Quick Moab trip - newbie beta.

[G]

So it looks like I’ll be passing through Moab next week. Melissa, the Dog & I could easily kill a few days out there. Wish we had more time. I’ve never been there before, and I don’t know anything about the place.


Can Ya’ll give me some good details on the rides? I’ve decided to leave my bike home, and just rent one while I’m there, any good shops to recommend? What rides are the best, and can easily be done in one day? Is there anything good for her to do while I’m out riding? Or are there some easier rides that I can take her (and maybe the dog) along? Or, places to hide or kennel the dog?

Good spots to camp, or at least park the van and sleep inside?


After Moab, I’ve been thinking of doing a day or a backpacking overnighter in Arches park. Then take Highway 50 right back to Tahoe.


Thanks

[Mr. Altagirl]

Renting a bike is a great option on Moab. Each shop has a good selection, depends on how big you want the bike. I like the guys at Slickrock a lot but we have a friend that works at Chili Pepper that may be able to hook you up (ask for Wendy, tell her Connie and Craig, downhillers, sent you in). We like to camp up on Slickrock when we have the dog, he loves it up there. You could ride the Slickrock trail from the camp site and the dog can go with you (our dog moose has done the whole thing and loves it). If you did a shuttle ride up on Porcupine / UPS, your wife could kike with the dog in Negro Bill Canyon and pick you up (the let out of the Porcupine trial is right at the parking lot for Negro Bill; AG hikes that trail a lot with our dog when she's not riding with me). I'll get AG to post some more details if you like, she's got a lot of time on her hands at this point. Have a good trip.

[CS]

What Mr.AG said. I prefer camping above slickrock, as it provides the best views, and it's easy to go dink around on the trail.

Another good trail is Amasa and it doesn't require a shuttle. If the girl is somwhat competant on a bike, you guys could go do the Sovereign trail, as there's nothing super hard on it, but it's fun desert singletrack.

I hear Goblin Valley (I think that's what it's called) in Arches is sweet for backpacking.

[G]

Camping: How do I find the spots? How's the weather? is the car safe?

[altagirl]

Weather is fairly variable this time of year - you'll have to keep an eye on the reports:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/forecasts/UT...C019&city=Moab

If you can stay inside your van if it's too cold or if it rains - personally I wouldn't worry about the weather - it won't be that bad. You also have a good chance of the weather being perfect if it's nice and cool outside. Usually you're baking in the sun down there... Anyway, I'd bring layers when you're heading out on rides as things can change rapidly.

For camping on slickrock - Head south on Main street through town. Turn left just after the Walker's gas station. (There are signs guiding you up to Slickrock at this point...) The road comes to a T, turn right, then turn left after a little convenience store, then keep going straight through the stop sign and up to Slickrock. You'll go through a fee station where you pay the entry fee or $8/night for camping. You'll then see camping areas all over the place just off the road. If you've got the time and daylight, head out a little ways because there are some neat ones out against the rocks. But they're all good.

Car should be safe, and we've never had anything stolen or anything out at a campsite, but Mr.AG had a bike stolen off his truck in the middle of the night in town a couple years ago. He left it locked to the rack in the truckbed and they stole the whole rack. Not cool. Problem is that people in Moab do know the value of and can spot good bikes so we keep an eye on them down there, especially in town. If we stay in a hotel, the bikes always come inside now.

Fisher Mesa is another good easy/intermediate singletrack (some slickrock, some buffed singletrack through the trees) with killer scenery if you want a good trail for both of you and the dog. Though you're on the edge of a cliff - if you don't trust your dog to have the smarts not to run off the edge, that would be a problem. But we've taken dogs on it and it's great, especially since it's off the beaten path and you probably won't see another person out there. Ask at Poison Spider for directions and they can show you on the map, but basically, head east along the river, turn right and drive all the way through Castle Valley. Go straight and pass where you'd turn off for the La Sal Mountain Loop. Go another several miles and you'll be heading up on top of the mesa. You'll see a FS gravel road on the left and an unpaved but obvious parking area under some tall trees on the right. Park there and head out on the FS road. It's doubletrack for a while, you'll get to a mandatory right hand turn and a somewhat steep downhill on the doubletrack which is kindof washed out, go left around a corner and the singletrack trail is on your right. From there it's an awesome rolling trail with views off the side of the mesa.

[Wizard]

Mr & Mrs Alta, thank you. Trust recovery is going ok for the Mrs & both of you.

I'll keep your local info stashed away like a very special plant.

thanks again for taking the time,
lats
wiz

[Arty50]

I can definitely recommend Amasa Back and Porcupine Rim. Those were two of the best rides I've ever done. Also, if you want to car shuttle PR give Acme Bike Shuttle (435-260-2534) a call. The others we called were total flakes. The Acme shuttle driver rode PR with some friends and so we hitched a ride back (not included since the ride back is pretty much downhill anyway). He even gave lph and I some beers from a 12 pack he brought. When we offered to pay for the ride back, he refused. Wouldn't even take a tip. So we bought him a new 12er and forced him to take it.