During my thru-bike I left my car at the Loma trailhead parking lot for Marys Loop Trails. Kokepellis Trail is part of the Grand Loop, a much larger bikepacking routethat utilizes Kokopellis Trail system, The Paradox Trail, and Tabegauche Trail. 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. 7 Things to Do in Californias Alabama Hills: Movie Road, Hiking, Stargazing & More! 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. There is some water along the route, but not enough to forego caching water unless you can carry enough water for 2 days. There are several hike-a-bike sections of this trail. Since it was first designed the Porcupine Rim Trail has been built which means you have the option of making it 150+ miles. I love the Bar M Trails just outside town for their flowy singletrack trail goodness. Bikepacking with dogsIs this a good idea? There is some concern with possible theft but it worked out fine for me. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. All rights reserved. These bikepacking routes in and loads of others can be found at bikepacking.com. On the DiscoverMoab.com website there is a list of companies offering shuttle service to Grand Junction. Get your FREE backpacking checklist PDF here! 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. The following year I returned to the Kokopelli Trail more prepared. If you have a vital issue or opportunity regarding this route that pertains to one of the subjects below, please let us know: **Advocacy opportunities may include bringing awareness to a new trail project, conservation initiative, access potential, or local effort that we might help with or bring awareness to via our broad-reaching platform. Ive done this using collapsible water jugs, but it takes time and extra equipment. Happy planning! This requires a 9 mile pavement ride to the Kokepellis Trailhead, but offers a safe parking solution. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. You need to be logged in to use these features. This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! I dont recommend riding Porcupine Rim without a full-suspension bike. By entering your email address, you agree to receive our weekly newsletter in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Stretches can be particularly sandy, but never for too long at a time (and there's no need for a fat bike). Dont drink from Salt Creek or Onion Creek for this reason. From there, the trail traverses through the Cottonwood Canyon, Beaver Mesa, and all La Sal Loop sections leading up to your final stretch. The Kokopelli Trail is an 136.4 mile multi use recreational trail that goes from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. There are very few reliable water options available along the Kokopelli Trail. Find our Kokopelli Trail route guide here. 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. 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. Non-stop vistas of far away mountains and canyons might lure one into a sort of topographic pomposity. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. It combines a variety of primitive roads with surprisingly technical single track that kept us guessing around each bend. Packing: I learned a lot from my first trip last year and made it work without a seat bag which was so nice to have full use of my dropper post on the descents. A true western adventure with tough climbs and rewarding descents. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. The best time to thru-bike the trail is from March/April to the end of October. In 2017 that changed. Water is a big challenge on the Kokopelli Trail. Grand Junction also has a regional airport and car rental options for caching water. We cached water at a few road crossings, brought bikes with high-volume tires, and generally respected the challenges of the trail more. As soon as you hit the pavement in Moab, youll see Milts Stop N Eat, where you can get a milkshake, fries, and a burger. Would it be foolish to try to ride the Kokopelli Trail on a gravel bike? 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. You might be able to get water from a spigot here, but dont count on it. The summer months can be extremely hot so plan to tackle it during the shoulder months for a more enjoyable trip. To schedule an appointment for your school or for more information, please call Crosswinds Marsh at: (734) 654-1220. 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. The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but you still need strong navigation abilities. I would have gladly traded out for either of those bikes when it the trail started getting a little chunkier. Cant say much for Kokopelli but I just did the White Rim trail (which is quite close by) on my gravel bike. 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. 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. } @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. 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. This is certainly not a trip for bringing your dog or someone just starting out with biking. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be usedas a point of inspirationin conjunction with your own due-diligence. 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). We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. Thanks for your support! 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. 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. Hi, Im Phil. The trail is posted with the flat brown flexible fiberglass posts and marked with blue and white Kokopelli stickers. The trail ends in the Sand Flats section which takes you from Porcupine Rim to Slickrock. I recommend riding the Western Rim Trail, a 6-mile trail parallel to the official Kokopelli route near Fruita. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. You risk getting caught in a winter storm if you go early in spring or late in fall. This is certainly not a trip for. The closest large airport to the Kokopelli Trail is the Salt Lake City International Airport. The other two in the party were on a hardtail and a rigid fatbike. The Kokopelli Trail starts out on some single track affording beautiful views of the Colorado River. 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. Heres a link to the Kokopelli Trail GPX track Ive used every time. NO PERSONAL WATERCRAFT ARE ALLOWED IN CROSSWINDS MARSH. More flag On Ute Land Distance 158 Mi. Over 143 miles, you climb about 14,000 feet/4,144 meters and descend about the same. Timing bikepacking the Kokopelli trail with the weather can be a challenge. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Fruita and Moab are full-service towns with grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes. Doesnt this sound like a better way to end a trip as a descent? Three mountain bik. To learn more Click Here. Some of the singletrack is unrideable, too. Aid stations rough every 8 miles. On the 142-mile Kokopelli's Trail, a group of bikepackers race against dusk on Porcupine Rim, a. *By clicking submit, you're also subscribing to our email list. Continuing 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. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! Look no further than the new 2023 Trek Farley 5, a sure-footed bike designed with strength and comfort in. As the snow melted, those clay-heavy dirt roads became unrideable. Ive made it on the dirt road to Fisher Valley in a Subaru, but a sedan wouldn't make it there. One should consider caching water along the route. Revelate Saltyroll on Oveja Negra handlebar harness, food: tortillas, dried fruit, pb packets, tuna packets, summer sausage. Toward the end of the day I would start feeling like my bones were being rattled, but it was definitely doable. Lack of clean water will be one of your biggest hurdles. Claim this business (734) 326-9801. I'm going to be riding into Moab towards the end of June or early July. The southern end of Yellow Jacket Canyon crosses Highway 128 and passes Dewey Bridge before the most substantial climbing of the Kokopelli starts. I'm on a small bike so not a ton of space in the frame, and I will die before I bike in a backpack, so I was able to put all my water on the frame, clothes and sleep setup on the handlebar, and food in the hip pack. 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. I rode the Kokopelli Trail as my first multi-day bikepacking trip. 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 from 2-6 days depending on how many miles you want to cover each day. The Kokopelli Trail is even marked on these maps. YOUR ULTIMATE BIKEPACKING GUIDE TO THE KOKOPELLI. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. Or toss some spare change inthe PayPal tip jar. 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. There are also ways to filter silty water using alum. Find out what makes bikepacking the Lower Deschutes River Trail unique and why its Oregons best trail for your first overnight mountain biking trip. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. How to Take Care of Your Feet on a backpacking trip, How to take care of your backpacking tent, Backpacking Little lakes Valley to Gem Lakes, Best Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals for 2023, Top 10 Things to Do in Redwood National & State Parks, Climbing Mt Whitney in A Day (Or Two): Hiking the Mt Whitney Trail, Californias Rae Lakes Loop: The Complete Backpacking Guide, How to Make the Most of One Day in Death Valley: A Quick Itinerary, 10 Creative Things to Do in Crescent City, CA. For more recommendations of puffy jackets, see our Best Down Jackets or Best Synthetic Jacket guides. If you are thinking about bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail this guide will give you the information and insight you need for a successful trip to one of the most spectacular bike trails out there. But maybe you can be the fool who rides it and has a great time despite what other people say? UPDATE (November, 2017): Apparently work is still going on and way behind as of 11/18/2017. 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. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! We only want the same thing as youthe best gear at the best price. 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. Kokopelli 100 MTB Individual Same as the 140 but doesnt include the first 40 miles. The Ogre is one of our favorite bikepacking bikes in our Best Bikepacking Bikes guide, MYOG clone of the Swift Industries Zeitgeist, Our tent set up for bike camping on the Kokopelli Trail, MSR Pocket Rocket 2 stove, which is the overall winner in our Best Backpacking Stoves guide, Toaks 750 mL pot, which is the overall winner in our Best Backpacking Cookpot guide. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. The riding is primarily non-technical dirt roads and Jeep double track, but it is about 15% singletrack. 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. 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 Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moabs Slickrock area. We didnt cache any water, either. Topeak multitool with tubeless repair kit, Kokopelli Trail info from the Bureau of Land Management. 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. Over the next 50 miles, youll do a lot of climbing, but the next ten miles will be the steepest. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road closures. Stepping away from the 9-5 lifestyle, discover the benefits of scaring yourself, and connect with nature to find meaning in everyday life. Bikepacking Alliance is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Are you looking for a reliable and efficient fat bike to conquer muddy and snowy terrain? Moraine Full Meal Deal 12.5 mi 20.1 km . We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. Possibly one of the most well-known bikepacking routes in the USA (if not North America), the Kokopelli Trail is one of the best ways to explore the beautiful Colorado and Utah desert on your own two If youre like me and have a passion for riding your bike, then read on. From the Loma exit (exit 15) you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. 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. That was my fools attitude in spite of pedaling and adventuring in that corner of Utah for decades. We used collapsible water jugs like these so we can strap them to our bikes and easily carry them out, too. As the leading creator and publisher of bikepacking routes, BIKEPACKING.com endeavors to maintain, improve, and advocate for our growing network of bikepacking routes all over the world. This variation would add approximately 14 miles to your trip. Riding the trail on a fat bike, I hardly noticed the extensive sections of sandy desert Jeep roads. I am a bikepacking addict who also happens to be an above knee amputee. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission without costing you an extra cent. The Kokopelli is world-class bikepacking. At the top, youll get great views of Moab and the surrounding landscape. I used a Cedar Ridge Outdoors Leconte 20* quilt. It would also add another 1000 jolts to your wrists and spine, as this trail is very bumpy. This trailhead is where the Kokopelli Trail starts and is even a location on Google maps now. At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. BIKEPACKING.com LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders cycling or following this route. The Kokopelli Trail is an 136.4 milemulti use recreational trail that goes from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. There are a few bailout options along the way. There are some steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. RECOMMENDED ROUTE Difficult. Enlightened Equipment Torrid puffy jacket. The houdini is a tiny little windbreaker with DWR that I felt would be enough for the small chance of rain in my forecast and chillier mornings riding. I create technical resources, reviews, inspirational videos, how-to guides and more. While riding, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow the #leavenotrace guidelines. With more than 61 trails covering 486 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. With our tough and long-lasting Kokopelli bikepacking packrafts, you can explore gravel roads and winding rivers on your next bikepacking expedition in the wilderness. For other backpacking tents we recommend, see our Best Backpacking Tents guide. The Kokopelli Trail is not for beginner cyclists. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. Bikers most commonly ride the Kokopelli Trail southbound, starting at the Loma Trailhead and finishing in Moab. Kokopelli 140 MTB Individual 144 miles, full course, alone! More here. 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. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moab's Slickrock area. In total you will ride for 142 miles and there are a few bailout options along the way should you need to. Find an extra-long weekend and do this ride. Joe Cruz (Pedaling in Place), Kokopelli taught me the length of a desert mile. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. From the trailhead at Loma, after a quick gravel traverse, the route starts with 10+ miles of mesa singletrack overlooking the Colorado River. The other person in our group did not bring a storm-worthy shelter. Read these next or checkout the main resource page. Moab Motorsports does ask that you let them know youre leaving your car with them ahead of time. The Kokopelli Trail is a popular ride between the Western Slope of Colorado and Moab in Utah. 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. Kokopelli Trail; Best of Moab Mnt. If you can ride intermediate-level mountain bike terrain, the Kokopelli Trail will be a rewarding experience.