Or toss some spare change inthe PayPal tip jar. Location: The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles from Grand Junction. 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. Cant say much for Kokopelli but I just did the White Rim trail (which is quite close by) on my gravel bike. 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. The desert views youll experience along the route are to notch. Moab Brewery is the only brewery in the town of Moab. The old railroad follows beautiful waterways, weaving around Allegheny mountains and hills. There are some steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. } Website Take me there. We test. There are unmarked turns, and its not always easy to see the brown carsonite trail markers at junctions. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. The Jeep trail and dirt roads can sometimes be very sandy, challenging, and slow-going. Indian Trails, 28685 Smith Rd, Romulus, MI, Transportation Services BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. It would also add another 1000 jolts to your wrists and spine, as this trail is very bumpy. KOKOPELLI TRAIL 2021 (Documentary) | Our First Time Bikepacking - YouTube Sawyer Squeeze, which is the overall winner in our Best Water Filters and Purifiers guide. South L, CA. 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 BLMs webpage for the Westwater Station says explicitly, do not depend upon this water source for your trip's water needs as the system is not always operational.. 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). Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! There are unmarked turns, and its not always easy to see the brown carsonite trail markers at junctions. The Kokopelli Trail is a good first test. I was being silly: the Kokopelli is a tremendously satisfying and fun bikepack, from the mildly technical and impossibly beautiful singletrack out of Fruita, to soaring grinding climbs, red desert canyons, rugged sandstone ridges, to the must-not-skip roaring bucking descent on Porcupine Rim down to Moab. Find a detailed guide on the route below including parking, resupply and how to plan the perfect trip. 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. 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 Bike Fiend or Chili Pepper Bike Shop are options for getting your bike repaired in Moab. This is the way to enter Moab! Joel Caldwell (joelcaldwell.com) An epic view point along the Kokopelli Trail. The Kokopelli Trail is a popular ride between the Western Slope of Colorado and Moab in Utah. Our first time bikepacking the Kokopelli trail was a humbling failure, but also an appreciative win.This short bikepacking documentary shows the metaphorical. The Loma Trailhead is west of Fruita, Colorado, along Interstate I-70. } 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. width:100%; It connects some of the best singletrack around in Fruita and Moab with 100 miles of ATV roads. The experience was humbling and quite challenging. Fully packed bikepacking set up for the Kokopelli Trail. 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 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. With that said, you can find food at either end. The Kokopelli has very few water sources along the route. You carry all your gear on the bike, from food/water . You dont need any permits to bikepack the Kokopelli Trail. When coming into Moab, you can opt to ride the Porcupine Rim Trail to add a fun but technical singletrack descent into town. 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. There is great camping in this area, too. We completed the Kokopelli trail in three challenging, rewarding days of bike riding. Starting with the Ruby Canyon Section, youll continue on through Rabbit Valley, Westwater, Fish Ford, and Yellow Jacket Canyon sections. Kokopelli Trail - Backcountry MTB // Industry Nine - Pivot Pro Bikepacking on the Kokopelli Trail Photos and words by Joel Caldwell The Kokopelli Trail is a beautiful route winding from Fruita, Colorado to Moab, Utah. This Kokopelli Trail Guide will give you everything you need to know. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission without costing you an extra cent. No stove helped with space and water. Our Best Mountain Bike Lights guide also covers other mountain bike-specific lights. 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. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moabs world famous Slickrock area. IMPORTANT NOTICE: The La Sal Loop Road is currently undergoing construction this spring/summer/fall, 2017 and portions of it is closed, including a section of it that is used by the Kokopelli Trail. Heres a link to the Kokopelli Trail GPX track Ive used every time. Continuing 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. The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. Find an extra-long weekend and do this ride. Joe Cruz (Pedaling in Place), Kokopelli taught me the length of a desert mile. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. Kokopelli 140 MTB Relay A choice your own adventure. The route is an epic medley of singletrack, doubletrack, sand and tarmac technical climbs, rugged descents, and graded terrain. There are no resupply options along the route. Looking up from Fischer Valley to the top of the climb next to the la sals, giving myself a goal of making it there in 5 hours, and getting up in 5 hours to look back down at the valley. This is certainly not a trip for bringing your dog or someone just starting out with biking. But, store your food off the ground to prevent rodents from getting into it. A section of the trail, the Kokopelli Singletrack, begins just outside the . Gear lists from the AZT, TD and CTR; Pros & Cons; Things Id do different; and Tips. @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { Two long climbs topping out at 8400 will test your fitness and the final descent along Porcupine Rim will blow your mind. At the top, youll get great views of Moab and the surrounding landscape. Use the Brave browser for an entirely ad free web experience. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget { This trailhead is where the Kokopelli Trail starts and is even a location on Google maps now. 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. This page is divide up in simple sections to give you information in easily digestible bites. 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! Youll have to carry everything you need for the entirety of the trail. From Westwater, youll ride more desert Jeep roads through a vast desert expanse with red rock formations in the distance. It's our goal to supply the best resources, guides, gear lists, data sheets, town lists, and more to help others realize and follow their passion. Moab has a small regional airport you can fly to from either Salt Lake City or Denver. Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. 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 information found herein is simply a planning resource to be usedas a point of inspirationin conjunction with your own due-diligence. But maybe you can be the fool who rides it and has a great time despite what other people say? The Kokopelli Trail is divided into nine sections, each with its own unique terrain and scenery. Thank you for supporting us! *By clicking submit, you're also subscribing to our email list. The closest large airport to the Kokopelli Trail is the Salt Lake City International Airport. From the trailhead at Loma, after a quick gravel traverse, the route starts with 10+ miles of mesa singletrack overlooking the Colorado River. 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). You may try and see if one would drop you back off in Fruita. Most of your riding will be on dirt and paved roads, with some singletrack thrown in for good measure. We cover other lighting options in our Best Headlamps guide. Most rideable parts require at most intermediate-level mountain biking abilities. The trail was created by the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA) in cooperation with the Bureau of . Starting with the Ruby Canyon Section, youll continue on through Rabbit Valley, Westwater, Fish Ford, and Yellow Jacket Canyon sections. Since it was first designed the Porcupine Rim Trail has been built which means you have the option of making it 150+ miles. 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. Camping along the Kokopelli is easy to find. What about wind breaker? #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper { The 142-mile multi-use trail stretches from Loma, Colorado all the way to Moab, UT. 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. If youve learned a few things or have been entertained, consider becoming a Patreon member. There are some pretty steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. The Kokopelli Trail starts out on some single track affording beautiful views of the Colorado River. ONE SHOULD ASSUME ALL WATER SOURCES TO BE DRY AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY. Parts of the trail are used by jeeps, ATVs, and motorcycles. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. Kokopelli 100 MTB Individual Same as the 140 but doesnt include the first 40 miles. 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. 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. 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. Bikepacking Packrafts | Inflatable Packrafts - KOKOPELLI Bikepacking The Kokopelli Trail Treeline Review I'm going to be riding into Moab towards the end of June or early July. Looking to start bikepacking? Moab Bikepacking 101 - Rim Tours Grand Junction also has a regional airport and car rental options for caching water. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. To schedule an appointment for your school or for more information, please call Crosswinds Marsh at: (734) 654-1220. What puffy jacket do you use? 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. For Issue 08, we invited several contributors to return and pick up where earlier trips and ideas left off and also feature a handful of first-timers whose perspectives weve long been eager to share Issue 07 Issue seven is a celebration of courage and discovery of what were capable of when we dont let others expectations define us Issue 06 examined a diverse range of topics, including embracing aloneness, rekindling a sense of adventure, grappling with failure, and many more Kaitlyn Boyle and Kurt Refsnider both set new FKTs (fastest known times) on the 140-mile Kokopelli Trail over the weekend. Over the next 50 miles, youll do a lot of climbing, but the next ten miles will be the steepest. I went out to Fruita a few weeks ago with my mtb and car camped in Rabbit Valley and was really wishing i had brought my gravel bike to cruise around there (other than the deep sand pockets lol). 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. Kokopelli's Trail Phone: (435) 259-2100 Email: utmbmail@blm.gov Address: Moab Field Office 82 Dogwood Ave. Moab, UT 84532 Latitude/Longitude: 39.177737, -108.827444 Directions: From Grand Junction, travel west on Interstate 70 about 15 miles. You can get to Rabbit Valley and Dewey Bridge with a 2-wheel drive vehicle. Once youre in the La Sals, youll probably find a stream or two to collect water from. A few miles after Rabbit Valley it is highly recommended to take the scenic off-route detour on the Western Rim trail. Many of the BLM campgrounds lining the trail do not have water, or if they do its not potable. I recommend using an Ursack as well, just in case. One consideration is to bring a portable water filter and tank up from the Colorado River whenever possible. The trail runs through Mesa County, Colorado, and Grand County in Utah. 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. We didnt cache any water, either. r/bikepacking - Kokopelli Trail, the long way into Moab (trip report Kurts finish time was 10 hours and 56 minutes. Get your FREE backpacking checklist PDF here! 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. Guided Mountain Biking on Kokopelli Trail | 57hours Another option is to have friends deliver water to you along the route or stash some yourself beforehand wherever possible. Simply clicking on the links below with our affiliates supports the Project. width:100%; Best Trails & Maps near Romulus | TrailLink Thanks, me too!! The best time to thru-bike the trail is from March/April to the end of October. With 150 miles of gravel hike-and-bike trail, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP Trail) is one of the Easts best pathways, perfect for leisurely bike rides. Bikepacking - One of Seven Project Website. I think 3 riders have done it under 10.5 hours in the past few weeks. I recommend riding the Western Rim Trail, a 6-mile trail parallel to the official Kokopelli route near Fruita. 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. The final climb will be on a paved road, but by this point, youll probably be ready for easier riding. The White Rim Trail is one of the most iconic long-distance mountain bikepacking rides in the West. I love having a one-bike-fits-all quiver. Moab Express provides shuttle service from Moab to the start of the Kokopelli Trail at Loma Trailhead. 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. Bikepackers camping along the Kokopelli trail, The singletrack section youll start on is some of the best mountain biking in the country, Descending out of the La Sal Mountain range into Moab is a particularly fun downhill, Many of the dirt roads are impassable after heavy rains. Looking to start bikepacking? The route is popular as a 2- to 3-night bikepacking trip, a 3- to 4-day vehicle-supported trip, and as a . Auto Repair. You can also get your bike repaired at Over The Edge in Fruita. This bucket-list bikepacking trip is an adventure of the soul and a test of your commitment. A true western adventure with tough climbs and rewarding descents. I hope you have fun out there in a few weeks! Part of the magnificent 142-mile Kokopelli Trail. 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. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. Ive used the National Geographic Maps Moab North and Colorado National Monument for paper maps. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Stepping away from the 9-5 lifestyle, discover the benefits of scaring yourself, and connect with nature to find meaning in everyday life. We look forward to sharing the natural splendor of Crosswinds through our interpretive programming, activities and future exhibits. New for 2023 Cleaned up the sheets and adjusted the colors for better viewing. Despite reports you can leave a car at the Moab Information Center, you CAN NOT. Checkout the Colorado Trail Transportation Guide for train options if you want to fly into Denver and take the train to Grand Junction. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper { This bucket-list bikepacking trip is an adventure of the soul and a test of your commitment. Youll cross highway 128 and then ride through Yellow Jacket Canyon, a highlight of the Kokopelli. 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. Kaitlyns finish time was 13 hours and 7 minutes, the new womens FKT. Kokopelli's Trail - Wikipedia rocky sections making it particularly challenging. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. There are very few reliable water options available along the Kokopelli Trail. Claim this business (734) 326-9801. 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. 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. You can camp almost everywhere along the route, too. 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. There are some steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. 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.