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. During my thru-bike I left my car at the Loma trailhead parking lot for Marys Loop Trails. Finished this classic route in 3 full days, 2 nights out on the trail, 10-12 hours riding per day. That was my fools attitude in spite of pedaling and adventuring in that corner of Utah for decades. , 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. Know your body and how much water you require and plan carefully. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! Go out with a spirit of excitement and return with a sense of accomplishment. The first 15 miles of the Kokopelli are technical singletrack. 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. I was thinking about this quite a bit while riding as I saw this question posed a few times elsewhere - I am not a gravel rider so my opinion on whether you can or cannot do it may not be the most educated, but there were long stretches of sand and slickrock and chunky jeep roads that I don't think would be too much fun on a gravel bike. The allure of the bigger Grand Loop caught Dye's intrigue. 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). #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget { I think 3 riders have done it under 10.5 hours in the past few weeks. 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. Follow Leave No Trace Ethics, including camping and pooping far from water. The Kokopelli Trail starts out on some single track affording beautiful views of the Colorado River. The final climb will be on a paved road, but by this point, youll probably be ready for easier riding. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. NO PERSONAL WATERCRAFT ARE ALLOWED IN CROSSWINDS MARSH. 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. 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. Kokopelli Racing LLC put on a mountain bike and running ultra marathon race on the classic Kokopelli Trail. Riding the trail on a fat bike, I hardly noticed the extensive sections of sandy desert Jeep roads. 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 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. Aid stations rough every 8 miles. It follows the Colorado River, and youll regularly get views of the river as it winds through the landscape below. The following page is broken down into sections highlighting The Project's main categories. Ive done this using collapsible water jugs, but it takes time and extra equipment. Water: I stashed in Rabbit Valley and filtered from the Colorado (tasted only sliiightly of mud) which really was fine and clear after wrapping a bandanna around the intake. We then met in Moab, loaded into one vehicle, and drove back to the Loma Trailhead. Its best to ride the Kokopelli Trail in the Spring and Fall. Did you happen to see any of the folks attempting to set the FKT for it out there? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The trail was named in honor of its mythic muse, Kokopelli. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { Thanks, me too!! The Kokopelli Trail is part of the larger Grand Loop. 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. 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. 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. The Rando is a favorite in our Touring Bike Gear List. You can rent a full bikepacking setup from Bike Fiend in Moab. A section of the trail, the Kokopelli Singletrack, begins just outside the . I love the Bar M Trails just outside town for their flowy singletrack trail goodness. For other backpacking tents we recommend, see our Best Backpacking Tents guide. I did it last fall on a rigid MTB with 29x2.3 tires. The best time to thru-bike the trail is from March/April to the end of October. Transportation Services. All rights reserved. If youre like me and have a passion for riding your bike, then read on. Planned for 3 nights but the first half went quicker than I expected! You might also be able to get water from a spigot at Westwater Ranger Station, but this source is not always operational. 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 Kokopelli Trail ends in Moabs Slickrock. Thanks for your support! At times the Kokopelli Trail can serve up demanding single track and steep climbs, makingit a trail not to be underestimated. The Kokopelli Trail is divided into nine sections, each with its own unique terrain and scenery. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. 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. We create reader-supported, objective, independently-selected gear reviews. 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. One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. For more recommendations, see our Best Mountain Bike Helmet guide. You can get to Rabbit Valley and Dewey Bridge with a 2-wheel drive vehicle. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moabs Slickrock area. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. Youll have to carry everything you need for the entirety of the trail. Kokopelli 140 MTB Relay A choice your own adventure. @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { You risk getting caught in a winter storm if you go early in spring or late in fall. Despite reports you can leave a car at the Moab Information Center, you CAN NOT. 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. Cant say much for Kokopelli but I just did the White Rim trail (which is quite close by) on my gravel bike. You can find the Kokopelli Trail on Ride With GPS. 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. Auto Repair. There are some pretty steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. CNY is closest airport but also the most expensive and with the most limited options. You need to be logged in to use these features. In 2017 that changed. The lack of suspension limited my speed on rough downhill, meant a good deal of discomfort on washboard and rocky sections, and my gravel bikes drop bars just weren't very forgiving on my shoulders as it was a bit of an aggressive riding position. Some of the singletrack is unrideable, too. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective, to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. Route notes: the giant tarmac descent from fischer overlook and giant tarmac climb up to the porcupine rim trail suuuucked. The Kokopelli Trail is a 143-mile desert bikepacking route that connects Fruita, Colorado, in western Colorado and Moab, Utah. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. 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. The route is popular as a 2- to 3-night bikepacking trip, a 3- to 4-day vehicle-supported trip, and as a . At the top, youll get great views of Moab and the surrounding landscape. After a day of waiting for the roads to dry, we bailed to the interstate, which was luckily still nearby. The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but a mountain biker still needs strong navigation abilities. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper { So, long story short yes I bet you could absolutely do it, but no I probably wouldn't recommend it. Kristina Ritchie (@get_terrestrial) Instagram photos and videos, .fca_eoi_form{ margin: auto; } .fca_eoi_form p { width: auto; } #fca_eoi_form_1856 input{ max-width: 9999px; }#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper {display: none !important;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_description_copy_wrapper {display: none !important;}.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-borderless.tooltipster-optin-cat .tooltipster-box .tooltipster-content { color: #fff }.tooltipster-optin-cat.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-top .tooltipster-arrow-border { border-top-color: #d63031 !important }.tooltipster-optin-cat.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-bottom .tooltipster-arrow-border { border-bottom-color: #d63031 !important }.tooltipster-sidetip.tooltipster-borderless.tooltipster-optin-cat .tooltipster-box { background-color: #d63031 !important }.fca_eoi_layout_inputs_wrapper { background-color: unset !important }#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element::-webkit-input-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element::-moz-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element:-ms-input-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_form_input_element:-moz-placeholder {opacity:0.6;color:#595252;}#fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper:hover, #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper input:hover {background-color:#b96701 !important;} Its June. Where do you start? } Moraine Full Meal Deal 12.5 mi 20.1 km . Most bikers ride the Kokopelli Trail soutbound. Over 143 miles, you climb about 14,000 feet/4,144 meters and descend about the same. I love having a one-bike-fits-all quiver. The route is an epic medley of singletrack, doubletrack, sand and tarmac technical climbs, rugged descents, and graded terrain. The trail runs through Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County in Utah. See REIs Food Storage story or REIs Bear Canister story for more information on Bears and food storage. This is the way to enter Moab! Joel Caldwell (joelcaldwell.com) (254 KM) Days 3-5 % Unpaved 85% % Singletrack 25% % Rideable (time) 99% Total Ascent 15,189' (4,630 M) High Point 8,580' (2,615 M) Difficulty (1-10) 6.5? In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. 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. 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. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget { The full list includes: DIA is the largest of the options but is also the furthest away. Moab Brewery is the only brewery in the town of Moab. We recognize Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land. A true western adventure with tough climbs and rewarding descents. The other two in the party were on a hardtail and a rigid fatbike. We look forward to sharing the natural splendor of Crosswinds through our interpretive programming, activities and future exhibits. Moab Express provides shuttle service from Moab to the start of the Kokopelli Trail at Loma Trailhead. I would probably avoid doing it on anything skinnier than 2" tires, But some of you gravel grinders are pretty hard core so IDK. The Kokopelli Trail is a vintage route ridden and raced long before doing stuff like this was popular. Sand, dirt, gravel, slick rock, creek crossings, you name it. 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. I recommend riding the Western Rim Trail, a 6-mile trail parallel to the official Kokopelli route near Fruita. The legendary Kokopelli Trail, 140 miles of desert and mountain riding between Moab and Fruita. The Loma Trailhead is west of Fruita, Colorado, along Interstate I-70. Another option is to check Craigslists ride share page for various cities where you think someone might be travel to or from Moab. Youll know youve completed the Kokopelli Trail when you hit the pavement; then, its time to celebrate. YOUR ULTIMATE BIKEPACKING GUIDE TO THE KOKOPELLI. Food resupply on the Kokopelli doesnt exist. The Kokopelli Trail starts out on some single track affording beautiful views of the Colorado River. From the Loma exit (exit 15) off of I70 you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. Be sure to stop at Milts as you enter town for a milkshake. We cover other lighting options in our Best Headlamps guide. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. The following year I returned to the Kokopelli Trail more prepared. Dont drink from Salt Creek or Onion Creek for this reason. 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 Terms of Use: As with each bikepacking route guide published on BIKEPACKING.com, should you choose to cycle this route, do so at your own risk. 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! Celebrate your thru-hiking class with the Class of ___ T-shirt! 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. The trail is signposted with blue and white logo stickers as well as brown arrow signs along the way. For some time now the Kokopelli was without an official race on the calendar. The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. Ive made it on the dirt road to Fisher Valley in a Subaru, but a sedan wouldn't make it there. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. The 142-mile multi-use trail stretches from Loma, Colorado all the way to Moab, UT. Our first time bikepacking the Kokopelli trail was a humbling failure, but also an appreciative win.This short bikepacking documentary shows the metaphorical. Then youll be in Fisher Valley, where Ive always cached water by the road. 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. Specialized Tactic bike helmet. If you were to start in Moab and ride north, you would begin with a nearly 20-mile, 4,000-foot climb. Press J to jump to the feed. There are a few bailout options along the way. Our inflatable packrafts are lightweight, durable, and very easy to transport. With that said, you can find food at either end. If youve learned a few things or have been entertained, consider becoming a Patreon member. } Youll need to cache water on the Kokopelli. 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. } The road is scheduled to open on weekends after May 27th. 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. Find our Kokopelli Trail route guide here. 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. Youll cross highway 128 and then ride through Yellow Jacket Canyon, a highlight of the Kokopelli. Bikepack it, chase the FKT, ride it with vehicle support - experience it however you like. } We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. In terms of ride-a-bility the Kokopelli offers plenty of it and very little HAB. It is possible to leave a vehicle at the Loma trailhead, but may be a little more risky. Looking to start bikepacking? Kurts finish time was 10 hours and 56 minutes. 150 miles. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. 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. Enlightened Equipment Torrid puffy jacket. Get your FREE backpacking checklist PDF here! This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. We were caught in a late March snowstorm and spent the day in a cave, watching the snow pile up. The ride is not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with a bit more experience. Find details on their records alongside a few photos taken by Rugile Kaladyte here, Photos by Rugile Kaladyte (@rugilekaladyte). Also only split up in 2-4 segments. 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. There was some water new Onion Creek Hideout CG during my attempt the end of April 2016. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. We only want the same thing as youthe best gear at the best price. If you enter this way, and depending on the time of day you may have to pay a $2 entrance fee, or 5$ vehicle fee. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be usedas a point of inspirationin conjunction with your own due-diligence. 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. But it also took some planning so it went off without a hitch. New for 2023 Cleaned up the sheets and adjusted the colors for better viewing. Bikepacking is exciting and rewarding form of off-pavement, adventure bike touring. There are not too many reliable water sources on this trail so its important to plan accordingly. 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 recommend caching water at Rabbit Valley trailhead, near Dewey Bridge by the road along Highway 128, and Fisher Valley. Classics have a way of seeming passalmost a clichand you might therefore be tempted to skip it. You can access the Colorado River from here, though. The southern end of Yellow Jacket Canyon crosses Highway 128 and passes Dewey Bridge before the most substantial climbing of the Kokopelli starts. } There is great camping in this area, too. You can camp almost everywhere along the route, too. 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. The Kokopelli Trail begins with ~15 miles of singletrack above the Colorado River before a few dozen miles of 44 tracks, gravel roads, and two-tracks through badlands and over ledgey mesas before crossing the Colorado River at Dewey Bridge. 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. 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. From the trailhead at Loma, after a quick gravel traverse, the route starts with 10+ miles of mesa singletrack overlooking the Colorado River. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. width:100%; The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles west of Grand Junction. More here. The weather can be unpredictable, regularly swinging from blazingly hot to frost-and-ice-all-over-your-tent cold. Our Best Mountain Bike Lights guide also covers other mountain bike-specific lights. The Kokopelli Trail is a good first test. Or toss some spare change inthe PayPal tip jar. Use the Brave browser for an entirely ad free web experience. Claim this business (734) 326-9801. More here. From Westwater, youll ride more desert Jeep roads through a vast desert expanse with red rock formations in the distance.

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