Checkout the Colorado Trail Transportation Guide for train options if you want to fly into Denver and take the train to Grand Junction. Moab has a small regional airport you can fly to from either Salt Lake City or Denver. From there, youll be closer to the start of the Kokopelli Trail. Top Rated Routes. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moab's Slickrock area. More. After crossing Salt Creek the trail passes through Rabbit Valley, then grinds through the Yellow Jacket area, tackles Rose Garden Hill, circle around Fisher Valley, and eventually making its way to the La Sal Mountains and Moab. If youre like me and have a passion for riding your bike, then read on. Starting with the Ruby Canyon Section, youll continue on through Rabbit Valley, Westwater, Fish Ford, and Yellow Jacket Canyon sections. This is the way to enter Moab! Joel Caldwell (joelcaldwell.com) The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but a mountain biker still needs strong navigation abilities. The trail runs through Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County in Utah. This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. From Westwater, youll ride more desert Jeep roads through a vast desert expanse with red rock formations in the distance. } If you are thinking about bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail this guide will give you the information and insight you need for a successful trip to one of the most spectacular bike trails out there. The trail was named in honor of its mythic muse, Kokopelli. The Kokopelli Trail is part of the larger Grand Loop. As mentioned above it does allow one to sight see along the way. This is certainly not a trip for bringing your dog or someone just starting out with biking. The weather can be unpredictable, regularly swinging from blazingly hot to frost-and-ice-all-over-your-tent cold. What puffy jacket do you use? Another option is to have friends deliver water to you along the route or stash some yourself beforehand wherever possible. It follows the Colorado River, and youll regularly get views of the river as it winds through the landscape below. For Issue 08, we invited several contributors to return and pick up where earlier trips and ideas left off and also feature a handful of first-timers whose perspectives weve long been eager to share Issue 07 Issue seven is a celebration of courage and discovery of what were capable of when we dont let others expectations define us Issue 06 examined a diverse range of topics, including embracing aloneness, rekindling a sense of adventure, grappling with failure, and many more Kaitlyn Boyle and Kurt Refsnider both set new FKTs (fastest known times) on the 140-mile Kokopelli Trail over the weekend. Kristina Ritchie (@get_terrestrial) Instagram photos and videos, .fca_eoi_form{ margin: auto; } .fca_eoi_form p { width: auto; } #fca_eoi_form_1856 input{ max-width: 9999px; }#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper {display: none !important;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper {display: none !important;}.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-borderless.tooltipster-optin-cat .tooltipster-box .tooltipster-content { color: #fff }.tooltipster-optin-cat.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-top .tooltipster-arrow-border { border-top-color: #d63031 !important }.tooltipster-optin-cat.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-bottom .tooltipster-arrow-border { border-bottom-color: #d63031 !important }.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-borderless.tooltipster-optin-cat .tooltipster-box { background-color: #d63031 !important }.fca_eoi_layout_inputs_wrapper { background-color: unset !important }#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element::-webkit-input-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element::-moz-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element:-ms-input-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element:-moz-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper:hover, #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper input:hover {background-color:#b96701 !important;} Water can be found at miles 48, 70, 83, and 126. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. An epic view point along the Kokopelli Trail. I'm going to be riding into Moab towards the end of June or early July. There are some steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. A mix of dirt roads, desert Jeep tracks, and singletrack trails, Good fitness levels and intermediate mountain biking technical abilities required, The route is almost entirely on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land with lots of great camping on public land, Caching water is almost a requirement to bikepack the Kokopelli Trail self-supported, The Kokopelli trail connects singletrack, Jeep roads, and dirt roads following the Colorado River. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. But maybe you can be the fool who rides it and has a great time despite what other people say? More technical singletrack sections are on the descent into Moab and scattered throughout the route. If youve learned a few things or have been entertained, consider becoming a Patreon member. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. The desert environment can be unforgiving. @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { Ultimate Arizona Trail Bikepacking Planning Guide, Gear Review If I Rode the Arizona Trail Race Again, Gear Review If I Rode the Colorado Trail Race Again, Gear Review If I Rode the Kokopelli Trail Again, Gear Review If I Rode The Tour Divide Again, Gear Review If I Hiked The Appalachian Trail Again, Gear Review If I Hiked The Long Trail Again, Gear Review If I Hiked the Pacific Crest Trail Again, Gear Review If I hiked the Continental Divide Trail Again, Gear Review If I Hiked the Colorado Trail Again. It will take about half a day to cache water and drive back to either end of the Kokopelli. Go out with a spirit of excitement and return with a sense of accomplishment. These bikepacking routes in and loads of others can be found at bikepacking.com. Where do you start? In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. The Kokopelli Trail is a 142-mile desert bikepacking route linking the mountain biking epicenters of Fruita, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The Kokopelli Trail ends in Moabs Slickrock. I brought an Ultimate Direction Ultra Rain Jacket for this trip. Unfortunately, there is no way around it and riders will need to exit out Castle Valley (mile 128) to get to Moab. Hot on the heels of Lachlan Mortons record that was just set in May of this year, Kurt set a new mens fastest known time as well, knocking 19 minutes off of Lachlans already impressive ride. There will be small sections of optional singletrack along the way, but the jeep roads youll be riding through here are loose and sandy enough that you probably wont want more of a challenge. Moab Brewery is the only brewery in the town of Moab. After riding through the Kokopelli Loops trail network, youll get a taste of your first hike-a-bike down to Salt Creek (which isnt safe to drink). You can get to Rabbit Valley and Dewey Bridge with a 2-wheel drive vehicle. The BLMs webpage for the Westwater Station says explicitly, do not depend upon this water source for your trip's water needs as the system is not always operational.. The Kokopelli is world-class bikepacking. Fruita and Moab are full-service towns with grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes. The experience was humbling and quite challenging. Find out what makes bikepacking the Lower Deschutes River Trail unique and why its Oregons best trail for your first overnight mountain biking trip. Youll have to carry everything you need for the entirety of the trail. Kokopelli Racing LLC put on a mountain bike and running ultra marathon race on the classic Kokopelli Trail. Find details on the three most recent issues below, join the Bikepacking Collective to get it in the mail (anywhere in the World), or click here to find a collection of selected stories in digital format. I rode the latter half on a Monday and Tuesday and I think this really helped with traffic, not sure what this would have looked like on a weekend but I think it's worth it if you can go during the week! The Kokopelli symbol guides travelers along a trail of ~ 140 miles between Fruita (Loma actually) and Moab. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. For some time now the Kokopelli was without an official race on the calendar. Expect the route to take the average person 3-5 days, with many strenuous sections. } ONE SHOULD ASSUME ALL WATER SOURCES TO BE DRY AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY. The other person in our group did not bring a storm-worthy shelter. Take the Loma exit (exit 15), then travel west on gravel frontage road south of the interstate. This bucket-list bikepacking trip is an adventure of the soul and a test of your commitment. The Kokopelli Trail is a vintage route ridden and raced long before doing stuff like this was popular. @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { It is a pullover but has a zip on the side and at the front which makes it very easy to pull on and off keeping hats or helmets in place during the transition. The Kokopelli Trail is a classic bikepacking route that spans 140 miles of rugged jeep roads and singletrack through some of the most captivating terrain in the area. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper { Also, the Hot Tomato in Fruita has some of the best pizza Ive ever eaten, and they have great beers on tap. After a day of waiting for the roads to dry, we bailed to the interstate, which was luckily still nearby. CNY is closest airport but also the most expensive and with the most limited options. Moraine Full Meal Deal 12.5 mi 20.1 km . There is some water along the route, but not enough to forego caching water unless you can carry enough water for 2 days. You decide. The Kokopelli Trail is a difficult bikepacking trail. Learn more. Mile 10.6 Salt Creek NOT suitable for drinking, Mile 48 Westwater Ranger Station Water has been reported to have been shut off (get water from Colorado River), Mile 59.9 Colorado River (strain and filter), Mile 73.6 Colorado River (stain and filter). The following page is broken down into sections highlighting The Project's main categories. The Rando is a favorite in our Touring Bike Gear List. You need to be logged in to use these features. You will be looking for East Mill Creek Drive which turns into Sand Flats Rd The Trail: The Kokopelli Trail is part of the Grand loop, a bikepacking route that combines the Kokopelli Trail, Paradox Trail and Tabegauche Trail. Stretches can be particularly sandy, but never for too long at a time (and there's no need for a fat bike). Starts at the Westwater Airstrip. Doesnt this sound like a better way to end a trip as a descent? You carry all your gear on the bike, from food/water . Sawyer Squeeze, which is the overall winner in our Best Water Filters and Purifiers guide. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. But it also took some planning so it went off without a hitch. If you can ride intermediate-level mountain bike terrain, the Kokopelli Trail will be a rewarding experience. Go out with a spirit of excitement and return with a sense of accomplishment. Fingerless bike gloves. Thanks, me too!! We used collapsible water jugs like these so we can strap them to our bikes and easily carry them out, too. Its reliable, keeps me warm, and Thermarests lifetime warranty is no joke. We cover other lighting options in our Best Headlamps guide. I went out to Fruita a few weeks ago with my mtb and car camped in Rabbit Valley and was really wishing i had brought my gravel bike to cruise around there (other than the deep sand pockets lol). You dont need any permits to bikepack the Kokopelli Trail. The last time I was there, I was told that the pipes were contaminated with E. Coli. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. Bikepack it, chase the FKT, ride it with vehicle support - experience it however you like.
Taylor 1730 Wireless Thermometer Manual,
Wonderla Dress Code For Water Games,
Twitch Mod Application Google Forms,
Duncan Hines Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix,
Quarter Horse Brand Search,
Articles K