kokopelli trail bikepacking kokopelli trail bikepacking

With that said, you can find food at either end. There are a few bailout options along the way. The route is an epic medley of singletrack, doubletrack, sand and tarmac technical climbs, rugged descents, and graded terrain. The White Rim Trail is one of the most iconic long-distance mountain bikepacking rides in the West. We were granted access by the weather up and over the La Sals unlike our previous attempt. Ive used this inflatable pad for several years now. Returning on 3-inch tires, I had a much more difficult time on those sandy sections. 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. 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. You need to be logged in to use these features. . The Kokopelli Trail is even marked on these maps. 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. I did it last fall on a rigid MTB with 29x2.3 tires. The closest large airport to the Kokopelli Trail is the Salt Lake City International Airport. It is possible to leave a vehicle at the Loma trailhead, but may be a little more risky. You can camp almost everywhere along the route, too. Bike 3-Day; Bears Ears Backcntry 4-Day; Grand Staircase-Escalante; Moab Bikepacking 101; Vehicle Support Services; . 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 is a good first test. I found a trickle of cool, clear water at hideout spring (find the cottonwoods!!) Youll know youve completed the Kokopelli Trail when you hit the pavement; then, its time to celebrate. I have attempted the Kokpelli 3 times and completed it twice. Another option is to have friends deliver water to you along the route or stash some yourself beforehand wherever possible. Kokopelli Trail; Best of Moab Mnt. Look no further than the new 2023 Trek Farley 5, a sure-footed bike designed with strength and comfort in. But maybe you can be the fool who rides it and has a great time despite what other people say? Patagonia Womens Nylon Capri Pants cut into shorts (discontinued). For more recommendations, see our Best Mountain Bike Gloves guide. Starting with the Ruby Canyon Section, youll continue on through Rabbit Valley, Westwater, Fish Ford, and Yellow Jacket Canyon sections. Unfortunately, there is no way around it and riders will need to exit out Castle Valley (mile 128) to get to Moab. 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. From the Loma exit (exit 15) off of I70 you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. See REIs Food Storage story or REIs Bear Canister story for more information on Bears and food storage. You decide. The other person in our group did not bring a storm-worthy shelter. Route notes: the giant tarmac descent from fischer overlook and giant tarmac climb up to the porcupine rim trail suuuucked. Website Take me there. The Kokopelli Trail is a vintage route ridden and raced long before doing stuff like this was popular. Kokopelli Racing LLC put on a mountain bike and running ultra marathon race on the classic Kokopelli Trail. The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles west of Grand Junction. 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. The final climb will be on a paved road, but by this point, youll probably be ready for easier riding. Food resupply on the Kokopelli doesnt exist. This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. If youre like me and have a passion for riding your bike, then read on. The Kokopelli Trail spreads from Loma, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, over 142 exciting miles! An epic view point along the Kokopelli Trail. This is certainly not a trip for. The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but you still need strong navigation abilities. After the first 20 miles of singletrack, youll ride about 30 miles of dirt roads through Rabbit Valley, Castle Rocks, and Coal Draw. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { UPDATE (November, 2017): Apparently work is still going on and way behind as of 11/18/2017. It will take about half a day to cache water and drive back to either end of the Kokopelli. It follows the Colorado River, and youll regularly get views of the river as it winds through the landscape below. More technical singletrack sections are on the descent into Moab and scattered throughout the route. Technical sections will challenge your mountain biking skills. Fruita and Moab are full-service towns with grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes. Bedrock Cairns, which is the overall winner in our Best Hiking Sandals gear review. The southern end of Yellow Jacket Canyon crosses Highway 128 and passes Dewey Bridge before the most substantial climbing of the Kokopelli starts. The Kokopelli Trail is a good first test. This route follows singletrack trails, Jeep roads, and dirt roads, mainly on BLM land. The trail was named in honor of its mythic muse, Kokopelli. I recommend riding the Western Rim Trail, a 6-mile trail parallel to the official Kokopelli route near Fruita. 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. This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. The dancing flautist image is now common throughout the southwest, generally embodying carefree and joyous adventure. Then youll be in Fisher Valley, where Ive always cached water by the road. and filtered from there before the big climbs. , 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 desert environment can be unforgiving. Moab Express provides shuttle service from Moab to the start of the Kokopelli Trail at Loma Trailhead. Website. 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. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. I'm going to be riding into Moab towards the end of June or early July. } Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! Despite reports you can leave a car at the Moab Information Center, you CAN NOT. Indian Trails. With hubs at the airport, United and Southwest will have the most flight options. The Kokopelli Trail is a 143-mile desert bikepacking route that connects Fruita, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. Elevation gain: 13,595 feet/ 4,144 meters, Elevation loss: 14,058 feet/ 4,285 meters. @media screen and ( max-width: 300px ) { Part of the magnificent 142-mile Kokopelli Trail. I am a bikepacking addict who also happens to be an above knee amputee. It's our goal to supply the best resources, guides, gear lists, data sheets, town lists, and more to help others realize and follow their passion. NO PERSONAL WATERCRAFT ARE ALLOWED IN CROSSWINDS MARSH. 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. Hi, Im Phil. 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. This incredibly scenic trail takes you along the Colorado Plateau and through colorful stretches of Utah as well as in and out of valleys. 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. 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. 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. 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. Many of the BLM campgrounds lining the trail do not have water, or if they do its not potable. To schedule an appointment for your school or for more information, please call Crosswinds Marsh at: (734) 654-1220. This section is beautiful though; theres nothing like moving in and out of desert and mountain terrain and skirting along the Estrada Bluffs. The Kokopelli Trail is not for beginner cyclists. A big storm can leave you stranded on unrideable dirt roads of sticky, peanut butter mud that will stop your wheels from turning. Find Related Places. What about wind breaker? 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. You need to be logged in to use these features. Planned for 3 nights but the first half went quicker than I expected! Ive made it on the dirt road to Fisher Valley in a Subaru, but a sedan wouldn't make it there. There is one option for airlines and two car rental: GJT is the closest airport that has a reasonable cost and minimal logistics . We completed the Kokopelli trail in three challenging, rewarding days of bike riding. width:100%; A section of the trail, the Kokopelli Singletrack, begins just outside the . The Kokopelli Trail is a 142-mile desert bikepacking route linking the mountain biking epicenters of Fruita, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. Timing bikepacking the Kokopelli trail with the weather can be a challenge. The Kokopelli Trail is an 136.4 mile multi use recreational trail that goes from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT. We used collapsible water jugs like these so we can strap them to our bikes and easily carry them out, too. More here. There are also ways to filter silty water using alum. } Kristina Ritchie (@get_terrestrial) Instagram photos and videos, .fca_eoi_form{ margin: auto; } .fca_eoi_form p { width: auto; } #fca_eoi_form_1856 input{ max-width: 9999px; }#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper {display: none !important;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper {display: none !important;}.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-borderless.tooltipster-optin-cat .tooltipster-box .tooltipster-content { color: #fff }.tooltipster-optin-cat.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-top .tooltipster-arrow-border { border-top-color: #d63031 !important }.tooltipster-optin-cat.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-bottom .tooltipster-arrow-border { border-bottom-color: #d63031 !important }.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-borderless.tooltipster-optin-cat .tooltipster-box { background-color: #d63031 !important }.fca_eoi_layout_inputs_wrapper { background-color: unset !important }#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element::-webkit-input-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element::-moz-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element:-ms-input-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element:-moz-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper:hover, #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper input:hover {background-color:#b96701 !important;} } } For some time now the Kokopelli was without an official race on the calendar. There are several hike-a-bike sections of this trail. You can get to Rabbit Valley and Dewey Bridge with a 2-wheel drive vehicle. Bikepack it, chase the FKT, ride it with vehicle support - experience it however you like. Also only split up in 2-4 segments. Youll cross highway 128 and then ride through Yellow Jacket Canyon, a highlight of the Kokopelli. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. Repair Shops & Related Services NEC. After a hot, exposed climb to Top of the World road, youll descend Rose Garden Hill and wonder how anyone could drive a Jeep over that. If you're interested in a dedicated sleeping bag instead of a quilt, see our Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags guide. Most bikers ride the Kokopelli Trail soutbound. Find details on their records alongside a few photos taken by Rugile Kaladyte here, Photos by Rugile Kaladyte (@rugilekaladyte). You can also get your bike repaired at Over The Edge in Fruita. The Kokopelli symbol guides travelers along a trail of ~ 140 miles between Fruita (Loma actually) and Moab. The Kokopelli Trail is a special route, and whether youre looking to tackle it in a single day or spread it out over a long weekend, its definitely one worth adding to the bucket list. Sawyer Squeeze, which is the overall winner in our Best Water Filters and Purifiers guide. The weather can be unpredictable, regularly swinging from blazingly hot to frost-and-ice-all-over-your-tent cold. Bike Inn; Needles 2 Moab Canyonlands; Bears Ears Mnt. Ive even seen some water flowing in the fall around here. 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. Kokopelli 140 MTB Individual 144 miles, full course, alone! The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but a mountain biker still needs strong navigation abilities.