Adventure West

Stories, trail guides & tips from the desert southwest

68 posts

Adventure West
tips advice

Private: 2024 Bike Sale – Santa Cruz Mountain Bikes

Hey, mountain bike friends! Have you been dreaming of that Santa Cruz bike you rode while visiting us in Moab? Well,...

Adventure West
trail guides

7 Best Adventure Vacation Ideas in the Western US

Looking for the best adventure vacation ideas in the west? For family, group, or solo - here is our list of the best...

Adventure West
tips advice

A Beginner's Guide to Bike Touring for Women

A simple and actionable guide that will get you from your couch to living the adventure of your life in no time on a...

Adventure West
trail guides

A Feast for the Eyes, Heart and Stomach: the Desert Sunrise Mtb Tour

Desert Sunrise Mountain Bike Tour avoids desert mid-day heat, includes sunrise breakfast overlooking Arches NP,...

Adventure West
trail guides

A Moab Mountain Biking "Big Ride"

A Moab Mountain Biking Big Ride: 40+ miles of singletrack (plus a little 2 track) from North Klondike to Moab via...

Adventure West
trail guides

A Weekend on the White Rim

Work deadlines, household responsibilities, news headline stress... for a few days this spring, a group of 7 guests and...

Adventure West
trail guides

Baby Steps Before Mega Steps

How Moab Built 150 Miles of Singletrack in Just 10 Years. Today, Moab singletrack is abundant, but it wasn't always...

Adventure West
tips advice

Adventure Holiday Primer

Adventure Holiday: Five perfect adventure-sport vacations in the western United States (minus all the hassle of DIY...

Adventure West
destinations

Have you been to Bears Ears? We think you should see it on a mountain bike tour!

Bears Ears is a national monument in Southern Utah that is perfect for a mountain bike tour. It is full of...

Adventure West
trail guides

Best Fun Stuff to Do in Durango

What to do in Durango? One of Colorado's top recreation hot spots, Durango is the ideal destination for your next...

Adventure West
destinations

Best Fun Stuff to Do in Fruita

Visit Fruita, Colorado today to take in some of the world's best hiking trails, mountain biking routes and outdoor...

Adventure West
tips advice

Best Way to See the New Bears Ears National Monument?

Bears Ears National Monument protects must see Indian ruins and canyons. The best way to see it is on a guided mountain...

Adventure West
tips advice

Desert Dawg Adventure Blawg

If you love the desert, camping and dogs, you'll love this blog! Desert Dawg Adventure Blog is highly unusual fare. For...

Adventure West
trail guides

The PERFECT Summer Adventure: CO Trail Singletrack

Last August, I had the opportunity to join on one of my favorite summer adventures to date: four days on a Colorado...

Adventure West
trail guides

DIY Ride or Guided Mountain Bike Tour?

Should you venture out on the trails on your own, or should you book a guided mountain bike tour to smooth your roll?...

Adventure West
tips advice

Fall Mountain Biking in Moab and Southeast Utah

If you're mountain biking in Moab this fall, here are some tips on how to make the most and stay safe during the best...

Adventure West
trail guides

E-Bike in Moab

e-bike mountain bike tours in moab are fun for everyone- beginner to advanced, multi day or day tours.

Adventure West
destinations

Do you want to see something A-MAZE-ing?

mountain biking in the Maze District of Canyonlands

Adventure West
trail guides

Five Reasons to Visit Moab in the Fall

See our top five reasons to visit Moab in the fall.

Adventure West
trail guides

Flats or Clips? Mountain Bike Pedal Options

Cycling is filled with all these ying and yang concepts. Here we consider the pros and cons of flat vs clipped-in...

Adventure West
trail guides

Cool off this summer a Grand Canyon North Rim Tour

Escape the heat of summer and cool off on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, riding on the Arizona Trail and Rainbow...

Adventure West
trail guides

How to Keep Singletracks Single

Don't ruin the Moab desert by creating new trails --- stick to the existing trail. Help us keep our singletracks single...

Adventure West
tips advice

Front Wheel Lifts or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Rocks

Navigating all the rocks in Moab can be a challenge if you are new to it. Learn Front Wheel Lifts to smooth out the...

Adventure West
trail guides

How To Not Die In The Desert

Drink water when visiting Moab: it can be the difference between a pleasant hike and a trip to the hospital....

Adventure West
trail guides

Introduction to Mountain Biking in Moab

For those who have never ridden off-road on a mountain bike, or are relatively new to the sport, this is the perfect...

Adventure West
gear

If You Think Bikepacking Sucks, Try A Guided Trip

I am on day one of a five-day guided trip where someone else takes care of everything - quite a change from my recent...

Adventure West
trail guides

In Canyon Country, A Paper Map Can Save Your Life

Heading out into the canyon country desert, for mountain biking, hiking, jeeping or canyoneering? It can be tempting to...

Adventure West
trail guides

The best of the Kokopelli on E-bikes

Have you tried an e-bike yet? We find that riders of any level can boost their level of fun and we love how they can...

Adventure West
trail guides

The little known history of Moab's Slickrock Trail

Despite its legendary mtb status, Moab's famous Slickrock Trail was putting Moab on the map in other sports long before...

Adventure West
tips advice

Leave No Trace: How to Recreate Responsibly in the Moab Desert

Do you know about Leave No Trace? We follow the 7 principles on all of our tours to minimize our impact in the places...

Adventure West
gear

Lowdown on the Hightower (bike, not Jim)

A review of the Santa Cruz Hightower: it "gives you the stability to stay off the brakes, even when the road gets crazy...

Adventure West
general

World's Best List of Moab Mountain Bike Shops and Services

Planning a mountain bike trip to Moab? This is the world's best list of moab mountain bike shops services: guided...

Adventure West
trail guides

Moab Mountain Biking Guide

Moab mountain biking guide for beginner and low-intermediate riders, with directions on how to get to each trailhead,...

Adventure West
trail guides

Moab's Most Popular Fall Mountain Bike Trips

Moab's Fall Mountain Bike Trips Ranked by Popularity: Fall has always been super popular for Moab visitors, especially...

Adventure West
trail guides

Mountain Bike Between Bryce and Zion National Parks

5 Tips for Riding Southern Utah's Best Kept Secret: Mountain Bike Between Bryce and Zion National Parks. Numerous...

Adventure West
trail guides

Mountain Biking in Moab: Questions Frequently Asked

Mountain biking in Moab: a list of some of the questions most frequently asked when people are visiting Moab,...

Adventure West
trail guides

Mountain Bike Singletracks in Arches and Canyonlands?

Mountain Bike Singletracks in Arches and Canyonlands? Where?! -- Short Answer: There are none. Long Answer:...

Adventure West
tips advice

How to Play in Canyon Country Without Ruining It

Planning to spend a week or a day visiting Canyon Country? Here are a few simple rules about how to play in this mostly...

Adventure West
trail guides

Oregon Timber Trail: cross entire state 55% singletrack!

Up for a month of singletrack riding this summer? The Oregon Timber Trail is so new the maps are still being made,...

Adventure West
tips advice

Mountain Bike Tour Packing List

Preparing for a multi-day camping-based mountain bike tour means you need a great mountain bike tour packing list. The...

Adventure West
tips advice

Pre-season Tune-Up Tips

Spring is around the corner, so it's time to get ready for a new season of riding! Read our list of Spring Mountain...

Adventure West
seasonal

Something you need to know about Moab

Planning a visit to Moab, the adventure-sport capital of the world? Here's one thing you really need to know about...

Adventure West
tips advice

Road Cycle Moab

Moab is an amazing destination for road cyclists and "road cycle Moab" is quickly gaining popularity. Here are tips for...

Adventure West
trail guides

Prepping for a Camping-Based Mtb Tour on the White Rim

Preparing for a camping-based mtb tour: ride your bike, tune it up, hydrate, packing tips, travel arrangements for...

Adventure West
general

Spoke and Words: Mtb Adventure from Alaska to Argentina

Spoke and Words: Tales of a 3 Year Mtb Adventure from Alaska to Argentina. A blog chronicling a mountain bike adventure...

Adventure West
trail guides

This Summer Stay Cool by Getting High

Searching for some new family adventure vacation ideas for summer? Camp and Mountain Bike at Altitude in Colorado, Utah...

Adventure West
trail guides

Summer In Moab- Mountain Bike Day Tours!

Summer in Moab can be hot, but it's still a great time to be here. We love getting out on early morning rides and then...

Adventure West
tips advice

Survival of the Hydrated

Stay hydrated by observing these simple tips gleaned from observing the plants and animals in the desert trail-side...

Adventure West
trail guides

Stop and Smell the Flowers

A Wildflower Guide for Moab Mountain Bikers: On your next mountain bike ride, see if you can identify some of these...

Adventure West
tips advice

Surviving Moab's Triple Threat Environment

A few survival tips for Moab's Dry Air, Bright Sun, and Intense Heat: Prepare In Advance, Know The Early Warning Signs,...

Adventure West
trail guides

Thank you Matt and KP!

When Matt Hebberd and Kirstin Peterson arrived in Moab in the late 80's, this whole mountain bike thing was mostly just...

Adventure West
trail guides

The Slickrock Trail

The Slickrock Trail: Why it's so attractive and why it's not for everyone. It's perhaps the most famous mtb trail, but...

Adventure West
trail guides

The Other Slickrock Riding Area: Gooseberry Mesa

There is great slickrock mountain biking beyond Moab. Join us for fun slickrock riding on Gooseberry Mesa outside of...

Adventure West
seasonal

The Ride Goes On… Government Layoffs, Shutdowns and More

We're excited to be entering 40 years of leading guided Mountain Bike Tours based in Moab and on the Colorado Plataeu....

Adventure West
trail guides

The Whole Enchilada in Bites

The Whole Enchilada Mtb Trail - number one mountain bike trail in the world - broken down into bites, plus news about...

Adventure West
trail guides

The White Rim Trail, Island-In-The-Sky District — A Truly Special Place

The White Rim Trail, located in the Island-In-The-Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, is a true back country...

Adventure West
trail guides

Only Have a Few Days in Moab? Here's our Recommendations

The average amount of time spent in Moab is 3-4days. Do you have limited time and want to maximize your itinerary? Here...

Adventure West
trail guides

Tips for Mountain Biking in Winter Moab

Moab is not known for its winter season but it can be a great time for cycling — if conditions permit and you make...

Adventure West
tips advice

Tips for Mountain Biking in Moab

A Uniquely Moab List of Tips for Mountain Biking in Moab: Be Self-reliant; Kind; Nice; Safe + Special Considerations If...

Adventure West
trail guides

Top Four Reasons to Visit Moab in the Spring

Top Four Reasons to Visit Moab in the Spring Are you already dreaming of your desert getaway next year? We want to...

Adventure West
destinations

Why Needles to Moab is Just as Good as the White Rim

Needles to Moab is as good as the White Rim. Read on to find out why we think so and why you should join a tour.

Adventure West
destinations

Utah's National Parks: Travel Costs – 1 wk Parks Loop Tour

Utah's National Parks are famous for their unique red rock sandstone features and sweeping vistas. Less well known is...

Adventure West
safety

Five Quick Questions to Test Your Utah Biking Safety Knowledge

A super quick quiz:on Utah biking safety laws: bike lanes, helmet requirements, red lights, hands on the handlebars,...

Adventure West
trail guides

A Vacation Less Ordinary

You want a few good ideas for a vacation less ordinary? Here are five ideas based out of Durango, CO - definitely not...

Adventure West
trail guides

Why the Whole Enchilada is the Best Ride in the World

We are not alone in thinking that the Whole Enchilada is the best ride in the world. Yes, we are biased because it is...

Adventure West
tips advice

Why Our Guides Are The Best in the Industry

Why our guides are the best in the mountain bike tour industry.

Adventure West
trail guides

Winter Mountain Biking in Moab?

Winter Mountain Biking in Moab? Considering a visit to Moab during December and January - the best advice is to call...

Adventure West
trail guides

Winter Training: 20 Minute Workout for Mountain Bikers

A 20-minute winter training program for mountain bikers based on "Foundation: Redefine Your Core, Conquer Back Pain,...