Fruita and Moab are full-service towns with grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes. You carry all your gear on the bike, from food/water . Sign up with your email address to be the first to know when we release new gear reviews! } width:100%; More here. But it also took some planning so it went off without a hitch. From here, the climb into the La Sal Mountains starts in earnest. One group member attempted to ride the trail on a drop bar gravel bike with 2-inch tires. In 2017 that changed. 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). Since it was first designed the Porcupine Rim Trail has been built which means you have the option of making it 150+ miles. There are plenty of camping options along the way including the BLM campgrounds listed below; some may require a small fee. The Kokopelli Trail is one of the most coveted bikepacking routes out there, and for good reason. We are proud to be independent and reader-supported. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The route is an epic medley of singletrack, doubletrack, sand and tarmac technical climbs, rugged descents, and graded terrain. The desert views youll experience along the route are to notch. If youve learned a few things or have been entertained, consider becoming a Patreon member. We met at the Loma Trailhead and split the caching duties between cars. There are very few reliable water options available along the Kokopelli Trail. I'm just curious what the best is for bikepacking. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. 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 . width:100%; Another option is to have friends deliver water to you along the route or stash some yourself beforehand wherever possible. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. 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. Grand Junction also has a regional airport and car rental options for caching water. The Kokopelli Trail is divided into nine sections, each with its own unique terrain and scenery. We create reader-supported, objective, independently-selected gear reviews. Checkout all our available products in our store,and thanks for the support! rocky sections making it particularly challenging. 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! The desert environment can be unforgiving. The Kokopelli Trail ends in Moabs Slickrock. In total you will ride for 142 miles and there are a few bailout options along the way should you need to. (mens and womens & nobo and sobo available). It will take about half a day to cache water and drive back to either end of the Kokopelli. Kokopelli 140 MTB Relay A choice your own adventure. This section is beautiful though; theres nothing like moving in and out of desert and mountain terrain and skirting along the Estrada Bluffs. Stretches can be particularly sandy, but never for too long at a time (and there's no need for a fat bike). I would probably avoid doing it on anything skinnier than 2" tires, But some of you gravel grinders are pretty hard core so IDK. Westwater Ranger Station is a short detour away at the T-junction after the short pavement section through Coal Draw. After crossing Salt Creek the trail passes through Rabbit Valley, then grinds through the Yellow Jacket area, tackles Rose Garden Hill, circle around Fisher Valley, and eventually making its way to the La Sal Mountains and Moab. One consideration is to bring a, 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. It would also add another 1000 jolts to your wrists and spine, as this trail is very bumpy. No suspension, just a set of 50c tires squeezed on there, and man it was awesome but truth be told I think it would have been even more enjoyable on a hardtail with a front shock at the very least. Youll have to carry everything you need for the entirety of the trail. In depth look at what I would bring for gear and why, if I rode the Tour Divide, CTR, and AZTR again. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission without costing you an extra cent. The next closest would be Grand Junction or Salt Lake City (SLC). 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. } Bikepacking is one of The Project's main focuses. From the Loma exit (exit 15) you travel west on the gravel road to the trailhead on the left. The Kokopelli has very few water sources along the route. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. 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. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. An epic view point along the Kokopelli Trail. There are several hike-a-bike sections of this trail. To learn more Click Here. 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. The White Rim Trail is one of the most iconic long-distance mountain bikepacking rides in the West. The following year I returned to the Kokopelli Trail more prepared. It combines a variety of primitive roads with surprisingly technical single track that kept us guessing around each bend. @media screen and ( max-width: 300px ) { I would have gladly traded out for either of those bikes when it the trail started getting a little chunkier. I used a Tarptent Aeon Li tent for the Kokopelli Trail. We then met in Moab, loaded into one vehicle, and drove back to the Loma Trailhead. This section is beautiful though; theres nothing like moving in and out of desert and mountain terrain and skirting along the Estrada Bluffs. There are a ton of options out there. With more than 10,000 feet of total climbing, the highest point on the trail tops out at over 8,000 ft above sea level. Starts at the Westwater Airstrip. I brought an Ultimate Direction Ultra Rain Jacket for this trip. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Most rideable parts require at most intermediate-level mountain biking abilities. From the trailhead at Loma, after a quick gravel traverse, the route starts with 10+ miles of mesa singletrack overlooking the Colorado River. The full list of serves includes: SLC is an international airport so there are a few options. The other person in our group did not bring a storm-worthy shelter. Patagonia Womens Nylon Capri Pants cut into shorts (discontinued). The trail is posted with the flat brown flexible fiberglass posts and marked with blue and white Kokopelli stickers. I have bikepacked the Kokopelli on a fat bike with 5-inch tires and a plus bike with 3-inch tires. The Kokopelli Trail is relatively well marked, but a mountain biker still needs strong navigation abilities. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. This epic bikepacking adventure promises an incredible final descent as you wearily make your way into Moab. On my most recent Kokopelli bikepacking trip, my group drove from Denver in two vehicles. At times the Kokopelli Trail can serve up demanding single track and steep climbs, makingit a trail not to be underestimated. Kokepellis Trail is part of the Grand Loop, a much larger bikepacking routethat utilizes Kokopellis Trail system, The Paradox Trail, and Tabegauche Trail. The Kokopelli Trail crosses the Colorado River and ends at Moabs world famous Slickrock area. I rode the Kokopelli Trail as my first multi-day bikepacking trip. A mix of dirt roads, desert Jeep tracks, and singletrack trails, Good fitness levels and intermediate mountain biking technical abilities required, The route is almost entirely on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land with lots of great camping on public land, Caching water is almost a requirement to bikepack the Kokopelli Trail self-supported, The Kokopelli trail connects singletrack, Jeep roads, and dirt roads following the Colorado River. div.fca_eoi_form_text_element,input.fca_eoi_form_input_element,input.fca_eoi_form_button_element{display:block;margin:0;padding:0;line-height:normal;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:normal;word-spacing:normal;text-indent:0;text-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;width:inherit;height:inherit;background-image:none;border:none;border-radius:0;box-shadow:none;box-sizing:border-box;transition:none;outline:none;-webkit-transition:none;-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;color:#000;font-family:"Open Sans", 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Kokopelli 140 MTB Two-day Stage Event (Individual) The 144 miles spilt into two days of racing, instead of one. The trail ends in the Sand Flats section which takes you from Porcupine Rim to Slickrock. Bikepacking is generally in the backcountry, but you can backpack on local trails. The . A section of the trail, the Kokopelli Singletrack, begins just outside the . 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. 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. The Rando is a favorite in our Touring Bike Gear List. Unless youre camping in the La Sals, you likely wont encounter bears on the Kokopelli Trail. The Kokopelli Trail is a 142-mile desert bikepacking route linking the mountain biking epicenters of Fruita, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. Group size must be limited to 12 people or less. 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. Find details on their records alongside a few photos taken by Rugile Kaladyte here, Photos by Rugile Kaladyte (@rugilekaladyte). From Westwater, youll ride more desert Jeep roads through a vast desert expanse with red rock formations in the distance. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. You can access the Colorado River from here, though. These are primitive campsites so dont expect much as far as amenities go. Sawyer Squeeze, which is the overall winner in our Best Water Filters and Purifiers guide.