Kokopelli Trail
Colorado to Utah
The all-time classic Kokopelli Trail 5-day MTB Tour from Grand Junction to Moab is a must-do for all point-to-point MTB tourists. Join our professional certified Guides for an eye opening week of challenging singletrack riding and ample miles of double track through colorful southwestern terrain.
Suitable for fit intermediate to advanced riders in good physical condition and able to ride for 4-6 hours a day. This trip is yours for riding, viewing ancient ruins, taking a dip in the river, sleeping out under the stars or just kicking back at camp after your rides and taking in the spectacular views. Our meals are delicious, and our Guides are seasoned experts who will help you make this the best week of riding you’ve ever had!
TESTIMONIALS
MAGICAL – I can’t get enough!
Our whole family loved it. The kids want to do it again!
Pre-Trip Orientation
We meet the group for a pre-trip orientation at 5pm in Moab on the evening before the tour and it typically lasts an hour. Introductions, trip details, rental equipment, questions and last minute trip purchases can all be taken care of at this time. You will also be provided with 2 Dry Bags for packing your personal equipment for the trip.
You must bring your mountain bike to the Pre-Trip Meeting for inspection by your Guides. If you will be a late arrival, or unable to attend the pre-trip meeting, or need help picking up your rental mountain bike from a local bike shop, then please let us know as soon as possible!
Pre-trip orientation meetings are held at our Magpie Cycling Headquarters at 711 N. 500 West, Moab, UT.
Day 1 – Breakfast on your own. Meet at 7am. After loading all personal gear on the Gear Vehicle we’ll depart Moab by van for a 2 hour shuttle to the trailhead in Colorado. We’ll begin our ride on awesome single track and double track trails leading us to our scenic camp.
*30 miles*
Day 2 – Awaken to a spectacular sunrise, we’ll continue riding singletrack and double track trails through the Cisco Desert to our next camp on the Colorado River.
*35 miles*
Day 3 – We’ll cross the Colorado River at the historic Dewey Bridge and begin our climb into the La Sal Mountains.
*25 miles*
Day 4 – Plenty of Fresh Moab Coffee and delicious food will fuel our ride down the famous Rose Garden Hill, into Fisher Valley where we’ll stop to explore a prehistoric Indian ruin. We’ll climb out of Fisher Valley and further up into the La Sal Mountains to our highest campsite, 8000’ above sea level. *25 miles*
Day 5 – We’ll conclude this tour with the famous Porcupine Rim Trail with its fantastic singletrack and stunning views of Castle Valley. We typically return to Moab by 4pm.
*25 miles*
ITINERARY CHANGES MAY BE MADE DUE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS OR BY DISCRETION OF THE GROUP LEADERS.
Moab, UT is the beautiful gateway town to Canyonlands National park. We suggest making lodging or camping arrangements as soon as you book your trip with us. You can fly right into Moab at Canyonlands Field Airport, which is just 20 minutes North of town. The next option is Grand Junction, CO, just under 100 miles/2 hours away. If you fly into Salt Lake City, you should anticipate a 4.5-hour drive to Moab. We recommend you lodge in Moab before your trip and the night your trip ends. There’s so much to see here!
Q: DO I NEED PREVIOUS MOUNTAIN BIKE EXPERIENCE? It would be helpful, though not completely necessary. If you ride a road bike, you have the same balance skills necessary for mountain biking. This trip is suitable for a fit beginner rider. Learning to safely handle a mountain bike is not difficult. We will give a complete orientation prior to the start of the ride. All of our Guides are experienced riders & great coaches. Daily, we discuss & demonstrate cycling techniques & safe riding skills to help improve your ability on the mountain bike.
Q: HOW MANY MILES PER DAY? 8 to 21 miles/day. Mountain biking moves at a slower pace compared to road riding. A rough rule of thumb is to double the number of mountain bike miles when comparing them to road riding (10mi on dirt feels like 20mi on pavement). Extra riding & hiking are available from camp for those who wish to extend their day.
Q: WHAT KIND OF SHAPE DO I NEED TO BE IN? Mountain biking is a wonderful, healthy sport that attracts people of all ages & walks of life. It can be as strenuous or mellow as you make it; it all comes down to being in good general health, being accustomed to regular exercise and controlling your pace. If you can ride at a comfortable pace for 3-6 hours at home you will do fine on the trip. Remember, it is possible to ride a mountain bike for fun and it doesn’t have to be a race. Everyone rides at their own pace so there is plenty of time for photos & relaxing.
Q: WILL I NOTICE THE ALTITUDE? Moab lies 4,000 feet above sea level and most of our tour is between 4000’-6000’. If you live near sea level you may feel a slight difference; everyone adjusts at different rates. The quickest way to adapt to the altitude & dry air is to make an extra effort to drink plenty of water & eat salty foods when you arrive and throughout the day during your trip. It is dry here, so plan to drink lots of water, salt your food and snack frequently.
Q: HOW IS THE FOOD? We prepare healthy & hearty delicious meals! Our outstanding menu reflects the nutritional needs that mountain biking and outdoor living requires. Our meals are prepared using Local Organic Ingredients; lean meats, fresh fruits & veggies, and whole grains as well as enough sweet treats to satisfy!
- We also bring snack bars & electrolyte replacement mix.
- Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian or other dietary requirements & requests can be accommodated with advance notice.
Q: WHAT ABOUT BEVERAGES? We provide Orange Juice, Fresh Moab Coffee, Black & Herbal Teas, Vitalyte (an electrolyte replacement mix) and plenty of yummy water. If you want to bring beer, soft drinks or extra juice, we request you bring aluminum cans or plastic containers only! We typically have room for four beverages per person, per day, in our cooler. Please transfer wines & spirits from glass bottles to a plastic or metal bottle with a tight fitting screw cap lid.
Q: WHAT ABOUT TIPPING? While not expected, it’s certainly appreciated for a job well done. 20% is customary in the service industry.
Q: WHO COMES ON MAGPIE CYCLING’S TRIPS? Typically we have a spirited mixture of singles & couples as well as friends & family traveling together. Many have joined us on numerous adventures in the past. The ability range within groups can span from novice to expert mountain bikers. All seem to share the common bond of an appreciation for the outdoors & an active lifestyle. We’ll gladly supply references and the make-up of any trip that you are interested in joining.
Q: ARE CHARTER TRIPS AVAILABLE? Yes, any of our trips can be chartered by your Private Party! You bring the group and we’ll take care of the details! Custom itineraries are available: dates, amenities, activities, etc are negotiable. To schedule a Charter Trip call (800) 546-4245.
Q: WHO ARE THE GUIDES? All trips are lead by our Professional MTB Guide/Instructor Staff; Mike Adler, Mike Rundle, Eric Boxrud, Trevor Ohlstein, Julia Franz, Joe Auer and of course, the owners, Mike Holme & Maggie Wilson. Our Staff have a wealth of knowledge about the local area and a comfortable style bringing people together like a group of friends having fun on an amazing adventure vacation.
Q: CAN I BRING MY OWN BIKE AND HOW DO I SHIP IT? Yes, you must make sure your bike is in good repair and has been recently serviced by a qualified bike shop. It’s vital to check all systems; brakes, shifters, drive train, cables, tires and wheels. Ship your bike to Poison Spider Bicycles, 497 N. Main St, Moab UT 84532, via FedEx. It’ll be ready when you arrive (or assemble yourself… see the Equipment List for details).
Q: WHERE DO WE LEAVE OUR CAR? At the Pre-Trip Meeting we’ll give you a map & directions to where we’ll meet the following morning to launch our trip. This is where you’ll leave your car parked during the trip.
Q: HOW LONG IS THE SHUTTLE TO THE TRAILHEAD? About 45 minutes.
Q: WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS LIKE? All White Rim Trail multi-day Tours are camping trips! The campsites are designated by the National Park Service and have pit toilets that are cleaned & stocked with paper regularly by the NPS.
Q: IS CAMPING GEAR AVAILABLE FOR RENT? Yes! Magpie Cycling has rental camping gear available (tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads). Advanced reservations are essential!
Q: WHERE DO WE STAY BEFORE AND AFTER THE TRIP? For your convenience & safety, we recommend that you stay in or near Moab before & after your trip. Visit DiscoverMoab.com for a complete listing of accommodations in Moab.
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