Moab trails

[Crash]

OK - we are heading out to Moab at the end of September and need advice on which trails to ride. It has been 9 years since I have been out there and don't remember much except Porcupine Rim and Slick Rock.

We have the popular rides on our list (Porcupine Rim, Poisen Spider/Portal, Slickrock, Amasa back) but am looking for advice on others. I just read about Sovereign on MTBR.com - anyone tried this one?

We will be there for 4 1/2 days of riding. I have read through the trail reviews on MTBR.com, but am interested in what local people think.

[mtnbykr]

....and need advice on which trails to ride.

make sure you stop in fruita on your way to moab. the singletrack there is some of the best.

i can't tell you much about moab, just don't like to ride it, sorry...

k

[gopherhockey]

I also have heard many people say fruita is a better destination than Moab... we are also planning the same kind of trip this fall.

[mtnbykr]

if you can john wait untul next april. it's the fruita fat tire fest. i'm going and it's more fun w/ a big group.

k

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by mtnbykr
if you can john wait untul next april. it's the fruita fat tire fest. i'm going and it's more fun w/ a big group.

k

Hmmm.. might have to count me in on that one. Thats right around the time of the midwest summit in KC too, isn't it?

[Crash]

Yea - I have heard a lot of great things about Fruita. We are thinking of stoping there for one day of riding.

However, the guy I am going with hasn't been to Moab yet and Moab is just one of those places that you just have to get to.

Anyone else with some recomendations?

[Trevize1138]

Is that it?

http://www.moab-utah.com/trails/slickrockmap.html

I kind of expected a lot more trail than what this map looks like for the legendary Moab. *shrug*

[noise_is_life]

That's just The Slickrock Trail, it's only about 12 miles long right outside of Moab. It's the trail that gets the most press, there are much better (and more epic) trails in the area.

I was out there a few years ago, but my skills an fitness weren't prepared for any of the fun stuff, not to mention I was still riding full rigid. I did an easier slickrock trail (I forget what is is called), but it was still lots of fun. There were dinosaur tracks in the sandstone along the trail.

[martini]

I agree w/Kurt. Moab is really just an overrated hotspot. They just happened to be in the right place at the right time. There are MUCH better areas to ride in that neck of the woods. I wouldn't even leave Colorado actually. I used to live there(lucky me!) and had a chance to ride all the good stuff. I'm sure there's more there now, but six years ago it was just OK. Colorado was MUCH better then.

If you're freind hasn't done it yet though, it IS one of those places you have to do at least once. Depending on your vacation time, I'd seriously think about spending more time in Fruita and less in Moab. Hit the highlights at both. I'd do Amasa Back, Porupine Rim and the obtiqutious Slick Rock, then go back to Fruita and take your pick!

[Crash]

Thanks Martini for the input.

We have been to Crested Butte the last two years and absolutely loved it. We are looking for something different this year and like we both said below, Moab is a MUST ride once in your life.

Fruita was kinda on our radar screen for next year - but we are seriously considering heading over there for a day to check it out. We are also thinking of doing a day in the La Sal Mtns - just outside of Moab.

If you had pick just one ride in Fruita what would it be?

[martini]

Just one? I pick two and flip a coin actually. Moore Fun or Joe's Ridge. I think....crap. I dunno. Take your pick, you can't go wrong out there!

[BrightYellow]

Kick Ass! I'm the other guy that is going and no, I haven't been to Moab yet. Gotta go check it out and see what all the hype is about. Really looking forward to riding some slickrock and seeing the trails... especially after watching these vids : http://www.petefagerlin.com/video_gallery.htm.

Fruita looks like a ton of fun and hopefully we get some time to stop in there and ride. Like Crash said, we plan to give Fruita its just props next year, hopefully along with Salida.

Any other suggestions anyone?

[martini]

ooooooooooo, Don, you just mentioned THE majic word! Salida is the best uknown spot in Colorado. Go to MTBR passion NOW and search for this user: lidarman. He's posted some pics from his ride on the Monarch Crest/Rainbow trail last weekend, and if they don't get you goin', you're freakin' dead on wheels! This trail is my all time favorite, and I need to get back out there like you wouldn't believe!:crazy2:

[noise_is_life]

I'm headed out to the Salida area in October, it sounds like Monarch Crest is a real butt kicker, I will have to check it out.

Does anyone have an oxygen bottle they want to lend me? :o

[Crash]

Originally posted by martini
ooooooooooo, Don, you just mentioned THE majic word! Salida is the best uknown spot in Colorado. Go to MTBR passion NOW and search for this user: lidarman. He's posted some pics from his ride on the Monarch Crest/Rainbow trail last weekend, and if they don't get you goin', you're freakin' dead on wheels! This trail is my all time favorite, and I need to get back out there like you wouldn't believe!:crazy2:

Totally agree! Last year on the drive to Crested Butte, we went right through Salida. We were seriously thinking of stoping there, grabbing a shuttle and doing Monarch. Only problem was we realized we would just being coming off sleep deprivation from driving all night, not even close to being aclimated (sp?) to altitude and it would be like 6:00 in the morning. I can't wait to go back.

But, this year it is Moab :banana: :banana: :banana:

[soupboy]

In April. Fruita was the best. Moab is fun - Porcupine Rim - bring your dually, big tires and brakes. There was one newer trail pointed out to us by a local (MTBR poster Hfly) that was north of town. Great long ride with climbs, slickrock, rock gardens - really "flowy". Wish I could remember the name - I believe it was close to the site of a WWII Japanese interment camp - could be wrong though.

MarK Gavin - SuperClydesdale may recall - Mark?

I could ride in the Fruita/GJ area for DAYS! So much great terrain. Shuttled the "Ribbon" at Colorado Nat'l Monument with a whole gang of MTBRers. Even the H-ball, Greg Herbold, was on the ride (insane rider BTW). Joes Ridge, Kessels Run, Moore Fun, Horsethief Bench - blah, blah, blah.

Hope you have a blast.

Sean

[BrightYellow]

Just got back from the Moab/Fruita trip. Good frickin' stuff! Lots of great riding to be had out there.

Flew out there and shipped the bike to Poison Spider cycles, via UPS. The bike shop was cool, even had a stand outside to assemble the bike on. Stayed in a condo in Moab for cheaper than a hotel room, so that worked out great.

We rode slickrock, porcupine rim, sovereign trail and amasa back while in Moab. We also rode Joe's ridge, chutes and ladders, Mack's ridge and a couple others that were all inter-connected in Fruita.

Slickrock - you know all about it. Seriously steep ascents and descents, stuff you'd slide out on in dirt. Some off-camber riding, some drops. Mostly non-technical though, just need brute strength and endurance. Awesome views.

Porcupine rim - Good stuff. Drop your car off at the end and take a shuttle to the beginning. Still a long climb up, slow and crawling over big rocks and ledges. Again, great views. The descent was awsome... some flowing dirt, ledges, boulders, drops, sheer cliffs and some gnarly technical stuff near the end.

Sovereign Trail - Good single-track... the only single-track around actually. Out and back. A pretty easy climb (for out there) over some really fun terrain on the way up and okay flow on the way back. You'll wonder where all of elevation went on your way back though. Lots of slickrock to play around on when you are up there.

Amasa Back - A decent climb up to the top of a cliff wall, mostly following a serious jeep trail. Fun challenges and great views on the way up, especially if you do it at 7am like we did. Some really good gnarly stuff on the way back down. Fun ride.

In fruita we went out to an area north of town. We were only there for the day. All of the trails were interconnected in a big playground of fun stuff. We rode up a double-track dirt road to the front side trail. Pretty mellow climb up, until you hit the ridge. Then it was hike-a-bike for me to the top. Once up there, there were some steep ups and downs until you go to Mack's Ridge.

Mack's Ridge - Good stuff. I wish the descent would have lasted all day. Instead it was only a few minutes, but some great fun.

Chutes and Ladders - Personally, I could have done without this trail, but everyone seems to love it. Steep-Ass climbs and descents over silt and rocks... but, you had to do it in order to get out to some really sweet flowing single track (which had another name I can't remember). That single track rocked!

Joe's Ridge - I can't even remember how we got up there. I was getting tired by then. I sure it involved some seriously steep climbs and some hike-a-bike. The descent was so cool though, just my bike, me and a skinny little single-track trail on top of a really narrow ridge. It flowed really so well.... man it was fun.

On the way down to the car, we hit some more single track that took us up and down, in and out of a dried up riverbed. Good stuff and a great way to end the day. I'd go back to Fruita for sure - the town looked really cool and we didn't even touch the other half of the trails.

Good times. You should go.

[Crash]

Yep - A great time was had by all!
Great trails & great views.

Here is Don on porcupine rim looking at directions. "Do we go right or left" ;)

If you go to Utah, be aware of the drinking laws. My sugestion would be to bring your own beer! If you buy there, just be carefull that you don't get 3.2% stuff. :mad:

[BrightYellow]

I colored in that background myself....