Mountain Biking - Moab
Moab has some of the best bike riding in the world, from beginner rides through scenic canyons to technical slickrock trails. This variety of terrain means there are great options for riders of all abilities.
Be Safe and Be Prepared
There are bike lanes off the main road. Ride those to avoid the traffic on the Main Street.
Whatever mode of two-wheel transport you choose, be prepared for quickly changing weather conditions—rain deluges move in fast and with a fury. Carry a jacket, a pump and extra tube, and have sufficient water and snacks as there are no services on many of the rides.
Always ride single file and respect other users. Cyclists must obey the same traffic laws as cars. Don’t surprise anyone; use hand signals when turning.
Electric Bikes
E-bikes are allowed on the bike trails that are designated for motorized use such as Slickrock, Sovereign, and Hurrah Pass. Dead Horse Point allows Class 1 e-bikes on their bike trails. It’s best to check at the Moab Information Center or with Rim Cyclery before planning your e-bike ride.
For more information, visit DiscoverMoab.com/eBikes.
Rim Cyclery rents both city and mountain style e-bikes. 435-259-5333, RimCyclery.com.
Paved Bike Paths
Moab has two great paved bike paths that give you easy access to (or from) some popular trail areas: Moab Canyon Pathway along US Hwy 191 and Colorado Riverway Non-Motorized Path, a paved path that follows the Colorado River on Utah Scenic Byway 128, almost to the parking area of Porcupine Trail. If you are riding back to town from the Porcupine Rim trail, please ride the path rather than the road.
The Moab Canyon Pathway is perfect for riding to access the Moab Brands trails or to return to town after a Mag 7 shuttle. E-bikes are now allowed on all paved bike paths in the area.
Go With the Pros
For trail info, ride ideas, sales and service, go to Rim Cyclery. Their staff is very knowledgable and helpful. 435-259-5333, RimCyclery.com.
Paddle Moab does a combo tour starting with a half-day tour at the Moab Brands trails, then a half-day raft trip in paddle boats. 435-210-4665, PaddleMoab.com.
Trail Etiquette
If you are mountain biking on a multi-use trail, you must yield to all other trail users. Stop. Step aside. Don’t ride off the trail. Always alert other trail users. Pass on the left and say, “On your left.” The uphill rider always has the right-of-way.
When you approach a muddy section, please get off your bike and walk through it. Riding around the muddy section erodes the land. You could also damage the biological soil crust that serves to prevent wind and water erosion.
When riding on a road, bicycles are legally classified as vehicles, so the same rules apply to both.
Trail Ambassadors
In addition to building sweet trails, educating users on responsible recreation is a huge part of the mission of Grand County Active Transportation & Trails (GCATT). The trail crew and ambassadors are both part of GCATT. These efforts can be seen at trailhead kiosks and through the Trail Ambassador Program.
Ambassadors provide valuable resources and information about camping, recreation, and “Leave No Trace” principles in the area.
Check them out during peak seasons on popular hiking and biking trails in the area. This is an exciting resource to ensure that our fragile desert environment is being protected by recreators and visitors alike.
Trail Crews and Maps
GCATT and the Grand County Trail Mix Committee work together with federal, state, and local governments to design, build, and maintain non-motorized trail systems within Grand County.
Each riding area has a map created by the Moab Trails Alliance (MTA) and Grand County Trail Mix. Buy the maps at local bike shops for around $2, with proceeds helping to maintain the trails.
Lots of info can be found at trailheads including maps of the areas; however, be safe and carry a paper map. Do not rely solely on your cell phone to guide or save you! Phones run out of battery, and reception is limited in the Moab area.
If the trails are wet from rain or snow, protect the trails by waiting until they dry, or go ride one of the more rocky trails. Check MoabTrailMixTeam.com for more information and trail conditions.
Trail Symbols
The trails are well signed, thanks to Grand County Trail Mix. They use symbols made popular by the downhill ski areas for the level of difficulty of the trails. Use them as a guide to help you decide the best ride for you.
Trails marked with the difficulty rating should be similar to other trails with the same rating. These ratings are not universal and may differ from those you have experienced in other riding areas.
It’s a good idea to start on an easier trail to get a feel for desert riding at Moab’s 4,000ft and higher altitude.
We’ve listed some trail descriptions here by area, as best we could.
The Magnificent 7
Mag 7 in the Gemini Bridges area boasts 44 miles of trails that are dedicated solely to mountain biking.
There are many ways to ride loops in this area so that you can ride from your car. Park at the Arth’s Corner parking area and ride Great Escape to Little Canyon and then Arth’s. Then ride Getaway to Bull Run back to your car. A shorter loop is simply Getaway to Bull Run.
Or, park in one of the two lots on the Gemini Bridges road (near Utah Hwy 313) and ride down Bull Run and back up Getaway.
Navajo Rocks
These trails are a combo of rock and sand, fun descents, and decent climbs perfect for the intermediate rider. The trails are on both sides of the highway and provide 18 combined miles of fun. Located on Utah Hwy 313, two parking areas on the right (or north) are 5.25 miles and 7.33 miles from the intersection with US Hwy 191.
The Horsethief Trails
There are close to 15 miles of trails in this system near the Horsethief Campground.
They are great fun for the solid intermediate rider. The bonus is that they interconnect with the Mag 7 and Navajo Rocks trails, so your ride can go from casual intermediate to expert, and exertion level from low to extreme.
If your group has two cars, point-to-point rides are really fun.
These trails are located approximately 12 miles from the junction of US Hwy 191 and Utah Hwy 313 on the east and west side. There are several parking lots off of US Hwy 191 near the campground and the Gemini Bridges Road.
The Moab Brands/Bar M
This trail system is one of our favorites, and there is something for everyone in your group. These trails are a bunch of small loops that can be linked together, and all of the levels are conveniently located in one place.
The system offers 31 miles of mountain biking on 17 trails. All the trails are interesting to ride, and the trails’ difficulty can change by the direction you ride them. This area is close to town and has cell reception (not many other trails do).
Beginners should start with Rusty Spur Trail and Bar M Loop.
More advanced riders will want to ride North 40, Bar B, or Deadman’s Ridge. Our favorite is Circle O. Riding in both directions changes the riding experience. These are great trails to work on your slickrock riding skills.
Access the Moab Brands by driving eight miles north on US Hwy 191 to the Bar M Trails exit on the right (east) side of the road.
You may also access the Brands by biking the paved Moab Canyon Pathway. There are several openings to access the Brands trails off the bike path.
Klonzo Area
Klonzo has 20 miles with seven different trails of flowing intermediate-level trails with twists and turns.
The trailhead is on the Willow Springs Road approximately 12 miles north of Moab approximately half a mile beyond the Sovereign Trail parking lot. (The road has a sandy wash crossing so 4WD is highly recommended!) The trails feature different levels, are well marked, and the scenery is amazing.
The southern half of Klonzo includes many family-friendly trails, as well as some dinosaur tracks.
Klondike Bluffs Area
The Klondike Bluffs area has a really fun variety of 22 different trails to explore. Drive north on US Hwy 191 for 23 miles and turn right about .75 mile past milepost 148 (look for the sign saying Klondike Bluffs).
This area has more than 53 miles of trails that can be ridden in either direction offering different challenges. Beginners and lower-level intermediate riders will enjoy the moonscapes of Agate, Jasper, and Jurassic Trails.
Intermediate and more advanced riders should try Baby Steps, EKG, Mega Steps, Nome, Homer, Alaska, Little Salty, and Klondike trails. Everyone loves the Dino-Flow Trail.
Drive 17.5 miles north on US Hwy 191 to the Klondike Bluffs Road, and then turn east at mile post 142. Drive three miles on the Klondike Bluffs dirt road to the trailhead.
The Dinosaur Stomping Grounds tracksite trail starts at the MegaSteps trailhead parking area.
See map on page 91 to see where these two trail areas are in relation to Moab.
Miner’s Loop
This 2-mile loop is located in the Klondike Bluffs area off the EKG trail.
The Trail Mix crew recently worked to widen this trail for adaptive bikes or hand cycles. By doing this, the downhill speed and flow was improved.
Climb up the east side of the loop to the site of old mining equipment. The high point of the loop is one of the highest in the area with incredible views.
The descent is fast and technical down the west side.
Monitor & Merrimac Trail
This trail is a 7.5 mile lollipop mix of graded road and slickrock, which is great for novice riders who want to enjoy riding less intimidating slickrock.
The trailhead is 16 miles north of Moab on US Hwy 191. Turn left on the Mill Canyon Road and park on the right.
The trail starts out with sand and does a loop on slickrock around the majestic rock buttes called Monitor and Merrimac named for Civil War battle ships.
You can stop and explore the historic Halfway Stage house and the fossil quarry at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail (hiking only trail).
Intrepid Trail System
Taking the drive out to Dead Horse Point State Park (fee required) will not disappoint you for a fun day of mountain bike riding. The 16.6 miles of non-motorized trails are good for hiking as well. All trails are open to e-bikes and are dog friendly.
The views never stop and the trails are great for most levels of riders. There are no big climbs on these trails, and the personality of a trail changes by the direction you ride it.
The trails are well marked and signed. Mileage and difficulty of each trail is listed below so you can determine how long of a ride you would like to do.
The visitor center has bathrooms, but no drinking water, so come with plenty of water.
Intrepid .5 miles
This trail connects the parking lot to the other trails. It’s a great family ride with incredible views of the Colorado River Canyon.
Raven Roll 1.7 miles
This is a flat, easy trail that connects with Big Chief or Great Pyramid. With few turns, the trail is a semi-sandy surface. This is a great place for new riders.
Great Pyramid 2.2 miles
This trail follows the rim and offers spectacular views of the Pyramid Butte, a 5,157ft mountain southeast of Dead Horse Point. The trail has a rocky surface and is more challenging than Intrepid. It will connect with Big Chief for a longer ride, or you can ride the flatter section to get to Raven Roll for a shorter loop.
Whiptail 2.6 miles
This intermediate trail has some mild climbs and descents. The trail drops in elevation from north to south.
Big Chief 3.6 miles
A fun trail to ride in either direction and connected by Raven Roll, which is a flat connector to the Intrepid trail, or Great Pyramid, which is a bit more technical. These three trails make a nice loop.
Crossroads 1.7 miles
This trail connects the east side (easier trails) and the west side (more challenging trails). Riding it from east to west is a fun, slightly descending trail. You do have to cross the highway so be observant of cars; they have the right of way. Riders must dismount when crossing the park entrance road. Crossroads ends at the intersection of Whiptail and Prickly Pair.
Twisted Tree 1.5 miles
This is a fun, scenic, and mildly technical ride that follows the rim of Shafer Canyon. The trail is made up of slickrock (rough in some areas) with some benches, ledges, and some tight turns. The westernmost .3 miles of the trail serves as a cutoff that divides Whiptail in two, allowing for differing loop options. This cutoff is one of the most difficult sections of trail in the park.
Prickly Pair 2.2 miles
A pair of trails named for the cactus found along them. Prickly, the more difficult one, is 2.2 miles. Pair is 1.8 miles. Make sure you try them both, and in both directions, as they are quite fun. You have to cross back over Utah Hwy 313 to access Intrepid and the parking lot.
Raptor Route
Near the Whole Enchilada trail, and mostly parallel to the Sand Flats Road, these three new trails make up the “Raptor Route.”
They are in the fee area in the Sand Flats Recreation Area.
Each trail can be ridden on their own or as part of the Whole Enchilada. If you don’t want to ride LPS or Porcupine Rim trails, they are an easier option and you will end up on the Sand Flats Road instead of having to ride back to town on the River Road.
The Raptor Route is designed to be ridden downhill or east to west. When riding all three routes together, the route is considered upper intermediate, yet each trail has its own difficulty rating.
A great option to access these trails is to park along the Sand Flats Road, in a designated parking area, ride the road to the top of the trail you plan to ride, and then enjoy!
From the Falcon Flow parking lot to the top of Eagle Eye is a 6.7-mile shuttle. The shuttle to Hawk’s Glide is 4.9 miles, and for Falcon Flow, a 2.6-mile shuttle. After Porcupine Rim trailhead, the Sand Flats road gets narrower and rougher. High clearance 2WD is recommended.
Eagle Eye 2.2 miles
Start this trail at the LPS trail parking area 11 miles up the Sand Flats Road. This fun trail is fairly straight and the steepest of the three trails with a descent of 2,560ft.
Hawks Glide 2 miles
This trail is similar to Eagle Eye in that it’s pretty straight and flowy with a descent of 1,800ft. There is a parking lot at the end making it perfect to do both Eagle Eye and Hawks Glide together.
Falcon Flow 5.4 miles
The longest of the three, this is a fun, flowy singletrack mixed with some challenges to keep you honest. The trail will cross over the Porcupine 4x4 Trail a few times and end just above the Fins & Things 4x4 trail start.
Kestrel 2 miles
Kestrel is a new addition to the Raptor Route for 2024. The trail starts off of Falcon Flow before the lower parking lot for Falcon Flow. The trail meanders through sand and slickrock before crossing Sand Flats Road. You’ll soon encounter the Kestrel Fin; a technically challenging rock slab that brings you into a beautiful tight canyon to finish out the trail.
Jimmy Keen
Just off the Whole Enchilada trail, Jimmy Keen is a really fun trail to ride. The trail dips and turns through scrub oak and open meadows. The trail can be ridden as a loop (10.9 miles) or as an alternate to the road part of the Whole Enchilada (7.4 miles).
The trail starts just west of the parking lot at the summit of the La Sal Mountain Loop Road near the Mason Draw Campground. This trail is a good place to start the Whole Enchilada in the spring.
Slickrock Bike Trail
This is Moab’s most famous ride; however, it is an expert-level route!
The loop is 10.5 miles with constantly changing elevation mostly on Navajo Sandstone domes and fins. Plan on three or four hours to complete the trail.
Test your skills on the slightly easier but incredibly scenic 2.3-mile practice loop.
This trail is within the Sand Flats Recreation Area, so there is a fee to ride this trail.
The Magnificent 7
If you want to ride all of the Mag 7 (making it the double diamond status), then take a shuttle to the top and from Utah Hwy 313 ride Getaway to Bull Run to Great Escape to Little Canyon. Then exit onto the Gemini Bridges Road back to the parking lot near US Hwy 191. If you are not an expert rider, make sure to take the spur trail to the road before Goldbar.
The alternate route for expert riders is from Little Canyon; climb up Gold Bar Rim across the top to a gnarly descent down the Portal trail. Be careful on Portal as there are drop-offs that you don’t want to ride off!
Stop by Rim Cyclery for details.
The Amasa Back Area
This is a challenging and great area for experienced mountain bikers. The expert-level Captain Ahab Trail goes behind Whale Rock and has become an extremely popular route.
A climbing route to the top of Ahab called HyMasa, which is a bit easier than Amasa, traverses the benches that are above Amasa Back Road. These trails complement the existing Jackson, Rockstacker, and Pothole Arch trails.
The Amasa Back Connector Trail (that begins at the parking lot kiosk) is a .7 mile creekside trail allowing riders to access the rest of the trail network from the parking lot without having to ride on the road.
The Whole Enchilada & Porcupine Rim Trail
This is one of the most epic rides in the world, and people come from all over to ride it. The entire ride encompasses six trails and covers 25 miles with a combination of steep single track through trees, sandstone, and dirt. Expert riders take four to eight hours or more to complete it.
This journey starts at 10,500ft and climbs to Burro Pass at 11,216ft. By the time you are at the river road, Utah Scenic Byway 128, you have descended 8,000ft and ridden from the high alpine zone back to the red-rock desert.
If you don’t want to tackle this entire ride, there are many starting points for this route depending on early season snow conditions up high in the mountains. The highest starting points don’t open before July 1, due to snow. However, lower points open earlier. Stop by Rim Cyclery for a map and suggestions, or for a shuttle.
Before you get ready to bite off this epic journey, you need to be prepared. Epic means challenging, with little to no help possibly for hours. Make sure you have a good kit to fix what could break on your bike, plenty of water and food, a jacket, plenty of energy, and a well-charged phone.