kokopelli trail bikepackingbeverly baker paulding
Bikepacking on the Kokopelli Trail Photos and words by Joel Caldwell The Kokopelli Trail is a beautiful route winding from Fruita, Colorado to Moab, Utah. As you get near the top of the final climb, the number of tourists youll see will make you feel like youre already in Moab. Elevation gain: 13,595 feet/ 4,144 meters, Elevation loss: 14,058 feet/ 4,285 meters. To facilitate these efforts, we rely on our Bikepacking Collective and the greater bikepacking community to call attention to critical issues and opportunities that are discovered while riding these routes. No suspension, just a set of 50c tires squeezed on there, and man it was awesome but truth be told I think it would have been even more enjoyable on a hardtail with a front shock at the very least. The Kokopelli Trail is even marked on these maps. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. This incredibly scenic trail takes you along the Colorado Plateau and through colorful stretches of Utah as well as in and out of valleys. Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat Arizona Trail Race. Fingerless bike gloves. 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. Every time I reach this point of the trail, I wonder if Ive taken a wrong turn, but then I check a map, realize Im on the route and laugh at myself for choosing to do this. Order Online. Ive used the National Geographic Maps Moab North and Colorado National Monument for paper maps. Starts at the Westwater Airstrip. Learn more. The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles from Grand Junction. Another option is to check Craigslists ride share page for various cities where you think someone might be travel to or from Moab. 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. If it werent for that snowstorm after the first day, we would have found ourselves far out there, fruitlessly attempting to filter water from the silty Colorado River, slowed down immensely by the gravel bike that wasnt enough bike for the terrain. Water: I stashed in Rabbit Valley and filtered from the Colorado (tasted only sliiightly of mud) which really was fine and clear after wrapping a bandanna around the intake. Kokopelli's Trail Phone: (435) 259-2100 Email: utmbmail@blm.gov Address: Moab Field Office 82 Dogwood Ave. Moab, UT 84532 Latitude/Longitude: 39.177737, -108.827444 Directions: From Grand Junction, travel west on Interstate 70 about 15 miles. Parts of the trail are used by jeeps, ATVs, and motorcycles. 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). Another option is to have friends deliver water to you along the route or stash some yourself beforehand wherever possible. Although the route can be ridden in either direction, but most prefer a southwest flow from Fruita to Moab which enables a legendary finale down Porcupine Rim. The Kokopelli Trail is a vintage route ridden and raced long before doing stuff like this was popular. Technical sections will challenge your mountain biking skills. You risk getting caught in a winter storm if you go early in spring or late in fall. Our inflatable packrafts are lightweight, durable, and very easy to transport. From the parking lot for the Marys Loop trail system the Kokopelli winds its way southwest over improved roads, four-wheel-drive roads, pavement, and single-track. New for 2023 Cleaned up the sheets and adjusted the colors for better viewing. NO PERSONAL WATERCRAFT ARE ALLOWED IN CROSSWINDS MARSH. If you're interested in a dedicated sleeping bag instead of a quilt, see our Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags guide. One group dropped water at Rabbit Valley and Dewey Bridge, the other group drove the dirt road in an SUV to Fisher Valley and left a cache there. 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. Bikepacking is one of The Project's main focuses. Youll need to cache water on the Kokopelli. 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. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moab's Slickrock area. 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. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be usedas a point of inspirationin conjunction with your own due-diligence. Youll cross highway 128 and then ride through Yellow Jacket Canyon, a highlight of the Kokopelli. Bikepackers camping along the Kokopelli trail, The singletrack section youll start on is some of the best mountain biking in the country, Descending out of the La Sal Mountain range into Moab is a particularly fun downhill, Many of the dirt roads are impassable after heavy rains. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. I recommend riding the Western Rim Trail, a 6-mile trail parallel to the official Kokopelli route near Fruita. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. Traveling through remote canyon country, White Rim Road makes a 100-mile loop through the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. width:100%; When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission without costing you an extra cent. We completed the Kokopelli trail in three challenging, rewarding days of bike riding. 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. There are not too many reliable water sources on this trail so its important to plan accordingly. Also, the Hot Tomato in Fruita has some of the best pizza Ive ever eaten, and they have great beers on tap. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. @media screen and ( max-width: 300px ) { It combines a variety of primitive roads with surprisingly technical single track that kept us guessing around each bend. The Kokopelli Trail is a good first test. This is certainly not a trip for bringing your dog or someone just starting out with biking. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. You need to be logged in to use these features. One group member attempted to ride the trail on a drop bar gravel bike with 2-inch tires. Food resupply on the Kokopelli doesnt exist. There are a couple of options for staging and parking; as advised by folks at Over The Edge bike shop, we chose to leave a vehicle in the parking lot behind Suds Brothers Brewery in downtown Fruita. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. What puffy jacket do you use? I love having a one-bike-fits-all quiver. We used collapsible water jugs like these so we can strap them to our bikes and easily carry them out, too. Riding the trail on a fat bike, I hardly noticed the extensive sections of sandy desert Jeep roads. Starting with the Ruby Canyon Section, youll continue on through Rabbit Valley, Westwater, Fish Ford, and Yellow Jacket Canyon sections. The full list includes: DIA is the largest of the options but is also the furthest away. Topeak multitool with tubeless repair kit, Kokopelli Trail info from the Bureau of Land Management. Another option is to have friends deliver water to you along the route or stash some yourself beforehand wherever possible. , 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. 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. Camping along the Kokopelli is easy to find. The trail was named in honor of its mythic muse, Kokopelli. As the snow melted, those clay-heavy dirt roads became unrideable. Looking to start bikepacking? They did say you can leave your car at Moab Motorsports located at25 E Center St, Moab, UT 84532. I am a bikepacking addict who also happens to be an above knee amputee. I would have gladly traded out for either of those bikes when it the trail started getting a little chunkier. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! width:100%; Kokopelli Trail - Backcountry MTB // Industry Nine - Pivot Pro I have bikepacked the Kokopelli on a fat bike with 5-inch tires and a plus bike with 3-inch tires. Find Related Places. Bikepacking: Off-Pavement Bicycling and camping where you would if you were to go backpacking. I have experienced extremely high winds and snowstorms in the high desert regions of Colorado and Utah, and this tent always holds up well. The 142-mile multi-use trail stretches from Loma, Colorado all the way to Moab, UT. The Kokopelli Trail A Bikepacking Adventure. - Get Terrestrial Simply clicking on the links below with our affiliates supports the Project. This requires a 9 mile pavement ride to the Kokepellis Trailhead, but offers a safe parking solution. The trail starts in Loma, CO within the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, at the Marys Loop Trails. Top 10 Bikepacking Routes in the US - Mountain bike trails & Mountain If you were to start in Moab and ride north, you would begin with a nearly 20-mile, 4,000-foot climb. Its a good idea to do some research (I read current trip reports) or make a few calls to check the flow of streams and rivers to be sure you know how much water to carry at each point you fill up. We are proud to be independent and reader-supported. Experience a multitude of terrains and landscapes on a trail that links two of the most coveted mountain biking areas in the country. Rock formations including arches and windows are a highlight of bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail. 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. Kokopelli Trail - Bikepacker The Kokopelli Trail is a 143-mile desert bikepacking route that connects Fruita, Colorado, in western Colorado and Moab, Utah. 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. There is some concern with possible theft but it worked out fine for me. We look forward to sharing the natural splendor of Crosswinds through our interpretive programming, activities and future exhibits. The other two in the party were on a hardtail and a rigid fatbike. Sawyer Squeeze, which is the overall winner in our Best Water Filters and Purifiers guide. 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 for 2-6 days depending on how many miles you want to cover each day. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. YOUR ULTIMATE BIKEPACKING GUIDE TO THE KOKOPELLI. The last time I was there, I was told that the pipes were contaminated with E. Coli. The Kokopelli Trail is divided into nine sections, each with its own unique terrain and scenery. Find a detailed guide on the route below including parking, resupply and how to plan the perfect trip. 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. It connects some of the best singletrack around in Fruita and Moab with 100 miles of ATV roads. The Kokopelli has very few water sources along the route. 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. Thanks, me too!! The legendary Kokopelli Trail, 140 miles of desert and mountain riding between Moab and Fruita. How to Get Lost in the Utah Desert? Bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail It connects some of the best singletrack around in Fruita and Moab with 100 miles of ATV roads. The southern end of Yellow Jacket Canyon crosses Highway 128 and passes Dewey Bridge before the most substantial climbing of the Kokopelli starts. Directions Advertisement. Most of your riding will be on dirt and paved roads, with some singletrack thrown in for good measure. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the University/Parks Trail and Clinton River Park Trail. Gear lists from the AZT, TD and CTR; Pros & Cons; Things Id do different; and Tips. I was very happy to have my 27+ tires in the sand and front suspension on the big drops required on some sections of the ATV roads as well as the fast descents that necessitated careful line choices and were still quite rattling on my hardtail. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. The Rando is a favorite in our Touring Bike Gear List. width:100%; The following year I returned to the Kokopelli Trail more prepared. 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