White Rim Trail - Canyonlands Mountain Bike Trip

Mountain Biking the White Rim Trail - Guided Canyonlands Adventure

The White Rim Trail is THE classic Moab mountain bike trip. With jaw-dropping gorgeous views, slot canyon hikes, and ancient ruins, this is a mountain bike ride to get you off the grid and into the vast open spaces of Canyonlands National Park.

White Rim Sandstone is an extremely hard sedimentary rock sandwiched among the layers of the Colorado Plateau. Winding through the plateau, the Colorado and Green rivers have carved out a section of Canyonlands called the Island in the Sky. The White Rim Sandstone encircles the Island and is thought to have been the border of an inland sea. Mountain biking around the White Rim is a wonderful way to experience the unique beauty of Canyonlands.

Our guided trip provides ample opportunities to explore the slot canyons and Ancestral Puebloan ruins along the way, in addition to learning how to move through this wild and vast landscape without leaving a trace. Come experience the incredible power of nature on a giant scale.

Looking for a ladies-only ride? Inquire about our White Rim Trail Ladies Ride!

See what our guided adventures are all about through TripOutside's personal epic journey with Western Spirit.

Trip Details

• Road Surface: Four wheel drive jeep roads: packed sediment, sand and slickrock.
• Overall Rating: Intermediate
• Technical Difficulty: Moderate, some steep climbs and rocky sections.
• Physical Difficulty: Moderate.
• Altitude: 4,000 - 6,000 feet
• E-Bikes Allowed

RIDING TYPE | Intermediate

TRIP DURATION | 4 Days

SEASON | March – April / September – October

*Dates Subject to change*

Location

Moab, UT - Canyonlands National Park

Ability

Typically intermediate level. Mountain biking the White Rim is a great experience for most levels of riders. The technical sections are short and can be easily walked by the less experienced while providing a fun challenge for the more experienced.

Itinerary

This Itinerary may be in reverse depending on the entry point

DAY 1

We will shuttle from our shop in Moab to the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park where we begin our ride with a dramatic descent of the Shafer Trail switchbacks. This 1,200 foot downhill lasts for three miles and brings us down to the White Rim sandstone layer. Points of interest include: the Colorado River Overlook, Musselman Arch, Little Bridge Canyon (prime Bighorn Sheep habitat) and Lathrop Canyon. The route continues with a downhill trend and then rolls gently to camp. After Lathrop Canyon, we will ride to our camp at Airport Tower and enjoy views of the La Sal and Abajo mountains. TOTAL MILEAGE: 18 miles

DAY 2

Today, as we approach Monument Basin, we will continue riding around the beautifully eroded canyons of the Colorado Plateau. In this spectacular canyon stands the Totem Pole, a 300 foot tall sandstone pillar. A gentle climb takes us to the foot of Junction Butte, marking the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers. A 1-1/2 mile side trip to White Crack offers fantastic views of both the Green and Colorado river canyons as well as the Needles District of Canyonlands. Giant free-standing pillars of rock dominate the landscape and exemplify the powerful forces of erosion at work. Continuing on past Junction Butte, we descend to the base of Murphy Hogback, where a steep 400 foot climb brings us to camp. The Hogback is the high point of the trip and from here one can look into the Maze and Needles districts of Canyonlands and beyond. TOTAL MILEAGE: 27 miles

DAY 3

We begin the day with a fun but technical descent off the Hogback down to the White Rim layer. Points of interest include Candlestick Tower and Holeman Canyon, where we may take a short hike. Hiking into this canyon is very tricky and requires some interesting moves. The hanging gardens, pools of water and narrow canyon walls make this hike one of our favorites on the White Rim. We will then continue along in a downhill mode along the rim of the sheer canyon to Potato Bottom where the White Rim sandstone layer disappears into the Green River. We’ll camp here under the cottonwoods on the bank of the Green River. TOTAL MILEAGE: 21 miles

DAY 4

A hearty breakfast will get us going for our first climb up Hardscrabble Hill. It’s a steep one, and it’s about a mile long with intermittent pitches. After topping out, we traverse the Chinle rock layer, where the miners of the 1950s searched for uranium, before dropping back down to river level. Following the course of the Green River, our final morning’s ride is an enjoyable cruise along the river bank to Horsethief Bottom. Views of Upheaval Dome, rising 1,500 feet from the trail bring to mind the geologic complexities of the area. There are different schools of thought regarding the processes which formed this interesting feature. Some think that a giant meteorite crashed into the earth here and distorted the impacted area. Others say that Upheaval Dome formed due to a slow collapse of the underlying Paradox Salt formation. Our journey ends with a major climb up the Mineral Canyon switchbacks. This strenuous climb is two miles long and gains 800 feet in elevation, bringing us back up to our beginning elevation. After lunch at the viewpoint our shuttle will take us back to Moab. TOTAL MILEAGE: 14 miles

Why Book with Western Spirit

We love biking and traveling as much as you do! For over 30 years, we’ve been in the business of bike guiding and we’ve honed every little detail to give you the highest quality bike trip on the market. We’ve cherry-picked the best mountain bike trails and road rides so you can immerse yourself in the stunning landscape of the American West. We go the extra mile to make sure you have the most fun on your bike!

At Western Spirit, our staff is the heart of our company. Our guides love what they do, and are dedicated to providing you with a memorable vacation. Each of them has received extensive training in backcountry travel, cooking, natural history, and first aid, not to mention their cycling and mechanical skills. They are committed to helping people experience the outdoors and have a wealth of knowledge to share. Their attention to every detail leaves you free to enjoy the riding.

It’s our philosophy that everyone in our busy world needs to get outside more. We know it’s tough to squeeze it all in, but with Western Spirit we’re here to make it as easy as possible. Our friendly office staff is just a call away to help you find the perfect trip for you. We believe in getting away from it all, spending rejuvenating time in nature, and most of all, having a lot of fun!

Logistics

MEETING PLACE AND TIME This trip will meet at 8:00 AM MST at the Aarchway Inn, 1551 North Riverview Drive, Moab, Utah. You will need to spend the night before in Moab.

We will be happy to pick you up at your hotel; please call us Monday - Friday, 9 - 5 to schedule your pickup.

ENDING TIME

We will return to Moab between 2:00-3:00 PM on the last day.

What's Included

The trip price includes food and drinks for the trip, guides, support vehicle, campsites, permits, and any entry fees into national parks and public lands.

• meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks, non-alcoholic drinks
• camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware
• 1 cycling water bottle
• camp chairs
• dry bags to pack your gear
• solar showers
• sunscreen & bug spray
• bike stand and lube
• guides bring their own tools
• first aid kit with basic medications

Not Included

Rental fees (bikes and camping gear), alcoholic beverages, gratuities for your guides, and applicable sales tax. If you would like to bring alcoholic beverages we will store them for you at the appropriate temperature.

FAQs

How many people are on a trip?

Most of our permits allow us to take 13 guests and 2 guides, although many trips are smaller than our maximum allowed.

Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?

Yes, no problem! We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions, and we do it frequently. Our guides are masters at making sure everyone is satisfied. Please let us know when you fill out your forms so our guides can accommodate you and your needs. It is good to be specific (e.g., vegetarian but prefer tempeh over tofu) to help the guides with meal planning.

Do you rent bikes?

Yes - for mountain bikes, we use the Specialized Stumpjumper ST 29ers. For road bikes, we use the Specialized Diverge E5 Elite. All our rental bikes come with flat pedals, a helmet, and one water bottle cage. We provide the water bottle and all the bike repair gear.

If you’re renting a bike from us, you do not need to show up early. Please meet at the scheduled time and we will fit you to your rented bike then.

All Western Spirit rental bikes come with flat pedals. If you have clipless pedals (e.g., SPD, Crank Brothers, etc.), you’re welcome to bring them along with your shoes. We swap out pedals all the time!

Do you rent camping gear?

Yes! We rent tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. Sleeping bags are thoroughly washed between trips. The following prices are for the whole trip:

2-person tent – $40 Sleeping bag – $35 Sleeping pad – $15 Total $90

When camping, where do I go to the bathroom?

It’s not a glamorous topic, and we know this can be a subject of concern and embarrassment for some. We make it as easy and sanitary as possible! If we’re camping in designated campsites, we use the pit toilets available in the campgrounds. If we’re camping in the backcountry, we obey by the pack-it-in-pack-it-out rule. We set up a portable toilet lovingly called “the groover,” and put it in a private location with a stunning view. We provide a hand wash system for clean up.

Will I be able to take a shower?

We offer solar showers which are a nice way to rinse off and refresh yourself, but it is not enough water to take a full-fledged shower. The showers are not private, so please bring a swimsuit and your own towel. Showers are dependent on water resources, which may be restricted if it’s a hot desert trip. Some campsites have streams and lakes available for swimming. We also recommend wet-wipes to refresh after a fun day on the bike.

What if I'm traveling by myself?

Please join us! We get solo travelers all the time and going on a bike trip is a great way to meet like-minded people. Many of our guests end up as lifelong friends after a Western Spirit trip.