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White Rim Trail
21 reviews
4.67 of 5
The trail is a four wheel drive road with alot of open, beautiful riding. There is outhouses every 10-20 miles. From the trailhead you can see the river about 2000 feet below you. you ride switchbacks down 1000 feet and thats the White Rim sandstone which is the majority of the ride. The trail has some of the most beautiful desert scenery I have ever seen. At the end of the trail there is a climb up Horse Thief Trail, which is 1000 feet up switchbacks. It is
Summary: Just completed a 4day 3night ride a week ago. The day before the trip it rained like crazy in Moab, all the slick rock around town had numerous waterfalls. We started out on the Shafer trailhead, but due to rain the day before we couldn't begin until around noon. Also prepostioned a couple of vehicles over at the top of mineral bottom road to save 15 mi on the way out.
The group consisted of 8 guys from Utah, Colo, Az and Ill (6riders and 2support vehicles). I met most of them on the first morning and after several days made some new life long friends. It was a fantastic ride, 1rst day was about 17mi (3.5hrs)then camped at Airport, we stopped all the time to take pictures of the incredible scenery, then had a gourment meal of pasta with all the fixens. I can't say I had a better meal in finer restaurant. The next day was a 27mi ride to Murphys, more stops for pictures and a great lunch on the support vehicles. A couple of guys hiked to the top of Island in the Sky via the Gooseberry Trail (2.5mi one way) and caught up with us later. That night we had great meal w/chili and spent the evening stargazing. Day 3 had pretty much a downhill ride(22mi)to potato bottom, neat camp spot next to the green river, found some camp chairs left by the previous campers. The special thing about this area was the contrasts. A stark desert landscape next to the most thick forest/underbrush jungle that I had ever see. If there wasn't a trail hacked through it, we wouldn't have been able to get to the river. Our meal was beef stew and sandwich leftovers, still tasted great! A few more guys made a side trip to see the native american grainery and the Fort Bottom ruins(8mi RT). Their pictures were awesome, wish I would have went. The final day was kinda anti-climatic for me knowing I was going to leave this beautiful place and head back to the real world. More wonderful things to take pictures of, 1hr climb up the mineral bottom road and our cars came into view, then I knew it was over.
Recommended Route: We started on the Shafer side went to the mineral bottom direction, to me after the 1rst day it was more downhill that direction, or it could be when your having fun the trail always goes downhill!
The first couple of days we saw folks coming the other way with very muddy bikes and vehicles, they got caught in the rainstorms and had some challeging times on the trail.
I want to thank Neland,Ed,David,Ron,Craig,Bob and Larry(our muti-media guy)for a wonderful trip. Already working plans for next fall!!!
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Summary: Awesome trail. Did it last year for Spring Break (mid-march) with 3 nights/4 days, 10 people, 2 support vehicles. Incredible views and scenery. Very remote. Our ride was fairly easy because we had 4 days, we rode roughly 25 miles a day. I already have a permit to do it this year for spring break, except this time we have 4 nights and 5 days so we can do more side hikes and exploring.
In mid-march it can still get a little chilly at night and in the morning in canyonlands, and you are not allowed to have a campfire in the campgrounds along the trail. I would recommend bringing warm clothes if you do it at this time of the year.
Other than that, it is a pretty easy ride with several fairly steep uphills, and a couple of technical off-road sections. There was one part in the road that one of our support vehicles had trouble getting thorough (it was a Ford Explorer - worst SUV EVER!), but any even half capable truck (maybe even an outback) shouldn't have any problems.
Awesome ride, everybody who calls themselves a mountain biker should do it at least once in their life.
Recommended Route: Definately go clockwise around the trail (start at the shafer trail). ALSO make sure to call Canyonlands NP before you start if you do it early in the season (like March) because some years the shafer trail is too icy to be open that early. This happened to us, and we had to drive around and take the Potash Road.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Its moab, seriously? Everything is bomb-diggity-chronic riding.
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Review Date November 10, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 3 of 5
Technical Difficulty 2 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Webbman
,
Cross Country Rider
Summary: Just got back from doing the White Rim trail this week. It is an epic ride that anybody can do. It only has 3 big climbs and the rest is rolling terrain with fabulous views everywhere. We did it in three day . 1st day 30 miles to Gooseberry camp,2nd day 40 miles to Hard Scrabble Camp and 30 Miles back to the visitors center.
Recommended Route: The pnly thing I cna say that others have not is that you will need to bring extra padded riding shorts. The trail can be very rough and it does take its toll on your ass. I dont care how often you bike it will take its toll on your bottom!! Bring your camera because there are numerous Photo ops with drop dead scenery.
We went from the Visitors center down Shaffer Trail and clock wise back up Mineral Road/Horse Thief and back to the visitors center. Toatal mileage from point to point was 100.3 miles and I added the White Crack trail that added 3 miles as well.
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Review Date May 26, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Blake
, from New London, WI
Summary: Did it as The White Rim Century ride early this May. Temperatures were in the 50s. It took 13 hours and I drank 150 oz. of energy drink and ate 2 power bars, 10 gu packs and 1/2 pound of red licorice. I enjoyed the ride and would recommend it as a one day trip to anyone who is reasonably fit and is smart enough to keep eating so they don't bonk. You won't need to do a shuttle at the end of the ride.
Recommended Route: Did it counter clockwise starting at the first parking lot on Mineral Bottom Road.
Other recommended trails in the same area: It's Moab.
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Review Date May 23, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: ROB
, from GLEN GARDNER,NJ
Summary: WHITE RIM IS NOT VERY TECHNICAL, HOWEVER, THE VIEWS ARE AMAZING. THE ROAD FROM THE PARKING AREA (SCHAFFER ROAD) IS VERY STEEP GOING DOWN AND SEEMS TO GET STEEPER GOING UP! WHITE RIM TRAIL IS ACTUALLY A ROAD AND IS USED BY 4X4 TRUCKS AND MOTORCYCLES SO WATCH OUT! MOST OF THE ROAD IS DIRT WITH SOME GRAVEL AND ROCKY SECTIONS BUT THE ELEVATION IS THE REAL KILLER. IF YOU ARE NOT READY FOR HIGH ELEVATIONS...GET READY.
Recommended Route: FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ABOVE.
Other recommended trails in the same area: MOAB SLICKROCK
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4.67 of 5
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