1. Home
  2. North America
  3. United States
  4. Cycle Utah: Moab Mountain Biking
Map of Cycle Utah: Moab Mountain Biking including United States Of America

An off-road adventure over Utah’s best trails

Moab is celebrated for a lot of things – epic national parks, fascinating red rock formations and Southwestern hospitality. But it’s the region’s mountain bike trails that set it apart from the rest. Join a local leader for a six-day adventure and cover trails to suit every rider, from tarmac to slickrock and singletrack. Take in the sights of the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, marvel at the power of the Colorado River, ride alongside striking sandstone and look over natural mesas and pinnacles. Let your bike broaden your horizons and gain access to parts of Utah that can only be discovered on two wheels.

Start
Salt Lake City, United States
Finish
Salt Lake City, United States
Destination
United States
Style
Original
Theme
Cycling
Code
SSXUM
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Kicking things off in Salt Lake City, take a warm-up ride around its most magnificent sights, including the Wasatch Mountain Range, Utah State Capital and iconic Mormon Temple.

  • Spend five unforgettable days traversing the red rock landscapes of Moab on a mountain bike, home to the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and some of the world’s best biking trails.

  • Mix hiking with biking explore Arches National Park on two feet to discover the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches, including the famous Delicate Arch.

  • Moab’s beloved Sovereign Trails offer something to every level of rider, from meandering trails to testing slickrock and desert singletrack.

  • Put in the legwork and be rewarded with some show-stopping views over Salt Valley, the pinnacles and buttes of Canyonlands National Park and the winding Colorado River.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This Intrepid cycling trip is a mountain biking adventure that features several rides off-road on dirt trails, single-track and slickrock, at times without a support vehicle directly with the group. It is important that you are comfortable, confident and competent on these terrains and have a good level of fitness to fully enjoy this trip.

  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations and working with new partners can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

  • Please ensure you consult your local government’s advice regarding travel prior to booking this trip.

  • This trip deliberately involves a fair amount of driving – this is designed that you only cycle the very best places and none of the 'transit' legs in-between.

  • Due to the frequent vehicle-free nature of the trails around Moab there are times when the support vehicle cannot be with the group. In this case it will be at a designated meeting point (see day to day itinerary for more details). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a backmarker.

  • For groups of less than six travellers we have a single leader that drives the support vehicle alongside the group. For larger groups we have a separate driver and the leader will cycle all routes.

  • Electric bikes (e-bike) are not available on this trip as they are not allowed on the majority of trails around Moab.

Cyclists riding on the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah, USA
Viewpoint over Dead Horse National Park, Utah, USA
The Colorado River that runs through Canyonlands National Park is located near the city of Moab, Utah
mountain biker on the Slickrock trail, Maob, Utah, USA
The Salt Lake Temple (Mormon Temple) is located in Salt Lake City Utah, USA

Itinerary
Expand All Collapse All

Welcome to Salt Lake City – Utah’s capital fascinates with its mountainous surroundings and spiritual significance. Your adventure begins with a midday (12pm) welcome meeting, where you’ll meet up with your local leader and new travel companions. If you arrive with time to spare, you may like to head out to visit some of the city’s numerous Mormon sites, or perhaps check out the Natural History Museum of Utah and its impressive array of dinosaur fossils. After your meeting and getting acquainted with your bikes, shuttle out east of the city to Bell Canyon and enjoy a warm-up ride along the base of the Wasatch Mountain Range, following the winding Wasatch Blvd before enjoying a car-free trail back into Salt Lake City. Take in views of some of the city’s most famous sights, including the Utah State Capitol and the centrepiece of Salt Lake City, the iconic Mormon Temple. At only 35 kms (22 miles) it’s a short but diverse ride that provides a taste of the amazing scenery, history and culture that Utah has to offer. After the ride, you’re free to freshen up and head out to the vibrant downtown to enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 35 kilometres/22 miles with an elevation gain of 1000ft/320m. Good for all skill levels (100% sealed road)

It’s an early start today as you leave Salt Lake City and drive south to the small town of Moab (approximately 4 hours). Home to the renowned Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and surrounded by some of the most stunning red rock landscapes on the planet, Moab is your gateway to some truly unbeatable mountain biking trails. This is your home for the next four nights, so unpack and settle in before heading out on your warm-up ride. What this route lacks in distance, it more than makes up for in scenery as you depart Moab and cruise along a flat cycle path all the way to the Colorado River. From here, stay off the vehicle roads and stick to the scenic Goose Island trail as it follows the foliage filled curves of the river between towering red rock cliffs, then retrace your tire tracks and cross the cool waters of the Colorado River. Here you join the smooth, car-free tarmac of the Moab Canyon Pathway and the Bar M Trail as they gradually weave uphill beneath the striking coloured rocks and cliffs of Arches National Park. After an exciting ride, finish up at the Moab Giants dinosaur museum for a refreshing drink, which you may like to enjoy while walking among models of life-size dinosaurs. Drive back to Moab and enjoy an evening to explore its great collection of restaurants, microbreweries, shops and galleries
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Motel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 24 kilometres/15 miles with an elevation gain of 780ft/240m. Good for all skill levels (100% sealed cycling/walking road).
If you’d like to extend your ride, you’ll have the option to retrace the route and cycle back to Moab. This will add an extra (mostly downhill and flat) 12 miles of cycling.

After breakfast start your day with a short vehicle transfer (approx. 32kms/20 miles) to the start of the days ride along the Klondike Bluff and ‘Baby Steps’ trails. These ‘beginner to intermediate’ level trails have something for everyone as you ride along fast flowing jeep roads/doubletrack, and the occasionally tough climb. The scenery certainly makes the effort worthwhile as you cycle across the slickrock and dirt trails, and the views from the bluffs over the Salt Valley and Arches National Park beyond are unforgettable. Once the ride is over, jump in the support vehicle for the short drive back into Moab.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Motel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 16-32 kilometres/10-20 miles. Good for beginner to intermediate skill levels (90% Jeep Road/ double-track, no vehicle support while riding).
Please note the actual riding distance and trails options used will vary depending on the needs of the group and prevailing weather – your group leader will discuss ride options with you prior to cycling each day. Due to the trail surfaces the support vehicle will not be able to travel with the group and will wait at the ride start/finish.

Get ready to ride one of Moab's original and classic riding areas, the iconic the Sovereign Trails. The slickrock and singletrack fun begins pretty quickly as you climb and descend across multiple expanses of rock and dry, dusty washes all the way to the southern base of Cedar Mountain before returning to Moab by vehicle (or ride back if you wish)
If you are still feeling energetic (and have a good level of mountain biking skill) you may wish to head out on your own and try the some of Moab's best single-track and slickrock along the renowned Moab Brand Trails, just a few miles north of Moab. The trail names are based on the local cattle brands Bar M, Circle O, Rockin A, Bar B and spell out M-O-A-B (we guess the other ‘brand’ trail names Rusty Spur, and Lazy-EZ didn’t fit the name scheme so well). These trails have something for every level of rider, from the fairly easy ride along the Bar M Loop to the 100% slickrock on top of Entrada sandstone of the Circle O trail, to the desert singletrack and technical rock-rolling singletrack of the Bar B Loop.
After a fun day out on the trails return to Moab, wash of the red rock dust and either kick back or enjoy a night out on the town – the choice is yours.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Motel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 16-35 kilometres/10-22 miles, with return to trailhead for vehicle pickup. Good for medium and above skill levels (90% Single-track, no vehicle support while riding). Due to the trail surfaces the support vehicle will not be able to travel with the group and will wait at the ride start/finish point trailhead.

Take a different approach today and mix cycling with hiking through some of Utah’s most spectacular scenery. Leave Moab town behind on an early morning drive into the heart of Arches National Park, which contains the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches. Stop at the awe-inspiring Windows Section and walk past numerous natural arches and rock formations as your leader shares stories of the landscape (approximately 5km/3 miles). After lunch, shuttle to the Delicate Arch, one of America's most recognizable and beautiful landmarks and an icon of the desert southwest. From here, it’s back into the support vehicle for the 18-mile drive back into town.
Should you wish to get back on the bike and hit the trails on a solo ride there is ample time to do so this afternoon.
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Motel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's hike is approximately 7 kilometres/4 miles.

It’s almost time to say goodbye to Moab, but not before one last ride. Drive to the Basin Overview parking area (approximately 40 minutes) and set off on your final ride along the fittingly named Intrepid Trail, before riding the Great Pyramid Trail in Dead Horse Point State Park. Your cycling finishes at Dead Horse Point, but the views of Canyonlands’ sculpted pinnacles and buttes and the dramatic curves of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below will stick with you long after your adventure is over. From here, it’s a 4-hour drive back to Salt Lake City, where on arrival your cycling adventure comes to an end.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 10 kilometres/6 miles with an elevation gain of 380ft/115m. Good for medium and above skill levels (100% singletrack).
We do not return to Moab after the ride to Dead Horse Point, and drive directly back to Salt Lake City.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

5 breakfasts

Transport

Bicycle (MTB), Support Vehicle, Van

Accommodation

Simple Hotel/Motel (5 nights)

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Cycle Utah: Moab Mountain Biking trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

Prices may go up, so secure your trip today!
Jump to a departure month

Important notes

Travellers on Intrepid trips are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Read details here.

1. This trip begins at midday 12pm on Day 1.
2. This trip finishes around 5 pm on Day 6.
3. A Single Supplement may be available on this trip, please ask your booking agent for more information.
4. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so we can organise a suitable sized bike.
5. The included bikes on this trip are Specialized alloy Stumpjumper mountain bikes, suitable for the frequent off-road terrain.
6. Electric bikes (e-bike) are not available on this trip as they are not allowed on the majority of trails around Moab.
7. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
8. For group less than 6 clients we have a single leader that drives the support vehicle alongside the group. For larger groups, we have a driver plus a leader that rides with the group.
9. The routes indicated are subject to change depending on the group preferences, weather conditions and unforeseen route closures.
10. Accommodation is not included on day 6 of this trip. If you require additional accommodation (or want to reserve your room for the main part of the day) please contact the hotel directly.
11. Due to Covid-19 restrictions some of the local attractions may be temporarily closed, running reduced hours, or require booking ahead. Please check their websites for up-to-date opening hours.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

Reviews

Go to dates