The Grand Staircase-Escalante, one of Utah’s newest National Monuments, defies description with its varied and remote terrain. The riding is mostly moderate but includes a few challenging sections of trail with short steep climbs and descents and rocky or sandy washes at between 4,000 - 7,000 feet elevation. We start our adventure in Boulder, Utah with a rolling downhill ride on the Burr Trail through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The ride continues with great swooping climbs and descents interspersed with sweeping views of the Waterpocket Fold, the Henry Mountains and Navajo Mountain. We’ll visit the Wolverine Petrified Wood Area, Capitol Reef National Park and hike through Upper Muley Twist Canyon. We end with a downhill run to Bullfrog Bay, on the shores of Lake Powell. We camp in two different locations. This is a perfect tour for a mixed abilities group or for those looking for a relaxed pace of travel. Mileage each day varies with options and short hikes allow us time off our bikes to explore hidden canyon trails. For those considering doing a multi-day tour for their first time, especially those who have little or no camping experience, we’ve written a detailed description of what it’s like to go on a multi-day tour with us. Click here to read it . For further details about this particular tour, view any of the below items: Grand Staircase-Escalante Photo Gallery Double-click the first photo, then right-arrow through the sequence for a step-by-step preview of the entire tour.
Itinerary
Day 1 – This trip will meet at 7:30 a.m. at Rim Tours’ Headquarters in Moab, Utah. After loading the van, we will drive to Boulder, Utah on the edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante, the drive is approximately 3 1/2 hours. **You may meet us in Green River, Utah if this is more suitable to your travel plans. Please call us in advance to arrange and for specific times. ** The drive is beautiful and the scenery will range from stark wide open desert to the tight canyons of Capitol Reef and aspen covered Boulder Mountain as we work our way to the remote town of Boulder and our ride begins just outside of town. We’ll head a short ways down the beginning of the Burr Trail to our jumping off point for biking as we head into the backcountry. We begin with a downhill ride on the Burr Trail through the newly established Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. After years of controversy, the first 30 miles of this trail have been paved. The trail gradually descends through first farmland into interesting slickrock formations. As we drop into the narrows of Long Canyon, sheer sandstone walls rise for several hundred feet above us. Along the way we’ll pass through The Gulch, The Circle Cliffs and Deer Creek Recreation Area. A moderate climb brings us to Studhorse Peaks, our “camp with a view” for the next two nights. Our 270 degree view includes the Henry Mountains to the east, Boulder Mountain to the north and Navajo Mountain to the south, one of the four sacred mountains for the Navajo people. Mileage: 28 miles; optional hiking from camp and support vehicle are available throughout the day.
Day 2 – Elevation: 7,000 ft Your guides will serve up a hot and yummy breakfast and today we will ride a loop from camp on the Wolverine Loop Road. The road provides some great swooping downhill sections interspersed with a few rolling climbs. We begin in the Pinyon and Juniper trees and drop down below the Windgate Sandstone. Views of the Henry mountains, which rise 7,000 feet from the surrounding countryside, are spectacular. Along the way we visit Wolverine Petrified Wood Area where we can learn even more about the vast natural history of our surroundings. Continuing on we will pedal through Horse and Wolverine Canyons, where the road and drainage become one, eventually re-joining the Burr Trail and back to our same camp. Mileage: 28 miles with support available for the last 1/3 of the day.
Day 3 – After breakfast we head east through the twisted rock formations of the Waterpocket Fold, an abrupt geologic formation. As we enter Capitol Reef National Park, the contrast of the mountains and canyons creates a dramatic interface. After a quick five miles, we’ll turn off the Burr Trail and ride out to the trailhead at Upper Muley Twist Canyon. At the beginning of our hike, we’ll have a wonderful view looking right up the fold. This canyon was named by the Mormons who arrived in their wagons. They said traveling through the canyon would “twist a mule.” The Henry Mountains will remain a presence in our sights, a wild high country in the midst of these red rock canyons. Free roaming buffalo herds are still part of the mountain ecosystem. After our hike we are back on the Burr Trail topping out the Waterpocket Fold switchbacks. Descending the spectacular switchbacks places us at the base of the fold where we head south to our camp at the Brimhall Arch Overlook. As always there is exploring on foot from camp. Mileage: 29 miles riding; 1 mile hike plus options from camp.
Day 4 – Elevation: 7,000 ft
Elevation: 7,000 ft Elevation: 7,000 ft