It will take about half a day to cache water and drive back to either end of the Kokopelli. There are some steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. So, long story short yes I bet you could absolutely do it, but no I probably wouldn't recommend it. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. Youll need to cache water on the Kokopelli. Lack of clean water will be one of your biggest hurdles. Would it be foolish to try to ride the Kokopelli Trail on a gravel bike? 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. It follows the Colorado River, and youll regularly get views of the river as it winds through the landscape below. Doesnt this sound like a better way to end a trip as a descent? @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { Experience a multitude of terrains and landscapes on a trail that links two of the most coveted mountain biking areas in the country. It is possible to leave a vehicle at the Loma trailhead, but may be a little more risky. width:100%; } On the 142-mile Kokopelli's Trail, a group of bikepackers race against dusk on Porcupine Rim, a. Find details on their records alongside a few photos taken by Rugile Kaladyte here, Photos by Rugile Kaladyte (@rugilekaladyte). One group member attempted to ride the trail on a drop bar gravel bike with 2-inch tires. 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. 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. Continuing on 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. Bikepacking is generally in the backcountry, but you can backpack on local trails. I think the Gaia GPS app is the most useful for backcountry navigation. As the snow melted, those clay-heavy dirt roads became unrideable. I am a bikepacking addict who also happens to be an above knee amputee. The best time to thru-bike the trail is from March/April to the end of October. The other two in the party were on a hardtail and a rigid fatbike. 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. The final climb will be on a paved road, but by this point, youll probably be ready for easier riding. Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small percentage of any purchase you make at no additional cost to you. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be usedas a point of inspirationin conjunction with your own due-diligence. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It connects some of the best singletrack around in Fruita and Moab with 100 miles of ATV roads. From the parking lot for the Marys Loop trail system the Kokopelli winds its way southwest over improved roads, four-wheel-drive roads, pavement, and single-track. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! Auto Repair. Bike Inn; Needles 2 Moab Canyonlands; Bears Ears Mnt. 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? Some of the singletrack is unrideable, too. } If you were to start in Moab and ride north, you would begin with a nearly 20-mile, 4,000-foot climb. I have bikepacked the Kokopelli on a fat bike with 5-inch tires and a plus bike with 3-inch tires. 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). Grand Junction also has a regional airport and car rental options for caching water. Its reliable, keeps me warm, and Thermarests lifetime warranty is no joke. 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 div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper { The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. If you finished on a weekend you could try and hitch but finding a ride with an open rack and empty seat could prove difficult. Group size must be limited to 12 people or less. The trail runs through Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County in Utah. Experience a multitude of terrains and landscapes on a trail that links two of the most coveted mountain biking areas in the country. Go out with a spirit of excitement and return with a sense of accomplishment. Thank you for supporting us! 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. 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. Many of the BLM campgrounds lining the trail do not have water, or if they do its not potable. We create reader-supported, objective, independently-selected gear reviews. } } The second time was so good that I bikepacked the Kokopelli again. 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 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 Kokopelli Trail is a good first test. In terms of ride-a-bility the Kokopelli offers plenty of it and very little HAB. The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but you still need strong navigation abilities. There are not too many reliable water sources on this trail so its important to plan accordingly. 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. } This route follows singletrack trails, Jeep roads, and dirt roads, mainly on BLM land. A huge to congrats to Lael, Kaitlyn, and Kurt for getting out there and making it happen. Westwater Ranger Station is a short detour away at the T-junction after the short pavement section through Coal Draw. It's a marin pine mountain 2 but I don't think they make the purple anymore sadly. Racing the sunset into Moab on the Porcupine Rim Trail and I didn't see a single person on the descent (probably because I started around 6pm on a Tuesday). Over 143 miles, you climb about 14,000 feet/4,144 meters and descend about the same. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. Find out what makes bikepacking the Lower Deschutes River Trail unique and why its Oregons best trail for your first overnight mountain biking trip. Most bikers ride the Kokopelli Trail soutbound. With more than 61 trails covering 486 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. 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. 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). For some time now the Kokopelli was without an official race on the calendar. I love having a one-bike-fits-all quiver. The trail runs through Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County in Utah. I love the Bar M Trails just outside town for their flowy singletrack trail goodness. Image via Bureau of Land Management 1.Kokopelli Trail Trail Length: About 150 miles one-way Days to complete: 3-5 Riding : Mostly doubletrack and singletrack The southern end of Yellow Jacket Canyon crosses Highway 128 and passes Dewey Bridge before the most substantial climbing of the Kokopelli starts. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. You carry all your gear on the bike, from food/water . 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. 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. Enlightened Equipment Torrid puffy jacket. The other person in our group did not bring a storm-worthy shelter. Ive used the National Geographic Maps Moab North and Colorado National Monument for paper maps. Elevation gain: 13,595 feet/ 4,144 meters, Elevation loss: 14,058 feet/ 4,285 meters. The trail ends in the Sand Flats section which takes you from Porcupine Rim to Slickrock. 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. Bike 3-Day; Bears Ears Backcntry 4-Day; Grand Staircase-Escalante; Moab Bikepacking 101; Vehicle Support Services; . Follow Leave No Trace Ethics, including camping and pooping far from water. Planned for 3 nights but the first half went quicker than I expected! There are long stretches of challenging desert riding, and those new to the sport will find it very challenging. Bikepacking is one of The Project's main focuses. Dirt roads, paved roads, and singletrack with some technical areas. It would also add another 1000 jolts to your wrists and spine, as this trail is very bumpy. 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. 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. There are some steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. Moab Motorsports does ask that you let them know youre leaving your car with them ahead of time. Kaitlyns finish time was 13 hours and 7 minutes, the new womens FKT. Another option is to have friends deliver water to you along the route or stash some yourself beforehand wherever possible. A big storm can leave you stranded on unrideable dirt roads of sticky, peanut butter mud that will stop your wheels from turning. There is some concern with possible theft but it worked out fine for me. To schedule an appointment for your school or for more information, please call Crosswinds Marsh at: (734) 654-1220. To facilitate these efforts, we rely on our Bikepacking Collective and the greater bikepacking community to call attention to critical issues and opportunities that are discovered while riding these routes. I think 3 riders have done it under 10.5 hours in the past few weeks. 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. Starting with the Ruby Canyon Section, youll continue on through Rabbit Valley, Westwater, Fish Ford, and Yellow Jacket Canyon sections. The Kokopelli symbol guides travelers along a trail of ~ 140 miles between Fruita (Loma actually) and Moab. I hope you have fun out there in a few weeks! The Kokopelli Trail is part of the larger Grand Loop. You can get to Rabbit Valley and Dewey Bridge with a 2-wheel drive vehicle. Use the Brave browser for an entirely ad free web experience. 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. This is certainly not a trip for bringing your dog or someone just starting out with biking. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. But it also took some planning so it went off without a hitch. There are a few bailout options along the way. 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. South L, CA. Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat Arizona Trail Race. This is certainly not a trip for. The desert views youll experience along the route are to notch. } As such, our editorial team, route creators, and Route Stewards serve as mediators for route improvements and opportunities for connectivity, conservation, and community growth around these routes. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. This requires a 9 mile pavement ride to the Kokepellis Trailhead, but offers a safe parking solution. There are not too many reliable water sources on this trail so its important to plan accordingly. Looking to start bikepacking? 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. The Kokopelli Trail spreads from Loma, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, over 142 exciting miles! With hubs at the airport, United and Southwest will have the most flight options. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. The Kokopelli Trail ends in Moabs Slickrock. Stepping away from the 9-5 lifestyle, discover the benefits of scaring yourself, and connect with nature to find meaning in everyday life. Happy planning! You need to be logged in to use these features. From here, the climb into the La Sal Mountains starts in earnest. Kokopelli 100 MTB Relay Same as the 140 but doesnt include the first 40 miles. Fisher Creek was flowing at mile 107.4 as well. Find a detailed guide on the route below including parking, resupply and how to plan the perfect trip. Read more on the About Me page. Kokopelli Racing LLC put on a mountain bike and running ultra marathon race on the classic Kokopelli Trail. More. 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. width:100%; 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. We are proud to be independent and reader-supported. Youll know youve completed the Kokopelli Trail when you hit the pavement; then, its time to celebrate. 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. The following page is broken down into sections highlighting The Project's main categories. The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles west of Grand Junction. Two long climbs topping out at 8400 will test your fitness and the final descent along Porcupine Rim will blow your mind. From Westwater, youll ride more desert Jeep roads through a vast desert expanse with red rock formations in the distance. width:100%; 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. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. This bucket-list bikepacking trip is an adventure of the soul and a test of your commitment. The route is popular as a 2- to 3-night bikepacking trip, a 3- to 4-day vehicle-supported trip, and as a . There is a reliable stream in Castle Valley, just before the road climbs into the La Sals. From there, the trail traverses through the Cottonwood Canyon, Beaver Mesa, and all La Sal Loop sections leading up to your final stretch. New for 2023 Cleaned up the sheets and adjusted the colors for better viewing. Bikers most commonly ride the Kokopelli Trail southbound, starting at the Loma Trailhead and finishing in Moab. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. 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! The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moab's Slickrock area. Know your body and how much water you require and plan carefully. The following year I returned to the Kokopelli Trail more prepared. Returning on 3-inch tires, I had a much more difficult time on those sandy sections. 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. I recommend using an Ursack as well, just in case. The desert environment can be unforgiving. Timing bikepacking the Kokopelli trail with the weather can be a challenge.
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