Recommended Trails and Trail Systems
Raptor Route
Difficulty rating: Intermediate/Difficult, Blue-Black. The entire route connects four trails: all four together are 12.1 miles one-way. 284’ elevation gain, 2,779’ elevation loss.
Seasonal influence: Year-round. Avoid when muddy to protect the trail.
Soar down varied terrain with a bird’s-eye view of the Moab valley. The Raptor Route was originally created as an alternative to Porcupine Rim on the Whole Enchilada route. The entire system connects four trails: Eagle Eye, Hawks Glide, Falcon Flow, and Kestrel Run, but it’s easy to just ride one at a time. Trails are best ridden downhill; riders can park at the bottom and bike up the road, or hire a local shuttle to bring them to the top of Eagle Eye.
Riders also have the option to ride the Falcon Climb Trail if they’d like to ride Falcon Flow as a standalone loop. The 8-mile loop starts and ends at the Falcon Flow trailhead.
Trailhead: 38.582638, -109.484875: This is the Kestrel Run trailhead, at the very bottom of the system. This is within the Sand Flats Recreation Area, which charges a day-use fee.
Navajo Rocks Trail System
Difficulty rating: Intermediate, with some intermediate/difficult trails. Blue/Black.
Seasonal influence: Year-round, but avoid summertime afternoon heat.
A fun, flowy trail system with trails that mostly roll across slickrock and sand surfaces and offer views of the Monitor and Merrimac buttes. The system is named for the Navajo sandstone formation the trails are built upon. Popular trails here include Ramblin’ (3.3 miles), Big Mesa (3.4 miles), Rocky Tops (4.6 miles), and Big Lonely (3.2 miles). The recommended riding direction of the trails is in a clockwise direction: riders will often need to shuttle themselves back to the parking lot along the road.
Trailhead: 38.637530, -109.785164. The recommended riding direction of the trails is in a clockwise direction: riders will often need to shuttle themselves back to the parking lot along the road.
Moab Brands/Bar M Trail System
Difficulty rating: Intermediate, with some Easy and Difficult trails. Green/Blue/Black.
Seasonal influence: Best in spring, fall, winter, and early in the day in summer due to little shade.
Riders can spend hours exploring the Bar M system—provided they bring enough water and snacks, since trails here have little shade. Over 30 miles of trails make up the entire Bar M system, with varied terrain suitable for riders of all skill levels and views of Arches National Park. Popular trails here include the Bar-M Loop (Easy/Intermediate; 8 miles with options to shorten), Rusty Spur (Easy/Intermediate, 1.6 miles), the Lazy/EZ Loop (Intermediate, 3.7 miles), Sidewinder (Intermediate/Difficult, 1.3 miles), and North 40 (Intermediate/Difficult, 4.2 miles).
There is a small bike skills park for new riders located in the parking lot, called the “OK Corral.” Bikers can also choose to travel to this trail system using the paved Moab Canyon Pathway: from town to the trail system is roughly 10 miles.
Trailhead: 38.651700, -109.668511
