MOUNTAIN BIKING IN MOAB

Easy Rides

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Moab Brand Trails (Bar M):

Length: Varies depending on loops ridden

Relatively close to town and Arches NP this trail system has both double and single track options. The Bar M Loop is an 8 mile trail on easy double track. If you’re looking for some beginner single-track riding keep an eye out for Lazy, EZ, Pipeline Spur, Rusty Spur and for kids to try their skills, the Ok Corral.

Dead Horse State Park Trails:

Intrepid Trail – Length: 0.5 miles
Located at Dead Horse Point State Park, this trail has varied terrain, little elevation change, and incredible viewpoints! The Big Chief Loop is 9 miles with shorter cut-off options. This is a perfect ride for the whole family. Don’t forget your camera! See the other trails in this area below.

Prickly Pair – Length: 2.5 miles
The terrain at Dead Horse Point State Park allows for fast singletrack and gentle climbing sections. Located across the road from the original Big Chief and Great Pyramid loops, this trail links up with Twisted Tree, Whiptail, and Crossroads.

Twisted Tree – Length: 1.9 miles
Scenic, twisty, and turny, this trail passes beautiful vistas far out in the park.

Crossroads and Whiptail – Length: 4.5 miles
The farthest-reaching trails in the system, riders may link these trails with Prickly Pair for approximately 8 miles of singletrack riding in the high desert.

Mud Springs (Seasonal Wildlife Closure: Dec. 1 – Apr. 15):

This new trail system is located about 12 miles south of town. It offers machine-cut, mountain bike-specific, adaptive-friendly flow trails. These are by far the smoothest trails in the Moab area. There is a one-way directional climbing trail with a couple of options for descending back to the trailhead.

Up235 – Length: 2.2 miles
This is the primary climbing trail. It offers a steady yet enjoyable ascent to the network’s high point.

RADium – Length: 1.6 miles
This is the shorter option for getting back down. It offers fast, flowy sections with berms that will leave you smiling.

Yellow Cake Walk – Length: 2.7 miles
The longer option starts with a twisty, berm-filled descent that drops approximately 200 feet, followed by a series of rolling climbs and descents.

Note: Mud Springs was built to adaptive-friendly standards and is great for handcycle riders. The trails range from 38–48 inches wide. Because this system sits on clay-rich soils, it is not a place you want to be when wet weather hits, so be sure to check local conditions before heading out. There is dispersed camping near the trailhead and parking area.

Klondike Bluffs Trails:

Jurassic – Length 3.1 Miles
Rolling singletrack alternative to warm up your legs for more physical riding challenges in the Klondike network. Perhaps on the cusp of Novice and Intermediate in difficulty.

Agate, Jasper Loops and Chilkoot Pass – 4.9 miles
Easy and short loops along gently rolling terrain west of the Copper Ridge Road.

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Intermediate Rides

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Navajo Rocks:

This area off Hwy 313 is a great mix of open slickrock sections and ribbons of singletrack connecting them. You’ll find amazing views, a variety of technical challenges, and some extended downhill sections. I consider this a strong intermediate ride with expert-level moves sprinkled throughout. There are five main trails that comprise this area, and together they make a 17-mile loop.

Rocky Tops – Length: 4.6 miles
A mix of sandstone, technical features, and punchy climbs.

Coney Islands – Length: 3 miles
Features a large whirlpool rock formation and stunning views.

Big Lonely – Length: 3.1 miles
Consists primarily of expansive exposed slickrock with short stretches of dirt singletrack. Enjoy great views of the Tombstone rock formation in the distance.

Big Mesa – Length: 3.3 miles
Unique singletrack that hugs the base of a mesa, winding through numerous nooks and crannies. This trail offers some shade in the late afternoon.

Ramblin’ – Length: 3.3 miles
Features huge, fast slickrock domes, flowing singletrack, and is probably the favorite trail for many riders in the Navajo Rocks trail system.

A popular shorter route (8 miles) starts on Rocky Tops, turns onto Middle Earth, crosses the highway, and finishes on Ramblin’.

Raptor Route:

This trail system can be shuttled and ridden point-to-point, or you can create loops using any or all of the four trails that comprise the system. The entire route is 11.5 miles long, with 436 feet of climbing and 2,926 feet of descending.

Eagle Eye – Length: 2.3 miles
This trail twists and turns through juniper trees and features a mix of dirt and sandstone. You’ll find amazing views along the way, and the wildflowers are especially beautiful in May and June.

Hawks Glide – Length: 1.9 miles
This section features some very fast stretches and arguably the most technical feature on the entire Raptor Route. The trail ends at the traditional Porcupine Rim Trailhead on Sand Flats Road. Falcon Flow begins approximately 800 feet west of the trailhead along Sand Flats Road.

Falcon Flow – Length: 5.5 miles
This trail features fast, flowing sections with incredible views and a few classic Moab chunky rock sections. It also includes the biggest climb on the route, with a 300-foot ascent near the middle of the trail. There is a parking area at the bottom of the trail, and Falcon Flow also has a designated one-way climbing trail that leads to the top. Ridden as a loop, Falcon Flow makes for an excellent 9-mile ride.

Kestrel Run – Length: 1.8 miles
The final trail in the system, and it does not disappoint! This trail has more sand than the others in the Raptor Route but features fun slickrock sections and a very entertaining finish. There is a parking lot at the bottom of this trail, located at Loop H Campground.

Horsethief Trails:

Located on Hwy 313, these trails near the Horsethief Campground connect the Navajo Rocks and Mag 7 trail systems via the Chisholm Trail. This campground is a great place to stay for a couple of days while enjoying the trail systems located along Hwy 313.

Chisholm – Length: 7.1 miles
Slickrock, ledges, and dirt. This trail connects Navajo Rocks to the Mag 7 trail system.

Rodeo – Length: 9.1 miles
This trail dips, dives, and tucks its way through juniper trees and open slickrock. You’ll enjoy views of the Henry Mountains to the west.

Mustang Loop – Length: 3.1 miles
Aerobically demanding and moderately technical. The surface varies from dirt to slickrock patches with numerous turns, drops, and climbs.

Whirlwind Loop, Hidalgo, or Wildcat Any of these trails will take you to the 7-Up Trail. Expect intermediate riding with grades ranging from 5–7%.

Klondike Bluffs Trails:

Klondike Main Trail – Length: 8 miles

An out & back from South Klondike trailhead (14 miles out & back from highway). It is also a 4X4 trail road so it does get sandy, but can be used to access all of the singletrack, slickrock and other trails at Klondike.

Nome & Alaska – Length: 1.8 miles & 3.7 miles
This athletic trail has solid climbing challenges and fast descending. Link Nome up with Alaska for a strong workout and smooth single track. Away from the more popular southern sections, Alaska traverses a beautiful canyon and returns you to the main trail network on fast, buffed out singletrack. Alaska is best used as a decent after climbing Mega Steps or Little Salty.

Dino-Flow – Length: 5.6 Miles
This singletrack rails along the flats below this huge land mass. Ups and downs, dips and turns, provide riders with a warmup run on rock and soil before tackling any of the climbs which deposit you on the top trail overlooking Salt Valley, and out to the Book Cliffs. Enjoy riding Dino-Flow to the Klondike Bluff 4×4 trail, turn North, and climb up and over to descend down Alaska for a long loop.

Azurite, Miner’s Loop, Malachite, Instep, Sidestep and UFO are singletrack trails to get you to the other trails located on the North side of Klondike Bluffs. You can figure 8, loop, up, or down with these trails, whatever your heart desires.

Klonzo Trails:

A fun system of interlinked trails with intervals of climbing to keep your heart rate and fun factor up. This trail system has a “North” side and a “South” side.

Klonzo North Side

Borderline Trail – Length: 1.7 miles
Primarily smooth red dirt single track for ~1.3 mi, then mildly technical, broken slickrock to the junction with Wahoo trail.

Wahoo Trail – Length: 1.6 miles
Trail follows the contact between sandstone and red siltstone as it climbs to the highest point in the Klonzo trail system. The descent into a valley between two buttes is fast and requires technical maneuvering between large boulders that have rolled into the gulch from the highest butte. The loop is connected after crossing a low red ridge and descending to the junction with Cross Canyon.

Cross Canyon Trail – Length: 1.3 miles
Primarily smooth rolling red dirt single track. The trail serves as a connection between Wahoo, Borderline, Secret Passage, and Dunestone trails.

Secret Passage Trail – Length: 0.7 miles
Primarily smooth, rolling red dirt single track connected to Cross Canyon trail, that takes you down into a hidden valley then back out through a narrow tributary drainage.

Snippet Trail – Length: 0.2 miles
Connects Cross Canyon to Borderline via a faint abandoned roadway. Some red dirt and some rocky outcrops.

Dunestone Trail – Length: 1.6 miles
Primarily bumpy and technical slickrock single track on a mesa top, formed by the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation. Great views along the trail when near the mesa edge. Direct access from Parking Area A, or from Parking Area B via the Cross Canyon trail.

Boondocks Trail – Length: 1.2 miles
Mostly smooth red dirt single track in a low rolling hill area below the Dunestone trail. Boondocks can only be accessed from Dunestone at each end.

Klonzo South Side

Houdini – Length 1.8 miles
This slickrock playground loops you around from the west to the east hitting potholes and sand pockets. Views of the Bar M area, The LaSals and Arches National Park.

After Houdini, you can pick Hotdog (.7) to head to the north trails or Red Hot (.5) to hit Topspin, Roller Coaster, Midway, Wizard, Magician, Gypsy or Carousel. All of the later trails are short .2 – 1.2 miles but give you the option to add miles. Just remember, what goes “down” must go back “up”.

Moab Brand Trails:

North 40, Circle O and Rockin’ A – Length: 8 miles for all trails
For a full day of riding or a quick session of riding singletrack, the trails in this network will entertain riders of all levels. North 40 has soil, rock, and a bit of climbing up and around huge boulders. The committing Circle O has challenging slickrock riding over petrified sand dunes. Try Rockin’ A for a similar yet shorter slickrock dose. Both Circle O and Rockin’ A are less aggressive than the original Slickrock trail in Sandflats. Definitely gives you a taste of what “The” Slickrock is like!!

Magnificent 7 Trails:

Bull Run, Arth’s Corner, Little Canyon – Length: 8.8 miles
Bull Run is a mix of singletrack, double track, slickrock and soil that descends parallel to the Gemini Bridges road, this is a suggested one way trail. It is a scenic and swooping trail that awaits the endurance rider as you work your way along. You can link Bull Run with Arth’s Corner for even more great singletrack fun. Arth’s Corner, at speed, is fast and techie descending with sharp cornering and a couple of arm slicing branches if you go off line. Little Canyon can be used to climb back out to the Gemini Bridges road or a continuation of your descent down Arth’s.

Getaway and Great Escape – Length: 7.6 Miles
Up or down these two trails ride very well. Slickrock, singletrack, fields of cactus to test your steering precision and gorgeous views of Arches National Park await the long distance rider here. Have lunch by Gemini Bridges overlook and contemplate the great La Sal mountains. Of the two, Great Escape requires more skill however riders will find both trails exciting and attention grabbing fun. Getaway is a great climb back to your car after your descent down Bull Run.

If you chose to do the Mag 7 trails and continue to Portal via Gold Bar/Gold Rim, this becomes a DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND EXPERT RIDE!

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Advanced/Expert Rides

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Amasa Back Trails:

Captain Ahab – Length: 4.3 miles (directional)
Captain Ahab features exceptional trail building and rock work, creating flowing singletrack for skilled riders seeking challenging moves, fast turns, and rewarding views. This is a great trail to ride if you’re considering the Whole Enchilada. Please respect the one-way directional nature of this singletrack for everyone’s safety.

Hymasa Trail – Length: 3.2 mile (great uphill to link to Captain Ahab)
A super-fun two-way singletrack trail that parallels Amasa Back. It is a great option for climbing or descending instead of riding the jeep road. If this trail pushes your technical limits, you may want to skip descending Captain Ahab, which is considerably more difficult.

Rockstacker and Jackson – Length: 4 miles
Bring your body armor for these trails. Strong climbing ability and solid biking skills are mandatory. These exciting routes feature drops and challenging obstacles throughout. There are several sections that qualify as no-fall zones. Jackson includes lines near cliff edges where a crash could result in a serious fall to the riverbank below.

Pothole Arch – Length: 1.9 miles
Beautiful views and fields of slickrock connected by ribbons of singletrack await riders who make the journey to the arch. This trail truly feels like a backcountry adventure.

Moab Brand Trails:

Deadman’s Ridge – Length: 3.2 miles
Long Branch – Length: 1 mile
Killer B Loop – Length: 2.5 miles

These singletrack loops will test your technical bike-handling skills. The terrain winds through trees and boulders as you climb along a series of ridges. Keep a keen eye out for petrified pieces of logs and branches along the trail.

Sidewinder provides a speedy singletrack descent parallel to the paved bike path at the southern end of the Brand Trails, offering one last stretch of dirt before returning to town.

Pipe Dream Trail:

Length: 5 miles one-way (longer as an out-and-back)

Singletrack right in town! This ride is loaded with technical switchbacks, tight turns, rock ramps, and moderate exposure. Ride it as an out-and-back or create a road loop ranging from 7–10 miles, depending on your route. The trail generally rides faster from south to north.

Slickrock:

Main Loop – Length: 10.5 miles

People come from all over the world to ride the famous Slickrock Trail. It’s smooth, steep, and full of natural bowls. The grippy sandstone allows riders to tackle remarkably steep terrain. Freeriders love the natural half-pipes and drop-ins. This iconic ride helped put Moab at the forefront of the mountain biking world. Riders should be proficient with using a dropper post, climbing and descending steep terrain, and managing braking on long descents.

Practice Loop – Length: 2 miles

The Practice Loop offers the same level of difficulty as the Main Loop in a shorter format. It’s an excellent way to determine whether you’ll enjoy the full trail and to gauge how long it may take you to complete the Main Loop.

Whole Enchilada (EXPERT ONLY!):

Length: 32 miles from Burro Pass

This ride will push you to your limits, but you’ll have a smile on your face the whole way down. Reserve a shuttle to take you up into the La Sal Mountains, where you’ll begin pedaling and top out at 11,000 feet. From there, the descent begins and doesn’t end until you reach River Road at approximately 4,000 feet.

Along the way, don’t miss the turns for Burro Pass, Hazard County Trail, Kokopelli Trail, UPS, LPS, and Porcupine Rim. You’ll definitely want to fuel up and gear up for this one.

Ride time varies based on several factors:

1. Fitness and stamina
2. Skill level and riding experience
3. Personal preparedness (food, water, and energy level)
4. Weather conditions
5. Mechanical issues

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This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to mountain biking in Moab, and the ratings will vary depending on the rider, and your own local terrain. Please don’t hesitate to ask us for personalized suggestions.

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