Sunday, June 5, 2011

Moab Brand Trails

Tired of driving all over Moab to mountain bike? You'll find one easy place to park and enjoy all the single/double track you want. There's even access to a paved parkway trail that will take you from highway 313 to Moab. Each trail is well marked with a map showing where you are on the trail.
    PARKING LOT AT BAR M CHUCKWAGON - North of Moab, but a few miles south of the Canyonlands 313, on US 191.
    PARKING FEE: $5, make sure you have bills. After you pay and use the restroom, drive down the gravel road, turn left, and park in the lower lot.
    RESTROOM: port-a-potty in upper parking lot.

BAR M LOOP
7.9 miles! The lower section is a gravel road, but in the backcountry is a Jeep road that reminds you of the White Rim trail. This is the best trail for Newbies. From the lower parking lot is a short cut that takes you up the hill to the back. If you want to do the entire loop, you need to pedal back the gravel road, turn left and go south. Once you reach the paved parkway, turn left and follow the Jeep road.



EASY/LAZY LOOP
3 mile loop! Moderate technical singletrack. Ride counterclockwise. "Easy" is the first half and has some technical rocky areas you might have to walk over. As you loop back on the "Lazy," you find some smooth, fast single track sections. You should be able to bike this loop under 1 hour.



CIRCLE O:
Longest 3 miles you'll ever go! Intermediate technical ~ follow the painted line on Entrada Sandstone. Either way you start, you'll have to climb uphill on the other end. You'll swear to either never ride slickrock again or be hopelessly addicted to it.

    There are more trails at MOAB BRAND TRAILS


BAR M CHUCKWAGON.com 
 Live Western show and cowboy supper!

Friday, June 3, 2011

INTREPID TRAIL SYSTEM

Dead Horse Point State Park





Enjoy scenic views overlooking the Colorado River 




INTREPID LOOP ~ 1.1 mile hiking trail for families.

GREAT PYRAMID LOOP ~ 4.2 mile hike or a short mountain biking loop.

BIG CHIEF LOOP 
9 mile trail great for mountain biking or a long hike. Ride counterclockwise to Big Chief Overlook. Stop at the Colorado River Overlook and the Great Pyramid Overlook on the way.

    BIKE TIME: 1 1/2 hours technical ride to Big Chief and 1/2 hour easy ride down a hill to the visitor center.
    RATINGS: Mountain biking Moderate Technical.
    GEAR: Helmet, first aid, you're in a desert bring plenty of water, jacket, energy snacks, and flat tire repair etc.

CORONA ARCH



Want to have fun in the desert? You'll enjoy the hike climbing to Corona Arch 





Enjoy climbing up 21 steps carved out of sandstone. Have fun climbing up a metal ladder and walking on slickrock. And there's a safety wire, railing to hold onto.
    RATINGS: Newbies, with a few challenges.  Kids need to be supervised because of steep exposure.              
    MILEAGE: 1 1/2 miles to the arch.                  ELEVATION GAIN: 440'
    HIKE TIME: 1 1/2 hours total.
    DIRECTIONS: Near Arches National Park, take SR 279, 10 miles west. On the east side of the road, near the Gold Bar Campground you'll find the trailhead.

GRAND VIEW POINT OVERLOOK













CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK  
Island in the Sky

DESCRIPTION: Inspiring views of Canyonlands, Island in the Sky. You can see White Crack, the Colorado, the Needles and the Maze below. The trail has sandstone stairs.MILEAGE: 1 mile each way
HIKE TIME: 1 hour total
RATINGS: Newbies
KIDS may enjoy this trail if they are supervised.
Steep exposure

CANYON RIMS RECREATION AREA

NEEDLES OVERLOOK
Enjoy outstanding views overlooking Canyonlands Needles. The drive is 22 miles on pavement, from US 191. Picnic area, benches, vault restroom, no water, limited parking and a short hiking trail.



ANTECLINE OVERLOOK
Another great overlook of Canyonlands. Drive 17 miles on an improved gravel road. This is a great place to escape all the crowds. Vault restroom, lots of parking, and a short hiking trail.


BLM CAMPGROUNDS: Windwhistle & Hatchpoint, vault restrooms and water.

DIRECTIONS to CANYON RIMS AREA: South of Moab on US 191, look for Needles Overlook road, near mile marker 93.