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Moab - best area for group with varying skill level

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provin1327

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm planning a trip to Moab September 23-27 and will be meeting some friends that are driving down from Oregon. Their skill level is beginner/intermediate while mine is expert. I am looking for an area that is "fun for the whole family". We will be riding Moab Brand Trails (Bar M area) the first evening as a warm up ride so I'd prefer if we don't ride there again.

We're looking at Navajo Rocks, Klondike Bluffs, Klonzo, Deadhorse Point and Horsethief for a 2-3 hour ride. It would be great to get that epic "out there" Moab feel if possible without doing a huge advanced ride or a shuttle. I really don't know anything about these areas and they all appear to have a mixture of green and blue trails. The only one I have ridden is Klonzo and I do remember it being quite fun but would prefer to check out a new area.

Is there one of these areas that is more preferred/fun than the others? I'd like to avoid XC type riding and am definitely expecting to tone down the technical and speed factor to get a ride in with my friends. The other days of the trip are reserved for bigger and more demanding rides like Ahab and Enchilada.
 
#3 ·
#7 ·
MSU Alum said:
I wouldn't categorize Slick Rock as "Fun for the whole family"!
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Agreed, Slickrock isn't very technical but more a test of fitness. There is a lot of very steep and/or off-camber sections but there is massive amounts of traction so it can all be easily ridden, if you're fit.

Slickrock can be a real soul sucker for a beginner or intermediate rider because they may end up doing a ton of walking. There are no bailout points so the only way to end the ride is to turn around or keep going.

I will second the Klondike Area. There is a good mixture of intermediate and advanced trails. The signage and trail marking is good, so it's difficult to get lost. Plus, there are a ton of ways to bailout on a ride. I think its really important to have good bailout options when you're with a mixed skill group, in an unfamiliar area. Alaska is probably the best trail in that system IMO.

Also, when riding Bar-M skip Circle-O and/or Rockin-A. Those trails are ho-hum and put you pretty far out there (relatively).
 
#10 ·
k2rider1964 said:
Not knocking Klondike but Dead Horse Point might be the most "epic" blue trail in the land. The views are fantastic and the FUN factor is high.
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I'll be in Moab for a couple days in November as part of a UT road trip, but I'm going with the family, so I'll only be able to break away for a few hours to bike (about two hours the first day and four the second day). I plan on riding Slickrock the second day (which should take 3-4 hours based on what I've read online), so I've been looking for a two hour trail to check out on the first day. Dead Horse sounds like the perfect option for me based on the amount of time I have, being a first-timer in Moab (apparently this trail is well-marked), and as a warm-up to Slickrock. I'm an intermediate rider, so this sounds like a good way to get a feel for the trails out there. How long should I expect to take if I do half the loop (Great Pyramid/Big Chief/Raven Roll)? 2 hours? Less? And how long does the entire loop typically take?
 
#11 ·
Montana2Rice said:
I'll be in Moab for a couple days in November as part of a UT road trip, but I'm going with the family, so I'll only be able to break away for a few hours to bike (about two hours the first day and four the second day). I plan on riding Slickrock the second day (which should take 3-4 hours based on what I've read online), so I've been looking for a two hour trail to check out on the first day. Dead Horse sounds like the perfect option for me based on the amount of time I have, being a first-timer in Moab (apparently this trail is well-marked), and as a warm-up to Slickrock. I'm an intermediate rider, so this sounds like a good way to get a feel for the trails out there. How long should I expect to take if I do half the loop (Great Pyramid/Big Chief/Raven Roll)? 2 hours? Less? And how long does the entire loop typically take?
Click to expand...
If you're going to do Dead Horse, I'd just ride the outside circuit:
https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/planner/view/164058/

I think you could do it in either direction and there are opportunities to bail if you're running low on time. Great views, as it skirts canyons. It's about 13 miles and it's been years since I've ridden it, but it's easy enough that I think you could do it in 2 hours.

The route you describe is quite short, like 5 miles. I'd guess 45 minutes.

Each loop of Navajo Rocks is under 2 hours for sure.
The west loop (Upper Taco), Middle Earth, Coney, Big Lonely, Big Mesa is a super fun, flowy ride.

Last time I rode Slick Rock it took 1:59, but I've ridden it a bunch of times, so I didn't have to stop for pictures and such. I'd guess under 3 would be easy.

November can be chilly, so if that's the case, Klondike will be warmer.
 
#12 ·
Montana2Rice said:
I'll be in Moab for a couple days in November as part of a UT road trip, but I'm going with the family, so I'll only be able to break away for a few hours to bike (about two hours the first day and four the second day). I plan on riding Slickrock the second day (which should take 3-4 hours based on what I've read online), so I've been looking for a two hour trail to check out on the first day. Dead Horse sounds like the perfect option for me based on the amount of time I have, being a first-timer in Moab (apparently this trail is well-marked), and as a warm-up to Slickrock. I'm an intermediate rider, so this sounds like a good way to get a feel for the trails out there. How long should I expect to take if I do half the loop (Great Pyramid/Big Chief/Raven Roll)? 2 hours? Less? And how long does the entire loop typically take?
Click to expand...
I think the 3-4 hour estimate is what they tell people to plan for (water, food, etc.) in case they get lost. In reality, it usually takes most about 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on how much sightseeing you do. If you have never done it, it's worth doing.

If you go around Slickrock quickly and wanted to get more riding in close by, Falcon Flow is a little ways (~4 miles) up Sands Flat road and would probably be about a 1.5 hour loop. You'll get some amazing scenery in there too.

https://www.trailforks.com/route/falcon-flow-sand-flats-road-loop/
 
#13 ·
How long does it take to drive out & back to Dead Horse? Don't forget that in your time estimate, especially with traffic.

Personally I'd budget the 2 hour window for Slick Rock & skip the practice loop then plan something a little more epic for the 4 hour window. Maybe Upper Porcupine down or something.

Sent from my moto g(6) forge using Tapatalk
 
#14 ·
Yes, plan the shorter window for Slickrock and the longer for something else.

One ride I really like is doing is Ramblin > Rocky Tops > Big Mesa > Big Lonely at Navajo Rocks and then taking Chisolm up to the stuff at the top of Mag 7, doing some loops up there, and then returning to to the car at Navajo Rocks via 7up and Middle Earth. You can vary the length of the ride by varying the number of loops at the top of Mag 7, by heading down Mag 7 and climbing Getaway, and by stopping by Gemini Bridge to take photos.

Dead Horse has some great riding, but the drive out there will take up a lot of your riding time. For a shorter time window, the stuff at Klonzo can be pretty entertaining and is a shorter drive. Also, I've had intermediate friends who liked the Hymasa / Lower Ahab loop which is close to town.
 
#15 ·
MSU Alum said:
If you're going to do Dead Horse, I'd just ride the outside circuit:
https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/planner/view/164058/

I think you could do it in either direction and there are opportunities to bail if you're running low on time. Great views, as it skirts canyons. It's about 13 miles and it's been years since I've ridden it, but it's easy enough that I think you could do it in 2 hours.

The route you describe is quite short, like 5 miles. I'd guess 45 minutes.

Each loop of Navajo Rocks is under 2 hours for sure.
The west loop (Upper Taco), Middle Earth, Coney, Big Lonely, Big Mesa is a super fun, flowy ride.

Last time I rode Slick Rock it took 1:59, but I've ridden it a bunch of times, so I didn't have to stop for pictures and such. I'd guess under 3 would be easy.

November can be chilly, so if that's the case, Klondike will be warmer.
Click to expand...
I was thinking of doing Rocky Tops > Ramblin' (or would you recommend Ramblin' > Rocky Tops?), but after what you said, maybe Coney Island > Big Lonely > Big Mesa would be the more fun option.

I'm sure 2 hours isn't a realistic goal for me (for Slickrock), as I know I'll be stopping to take pics and/or catching my breath. But maybe if I condition myself well enough by November and minimize the photos, I can do it in about that time and do the entire Chaco loop for my longer day.
 
#16 ·
Paddock said:
I think the 3-4 hour estimate is what they tell people to plan for (water, food, etc.) in case they get lost. In reality, it usually takes most about 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on how much sightseeing you do. If you have never done it, it's worth doing.

If you go around Slickrock quickly and wanted to get more riding in close by, Falcon Flow is a little ways (~4 miles) up Sands Flat road and would probably be about a 1.5 hour loop. You'll get some amazing scenery in there too.

https://www.trailforks.com/route/falcon-flow-sand-flats-road-loop/
Click to expand...
That makes sense. Better to overestimate it than under.

I haven't seen too many videos or read many reviews on Falcon Flow (probably bc it's a newer trail), so I wasn't sure it was worth checking out. But if I can do Slickrock in 2.5, then FF sounds like the perfect way to take up my 4 hours.
 
#17 ·
WHALENARD said:
How long does it take to drive out & back to Dead Horse? Don't forget that in your time estimate, especially with traffic.

Personally I'd budget the 2 hour window for Slick Rock & skip the practice loop then plan something a little more epic for the 4 hour window. Maybe Upper Porcupine down or something.

Sent from my moto g(6) forge using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
It's about 40 mins, and I did take that into consideration. That is a lot of wasted time...

Is Porcupine doable on a hardtail?
 
#19 ·
sgltrak said:
Yes, plan the shorter window for Slickrock and the longer for something else.

One ride I really like is doing is Ramblin > Rocky Tops > Big Mesa > Big Lonely at Navajo Rocks and then taking Chisolm up to the stuff at the top of Mag 7, doing some loops up there, and then returning to to the car at Navajo Rocks via 7up and Middle Earth. You can vary the length of the ride by varying the number of loops at the top of Mag 7, by heading down Mag 7 and climbing Getaway, and by stopping by Gemini Bridge to take photos.

Dead Horse has some great riding, but the drive out there will take up a lot of your riding time. For a shorter time window, the stuff at Klonzo can be pretty entertaining and is a shorter drive. Also, I've had intermediate friends who liked the Hymasa / Lower Ahab loop which is close to town.
Click to expand...
Wow, your Navajo Rocks route sounds crazy. Haha. I was only thinking of doing the Chaco Loop if I went there. I'll have to save your route for next time when I return with my biking buddies instead of the wife and kids. Haha.

Hymasa/Ahab was the other route I was strongly considering. This is the problem with having too many great options. I'm sure I can't go wrong with any of them, so I'll just have to decide on two for this trip and save the rest for later. Appreciate all the suggestions.
 
#20 ·
Would love more feedback on this topic as I'm visiting this October with a group.

I think Navajo Rocks is a great intermediate option as I've done that before. Is Ahab too much for some intermediate riders? Last thing you'd want is to plan a ride and have a buddy (or yourself!) walking most of the time.
 
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