Its so good youll want to do it again once youve done it. Water at BLM ranger station at mile 48 is not fit to drink, filter from river. The experience was humbling and quite challenging. This only adds about 4 miles extra overall to your trip, but youll ride slick rock along the edge of a canyon rim overlooking the Colorado River instead of the less scenic route not along a cliff. There are very few reliable water options available along the Kokopelli Trail. In terms of ride-a-bility the Kokopelli offers plenty of it and very little HAB. and filtered from there before the big climbs. Grand Junction also has a regional airport and car rental options for caching water. The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles west of Grand Junction. You carry all your gear on the bike, from food/water . 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. 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. Riding the trail on a fat bike, I hardly noticed the extensive sections of sandy desert Jeep roads. This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. } Then youll be in Fisher Valley, where Ive always cached water by the road. For other backpacking tents we recommend, see our Best Backpacking Tents guide. UPDATE (November, 2017): Apparently work is still going on and way behind as of 11/18/2017. A section of the trail, the Kokopelli Singletrack, begins just outside the . 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. You and your friends, split the course into 2 to 6 segments. Once you arrive in Moab, there are countless mountain bike trails to explore. 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. There are unmarked turns, and its not always easy to see the brown carsonite trail markers at junctions. Aid stations rough every 8 miles. I personally cached water at Rabbit Valley, Colorado River/Dewey Bridge and at the bathrooms at the Fisher Valley Overlook. Hot on the heels of Lachlan Mortons record that was just set in May of this year, Kurt set a new mens fastest known time as well, knocking 19 minutes off of Lachlans already impressive ride. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. Another option is to check Craigslists ride share page for various cities where you think someone might be travel to or from Moab. Bikepacking has taken the mountain bike world by storm, with the upper echelon of bikepackers continuing to shatter time barriers and pioneer incredible . Cant say much for Kokopelli but I just did the White Rim trail (which is quite close by) on my gravel bike. After a day of waiting for the roads to dry, we bailed to the interstate, which was luckily still nearby. (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? The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. If you can ride intermediate-level mountain bike terrain, the Kokopelli Trail will be a rewarding experience. The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles from Grand Junction. We only want the same thing as youthe best gear at the best price. After the first 20 miles of singletrack, youll ride about 30 miles of dirt roads through Rabbit Valley, Castle Rocks, and Coal Draw. 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;} Bikepacking is generally in the backcountry, but you can backpack on local trails. 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. The Kokopelli has very few water sources along the route. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. Fully packed bikepacking set up for the Kokopelli Trail. The last time I was there, I was told that the pipes were contaminated with E. Coli. Website Take me there. } 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. The trail presses on through Fish Ford and the ride becomes more arduous as you climb away from the Colorado River. The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but a mountain biker still needs strong navigation abilities. 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. You dont need any permits to bikepack the Kokopelli Trail. Read these next or checkout the main resource page. But theyre even farther than you think. From the Loma exit (exit 15) off of I70 you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. I'm going to be riding into Moab towards the end of June or early July. Dirt roads, paved roads, and singletrack with some technical areas. This is the way to enter Moab! Joel Caldwell (joelcaldwell.com) width:300px; 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! This Kokopelli Trail Guidebook from Bikerpelli is also helpful for planning your trip. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. An epic view point along the Kokopelli Trail. The true scale of this landscape is only appreciated after much concentrated, technical riding on so called dirt roads, long descents and climbs out of the smallest of canyons, and by peering off the edge of the rim into an endless void of night. Skyler Des Roches (OffRoute.ca). By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 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. Indian Trails. Kaitlyns finish time was 13 hours and 7 minutes, the new womens FKT. There is great camping in this area, too. 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 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. We cover other lighting options in our Best Headlamps guide. Transportation Services. Revelate Saltyroll on Oveja Negra handlebar harness, food: tortillas, dried fruit, pb packets, tuna packets, summer sausage. The road is scheduled to open on weekends after May 27th. } The closes airports to fly into would beMoab (CNY) itself, but the cost would be extremely high. Website. Cheers! Thanks, me too!! These are primitive campsites so dont expect much as far as amenities go.Salt Creek OverlookCastle RockCold SpringPorcupine RimKnowles CanyonBitter CreekMesa CreekCowskin Campground near Cotton CanyonHideout CanyonRock CastleBull DrawNorth Beaver Mesa CampgroundDewey BridgeRabbit Valley. You can find the Kokopelli Trail on Ride With GPS. There is a reliable stream in Castle Valley, just before the road climbs into the La Sals. These are primitive campsites so dont expect much as far as amenities go. Camping along the Kokopelli is easy to find. Repair Shops & Related Services NEC. This requires a 9 mile pavement ride to the Kokepellis Trailhead, but offers a safe parking solution. *By clicking submit, you're also subscribing to our email list. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. You could plan to finish on a day a friend was driving back from Moab. Fingerless bike gloves. The 142-mile multi-use trail stretches from Loma, Colorado all the way to Moab, UT. Stretching along public lands, Kokopelli's Trail is an epic journey on the Colorado Plateau. Auto Repair. More technical singletrack sections are on the descent into Moab and scattered throughout the route. width:100%; This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. Moraine Full Meal Deal 12.5 mi 20.1 km . Planned for 3 nights but the first half went quicker than I expected! There is some water along the route, but not enough to forego caching water unless you can carry enough water for 2 days. You might be able to get water from a spigot here, but dont count on it. From the Loma exit (exit 15) you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. } See a problem? Kokopelli 100 MTB Relay Same as the 140 but doesnt include the first 40 miles. If youre like me and have a passion for riding your bike, then read on. width:100%; There are no resupply options along the route. At the top, youll get great views of Moab and the surrounding landscape. I used a Cedar Ridge Outdoors Leconte 20* quilt. Unfortunately, there is no way around it and riders will need to exit out Castle Valley (mile 128) to get to Moab. The . Kokopelli Racing LLC put on a mountain bike and running ultra marathon race on the classic Kokopelli Trail. 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. The Kokopelli Trail (AKA Kokopelli's Trail) is a classic bikepacking route connecting the two mountain biking nerve centers of Fruita and Moab (1/3 of the total Grand Loop). Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The desert environment can be unforgiving. You'll receive an opt-in email before being added. 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. At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. Experience a multitude of terrains and landscapes on a trail that links two of the most coveted mountain biking areas in the country. Although the route can be ridden in either direction, but most prefer a southwest flow from Fruita to Moab which enables a legendary finale down Porcupine Rim. } The Kokopelli Trail ends in Moabs Slickrock. The Rando is a favorite in our Touring Bike Gear List. One should consider caching water along the route. All rights reserved. Moab Express provides shuttle service from Moab to the start of the Kokopelli Trail at Loma Trailhead. Its best to ride the Kokopelli Trail in the Spring and Fall. } Kokopelli Trail (Bikepacking Route + Porcupine Rim) location Utah, USA We recognize Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land. I'm just curious what the best is for bikepacking. Ive made it on the dirt road to Fisher Valley in a Subaru, but a sedan wouldn't make it there. Over the Edge bike shop suggests people park behind Suds Brothers Brewery at 127 E Aspen Ave, Fruita, CO 81521. Lastly, you could use two cars but this option means a lot of driving and extra time. The riding is primarily non-technical dirt roads and Jeep double track, but it is about 15% singletrack. There is one option for airlines and two car rental: GJT is the closest airport that has a reasonable cost and minimal logistics . 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. One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. Route notes: the giant tarmac descent from fischer overlook and giant tarmac climb up to the porcupine rim trail suuuucked. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! There are not too many reliable water sources on this trail so its important to plan accordingly. Looking to start bikepacking? Help could behours or days away! Most of your riding will be on dirt and paved roads, with some singletrack thrown in for good measure.