In total you will ride for 142 miles and there are a few bailout options along the way should you need to. For more recommendations of puffy jackets, see our Best Down Jackets or Best Synthetic Jacket guides. Its June. The Kokopelli Trail is not for beginner cyclists. The old railroad follows beautiful waterways, weaving around Allegheny mountains and hills. They did say you can leave your car at Moab Motorsports located at25 E Center St, Moab, UT 84532. The desert environment can be unforgiving. More flag On Ute Land Distance 158 Mi. The trail was created by the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA) in cooperation with the Bureau of . Grand Junction also has a regional airport and car rental options for caching water. Ive used the National Geographic Maps Moab North and Colorado National Monument for paper maps. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. @media screen and ( max-width: 300px ) { Look no further than the new 2023 Trek Farley 5, a sure-footed bike designed with strength and comfort in. 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. There are a ton of options out there. The trail starts in Loma, CO within the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, at the Marys Loop Trails. The Kokopelli Trail is a difficult bikepacking trail. We then met in Moab, loaded into one vehicle, and drove back to the Loma Trailhead. Image via Bureau of Land Management 1.Kokopelli Trail Trail Length: About 150 miles one-way Days to complete: 3-5 Riding : Mostly doubletrack and singletrack Find details on their records alongside a few photos taken by Rugile Kaladyte here, Photos by Rugile Kaladyte (@rugilekaladyte). At times the Kokopelli Trail can serve up demanding single track and steep climbs, makingit a trail not to be underestimated. Route notes: the giant tarmac descent from fischer overlook and giant tarmac climb up to the porcupine rim trail suuuucked. 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. Celebrate your thru-hiking class with the Class of ___ T-shirt! At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. Parts of the trail are used by jeeps, ATVs, and motorcycles. You might be able to get water from a spigot here, but dont count on it. 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 Bike Fiend or Chili Pepper Bike Shop are options for getting your bike repaired in Moab. Take the Loma exit (exit 15), then travel west on gravel frontage road south of the interstate. After riding through the Kokopelli Loops trail network, youll get a taste of your first hike-a-bike down to Salt Creek (which isnt safe to drink). The closest large airport to the Kokopelli Trail is the Salt Lake City International Airport. The trail presses on through Fish Ford and the ride becomes more arduous as you climb away from the Colorado River. The Kokopelli Trail ends in Moabs Slickrock. Learn more. This variation would add approximately 14 miles to your trip. Over the next 50 miles, youll do a lot of climbing, but the next ten miles will be the steepest. There is great camping in this area, too. Our inflatable packrafts are lightweight, durable, and very easy to transport. With more than 61 trails covering 486 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. } Kokopelli's Trail - Wikipedia South L, CA. The trail runs through Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County in Utah. width:100%; 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. The other person in our group did not bring a storm-worthy shelter. Kokopelli 140 MTB Individual 144 miles, full course, alone! You can find the Kokopelli Trail on Ride With GPS. YOUR ULTIMATE BIKEPACKING GUIDE TO THE KOKOPELLI. The Rando is a favorite in our Touring Bike Gear List. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. } We used collapsible water jugs like these so we can strap them to our bikes and easily carry them out, too. Another option is to check Craigslists ride share page for various cities where you think someone might be travel to or from Moab. RECOMMENDED ROUTE Difficult. The Kokopelli Trail is a 142-mile desert bikepacking route linking the mountain biking epicenters of Fruita, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. 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. The 142-mile multi-use trail stretches from Loma, Colorado all the way to Moab, UT. Traveling through remote canyon country, White Rim Road makes a 100-mile loop through the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. Hi, Im Phil. I found a trickle of cool, clear water at hideout spring (find the cottonwoods!!) From the trailhead at Loma, after a quick gravel traverse, the route starts with 10+ miles of mesa singletrack overlooking the Colorado River. (mens and womens & nobo and sobo available). This Kokopelli Trail Guide will give you everything you need to know. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moabs world famous Slickrock area. If you're interested in a dedicated sleeping bag instead of a quilt, see our Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags guide. Toward the end of the day I would start feeling like my bones were being rattled, but it was definitely doable. Ive always dropped my bikepacking bags and ridden this section unloaded since its a quick ride along highway 128 to get to either end of the section. Most bikers ride the Kokopelli Trail soutbound. 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. Kokopelli 140 MTB Relay A choice your own adventure. Bikepacking: Off-Pavement Bicycling and camping where you would if you were to go backpacking. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. 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. 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. 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. This route follows singletrack trails, Jeep roads, and dirt roads, mainly on BLM land. Kokepellis Trail is part of the Grand Loop, a much larger bikepacking routethat utilizes Kokopellis Trail system, The Paradox Trail, and Tabegauche Trail. We were caught in a late March snowstorm and spent the day in a cave, watching the snow pile up. From there, youll be closer to the start of the Kokopelli Trail. On the 142-mile Kokopelli's Trail, a group of bikepackers race against dusk on Porcupine Rim, a. Since it was first designed the Porcupine Rim Trail has been built which means you have the option of making it 150+ miles. Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat Arizona Trail Race. The full list includes: DIA is the largest of the options but is also the furthest away. The Kokopelli Trail is even marked on these maps. Finished this classic route in 3 full days, 2 nights out on the trail, 10-12 hours riding per day. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { We cached water at a few road crossings, brought bikes with high-volume tires, and generally respected the challenges of the trail more. The 142-mile multi-use trail stretches from Loma, Colorado all the way to Moab, UT. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper { 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! 7 Incredible Bikepacking Trips in the US to Have on Your Radar Elevation gain: 13,595 feet/ 4,144 meters, Elevation loss: 14,058 feet/ 4,285 meters. Our Best Mountain Bike Lights guide also covers other mountain bike-specific lights. From the Loma exit (exit 15) you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. Kokopelli's Trail | Bureau of Land Management 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Treeline Review LLC. ONE SHOULD ASSUME ALL WATER SOURCES TO BE DRY AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY. Youll cross highway 128 and then ride through Yellow Jacket Canyon, a highlight of the Kokopelli. The last time I was there, I was told that the pipes were contaminated with E. Coli. Press J to jump to the feed. The Kokopelli has very few water sources along the route. 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 . A true western adventure with tough climbs and rewarding descents. Know your body and how much water you require and plan carefully. Kokopelli Trail - Backcountry MTB // Industry Nine - Pivot Pro One section requires a rider to lift your bike over car-sized boulders. Water options while bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail: There are not too many reliable water sources on this trail so its important to plan accordingly. Bikepack it, chase the FKT, ride it with vehicle support - experience it however you like. One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. The following page is broken down into sections highlighting The Project's main categories. Kokopelli Trail Planning Aids Tour Divide Planning Aids Bikepacking Survey Results Data Collages Hiking Hiking Guides Pemi Loop Guide Hiking Gear My Proven Triple Crown Hiking Gear List If I Hiked Again Gear Review - If I Hiked The Appalachian Trail Again Gear Review - If I Hiked The Long Trail Again Cant say much for Kokopelli but I just did the White Rim trail (which is quite close by) on my gravel bike. All rights reserved. Coconino 250 Guide - Bikepacking - One of Seven Project With hubs at the airport, United and Southwest will have the most flight options. Starting with the Ruby Canyon Section, youll continue on through Rabbit Valley, Westwater, Fish Ford, and Yellow Jacket Canyon sections. CNY is closest airport but also the most expensive and with the most limited options. A few miles after Rabbit Valley it is highly recommended to take the scenic off-route detour on the Western Rim trail. 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. Thanks, me too!! Go out with a spirit of excitement and return with a sense of accomplishment. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. Also, the Hot Tomato in Fruita has some of the best pizza Ive ever eaten, and they have great beers on tap. 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. Timing bikepacking the Kokopelli trail with the weather can be a challenge. The Kokopelli Trail is an 136.4 milemulti use recreational trail that goes from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT. 28685 Smith Rd Romulus MI 48174 (734) 326-9801. 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. The trail is posted with the flat brown flexible fiberglass posts and marked with blue and white Kokopelli stickers. Kokopelli Trail Bikepacking Route - BIKEPACKING.com We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. Starts at the Westwater Airstrip. Petzl Bindi, which is a favorite of other Treeline Review writers and featured in our Backpacking Guide to the South Dakota Centennial Trail. } Thanks for your support! Patagonia Womens Nylon Capri Pants cut into shorts (discontinued). Kokopelli 100 MTB Individual Same as the 140 but doesnt include the first 40 miles. 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. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. I did it last fall on a rigid MTB with 29x2.3 tires. 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. I'm just curious what the best is for bikepacking. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget { Checkout the Colorado Trail Transportation Guide for train options if you want to fly into Denver and take the train to Grand Junction. 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). The closes airports to fly into would beMoab (CNY) itself, but the cost would be extremely high. Experience a multitude of terrains and landscapes on a trail that links two of the most coveted mountain biking areas in the country. Bikepacking is exciting and rewarding form of off-pavement, adventure bike touring. After crossing Salt Creek the trail passes through Rabbit Valley, then grinds through the Yellow Jacket area, tackles Rose Garden Hill, circle around Fisher Valley, and eventually making its way to the La Sal Mountains and Moab. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. You might also be able to get water from a spigot at Westwater Ranger Station, but this source is not always operational. Find Related Places. 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. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. 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). There are some steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. Bikepacking on the Kokopelli Trail - Joel Caldwell Get your FREE backpacking checklist PDF here!
