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! 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. More technical singletrack sections are on the descent into Moab and scattered throughout the route. Timing bikepacking the Kokopelli trail with the weather can be a challenge. You need to be logged in to use these features. More here. The Kokopelli Trail is a 143-mile desert bikepacking route that connects Fruita, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. A mix of dirt roads, desert Jeep tracks, and singletrack trails, Good fitness levels and intermediate mountain biking technical abilities required, The route is almost entirely on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land with lots of great camping on public land, Caching water is almost a requirement to bikepack the Kokopelli Trail self-supported, The Kokopelli trail connects singletrack, Jeep roads, and dirt roads following the Colorado River. If youre not from the area and want to see the Rocky Mountains you can fly into Denver International Airport (DIA), and rent a car. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moabs world famous Slickrock area. The desert environment can be unforgiving. Most bikers ride the Kokopelli Trail soutbound. Starts at the Westwater Airstrip. Lael Wilcox, Kaitlyn Boyle, and Kurt Refsnider set off together early Friday morning on the Kokopelli Trail for a self-supported time trial between Loma, Colorado and Moab, Utah. Lack of clean water will be one of your biggest hurdles. This section is beautiful though; theres nothing like moving in and out of desert and mountain terrain and skirting along the Estrada Bluffs. 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. 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. You risk getting caught in a winter storm if you go early in spring or late in fall. Copyright 2023 Treeline Review LLC. Top Rated Routes. If you can ride intermediate-level mountain bike terrain, the Kokopelli Trail will be a rewarding experience. Three mountain bik. Between the river and the top of ride at 8200ft I quickly realized there were not as many water sources as I had thought there would be, and this was the only time I got a little worried the morning of day 3 with 2000ft of climbing ahead of me and only 2L on me. 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. As mentioned above it does allow one to sight see along the way. The Kokopelli Trail is even marked on these maps. You might also be able to get water from a spigot at Westwater Ranger Station, but this source is not always operational. Kokopelli 140 MTB Two-day Stage Event (Individual) The 144 miles spilt into two days of racing, instead of one. 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. They did say you can leave your car at Moab Motorsports located at25 E Center St, Moab, UT 84532. Take the Loma exit (exit 15), then travel west on gravel frontage road south of the interstate. On my most recent Kokopelli bikepacking trip, my group drove from Denver in two vehicles. Kokopelli 140 MTB Relay A choice your own adventure. Happy planning! 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. Our Best Mountain Bike Lights guide also covers other mountain bike-specific lights. Cant say much for Kokopelli but I just did the White Rim trail (which is quite close by) on my gravel bike. A few miles after Rabbit Valley it is highly recommended to take the scenic off-route detour on the Western Rim trail. Lastly, you could use two cars but this option means a lot of driving and extra time. You may try and see if one would drop you back off in Fruita. There are unmarked turns, and its not always easy to see the brown carsonite trail markers at junctions. Its a condensed version of my bigger bikepacking guides, which include the Arizona Trail, Tour Divide and Colorado Trail. On the DiscoverMoab.com website there is a list of companies offering shuttle service to Grand Junction. You need to be logged in to use these features. Website. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. Youll know youve completed the Kokopelli Trail when you hit the pavement; then, its time to celebrate. Learn more. } The OR jacket I purchased because it was a screaming deal mostly and comparable for size/weight of other ultra-light ultra-packable down jackets I saw. In depth look at what I would bring for gear and why, if I rode the Tour Divide, CTR, and AZTR again. 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). I found a trickle of cool, clear water at hideout spring (find the cottonwoods!!) But it also took some planning so it went off without a hitch. These bikepacking routes in and loads of others can be found at bikepacking.com. seeing another biker's footprint along the route where I had to hike-a-bike, going solo this felt like a small bit of camaraderie on the trail and always made me smile! The following page is broken down into sections highlighting The Project's main categories. This works only if you dont have any issues and show up on time. Over the next 50 miles, youll do a lot of climbing, but the next ten miles will be the steepest. It really is ATV road the entire way between fruita and moab, some sections were very desolate with no trees where I would not have wanted to camp but found great spots both nights that were off the road a bit and felt remote enough for a nice backcountry site. Kokopelli 140 MTB Two-day Stage Event (Individual), https://oneofsevenproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/rsz_ce61a8f9-0b12-4e41-b403-e902df8f4593.jpg, http://oneofsevenproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1of7-logo-lockup-grey-1132x212-300x56.png, https://oneofsevenproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/rsz_untitled_design_87.jpg, https://oneofsevenproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AXOK3707.jpg, Gear Review - If I Rode the Kokopelli Trail Again, https://oneofsevenproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/rsz_untitled_design_81.jpg, https://oneofsevenproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-19.jpg, Gear Review - If I Rode the Arizona Trail Race Again, https://oneofsevenproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-9.jpg, Gear Review - If I Rode The Tour Divide Again. Many of the BLM campgrounds lining the trail do not have water, or if they do its not potable. Part of the magnificent 142-mile Kokopelli Trail. The White Rim Trail is one of the most iconic long-distance mountain bikepacking rides in the West. 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). 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. This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. 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. A section of the trail, the Kokopelli Singletrack, begins just outside the . #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { What works for me is my Outdoor Research ultralight hoody (don't think they make it anymore, it's half-zip pullover), and a patagonia houdini windbreaker with full zip. I used a Thermarest Neoair Xlite for this trail. Stepping away from the 9-5 lifestyle, discover the benefits of scaring yourself, and connect with nature to find meaning in everyday life. I hope you have fun out there in a few weeks! This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. I recommend using an Ursack as well, just in case. Xmas Valley Epic 17.5 mi 28.2 km 2,685' Up 818.24 m Up 2,704' Down 824.08 m Down. But maybe you can be the fool who rides it and has a great time despite what other people say? I'm not a road rider, never will be, thumbed it at every truck that passed but no one picked me up, probably looked too dirty and smelly by this point! NO PERSONAL WATERCRAFT ARE ALLOWED IN CROSSWINDS MARSH. 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. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. 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. 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. The Kokopelli Trail is part of the larger Grand Loop. 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 several hike-a-bike sections of this trail. Heres a link to the Kokopelli Trail GPX track Ive used every time. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. We cover other lighting options in our Best Headlamps guide. 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. 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. 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. Checkout the Colorado Trail Transportation Guide for train options if you want to fly into Denver and take the train to Grand Junction. Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat Arizona Trail Race. Fisher Creek was flowing at mile 107.4 as well. 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. Checkout all our available products in our store,and thanks for the support! width:300px; The road is scheduled to open on weekends after May 27th. More flag On Ute Land Distance 158 Mi. Ive even seen some water flowing in the fall around here. The Koko box is checked and we've got our sights on searching for what is next. 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 was named in honor of its mythic muse, Kokopelli. There are also ways to filter silty water using alum. 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. Returning on 3-inch tires, I had a much more difficult time on those sandy sections. The race includes the following categories: Kokopelli 100 Ultra Marathon Individual 104 miles with 11k of climbing, Kokopelli 100 Ultra Marathon Relay same course as the individual but with 2 to 4 people. Its so good youll want to do it again once youve done it. I love having a one-bike-fits-all quiver. Click here for more info. } Repair Shops & Related Services NEC. , 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 ride is not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with a bit more experience. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Water can be found at miles 48, 70, 83, and 126. 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. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper { UPDATE (November, 2017): Apparently work is still going on and way behind as of 11/18/2017. If youre like me and have a passion for riding your bike, then read on. I recommend caching water at Rabbit Valley trailhead, near Dewey Bridge by the road along Highway 128, and Fisher Valley. I have attempted the Kokpelli 3 times and completed it twice. Water is a big challenge on the Kokopelli Trail. Technical sections will challenge your mountain biking skills. This is the way to enter Moab! Joel Caldwell (joelcaldwell.com) 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. I think with as much sand and slickrock that I encountered my answer to you in short would be, yes, foolish to try this on a gravel bike, coming from a mountainbiker who has no idea what a gravel bike is capable of. Some of the singletrack is unrideable, too. The Kokopelli Trail is an 136.4 mile multi use recreational trail that goes from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT. Revelate Saltyroll on Oveja Negra handlebar harness, food: tortillas, dried fruit, pb packets, tuna packets, summer sausage. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. A huge to congrats to Lael, Kaitlyn, and Kurt for getting out there and making it happen. 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 for 2-6 days depending on how many miles you want to cover each day. Kokopelli Trail (Bikepacking Route + Porcupine Rim) location Utah, USA We recognize Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land. There are not too many reliable water sources on this trail so its important to plan accordingly. Over 143 miles, you climb about 14,000 feet/4,144 meters and descend about the same. It follows the Colorado River, and youll regularly get views of the river as it winds through the landscape below. 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. } 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 Starts at the Westwater Airstrip. The Kokopelli Trail starts out on some single track affording beautiful views of the Colorado River. This bucket-list bikepacking trip is an adventure of the soul and a test of your commitment. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. The Kokopelli Trail ends in the Slickrock area on the east end of Moab, UT. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. 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. width:100%; 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. } The 142-mile multi-use trail stretches from Loma, Colorado all the way to Moab, UT. There are some pretty steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. Traveling through remote canyon country, White Rim Road makes a 100-mile loop through the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. Get your FREE backpacking checklist PDF here! 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. You can camp almost everywhere along the route, too. Sign up with your email address to be the first to know when we release new gear reviews! Location: The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles from Grand Junction. You'll receive an opt-in email before being added. The desert views youll experience along the route are to notch. New for 2023 Cleaned up the sheets and adjusted the colors for better viewing. That first ride took him 23 hours, and soon after, he rode the trail in the opposite direction in just 17 hours. 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. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The Kokopelli symbol guides travelers along a trail of ~ 140 miles between Fruita (Loma actually) and Moab. There are many steep, exposed climbs throughout the route. Mile 10.6 Salt Creek NOT suitable for drinking, Mile 48 Westwater Ranger Station Water has been reported to have been shut off (get water from Colorado River), Mile 59.9 Colorado River (strain and filter), Mile 73.6 Colorado River (stain and filter). rocky sections making it particularly challenging. Or toss some spare change inthe PayPal tip jar. Dont drink from Salt Creek or Onion Creek for this reason. The other person in our group did not bring a storm-worthy shelter. 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 old railroad follows beautiful waterways, weaving around Allegheny mountains and hills. This variation would add approximately 14 miles to your trip. We didnt cache any water, either. Follow Leave No Trace Ethics, including camping and pooping far from water. See a problem? 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. The other two in the party were on a hardtail and a rigid fatbike. 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. I have experienced extremely high winds and snowstorms in the high desert regions of Colorado and Utah, and this tent always holds up well. An epic view point along the Kokopelli Trail. Moab Motorsports does ask that you let them know youre leaving your car with them ahead of time. From there, the trail traverses through the Cottonwood Canyon, Beaver Mesa, and all La Sal Loop sections leading up to your final stretch. Non-stop vistas of far away mountains and canyons might lure one into a sort of topographic pomposity. Moab Brewery is the only brewery in the town of Moab. The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but you still need strong navigation abilities. One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. This incredibly scenic trail takes you along the Colorado Plateau and through colorful stretches of Utah as well as in and out of valleys. The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication.

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