Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. The lack of suspension limited my speed on rough downhill, meant a good deal of discomfort on washboard and rocky sections, and my gravel bikes drop bars just weren't very forgiving on my shoulders as it was a bit of an aggressive riding position. Once youre in the La Sals, youll probably find a stream or two to collect water from. The dancing flautist image is now common throughout the southwest, generally embodying carefree and joyous adventure. The weather can be unpredictable, regularly swinging from blazingly hot to frost-and-ice-all-over-your-tent cold. You might also be able to get water from a spigot at Westwater Ranger Station, but this source is not always operational. ONE SHOULD ASSUME ALL WATER SOURCES TO BE DRY AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY. (mens and womens & nobo and sobo available). Over the next 50 miles, youll do a lot of climbing, but the next ten miles will be the steepest. On the DiscoverMoab.com website there is a list of companies offering shuttle service to Grand Junction. Westwater Ranger Station is a short detour away at the T-junction after the short pavement section through Coal Draw. } Knowing what to expect as far as water sources, weather forecast, trail condition, and detours, are going to be key to having the best possible outcome. The Grand Loop - Backcountry MTB // Industry Nine - Pivot Pro A few miles after Rabbit Valley it is highly recommended to take the scenic off-route detour on the Western Rim trail. You dont need any permits to bikepack the Kokopelli Trail. Ive done this using collapsible water jugs, but it takes time and extra equipment. YOUR ULTIMATE BIKEPACKING GUIDE TO THE KOKOPELLI. This only adds about 4 miles extra overall to your trip, but youll ride slick rock along the edge of a canyon rim overlooking the Colorado River instead of the less scenic route not along a cliff. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! There is some concern with possible theft but it worked out fine for me. This route follows singletrack trails, Jeep roads, and dirt roads, mainly on BLM land. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper { The Kokopelli Trail is divided into nine sections, each with its own unique terrain and scenery. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! The Kokopelli Trail is not for beginner cyclists. We look forward to sharing the natural splendor of Crosswinds through our interpretive programming, activities and future exhibits. If you enter this way, and depending on the time of day you may have to pay a $2 entrance fee, or 5$ vehicle fee. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. The Local Overnighters Project is a unified effort to document and map one-night bikepacking routes all over the worldby locals, in their own backyards. The trail was named in honor of its mythic muse, Kokopelli. The legendary Kokopelli Trail, 140 miles of desert and mountain riding between Moab and Fruita. 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. Auto Repair. I'm on a small bike so not a ton of space in the frame, and I will die before I bike in a backpack, so I was able to put all my water on the frame, clothes and sleep setup on the handlebar, and food in the hip pack. Kokopelli 140 MTB Two-day Stage Event (Individual) The 144 miles spilt into two days of racing, instead of one. See our gear review of the Best Lightweight Rain Jackets for other recommendations. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget { The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but you still need strong navigation abilities. We cached water at a few road crossings, brought bikes with high-volume tires, and generally respected the challenges of the trail more. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. That first ride took him 23 hours, and soon after, he rode the trail in the opposite direction in just 17 hours. We only want the same thing as youthe best gear at the best price. The allure of the bigger Grand Loop caught Dye's intrigue. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget { I feel comfortable riding easier "blues" on my gravel bike and try to incorporate singletrack into my rides - but I'm just not sure how technical the riding gets on the trail. Bikepacking is one of The Project's main focuses. The Rando is a favorite in our Touring Bike Gear List. Find our Kokopelli Trail route guide here. The trail is posted with the flat brown flexible fiberglass posts and marked with blue and white Kokopelli stickers. From there, the trail traverses through the Cottonwood Canyon, Beaver Mesa, and all La Sal Loop sections leading up to your final stretch. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. width:100%; See REIs Food Storage story or REIs Bear Canister story for more information on Bears and food storage. We cover other lighting options in our Best Headlamps guide. 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. It really is ATV road the entire way between fruita and moab, some sections were very desolate with no trees where I would not have wanted to camp but found great spots both nights that were off the road a bit and felt remote enough for a nice backcountry site. Starts at the Westwater Airstrip. The Kokopelli Trail ends in Moabs Slickrock. It will take about half a day to cache water and drive back to either end of the Kokopelli. More here. These bikepacking routes in and loads of others can be found at bikepacking.com. But theyre even farther than you think. IMPORTANT NOTICE: The La Sal Loop Road is currently undergoing construction this spring/summer/fall, 2017 and portions of it is closed, including a section of it that is used by the Kokopelli Trail. Directions Advertisement. You can get to Rabbit Valley and Dewey Bridge with a 2-wheel drive vehicle. However, Kokopelli's Native American origin has other meanings such as a fertility deity, and among Hopi, a humped-up . This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be usedas a point of inspirationin conjunction with your own due-diligence. BIKEPACKING.com LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders cycling or following this route. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper { Our inflatable packrafts are lightweight, durable, and very easy to transport. Lastly, you could use two cars but this option means a lot of driving and extra time. Heres a link to the Kokopelli Trail GPX track Ive used every time. Bikepacking Alliance is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Are you looking for a reliable and efficient fat bike to conquer muddy and snowy terrain? The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. The trail was created by the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA) in cooperation with the Bureau of . We were caught in a late March snowstorm and spent the day in a cave, watching the snow pile up. With 150 miles of gravel hike-and-bike trail, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP Trail) is one of the Easts best pathways, perfect for leisurely bike rides. From the Loma exit (exit 15) off of I70 you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. Did you happen to see any of the folks attempting to set the FKT for it out there? What about wind breaker? This Site and our mobile application contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. Bikepacking The Kokopelli Trail Treeline Review Sand, dirt, gravel, slick rock, creek crossings, you name it. Stepping away from the 9-5 lifestyle, discover the benefits of scaring yourself, and connect with nature to find meaning in everyday life. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moab's Slickrock area. They did say you can leave your car at Moab Motorsports located at25 E Center St, Moab, UT 84532. Where do you start? Continuing through the Marys Loop area, youll leave the river and parallel Mack Ridge before the river returns along with views of the Black Ridge Canyons. Although this trail has been completed in less than 11 hours and 14 minutes by pro cyclist Lachlan Morton, for the rest of us, we can expect to be out from 2-6 days depending on how many miles you want to cover each day. Passing the torch: A Kokopelli Trail do-over - Rodeo Adventure Labs, LLC After a climb to the infamous Castle Valley Road to the summit, youll be graced with an amazing descent with stunning views of Castle Valley as you make your way into Moab. With more than 10,000 feet of total climbing, the highest point on the trail tops out at over 8,000 ft above sea level. There is one option for airlines and two car rental: GJT is the closest airport that has a reasonable cost and minimal logistics . The true scale of this landscape is only appreciated after much concentrated, technical riding on so called dirt roads, long descents and climbs out of the smallest of canyons, and by peering off the edge of the rim into an endless void of night. Skyler Des Roches (OffRoute.ca). I used a Thermarest Neoair Xlite for this trail. 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. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moabs world famous Slickrock area. Technical sections will challenge your mountain biking skills. Starts at the Westwater Airstrip. The old railroad follows beautiful waterways, weaving around Allegheny mountains and hills. I love the Bar M Trails just outside town for their flowy singletrack trail goodness. Its a condensed version of my bigger bikepacking guides, which include the Arizona Trail, Tour Divide and Colorado Trail. No stove helped with space and water. Part of the magnificent 142-mile Kokopelli Trail. There are many steep, exposed climbs throughout the route. The Kokopelli is world-class bikepacking. Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small percentage of any purchase you make at no additional cost to you. There are a ton of options out there. A section of the trail, the Kokopelli Singletrack, begins just outside the . This requires a 9 mile pavement ride to the Kokepellis Trailhead, but offers a safe parking solution. Food resupply on the Kokopelli doesnt exist. Continuing on through the Marys Loop area, youll leave the river and parallel Mack Ridge before the river returns along with views of the Black Ridge Canyons. Location: The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles from Grand Junction. 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). Take the Loma exit (exit 15), then travel west on gravel frontage road south of the interstate. Read more on the About Me page. You and your friends, split the course into 2 to 6 segments. There are plenty of primitive and a few developed options for camping or one can usually sleep along the trail side but please use LNT practices when doing so. *By clicking submit, you're also subscribing to our email list. These are primitive campsites so dont expect much as far as amenities go. But it also took some planning so it went off without a hitch. Get on the trail with detailed maps shared by riders like you. I was thinking about this quite a bit while riding as I saw this question posed a few times elsewhere - I am not a gravel rider so my opinion on whether you can or cannot do it may not be the most educated, but there were long stretches of sand and slickrock and chunky jeep roads that I don't think would be too much fun on a gravel bike. Water is a big challenge on the Kokopelli Trail. 150 miles. Topeak multitool with tubeless repair kit, Kokopelli Trail info from the Bureau of Land Management. NO PERSONAL WATERCRAFT ARE ALLOWED IN CROSSWINDS MARSH. Indian Trails. The following year I returned to the Kokopelli Trail more prepared. I have bikepacked the Kokopelli on a fat bike with 5-inch tires and a plus bike with 3-inch tires. 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! Claim this business (734) 326-9801. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. Stretching along public lands, Kokopelli's Trail is an epic journey on the Colorado Plateau. The route is popular as a 2- to 3-night bikepacking trip, a 3- to 4-day vehicle-supported trip, and as a . For more recommendations of puffy jackets, see our Best Down Jackets or Best Synthetic Jacket guides. Parts of the trail are used by jeeps, ATVs, and motorcycles.