MTB Trip to Moab – a mountain bike Mecca in Utah
Mountain Biking Collection by Diana Grodnick
7
Tours
13:52 h
95.2 mi
7,825 ft
Wow, Moab has changed a lot over the past ten years. Before, the spotlight was almost exclusively on the famous Slickrock Trail. But, today it's different. Now there are numerous new trails, some of which, such as The Whole Enchilada or Captain Ahab, count among the best MTB trails in the world.
This Collection is aimed at experienced mountain bikers who love technical challenges and who are already experienced on the trails. I show you seven fantastic Tours that you shouldn’t miss on your MTB trip to Moab in Utah. Sun-drenched desert and high alpine single trails in La Sal Mountains are all included.
You can bike in Moab all year round, but the temperatures are most pleasant in spring and autumn. If you want to ride The Whole Enchilada trail in its entirety, you have the best chances in summer and autumn, when the last snow has melted in La Sal. But beware, in summer it is mega hot in the lower altitudes! Always take a little more water than you think you need and don't forget your factor 50 sunscreen. There is no mobile phone reception on the trails. You should therefore always have tools, spare tubes and a pump with you so that you can repair your bike yourself in the event of a breakdown.
If you need spare parts or other equipment, you can find them in Moab in one of the many well-stocked bike shops and so-called ‘outfitters’. If you're lucky, you can get one of the inexpensive camping spots at the popular BLM (Bureau of Land Management) campgrounds. These are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and fill up quickly. Note that you can only pay for these on-site and with cash or a cheque. Moab also has food options, with affordable restaurants and a local microbrewery.
These are the best conditions for a perfect MTB trip. No wonder this small desert town in Utah has become a true place of pilgrimage for passionate mountain bikers.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- 01:028.70 mi8.4 mph700 ft700 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
This short loop in the Moab Brands Trail System - just a few miles north of Moab - is perfect as an introductory tour. The difficulty of the trails increases as the tour progresses, so that you can get to grips with the MTB terrain in Moab.
You start with the simple EZ Flowtrail and continue pedaling…
- 01:299.54 mi6.5 mph875 ft875 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
You will either love or hate this out-and-back trail called the Pipe Dream. It is located in the middle of the city behind the Chilly Pepper Bike Shop, is not particularly long and is almost flat for about seven kilometers along the slope.
What makes this trail - at least for me - so interesting is the…
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- 01:168.62 mi6.8 mph600 ft575 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Every avid mountain biker should have taken the legendary Slickrock Trail under the tunnels once in a lifetime. However, beginners better keep their hands off the trail. Both the small number of kilometers and the altitude difference give the wrong picture of the Slickrock circuit. You will need two…
- 01:5210.1 mi5.4 mph1,600 ft1,600 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Captain Ahab is an absolute must for every single trail fan. If you like trails with tricky challenges, Captain Ahab will not disappoint.
You start at the Kane Creek Recreation parking lot. Pedal comfortably on a wide gravel road until a single track called HyMasa branches off to the right. This trail…
- 02:1310.6 mi4.8 mph1,600 ft1,600 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
Be sure to ask a local bike shop before the tour whether it is currently possible to cross the river at the end of Jackson's. If that is not the case - as is often the case in spring when the snow melts or when flash floods threaten to make the rivers swell dangerously - then the tour is unfortunately…
- 02:4720.7 mi7.4 mph1,200 ft3,300 ftExpertExpert mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
This tour in the “Magnificient 7” trail area increases continuously in difficulty up to the grandiose finale - the legendary Portal Trail. One of the many local shuttle companies will take you to the trail entrance. Take at least four liters of water and enough food with you. Despite the small number…
- 03:1427.0 mi8.3 mph1,250 ft7,775 ftIntermediateIntermediate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
For many - including me - The Whole Enchilada is one of the best mountain bike trails in the world. However, there are only a few months of the year when the trail is completely free of snow. Chances are best from July to September. You can of course take the trail under the tunnels in the other months…
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Collection Stats
- Tours7
- Distance95.2 mi
- Duration13:52 h
- Elevation7,825 ft
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