Kokepellis Trail is part of the Grand Loop, a much larger bikepacking routethat utilizes Kokopellis Trail system, The Paradox Trail, and Tabegauche Trail. There are unmarked turns, and its not always easy to see the brown carsonite trail markers at junctions. You can also get your bike repaired at Over The Edge in Fruita. 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. By entering your email address, you agree to receive our weekly newsletter in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Over the next 50 miles, youll do a lot of climbing, but the next ten miles will be the steepest. Find out what makes bikepacking the Lower Deschutes River Trail unique and why its Oregons best trail for your first overnight mountain biking trip. If you are thinking about bikepacking the Kokopelli Trail this guide will give you the information and insight you need for a successful trip to one of the most spectacular bike trails out there. After at least 6 failed attempts in the mid-1990s, Gary became the first to ride the 140-mile-long Kokopelli Trail self-supported in one day. Traveling through remote canyon country, White Rim Road makes a 100-mile loop through the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. 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. Toward the end of the day I would start feeling like my bones were being rattled, but it was definitely doable. @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { Celebrate your thru-hiking class with the Class of ___ T-shirt! 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. Cant say much for Kokopelli but I just did the White Rim trail (which is quite close by) on my gravel bike. and filtered from there before the big climbs. Route notes: the giant tarmac descent from fischer overlook and giant tarmac climb up to the porcupine rim trail suuuucked. 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. We look forward to sharing the natural splendor of Crosswinds through our interpretive programming, activities and future exhibits. 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 But theyre even farther than you think. I think with as much sand and slickrock that I encountered my answer to you in short would be, yes, foolish to try this on a gravel bike, coming from a mountainbiker who has no idea what a gravel bike is capable of. You need to be logged in to use these features. This Site and our mobile application contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. width:100%; 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. Its so good youll want to do it again once youve done it. To learn more Click Here. I am a bikepacking addict who also happens to be an above knee amputee. Experience a multitude of terrains and landscapes on a trail that links two of the most coveted mountain biking areas in the country. The Kokopelli Trail is a 138-mile, multi-use trail that starts in Loma, CO (just a few miles northwest of Fruita) and ends on Sand Flats Road in Moab, UT, where it passes by Porcupine Rim . Nowhere else can you find scenery quite like this! } Stretching along public lands, Kokopelli's Trail is an epic journey on the Colorado Plateau. 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. 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. width:300px; Timing bikepacking the Kokopelli trail with the weather can be a challenge. 150 miles. 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! I brought an Ultimate Direction Ultra Rain Jacket for this trip. 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 no resupply options along the route. 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. These are primitive campsites so dont expect much as far as amenities go. 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 for 2-6 days depending on how many miles you want to cover each day. The following year I returned to the Kokopelli Trail more prepared. The Kokopelli Trail spreads from Loma, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, over 142 exciting miles! But, theres a still 17-mile 4,000-foot descent on dirt roads and singletrack trails between you and the end of the Kokopelli Trail. In terms of ride-a-bility the Kokopelli offers plenty of it and very little HAB. The full list includes: DIA is the largest of the options but is also the furthest away. I have attempted the Kokpelli 3 times and completed it twice. The Jeep trail and dirt roads can sometimes be very sandy, challenging, and slow-going. Then youll be in Fisher Valley, where Ive always cached water by the road. width:100%; Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. The Kokopelli Trail is part of the larger Grand Loop. More flag On Ute Land Distance 158 Mi. Expect the route to take the average person 3-5 days, with many strenuous sections. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. We cached water at a few road crossings, brought bikes with high-volume tires, and generally respected the challenges of the trail more. The lack of suspension limited my speed on rough downhill, meant a good deal of discomfort on washboard and rocky sections, and my gravel bikes drop bars just weren't very forgiving on my shoulders as it was a bit of an aggressive riding position. , 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. Kokopelli 140 MTB Individual 144 miles, full course, alone! Find details on their records alongside a few photos taken by Rugile Kaladyte here, Photos by Rugile Kaladyte (@rugilekaladyte). Revelate Saltyroll on Oveja Negra handlebar harness, food: tortillas, dried fruit, pb packets, tuna packets, summer sausage. What about wind breaker? What puffy jacket do you use? This ride is definitely not for the novice rider, the climbs and technical sections alone make it more for those with experience. From the trailhead at Loma, after a quick gravel traverse, the route starts with 10+ miles of mesa singletrack overlooking the Colorado River. 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). Top Rated Routes. Two long climbs topping out at 8400 will test your fitness and the final descent along Porcupine Rim will blow your mind. There are a couple of options for staging and parking; as advised by folks at Over The Edge bike shop, we chose to leave a vehicle in the parking lot behind Suds Brothers Brewery in downtown Fruita. Heres what several members of our four-top riding group had to say: The Kokopelli Trail is a beautiful route winding from Fruita to Moab that combines primitive roads of all varieties with surprisingly technical single track to keep you guessing about what lies around each bend. 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). 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. Over the Edge bike shop suggests people park behind Suds Brothers Brewery at 127 E Aspen Ave, Fruita, CO 81521. #fca_eoi_form_1856 .fca_eoi_layout_15.fca_eoi_layout_widget div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { Almost 20,000 feet of climbing. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Between the river and the top of ride at 8200ft I quickly realized there were not as many water sources as I had thought there would be, and this was the only time I got a little worried the morning of day 3 with 2000ft of climbing ahead of me and only 2L on me. The route is popular as a 2- to 3-night bikepacking trip, a 3- to 4-day vehicle-supported trip, and as a . The Kokopelli Trail is divided into nine sections, each with its own unique terrain and scenery. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moabs world famous Slickrock area. The Kokopelli's Trail (also known as the Kokopelli Trail) is a 142-mile (229 km) multi-use trail (but primarily used by mountain bikes) in Grand County, Utah and Mesa County, Colorado in the western United States. 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. 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. Westwater Ranger Station is a short detour away at the T-junction after the short pavement section through Coal Draw. But maybe you can be the fool who rides it and has a great time despite what other people say? Colorado River is too silty to filter, and some of the only other water sources along the route arent safe to drink due to the waters arsenic levels. . Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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 good first test. You can access the Colorado River from here, though. Specialized Tactic bike helmet. With hubs at the airport, United and Southwest will have the most flight options. You decide. Over 143 miles, you climb about 14,000 feet/4,144 meters and descend about the same. You can camp almost everywhere along the route, too. Looking to start bikepacking? The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason.