kokopelli trail bikepacking kokopelli trail bikepacking

You might be able to get water from a spigot here, but dont count on it. Unless youre camping in the La Sals, you likely wont encounter bears on the Kokopelli Trail. A big storm can leave you stranded on unrideable dirt roads of sticky, peanut butter mud that will stop your wheels from turning. This page is divide up in simple sections to give you information in easily digestible bites. For more recommendations of puffy jackets, see our Best Down Jackets or Best Synthetic Jacket guides. Once youre in the La Sals, youll probably find a stream or two to collect water from. Westwater Ranger Station is a short detour away at the T-junction after the short pavement section through Coal Draw. Expect the route to take the average person 3-5 days, with many strenuous sections. Sign up with your email address to be the first to know when we release new gear reviews! Some of the singletrack is unrideable, too. Repair Shops & Related Services NEC. The . The first time I attempted the trail in a group, we werent fully prepared and bailed. Stepping away from the 9-5 lifestyle, discover the benefits of scaring yourself, and connect with nature to find meaning in everyday life. It combines a variety of primitive roads with surprisingly technical single track that kept us guessing around each bend. The route is popular as a 2- to 3-night bikepacking trip, a 3- to 4-day vehicle-supported trip, and as a . Bike 3-Day; Bears Ears Backcntry 4-Day; Grand Staircase-Escalante; Moab Bikepacking 101; Vehicle Support Services; . , 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. Aid stations rough every 8 miles. Colorado River is too silty to filter, and some of the only other water sources along the route arent safe to drink due to the waters arsenic levels. Simply clicking on the links below with our affiliates supports the Project. The Kokopelli Trail is a 143-mile desert bikepacking route that connects Fruita, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. 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. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget { Tired of seeing ads on every web page you visit? 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. The next closest would be Grand Junction or Salt Lake City (SLC). 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. Starting with the Ruby Canyon Section, youll continue on through Rabbit Valley, Westwater, Fish Ford, and Yellow Jacket Canyon sections. If youve learned a few things or have been entertained, consider becoming a Patreon member. From there, the trail traverses through the Cottonwood Canyon, Beaver Mesa, and all La Sal Loop sections leading up to your final stretch. Top 10 Bikepacking Routes in the US - Mountain bike trails & Mountain width:300px; 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 trail ends in the Sand Flats section which takes you from Porcupine Rim to Slickrock. Finished this classic route in 3 full days, 2 nights out on the trail, 10-12 hours riding per day. Gear lists from the AZT, TD and CTR; Pros & Cons; Things Id do different; and Tips. Lack of clean water will be one of your biggest hurdles. Kokepellis Trail is part of the Grand Loop, a much larger bikepacking routethat utilizes Kokopellis Trail system, The Paradox Trail, and Tabegauche Trail. sounds like a great trip! (mens and womens & nobo and sobo available). Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! Ive even seen some water flowing in the fall around here. Timing bikepacking the Kokopelli trail with the weather can be a challenge. If you want to execute a successful trip, it would certainly behoove you to do some checking and planning during the weeks leading up to your trip. 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. I dont recommend riding Porcupine Rim without a full-suspension bike. Bikepacking is generally in the backcountry, but you can backpack on local trails. With that said, you can find food at either end. Fully packed bikepacking set up for the Kokopelli Trail. As an affiliate partner, One of Seven Project earns a commission for purchases made through any product, brand logo links, or banner ads on this page. After at least 6 failed attempts in the mid-1990s, Gary became the first to ride the 140-mile-long Kokopelli Trail self-supported in one day. The 142-mile multi-use trail stretches from Loma, Colorado all the way to Moab, UT. It will take about half a day to cache water and drive back to either end of the Kokopelli. This incredibly scenic trail takes you along the Colorado Plateau and through colorful stretches of Utah as well as in and out of valleys. You may try and see if one would drop you back off in Fruita. Water is a big challenge on the Kokopelli Trail. Kokopelli Trail, the long way into Moab (trip report & packing list in comments) 1 / 3 73 11 comments Add a Comment halfearup 2 yr. ago Finished this classic route in 3 full days, 2 nights out on the trail, 10-12 hours riding per day. We then met in Moab, loaded into one vehicle, and drove back to the Loma Trailhead. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. 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. Ive made it on the dirt road to Fisher Valley in a Subaru, but a sedan wouldn't make it there. During my thru-bike I left my car at the Loma trailhead parking lot for Marys Loop Trails. 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. The Kokopelli Trail A Bikepacking Adventure. - Get Terrestrial #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper { There are some steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. From Westwater, youll ride more desert Jeep roads through a vast desert expanse with red rock formations in the distance. 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. This is certainly not a trip for bringing your dog or someone just starting out with biking. I used a Tarptent Aeon Li tent for the Kokopelli Trail. 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. Read more on the About Me page. Hi, Im Phil. Read these next or checkout the main resource page. MTB Project | Mountain Bike Trail Maps The experience was humbling and quite challenging. Water at BLM ranger station at mile 48 is not fit to drink, filter from river. Ive used the National Geographic Maps Moab North and Colorado National Monument for paper maps. One should consider caching water along the route. Like any adventure, the Kokopelli Trail is not a trail to trifle which. 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 Trail is a 142-mile desert bikepacking route linking the mountain biking epicenters of Fruita, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. I would probably avoid doing it on anything skinnier than 2" tires, But some of you gravel grinders are pretty hard core so IDK. We didnt cache any water, either. Once you arrive in Moab, there are countless mountain bike trails to explore. The Kokopelli Trail is a 143-mile desert bikepacking route that connects Fruita, Colorado, in western Colorado and Moab, Utah. From the Loma exit (exit 15) you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. UPDATE (November, 2017): Apparently work is still going on and way behind as of 11/18/2017. One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. Fingerless bike gloves. The Kokopelli Trail is divided into nine sections, each with its own unique terrain and scenery. 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. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper { Classics have a way of seeming passalmost a clichand you might therefore be tempted to skip it. The trail was named in honor of its mythic muse, Kokopelli. There are several hike-a-bike sections of this trail. The southern end of Yellow Jacket Canyon crosses Highway 128 and passes Dewey Bridge before the most substantial climbing of the Kokopelli starts. I used a Thermarest Neoair Xlite for this trail. Although they all had different intentions for their rides, both Kaitlyn and Kurt rode hard and fast to set two new fastest known times on the route. Moab Motorsports does ask that you let them know youre leaving your car with them ahead of time. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. See a problem? The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moab's Slickrock area. You can find the Kokopelli Trail on Ride With GPS. There are unmarked turns, and its not always easy to see the brown carsonite trail markers at junctions. The Koko box is checked and we've got our sights on searching for what is next. At the top, youll get great views of Moab and the surrounding landscape. By entering your email address, you agree to receive our weekly newsletter in accordance with our Privacy Policy. I recommend riding the Western Rim Trail, a 6-mile trail parallel to the official Kokopelli route near Fruita. In 2017 that changed. This bucket-list bikepacking trip is an adventure of the soul and a test of your commitment. But maybe you can be the fool who rides it and has a great time despite what other people say? The Xlite is our overall winner in our Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads guide, Our loaded bikepacking bike on the Kokopelli Trail, Surly Ogre with 27.5 x 3 tires and wheelset. This Kokopelli Trail Guide was put together for people like you, in hopes it would make taking that first step of planning easier and get you on the trail faster. Dont drink from Salt Creek or Onion Creek for this reason. The road is scheduled to open on weekends after May 27th. Its a condensed version of my bigger bikepacking guides, which include the Arizona Trail, Tour Divide and Colorado Trail. Petzl Bindi, which is a favorite of other Treeline Review writers and featured in our Backpacking Guide to the South Dakota Centennial Trail. 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. 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. One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. There are very few reliable water options available along the Kokopelli Trail. to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. Bedrock Cairns, which is the overall winner in our Best Hiking Sandals gear review. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. Go out with a spirit of excitement and return with a sense of accomplishment. A huge to congrats to Lael, Kaitlyn, and Kurt for getting out there and making it happen. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Help could behours or days away! Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! Looking up from Fischer Valley to the top of the climb next to the la sals, giving myself a goal of making it there in 5 hours, and getting up in 5 hours to look back down at the valley. Water can be found at miles 48, 70, 83, and 126. 7 Incredible Bikepacking Trips in the US to Have on Your Radar There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. and filtered from there before the big climbs. Over 143 miles, you climb about 14,000 feet/4,144 meters and descend about the same. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. You'll receive an opt-in email before being added. 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. Find an extra-long weekend and do this ride. Joe Cruz (Pedaling in Place), Kokopelli taught me the length of a desert mile. You could plan to finish on a day a friend was driving back from Moab. Its June. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. Kokopelli Trail; Best of Moab Mnt. If you're interested in a dedicated sleeping bag instead of a quilt, see our Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags guide. Press J to jump to the feed. That first ride took him 23 hours, and soon after, he rode the trail in the opposite direction in just 17 hours. On the DiscoverMoab.com website there is a list of companies offering shuttle service to Grand Junction. The best time to thru-bike the trail is from March/April to the end of October. } 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. Since it was first designed the Porcupine Rim Trail has been built which means you have the option of making it 150+ miles. Stretching along public lands, Kokopelli's Trail is an epic journey on the Colorado Plateau. The Kokopelli Trail ends in Moabs Slickrock. There are some pretty steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. Moab Bikepacking 101 - Rim Tours It's my one and only and it's so fun everywhere I take it. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. You dont need any permits to bikepack the Kokopelli Trail. Bikepacking Packrafts | Inflatable Packrafts - KOKOPELLI All rights reserved. ONE SHOULD ASSUME ALL WATER SOURCES TO BE DRY AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY. As mentioned above it does allow one to sight see along the way. Did you happen to see any of the folks attempting to set the FKT for it out there? Cheers! r/bikepacking - Kokopelli Trail, the long way into Moab (trip report The closest large airport to the Kokopelli Trail is the Salt Lake City International Airport. The Kokopelli Trail is part of the larger Grand Loop. Bikepack it, chase the FKT, ride it with vehicle support - experience it however you like. The first 15 miles of the Kokopelli are technical singletrack. 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. Dirt roads, paved roads, and singletrack with some technical areas. New Kokopelli Trail FKT - BIKEPACKING.com 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. On my most recent Kokopelli bikepacking trip, my group drove from Denver in two vehicles. In depth look at what I would bring for gear and why, if I rode the Tour Divide, CTR, and AZTR again. Find out what makes bikepacking the Lower Deschutes River Trail unique and why its Oregons best trail for your first overnight mountain biking trip. Best Trails & Maps near Romulus | TrailLink Moab has a small regional airport you can fly to from either Salt Lake City or Denver. I'm going to be riding into Moab towards the end of June or early July. We completed the Kokopelli trail in three challenging, rewarding days of bike riding. Indian Trails. No stove helped with space and water. There is a reliable stream in Castle Valley, just before the road climbs into the La Sals. Transportation Services. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. Claim this business (734) 326-9801. The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but a mountain biker still needs strong navigation abilities. This quick guide to bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail will give you the information and insight you need for a successful trip to one of the most spectacular bike trails out there. 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. The Rando is a favorite in our Touring Bike Gear List. The riding is primarily non-technical dirt roads and Jeep double track, but it is about 15% singletrack. This is certainly not a trip for. These are primitive campsites so dont expect much as far as amenities go. Moab Express provides shuttle service from Moab to the start of the Kokopelli Trail at Loma Trailhead. From the Loma exit (exit 15) off of I70 you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. 142 Miles From Monday - Bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail Kokopelli Trail Guidebook from Bikerpelli, Trip Ideas, Where to Go, Backpacking Trip Guide, Backpacking Trip Ideas, Backpacking Trips, backpacking, backpacking trips, oregon trips, oregon, oregon coast, corvallis to sea, c2c trail, c2c, Backpacking Trip Ideas, Backpacking Trip Guide, Trip Ideas, Where to Go, where to go, Backpacking Trips, backpacking, backpacking trips, colorado, colorado backpacking, brandon lampley, Bikepacking the Lower Deschutes River Trail, Guide to Cycling the Great Allegheny Passage. With hubs at the airport, United and Southwest will have the most flight options. The White Rim Trail is one of the most iconic long-distance mountain bikepacking rides in the West. But it also took some planning so it went off without a hitch. I love having a one-bike-fits-all quiver. Would it be foolish to try to ride the Kokopelli Trail on a gravel bike? I was being silly: the Kokopelli is a tremendously satisfying and fun bikepack, from the mildly technical and impossibly beautiful singletrack out of Fruita, to soaring grinding climbs, red desert canyons, rugged sandstone ridges, to the must-not-skip roaring bucking descent on Porcupine Rim down to Moab.