by Dan Norton

Feature

Change of Scenery — Ride the Kokopelli Trail

There are many “classic” must-do rides on all riders’ wish lists. What follows is a how-to for riding one of the West’s classic mountain bike epics, The Kokopelli Trail. Many of your friends or riding companions have heard of the trail, have ridden the trail, or know someone who has. So let’s pump up the tires, fill the water bottles and go!

The Kokopelli goes from Fruita, Colo. to Moab, Utah — approximately 140 miles. The trail travels through the Colorado River Basin, the La Sal Mountains and some very awe-inspiring terrain along the way. The trail is best traveled in April/May or September/October, as riding the very exposed route in the summer months would not be unlike riding a trainer in a microwave. The sun there is very intense. A full suspension bike, hydration pack and long sleeve jersey will add to your riding enjoyment. The trail can be ridden in one stupidly long 24-hour day or it can be better enjoyed as a multi-day ride. I recommend a 5-day ride to enjoy the scenery, have fun with friends, and bask in the beauty of the area. The campgrounds are all accessible by automobile, but the last campsite I mention should be reached with 4-wheel drive only.

Photo by Courtesy of Douglas Bousu

You can start the trip in Fruita. Try to spend a few days camping and riding in the area, you will not be disappointed. Fruita has done an amazing job of working with local landowners, the Forest Service, and various mountain bike groups to create a wonderful place to take a cycling vacation. Over the Edge Sports has maps and the staff can help with any questions you might have regarding your
upcoming adventure.

To get to the Kokopelli Trail, head west on the freeway [I-70] for a couple of miles to the Loma exit. Here is where the fun begins. The trail is very well marked with 4-foot-high brown plastic markers that point you in the right direction. Between the start and the next car access, Rabbit Valley, the trail will meander along the rocks above the Colorado River. There are several trail loops along this section, all of them are fun — try Steve’s Loop for extra credit. Eventually the trail will come to Rabbit Valley, which has easy highway access for sag support. This is a good spot to eat and refill water. When leaving Rabbit Valley, the route becomes a mixture of singletrack, sand and jeep roads. The first day ends with a paved road section that takes you to the Westwater Campground on the Colorado River, which offers nice campsites, fire pits and it’s free! This is a wonderful spot to eat, drink and swap stories with you riding companions.

Day 2 leaves Westwater and follows a sandy 2-lane jeep road along the river until it eventually reaches Highway 128, which will take you down to the evening campsite of Dewey Bridge. Take the Yellow Jacket Loop from the paved road so that you can finish your day on a wonderful up-and-down trail that will come out at the Dewey Bridge Campsite.

Photo by Courtesy of Douglas Bousu

Here is where I would spend an extra day of riding, relaxing or sightseeing, as day 3 could consist of following the Kokopelli as it climbs up to Fisher Canyon and then connects with a nice dirt road, Onion Creek. Follow the road through a beautiful canyon, which features numerous water crossings, until you come to Highway 128 again. Turn right and head back to Dewey Bridge and your campsite.

On day 4, retrace the road to Onion Creek and climb back up the draw. At the top you go through Fisher Valley and eventually to the Hideout Campsite. This site is well marked and very remote and is a great place to relax.

Photo by Courtesy of Douglas BousuAll smiles on the Kokopelli Trail.

The last day features many big climbs so eat a good breakfast, as you will soon be on top of the surrounding cliffs. The road for the next several miles is very tough on a car and should only be attempted with a 4-wheel drive. The views as you climb up over 8,000 feet are amazing and worthy of many pictures. When you reach the top the road will change over to pavement and become a long screamer of a descent. What goes down must go up, and you will, in time, have to regain all the lost elevation. The road eventually connects with the Porcupine Rim Trail, which features some incredibly twisty singletrack and exposed trail along the rim’s edge. Falling here is not an option. The Porcupine Rim Trail connects into Sand Flats Road and takes you into Moab. There is camping above town and adjacent to the Slickrock Trail.

Most commercial outfitters charge around $1,000 for such a trip, but with some friends, a large cooler and a sense of adventure, it’s do-able by anyone with an intermediate level of riding skill. The Kokopelli Trail is a journey that all riders will remember for a long time and a must for any Northwest rider in search of new scenery.