Water can be found at miles 48, 70, 83, and 126. The Jeep trail and dirt roads can sometimes be very sandy, challenging, and slow-going. From there, the trail traverses through the Cottonwood Canyon, Beaver Mesa, and all La Sal Loop sections leading up to your final stretch. You may try and see if one would drop you back off in Fruita. The trail presses on through Fish Ford and the ride becomes more arduous as you climb away from the Colorado River. Would it be foolish to try to ride the Kokopelli Trail on a gravel bike? Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. Indian Trails. You can also get your bike repaired at Over The Edge in Fruita. 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. 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. Patagonia Womens Nylon Capri Pants cut into shorts (discontinued). Its a high-quality down quilt that has reliably kept me warm for 1000s of trail miles. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. We create reader-supported, objective, independently-selected gear reviews. What works for me is my Outdoor Research ultralight hoody (don't think they make it anymore, it's half-zip pullover), and a patagonia houdini windbreaker with full zip. Riding the trail on a fat bike, I hardly noticed the extensive sections of sandy desert Jeep roads. Enlightened Equipment Torrid puffy jacket. Dirt roads, paved roads, and singletrack with some technical areas. Cheers! The weather can be unpredictable, regularly swinging from blazingly hot to frost-and-ice-all-over-your-tent cold. 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.. More technical singletrack sections are on the descent into Moab and scattered throughout the route. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget { If youre flying from out of town, I recommend you rent a car and spend a day caching water (or pay a guiding company to cache water for you, though I dont know of any that specifically offer that service). (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? There are unmarked turns, and its not always easy to see the brown carsonite trail markers at junctions. Classics have a way of seeming passalmost a clichand you might therefore be tempted to skip it. 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 summer months can be extremely hot so plan to tackle it during the shoulder months for a more enjoyable trip. Unless youre camping in the La Sals, you likely wont encounter bears on the Kokopelli Trail. Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! 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 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 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). We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. Follow Leave No Trace Ethics, including camping and pooping far from water. I think the Gaia GPS app is the most useful for backcountry navigation. I brought an Ultimate Direction Ultra Rain Jacket for this trip. 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. } Read more on the About Me page. width:100%; Lack of clean water will be one of your biggest hurdles. You carry all your gear on the bike, from food/water . More here. If youre like me and have a passion for riding your bike, then read on. Website Take me there. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. 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). Over the Edge bike shop suggests people park behind Suds Brothers Brewery at 127 E Aspen Ave, Fruita, CO 81521. Non-stop vistas of far away mountains and canyons might lure one into a sort of topographic pomposity. Sign up with your email address to be the first to know when we release new gear reviews! Kokopelli 100 MTB Individual Same as the 140 but doesnt include the first 40 miles. Kokopelli 140 MTB Relay A choice your own adventure. The desert environment can be unforgiving. This is certainly not a trip for. This quick guide to bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail will give you the information and insight you need for a successful trip to one of the most spectacular bike trails out there. 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 Ride, Eat, Sleep, Repeat Arizona Trail Race. Parts of the trail are used by jeeps, ATVs, and motorcycles. 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. 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. There are also ways to filter silty water using alum. Ive used this inflatable pad for several years now. 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. 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. To schedule an appointment for your school or for more information, please call Crosswinds Marsh at: (734) 654-1220. 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). From the Loma exit (exit 15) you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. I create technical resources, reviews, inspirational videos, how-to guides and more. Xmas Valley Epic 17.5 mi 28.2 km 2,685' Up 818.24 m Up 2,704' Down 824.08 m Down. What puffy jacket do you use? These are primitive campsites so dont expect much as far as amenities go. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. I feel comfortable riding easier "blues" on my gravel bike and try to incorporate singletrack into my rides - but I'm just not sure how technical the riding gets on the trail. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { Transportation Services. We met at the Loma Trailhead and split the caching duties between cars. The Loma Trailhead is west of Fruita, Colorado, along Interstate I-70. 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. 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. Water is a big challenge on the Kokopelli Trail. From the Loma exit (exit 15) off of I70 you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. With more than 61 trails covering 486 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. I would have gladly traded out for either of those bikes when it the trail started getting a little chunkier. Thanks for your support! 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. More flag On Ute Land Distance 158 Mi. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. 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. Its so good youll want to do it again once youve done it. Kurts finish time was 10 hours and 56 minutes. There are many steep, exposed climbs throughout the route. } From there, the trail traverses through the Cottonwood Canyon, Beaver Mesa, and all La Sal Loop sections leading up to your final stretch. The following year I returned to the Kokopelli Trail more prepared. The Kokopelli Trail is a good first test. I think 3 riders have done it under 10.5 hours in the past few weeks. Location: The Kokopelli Trail starts near Loma, Colorado which is about 15 miles from Grand Junction. What about wind breaker? Westwater Ranger Station is a short detour away at the T-junction after the short pavement section through Coal Draw. You need to be logged in to use these features. During my thru-bike I left my car at the Loma trailhead parking lot for Marys Loop Trails. Gear lists from the AZT, TD and CTR; Pros & Cons; Things Id do different; and Tips. One group member attempted to ride the trail on a drop bar gravel bike with 2-inch tires. Kokopelli 100 MTB Relay Same as the 140 but doesnt include the first 40 miles. More. There are unmarked turns, and its not always easy to see the brown carsonite trail markers at junctions. 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. There are some pretty steep climbs on this trail with the payoff being some exhilarating descents. The Kokopelli Trail starts outside Fruita, Colorado, on some of the best singletrack in the Mountain West. 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. Specialized Tactic bike helmet.
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