The trail presses on through Fish Ford and the ride becomes more arduous as you climb away from the Colorado River. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. The White Rim Trail is one of the most iconic long-distance mountain bikepacking rides in the West. I used a Thermarest Neoair Xlite for this trail. I love having a one-bike-fits-all quiver. Stretching along public lands, Kokopelli's Trail is an epic journey on the Colorado Plateau. Another option is to check Craigslists ride share page for various cities where you think someone might be travel to or from Moab. We were granted access by the weather up and over the La Sals unlike our previous attempt. Grand Junction also has a regional airport and car rental options for caching water. While riding, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow the #leavenotrace guidelines. Know your body and how much water you require and plan carefully. Highlights Marys Loop Trail System, Rabbit Valley, Yellow Jacket area (Dome Plateau) Roberts Bottom and Rose Garden Hill in Cottonwood Canyon, Blue Chief Mesa, views of the Fisher and Castle Valleys, and Manti-La Sal NF. If youre flying from out of town, I recommend you rent a car and spend a day caching water (or pay a guiding company to cache water for you, though I dont know of any that specifically offer that service). Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the University/Parks Trail and Clinton River Park Trail. Water at BLM ranger station at mile 48 is not fit to drink, filter from river. Its best to ride the Kokopelli Trail in the Spring and Fall. On the 142-mile Kokopelli's Trail, a group of bikepackers race against dusk on Porcupine Rim, a. The Kokopelli Trail is a good first test. The trail starts in Loma, CO within the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, at the Marys Loop Trails. Kokopelli 140 MTB Individual 144 miles, full course, alone! Kurts finish time was 10 hours and 56 minutes. As such, our editorial team, route creators, and Route Stewards serve as mediators for route improvements and opportunities for connectivity, conservation, and community growth around these routes. Auto Repair. After the first 20 miles of singletrack, youll ride about 30 miles of dirt roads through Rabbit Valley, Castle Rocks, and Coal Draw. Rock formations including arches and windows are a highlight of bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail. Be sure to stop at, Powered by red Starbursts and Fat Tire Amber Ale, 6 Bikepacking Routes in Southern California | Year-round Fun, 11 of the Most Popular Bikepacking Trails in the US, Colorado Bikepacking Trails A Bikepackers Dreamland, How to Prepare For the C&O Canal and GAP Trail. The Kokopelli Trail starts out on some single track affording beautiful views of the Colorado River. 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. Timing bikepacking the Kokopelli trail with the weather can be a challenge. There is a reliable stream in Castle Valley, just before the road climbs into the La Sals. 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. The Kokopelli's Trail (also known as the Kokopelli Trail) is a 142-mile (229 km) multi-use trail (but primarily used by mountain bikes) in Grand County, Utah and Mesa County, Colorado in the western United States. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. 7 Things to Do in Californias Alabama Hills: Movie Road, Hiking, Stargazing & More!
Top 10 Bikepacking Routes in the US - Mountain bike trails & Mountain 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. This route follows singletrack trails, Jeep roads, and dirt roads, mainly on BLM land. Help could behours or days away! In Moab, a great place to drop a vehicle is the Information Center; make sure to leave your name and contact info at the desk.
Bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail - Bikepacking Alliance The other person in our group did not bring a storm-worthy shelter. Kokopelli 140 MTB Relay A choice your own adventure. The Kokopelli Trail is a good first test.
Discover Kokopelli's Trail, which pioneered 'bikepacking' - Magazine Its a condensed version of my bigger bikepacking guides, which include the Arizona Trail, Tour Divide and Colorado Trail. 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. I create technical resources, reviews, inspirational videos, how-to guides and more. The Kokopelli Trail (AKA Kokopelli's Trail) is a classic bikepacking route connecting the two mountain biking nerve centers of Fruita and Moab (1/3 of the total Grand Loop). and filtered from there before the big climbs. This was Kaitlyns first ultra since a devastating car accident that had her questioning her ability to ride or walk again, but after a long and inspiring recovery, she managed to best Rebecca Ruschs 2013 record by 25 minutes. Almost 20,000 feet of climbing. Lastly, you could use two cars but this option means a lot of driving and extra time. Experience a multitude of terrains and landscapes on a trail that links two of the most coveted mountain biking areas in the country. From the trailhead at Loma, after a quick gravel traverse, the route starts with 10+ miles of mesa singletrack overlooking the Colorado River. All rights reserved. There are unmarked turns, and its not always easy to see the brown carsonite trail markers at junctions. We only want the same thing as youthe best gear at the best price. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective, to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The final climb will be on a paved road, but by this point, youll probably be ready for easier riding. It connects some of the best singletrack around in Fruita and Moab with 100 miles of ATV roads. It is possible to leave a vehicle at the Loma trailhead, but may be a little more risky. Bikepacking with dogsIs this a good idea? Website Take me there. You may try and see if one would drop you back off in Fruita. Its June. Tired of seeing ads on every web page you visit? What works for me is my Outdoor Research ultralight hoody (don't think they make it anymore, it's half-zip pullover), and a patagonia houdini windbreaker with full zip. The Jeep trail and dirt roads can sometimes be very sandy, challenging, and slow-going. Cant say much for Kokopelli but I just did the White Rim trail (which is quite close by) on my gravel bike. I think the Gaia GPS app is the most useful for backcountry navigation. A big storm can leave you stranded on unrideable dirt roads of sticky, peanut butter mud that will stop your wheels from turning. Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat Arizona Trail Race. I love the Bar M Trails just outside town for their flowy singletrack trail goodness. 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. You can also get your bike repaired at Over The Edge in Fruita. Once you arrive in Moab, there are countless mountain bike trails to explore. @media screen and ( max-width: 300px ) { Click here for more info. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. There are also ways to filter silty water using alum. Heres what several members of our four-top riding group had to say: The Kokopelli Trail is a beautiful route winding from Fruita to Moab that combines primitive roads of all varieties with surprisingly technical single track to keep you guessing about what lies around each bend. They did say you can leave your car at Moab Motorsports located at25 E Center St, Moab, UT 84532. This is certainly not a trip for. to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. Repair Shops & Related Services NEC. Our inflatable packrafts are lightweight, durable, and very easy to transport. If you have a vital issue or opportunity regarding this route that pertains to one of the subjects below, please let us know: **Advocacy opportunities may include bringing awareness to a new trail project, conservation initiative, access potential, or local effort that we might help with or bring awareness to via our broad-reaching platform. Ive used this inflatable pad for several years now.
The Kokopelli Trail A Bikepacking Adventure. - Get Terrestrial You can camp almost everywhere along the route, too. The legendary Kokopelli Trail, 140 miles of desert and mountain riding between Moab and Fruita. You can find the Kokopelli Trail on Ride With GPS. The Kokopelli Trail is an 136.4 milemulti use recreational trail that goes from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! The Kokopelli Trail is not for beginner cyclists. More here. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I have bikepacked the Kokopelli on a fat bike with 5-inch tires and a plus bike with 3-inch tires. Youll know youve completed the Kokopelli Trail when you hit the pavement; then, its time to celebrate. The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but a mountain biker still needs strong navigation abilities. The Koko box is checked and we've got our sights on searching for what is next. This trailhead is where the Kokopelli Trail starts and is even a location on Google maps now. UPDATE (November, 2017): Apparently work is still going on and way behind as of 11/18/2017. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. width:300px; Group size must be limited to 12 people or less. Starting with the Ruby Canyon Section, youll continue on through Rabbit Valley, Westwater, Fish Ford, and Yellow Jacket Canyon sections. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. Non-stop vistas of far away mountains and canyons might lure one into a sort of topographic pomposity. 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. The Kokopelli Trail starts out on some single track affording beautiful views of the Colorado River. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! Simply clicking on the links below with our affiliates supports the Project. With our tough and long-lasting Kokopelli bikepacking packrafts, you can explore gravel roads and winding rivers on your next bikepacking expedition in the wilderness. What puffy jacket do you use? The Kokopelli Trail is a vintage route ridden and raced long before doing stuff like this was popular. I hope you have fun out there in a few weeks! This Kokopelli Trail Guidebook from Bikerpelli is also helpful for planning your trip. RECOMMENDED ROUTE Difficult.
Ive done this using collapsible water jugs, but it takes time and extra equipment. Shopping with our affiliates helps fund the development of content like this. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee.
Guided Mountain Biking on Kokopelli Trail | 57hours The Kokopelli Trail is a popular ride between the Western Slope of Colorado and Moab in Utah. The Ogre is one of our favorite bikepacking bikes in our Best Bikepacking Bikes guide, MYOG clone of the Swift Industries Zeitgeist, Our tent set up for bike camping on the Kokopelli Trail, MSR Pocket Rocket 2 stove, which is the overall winner in our Best Backpacking Stoves guide, Toaks 750 mL pot, which is the overall winner in our Best Backpacking Cookpot guide.
Bikepacking on the Kokopelli Trail - Joel Caldwell Starts at the Westwater Airstrip. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. Many of the BLM campgrounds lining the trail do not have water, or if they do its not potable. Look no further than the new 2023 Trek Farley 5, a sure-footed bike designed with strength and comfort in. The 142-mile multi-use trail stretches from, Although this trail has been completed in less than 11 hours and 14 minutes by pro cyclist. Starting in the east, the route becomes richer and the landscapes more Mars-like with each mile you travel towards the canyon lands of the high Utah desert. The Kokopelli has very few water sources along the route. } Copyright 2023 Treeline Review LLC. Press J to jump to the feed. Riding the trail on a fat bike, I hardly noticed the extensive sections of sandy desert Jeep roads.