Trail Happenings April 2011

Moab Bike Trails - Lots of New Trails

Moab has a long history of offering challenging mountain bike trails and it can be quite intimidating for someone who is new to the sport, or riding in Moab for the first time. I still remember getting lost on Monitor & Merrimac in 1996 and choking on tears on Slickrock in 1998, so here is a brief update on what is new and exciting with the local Moab biking scene. Since I devote my life to mountain biking, it’s fun to talk to friends who only ride their bikes occasionally.

The MOAB Brands Trails are very popular with locals and visitors alike. These trails are a combination of singletrack and old jeep roads with the emphasis on singletrack that are part of the Bar M Mountain Bike Focus Area. Once on the trails, the La Sal Mountains begin to shape a major part of your vista, as well as the Windows district of Arches National Park.

Two of the newer trails that are less technical are Lazy and EZ. These are not necessarily easy but they provide a singletrack experience while not posing a lot of technical challenges. Another new trail, named Deadman’s Ridge, (named after a curve on the old Hwy.) is ready to ride for the first half with the second half to be completed soon. Yet another trail in the Brands System is the North 40, that is currently under construction, Since the Brands Trails are a great place to start if your group that has varying ability levels. If you are driving, the access from town is approximately 9 miles north of Moab on Hwy 191. Turn east at the Bar M Chuck Wagon and park at the information kiosk. Add a bit of challenge by riding from town, across the bicycle/pedestrian bridge and up the paved path known as the Moab Canyon Trail.

Another new trail in Moab is the Pipe Dream trail, a dream come true. It is technical singletrack that you can access from your house or motel in Moab. Locals love this trail, and so will visitors as it will soon be “discovered”. Three points of access are from the top of Aspen Drive off of Doc Allen Dr., Jackson Street (4th east) in Moab, or south of town, off of Hwy 191 look for the Hidden Valley/Pipe Dream sign before the Shell gas station.

News Flash!!! Just finished two weeks ago are three “new” trails, now ready to ride in the Gemini Bridges area. After viewing the Gemini Bridges, continue down the road a short distance to discover the new Arth’s Corner Trail on your left. This is a great new intermediate trail that winds through the pinions and junipers, around small canyons to connect with the Metal Masher road, which leads you to the next new trail, Little Canyon Singletrack. The singletrack trail is at the jct. of Gemini Rd. and Metal Masher, and continues along benches, twisting and turning to reach a junction with the Gold Bar 4x4 road. Here you will find the newly marked Gold Bar Singletrack trail heading up the slickrock. This is for hardy skilled bikers with a continuous l mile climb.

The old favorite trails still are still the standard, and if a challenge is what you are looking for, ride Amasa Back to Rockstacker to Jackson’s. Rockstacker is full of slickrock rollers that will challenge most technically advanced riders. Jackson’s trail has some steep switchbacks that are likely to cause your heart to beat a bit faster. Access this trail by driving Kane Creek Rd out approximately 6 miles out of Moab to a well marked parking area.

Poison Spider Mesa to the Portal trail is a good combination of a workout and a downhill run that has some Hike-a-Bike sections. Poison Spider Mesa is primarily a climb up an old jeep road that includes long slickrock sections, some sand, and views of the La Sal Mountains, and Little Arch. The Portal trail is a long technical descent that includes narrow exposed sections and plenty of challenge for even the more advanced riders. Access is from Highway 191 (north of the bridge), then turn onto Highway 279 (Potash Road) for approximately 6 miles to the Trailhead. Poison Spider is also a favorite of ORV’s.
We highly recommend carrying a map, and plenty of water. Maps are available at any of the Moab bike shops, and the shops can provide trail recommendations for various skill levels.