The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles from Grand Junction. 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. From there, the trail traverses through the Cottonwood Canyon, Beaver Mesa, and all La Sal Loop sections leading up to your final stretch. South L, CA. The Kokopelli has very few water sources along the route. I did it last fall on a rigid MTB with 29x2.3 tires. The Kokopelli Trail is an 136.4 mile multi use recreational trail that goes from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT. You might be able to get water from a spigot here, but dont count on it. Its June. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper { Youll have to carry everything you need for the entirety of the trail. Ive made it on the dirt road to Fisher Valley in a Subaru, but a sedan wouldn't make it there. Sand, dirt, gravel, slick rock, creek crossings, you name it. Kokopelli 140 MTB Individual 144 miles, full course, alone! The Kokopelli Trail is a good first test. It's a marin pine mountain 2 but I don't think they make the purple anymore sadly. The trail runs through Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County in Utah. This works only if you dont have any issues and show up on time. 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. We cached water at a few road crossings, brought bikes with high-volume tires, and generally respected the challenges of the trail more. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be usedas a point of inspirationin conjunction with your own due-diligence. 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. Or toss some spare change inthe PayPal tip jar. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. Looking to start bikepacking? The closes airports to fly into would beMoab (CNY) itself, but the cost would be extremely high. 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. The Kokopelli Trail starts out on some single track affording beautiful views of the Colorado River. 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. Youll cross highway 128 and then ride through Yellow Jacket Canyon, a highlight of the Kokopelli. 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. You may try and see if one would drop you back off in Fruita. At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. Tired of seeing ads on every web page you visit? 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. Help could behours or days away! RECOMMENDED ROUTE Difficult. More here. Our Best Mountain Bike Lights guide also covers other mountain bike-specific lights. This incredibly scenic trail takes you along the Colorado Plateau and through colorful stretches of Utah as well as in and out of valleys. Thanks, me too!! The desert views youll experience along the route are to notch. The Jeep trail and dirt roads can sometimes be very sandy, challenging, and slow-going. Water is a big challenge on the Kokopelli Trail. 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. In terms of ride-a-bility the Kokopelli offers plenty of it and very little HAB. The Kokopelli Trail is divided into nine sections, each with its own unique terrain and scenery. The Bike Fiend or Chili Pepper Bike Shop are options for getting your bike repaired in Moab. Aid stations rough every 8 miles. There are some steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. Topeak multitool with tubeless repair kit, Kokopelli Trail info from the Bureau of Land Management. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. One consideration is to bring a, If you want to execute a successful trip, it will certainly behoove you to do some checking and planning during the weeks leading up to your trip. So, long story short yes I bet you could absolutely do it, but no I probably wouldn't recommend it. I recommend caching water at Rabbit Valley trailhead, near Dewey Bridge by the road along Highway 128, and Fisher Valley. } When coming into Moab, you can opt to ride the Porcupine Rim Trail to add a fun but technical singletrack descent into town. Be sure to stop at Milts as you enter town for a milkshake. 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. The legendary Kokopelli Trail, 140 miles of desert and mountain riding between Moab and Fruita. Enlightened Equipment Torrid puffy jacket. You need to be logged in to use these features. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. The other person in our group did not bring a storm-worthy shelter. Go out with a spirit of excitement and return with a sense of accomplishment. 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. This trailhead is where the Kokopelli Trail starts and is even a location on Google maps now. This is certainly not a trip for. Dont drink from Salt Creek or Onion Creek for this reason. width:100%; From there, youll be closer to the start of the Kokopelli Trail. We then met in Moab, loaded into one vehicle, and drove back to the Loma Trailhead. Bikepacking is one of The Project's main focuses. You will be looking for East Mill Creek Drive which turns into Sand Flats Rd The Trail: The Kokopelli Trail is part of the Grand loop, a bikepacking route that combines the Kokopelli Trail, Paradox Trail and Tabegauche Trail. Gear lists from the AZT, TD and CTR; Pros & Cons; Things Id do different; and Tips. Patagonia Womens Nylon Capri Pants cut into shorts (discontinued). Stretches can be particularly sandy, but never for too long at a time (and there's no need for a fat bike). Read more on the About Me page. Experience a multitude of terrains and landscapes on a trail that links two of the most coveted mountain biking areas in the country. We didnt cache any water, either. Top Rated Routes. Lastly, you could use two cars but this option means a lot of driving and extra time. Bike Inn; Needles 2 Moab Canyonlands; Bears Ears Mnt. We create reader-supported, objective, independently-selected gear reviews. Fingerless bike gloves. The trail presses on through Fish Ford and the ride becomes more arduous as you climb away from the Colorado River. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! Follow Leave No Trace Ethics, including camping and pooping far from water. RECOMMENDED ROUTE Difficult. You can camp almost everywhere along the route, too. 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. Get on the trail with detailed maps shared by riders like you. As the snow melted, those clay-heavy dirt roads became unrideable. After the first 20 miles of singletrack, youll ride about 30 miles of dirt roads through Rabbit Valley, Castle Rocks, and Coal Draw. Timing bikepacking the Kokopelli trail with the weather can be a challenge. Racing the sunset into Moab on the Porcupine Rim Trail and I didn't see a single person on the descent (probably because I started around 6pm on a Tuesday). #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget { One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. The first time I attempted the trail in a group, we werent fully prepared and bailed. Celebrate your thru-hiking class with the Class of ___ T-shirt! 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. These are primitive campsites so dont expect much as far as amenities go.Salt Creek OverlookCastle RockCold SpringPorcupine RimKnowles CanyonBitter CreekMesa CreekCowskin Campground near Cotton CanyonHideout CanyonRock CastleBull DrawNorth Beaver Mesa CampgroundDewey BridgeRabbit Valley. @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { I love having a one-bike-fits-all quiver. Moab Brewery is the only brewery in the town of Moab. This Kokopelli Trail Guidebook from Bikerpelli is also helpful for planning your trip. It is possible to leave a vehicle at the Loma trailhead, but may be a little more risky. 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 is an 136.4 milemulti use recreational trail that goes from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT. width:300px; 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. 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. Directions Advertisement. You could plan to finish on a day a friend was driving back from Moab. 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. Once you arrive in Moab, there are countless mountain bike trails to explore. Bikepacking is generally in the backcountry, but you can backpack on local trails. The Local Overnighters Project is a unified effort to document and map one-night bikepacking routes all over the worldby locals, in their own backyards. Ultimate Arizona Trail Bikepacking Planning Guide, Gear Review If I Rode the Arizona Trail Race Again, Gear Review If I Rode the Colorado Trail Race Again, Gear Review If I Rode the Kokopelli Trail Again, Gear Review If I Rode The Tour Divide Again, Gear Review If I Hiked The Appalachian Trail Again, Gear Review If I Hiked The Long Trail Again, Gear Review If I Hiked the Pacific Crest Trail Again, Gear Review If I hiked the Continental Divide Trail Again, Gear Review If I Hiked the Colorado Trail Again. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission without costing you an extra cent. One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. You should be in excellent physical shape and have previous bikepacking experience to attempt a self-supported bikepacking trip on this route. A big storm can leave you stranded on unrideable dirt roads of sticky, peanut butter mud that will stop your wheels from turning. Find our Kokopelli Trail route guide here. More technical singletrack sections are on the descent into Moab and scattered throughout the route. Use the Brave browser for an entirely ad free web experience. Many of the BLM campgrounds lining the trail do not have water, or if they do its not potable. The Kokopelli symbol guides travelers along a trail of ~ 140 miles between Fruita (Loma actually) and Moab. The Kokopelli Trail is even marked on these maps. They did say you can leave your car at Moab Motorsports located at25 E Center St, Moab, UT 84532. 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. 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. But theyre even farther than you think. 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