Mineral Bottom turnoff (12.6 miles west of the Utah 313/US191 junction).
Description
The Gemini Bridges Trail is well known to local riders for its scenery
and long descents. Starting from Utah313, the trail, except for the
climb out of Little Canyon, is nearly all downhill back to Highway
191.
The first section of the trail is a rapid descent for 3.8 miles along a graded road through pinyon-juniper woodland. just after the road enters a huge open flat, turn right off the main road and go past an abandoned drill site (note the large metal post). Ride under a power line and descend into a wooded area where, after 0.9 mile, you will come to the intersection with the Four Arches Trail.
From the intersection of the Four Arches Trail and the Gemini Bridges Trail, continue to parallel the Bull Canyon system (on your right) until just before the end of the large open area. At this point, which is 0.6 mile from the Four Arches intersection, another trail crosses your route; go right at this intersection and then up over a low sandy hill and descend to the Gemini Bridges. The Gemini Bridges are located at the end of this spur which is about 0.2 mile long.
After viewing the bridges, return to the main trail. The next stretch of the trail winds through a wooded area and is mostly slickrock. After 1.4 miles, you rejoin the road that you left at the d rill pad. Go right and descend into Little Canyon. After 0.8 mile you will come to the intersection with the Bull Canyon Trail. Go left to stay on the Gemini Bridges Trail. Continue the descent into Little Canyon down a steep section of slickrock and loose dirt. At the bottom of the hill is the intersection with the Gold Bar Rim Trail. The Gemini Bridges trail goes left and crosses a large sandy wash. Ahead you will see Gooney Bird Rock. Beyond Gooney Bird Rock, the main trail continues its gradual ascent through Little Canyon. Much of this section is fairly sandy as the road keeps crossing the wash.
Near the head of the canyon, the road leaves the canyon bottom and climbs a fairly steep grade. The road then contours high above Highway 191. At this point, from your narrow perch on the road, you will have a spectacular view over Arches National Park. The road then quickly descends to the railroad tracks and Highway 191.
If you have left a vehicle here, then it is time to begin your shuttle. To avoid highway traffic in Moab Canyon, ride south on U.S. 191 for about 200 yards from the lower Gemini Bridges trailhead, then turn left onto a dirt road. Cross the yellow cattle guard and then follow the road to the right for a scenic ride through Moab Canyon that ends about 1/2 mile North of the Arches National Park entrance road. Some riders prefer to ride back to Moab.
HURRAH PASS TRAIL
Trail Map |
Type
Paved Road and Graded Dirt Road; Out and Back Type
Ride
Attractions
Views of the Colorado River, petroglyphs,
scenic canyon.
Length
33 miles round trip from Moab
Trailhead
The junction of Highway 191and Kane Creek
Boulevard in Moab.
Description
From the junction of Highway 191 and Kane
Creek Boulevard in Moab, follow Kane Creek Boulevard west to its "Y" with
Fifth West. Go left. In about 0.5 mile, the road reaches the Colorado
River. The pavement ends after 2 miles at the mouth of Kane Creek
Canyon. The road initially parallels the stream, then climbs high
above it. Stop at the turnout before the road heads down the switchbacks
for a view of the canyon and its surrounding ocean of rock. Try to
pick out the route of Kane Creek as it meanders toward the Colorado
River. From the pass, it is a quick ride down through a pair of steep
switchbacks to Kane Creek. Below the switchbacks is a grove of shady
cottonwoods and pouring from the wall along the left side of the
road a spring. In another mile, the road passes the mouth of Hunter
Canyon. Beyond Hunter Canyon, Kane Creek Canyon opens up into a huge
amphitheater. The high point ahead is Anticline Overlook. Hurrah
Pass is located below and to the right of the point.
Follow the road over a low hill by some colorful rock formations to where it crosses Kane Creek (may be dry). Ride straight ahead to the "Y" junction. The Kane Creek Canyon 4-wheel drive trail goes left. Take the right fork to Hurrah Pass. From here, it is nearly all uphill. The road follows one of those improbable routes found only in Canyon Country as it snakes its way up a series of narrow Moenkopi Formation ledges. On the way to the pass, you will be rewarded with spectacular red rock country views.
This ride may be shortened by starting at a point farther along the route such as the entrance to Kane Creek Canyon.
* Selected trail information courtesy of Colin Maher/Trail Mix Committee
Note: The information on this page is provided as a courtesy to area visitors. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the safety or ongoing validity of this information. The Moab Area Travel Council or its agents are not responsible for an liability arising from the use of the information presented here.