Moab First Timer Thread

[grskier]

So, Willow Springs Road is the 'back way' that I know, and we saw people jeeping in a few weeks ago when we were riding the klonzo area.

[muted reborn]

It's open but I've seen it closed in January once. Also heard a few years ago from a friend who I met in Arches the washboards on it were horrendous.

[Buzzworthy]

I like to start people at bar M, shake down the rigs and get used to desert tech riding, and Never have to venture too far from the lot. Ez/lazy to north 40 is a great one to start, loop in sidewinder and deadmans for longer and more difficult options, the circle O trail out there sux.. avoid that one imo...

For a beginner in Moab, this is exactly how I was introduced to riding in the desert. I gained some nice confidence at bar M before I continued onto more difficult terrain.

[Name Redacted]

I rode Portal my first time in Moab. I didn't go back for a while after that.

[Dantheman]

-Klondike is just meh IMO compared to the others above

This is mostly quite correct, but that MegaBaby loop I mentioned is pretty solid.

[toast2266]

This is mostly quite correct, but that MegaBaby loop I mentioned is pretty solid.

Agreed. Alaska is fun too. And Dino flow. Really, most of the trails at the north end of the system.

But yeah, I'd still probably rather ride Navajo rocks or the Mag 7 zone.

[muted reborn]

Agreed. Alaska is fun too. And Dino flow. Really, most of the trails at the north end of the system.

But yeah, I'd still probably rather ride Navajo rocks or the Mag 7 zone.

Alaska, Dino Flow, and Mega baby steps loop are good. Navajo Rocks bores the shit out of me. It just meanders around pointlessly, nothing really cool or unique to remember about it, and it all feels the same. Go up 30 vert, go down 30 vert, go up 20 vert, go down 20 vert, go up 35 vert, go down 35 vert....then long sandy flat stretch!

Across the road I've found Mustang, Whirlwind loops much more interesting, unfortunately much shorter too and I would have never ridden them if I wasn't camping right near there though.

[Tech Tonics]

Go up high in the la Sals. There is a couple days of riding up there. Or just drive 3 hrs to Durango. Or 1 hr south to the Abajos.

Very little dry dirt in Durango, though improving every day.

And you ride Navajo Rocks counter clockwise?! lol that’s silly.


OP: I’d find camping near Navajo Rocks, there’s lots of options.
Take the lady on horsetheif trails. If she’s cool with it, take her on Navajo the next day. If it’s too much for her, take her to Klondike the next day.

Camping up there is way quieter as there are way less keeps and motos


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[jmedslc]

That entrance is still on the map so AFAIK it's still open.

Just rode thru there tonite on motos (and twice last week) and yes still open and signed as a park entrance. High clearance required and obviously no side by side type OHV vehicles allowed. Even tho we saw some bozos rollin right in there w RZRs the other day.

Yes always carry an inreach. Cell service is spotty and batteries run down quick in this area. I put my cell in airplane mode and toggle when needed.

No, the “high” La Sal mountains are not yet accessible and I expect all high elevation campsites are still closed and snowed in.

Weather is still chilly. We got all stopped up in the arches np traffic jam tonite due to an apparent head on collision (how did they completely destroy both vehicles?!?) and I froze my ass off in the 30min delay. Windy and 49degrees jamming home at sunset was brisk.

[evdog]

Very little dry dirt in Durango, though improving every day.

And you ride Navajo Rocks counter clockwise?! lol that’s silly.

Haha. CCW was the direction suggested to us at Chili pepper bike shop when the trail first opened. Don't recall ever seeing CW recommended until this thread.

Suggestions of La sals, Durango, etc were in response to post earlier asking about reccos for Moab in August

[grabtindy]

CW is now the "preferred direction" on the signage at Navajo Rocks, but I think it rides better CCW, especially the coney island and rocky tops segments.

[skaredshtles]

Alaska, Dino Flow, and Mega baby steps loop are good. Navajo Rocks bores the shit out of me. It just meanders around pointlessly, nothing really cool or unique to remember about it, and it all feels the same. Go up 30 vert, go down 30 vert, go up 20 vert, go down 20 vert, go up 35 vert, go down 35 vert....

Hmmm... sounds suspiciously a lot like EKG.

[toast2266]

Hmmm... sounds suspiciously a lot like EKG.

It sounds suspiciously like about half the trails in moab. And about 3/4 of the trails in virgin / hurricane.

[muted reborn]

EKG takes you somewhere though. It has a purpose, you don't go out there to ride EKG out and back and call it a ride. It takes you where you want to go and is functional. And of course there are plenty of rad trails that "Go up 30 vert, go down 30 vert, go up 20 vert, go down 20 vert, go up 35 vert, go down 35 vert...." like stuff on Gooseberry which is SUPER fun and well thought out. Just the random loops of robotic "follow the painted dots" stuff bores me to tears. But I'm glad they are out there to spread everyone out a bit!

Ironically I'll probably be riding Navajo Rocks a lot in ten-fifteen years thinking "I'm old better take it easy on this fun trail here!!!"

[BFD]

I would avoid the Mag7 area. You do not want to be riding up anything people are shuttling. I made that mistake and was a couple of years till I returned.

[fastfred]

Seen lots of relationships go south in moab when a bro brings a girl to moab and the girl is a beginner intermediate rider at best

Do not over do it and moab you can get in deep real quick like you ain't getting laid for a week

Porcupine is always laughable as you speed by cause there is no exit and it only gets harder

The state park yeah bar m yeah the easy shit at klondike yeah everything else no just no

[XXX-er]

2 oriental gals were talking at slick rock and she said " I told you to follow the white lines not the white guy "

I think we are goign back to Moab in september

[muted reborn]

Seen lots of relationships go south in moab when a bro brings a girl to moab and the girl is a beginner intermediate rider at best

Do not over do it and moab you can get in deep real quick like you ain't getting laid for a week

Porcupine is always laughable as you speed by cause there is no exit and it only gets harder

The state park yeah bar m yeah the easy shit at klondike yeah everything else no just no

ha, good advice. falling on slickrock is a rude awakening. it's like getting punched by Mike Tyson all over your body. "Everyone has a Moab plan until they get slammed on slickrock" or something like that. you might not get laid because she's heavily bruised AND pissed.

[east or bust]

All good, she's a tough cookie growing up with two older bros. I'm actually more concerned about myself TBH, need to remember there's a lot more shit to ride this season and getting hurt while trying to push things on this trip would blow.


Speaking of bike shops, what's the recommended go to for good service and selection of goods? At a glance it looks like Poison Spider and Chili Pepper.

[mmmm...pow!]

Are those views from the trails shown on trailforks? Can you access those trails without paying?

[skaredshtles]

All good, she's a tough cookie growing up with two older bros. I'm actually more concerned about myself TBH, need to remember there's a lot more shit to ride this season and getting hurt while trying to push things on this trip would blow.


Speaking of bike shops, what's the recommended go to for good service and selection of goods? At a glance it looks like Poison Spider and Chili Pepper.

Chile Pepper.

[muted reborn]

All good, she's a tough cookie growing up with two older bros.

"Everyone has a Moab plan until they get slammed on slickrock"

Chile Pepper.

Poison Spider is great too but it is so damn busy.

[adrenalated]

Are those views from the trails shown on trailforks? Can you access those trails without paying?

The one photo on page 1 is from Dead Horse State Park which does have an entry fee. But it's not crazy expensive - $20 per vehicle.

There's a LOT of riding in Moab with great views with no fee.

[raisingarizona13]

Go to Fruita and ride the 18 Road stuff. It's really fun and inexperienced gf friendly.

[Buzzworthy]

Go to Fruita and ride the 18 Road stuff. It's really fun and inexperienced gf friendly.

This.

Signed inexperienced