The Santa Cruz Hightower is one of the best all-around trail bikes for Moab’s demanding terrain, combining long-travel 29er stability on rough, fast descents with enough pedaling efficiency for the big climbs, which is exactly why it has been a top-end bike in the Rim Tours rental fleet. Whether you are charging down the Flint Trail in The Maze or grinding up the rocky climbs on the White Rim, the Hightower delivers confidence and capability across the full spectrum of Moab riding.
Why the Hightower Works for Moab
Moab riding has a specific character that rewards certain bike qualities. The terrain is rocky, often fast, and features long descents interspersed with sustained climbs. Trails like the Whole Enchilada drop from 11,200 feet to 4,000 feet over 26 miles, with sections of brutally rough, high-speed descent. The Maze tours feature the Flint Trail, a seemingly endless thrill ride of rough jeep road descending into the most remote district of Canyonlands National Park.
For this kind of riding, you need a bike that:
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Stays stable at speed on rough terrain. The Hightower’s 135mm of rear travel and 150mm fork soak up rocks and chatter, allowing you to stay off the brakes and carry speed through rough sections. As Bike Magazine noted in their review, “We loved how the Hightower made easy work of rough, high-speed descents.”
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Pedals efficiently uphill. Moab is not all downhill. The White Rim has several significant climbs, the Whole Enchilada requires pedaling through the upper sections, and even the Maze tours include long stretches of jeep road that demand sustained pedaling effort. The Hightower’s Virtual Pivot Point suspension design minimizes pedal bob and maintains traction on climbs.
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Handles variable terrain confidently. In a single Moab ride, you might encounter smooth slickrock, chunky rock gardens, deep sand, packed dirt singletrack, and loose gravel. The Hightower’s geometry and suspension tune handle all of these surfaces without feeling out of its depth on any of them.
Key Specifications
The Hightower is built around Santa Cruz’s full-carbon frame with their refined Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension design. Key features include:
- Travel: 135mm rear / 150mm fork
- Wheel compatibility: Designed for 29-inch wheels, with geometry flip chip for both 29er and 27.5+ wheel/tire configurations
- Hub spacing: Boost front and rear for increased stiffness and tire clearance
- Geometry: Modern trail geometry with a slack head angle for descending stability and a steep seat angle for climbing efficiency
The wheel-size versatility is a notable feature. If you prefer the rollability of 29-inch wheels (which most Moab riders do, as larger wheels handle rocks better), the Hightower delivers. If you want the wider contact patch and increased traction of 27.5+ tires for particularly technical terrain, you can switch without changing the frame geometry, thanks to the flip chip adjustment.
How It Compares to Other Trail Bikes
The trail bike category is crowded, and several bikes compete with the Hightower for “do-everything” status. Here is how the Hightower fits in the landscape:
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Versus shorter-travel XC bikes (100-120mm): The Hightower gives up a small amount of climbing efficiency in exchange for significantly better descending capability. On Moab’s rocky terrain, this trade-off strongly favors the Hightower. You lose 30 seconds on a climb but gain minutes of confidence and speed on the descent.
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Versus longer-travel enduro bikes (160mm+): Enduro bikes descend faster but are noticeably heavier and less efficient on the extended climbs and flat sections that are common on Moab multi-day tours. The Hightower hits the sweet spot for all-day, multi-terrain riding.
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Versus hardtails: Hardtails are lighter and more efficient on smooth surfaces, but Moab’s rocky terrain punishes them. On a multi-day tour where rider fatigue is a factor, the Hightower’s rear suspension reduces the cumulative beating that turns legs to jelly by day three.
The Hightower in Our Rental Fleet
Rim Tours maintains the Hightower as one of our premium rental bikes because it matches the needs of our tours better than almost any other bike on the market. Our guests range from intermediate riders on their first Moab trip to advanced riders looking for a capable machine for aggressive trails.
The Hightower serves both audiences. Intermediate riders benefit from the stability and forgiveness of the suspension, which smooths out mistakes and makes rocky terrain less intimidating. Advanced riders appreciate the speed, the descending capability, and the confidence to push harder on technical terrain.
We maintain our fleet bikes meticulously, with fresh suspension service, new tires, and full drivetrain inspections before each tour season. When you rent a Hightower (or any bike) from Rim Tours, you are getting a machine that has been prepared to handle the most demanding terrain in the West.
What Bike Should You Ride in Moab?
If you are planning a Moab trip and wondering what bike to bring or rent, here are our general recommendations:
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Multi-day tours (White Rim, Maze, Kokopelli): A trail bike with 120-140mm of rear travel is ideal. The Hightower is a perfect fit. Avoid XC race bikes (too fragile) and heavy enduro bikes (too inefficient for long days).
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Day tours on singletrack (Navajo Rocks, Klondike, Dead Horse Point): Any quality trail or all-mountain bike works well. 120-150mm of travel is the sweet spot.
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Whole Enchilada / Porcupine Rim: This ride favors bikes with a bit more travel (140-160mm) due to the long, rough descents. The Hightower at 135mm is on the lower end of ideal but handles it well.
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E-bike tours: Our e-bike fleet is purpose-built for Moab terrain. See our e-bike tours for details.
If you do not want to travel with your own bike, Rim Tours offers bike rentals including the Hightower and other premium mountain bikes, fully set up and tuned for Moab conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent a Santa Cruz Hightower from Rim Tours?
Yes. The Hightower is available as part of our premium rental fleet. Availability depends on the season and bike size. Reserve in advance for the best selection, especially during peak spring and fall seasons.
What size Hightower should I ride?
Santa Cruz sizes the Hightower from small through XXL. As a general guide: riders 5’2”-5’6” fit a small, 5’6”-5’10” a medium, 5’10”-6’1” a large, and 6’1”+ an XL or XXL. Our team can help determine the right size based on your height, inseam, and riding style.
Is the Hightower good for beginners?
The Hightower is a capable bike for riders of all levels. Beginners benefit from the stability and suspension forgiveness. However, it is a high-end bike, and beginners may find that a simpler, less expensive trail bike serves them equally well. If you are renting from Rim Tours, our team will recommend the best bike for your experience level and the specific trails you plan to ride.
Should I bring my own bike or rent for a Moab trip?
If you have a quality trail bike with 120-150mm of travel in good mechanical condition, bring it. You will be more comfortable on a bike you know. If your bike is not suited for rocky terrain (road bike, gravel bike, old hardtail), renting is the better option. Traveling with a bike adds $50-100 each way in airline fees and the hassle of packing and shipping.