Our group flew into Salt Lake City, Utah then drove to Moab, Utah, the mountain biking capital of the U.S. Most of us rented mountain bikes in Moab since they have qualities bikes with 5” suspension better suited for their rocky terrain. We camped and rode various trails in the area. Some day were an a.m. ride following by an afternoon hike. Halfway through the 10-day visit we gave our legs a day-off and did a rafting tour down the Colorado River with class 2-3 rapids.
The highlight of the trip was the four days spent riding and camping on the White Rim Trail. The White Rim Trail is Utah's ultimate multi-day party trail. The trail is a 103-mile loop on jeep road through Canyonlands National Park. Technically, this trail is fairly easy. But the length (and a few stiff climbs) means you need to be in good condition to do the whole thing. The major climbs add up to 4000 vertical feet, but a GPS unit that records every little up-and-down will give you about 6000 feet total.
We rented a pickup truck as a support vehicle for food, water, camping gear, and bike parts. We took turns driving the truck. Campgrounds are spaced every few miles although waiting time for some camp sites is around one year. You must obtain a permit from the National Park Service to ride this trail. Bring cooking gear. Open fires are prohibited. Because this trail is in Canyonlands National Park, biking off-trail is prohibited.
In October we had to prepare for weather of both extremes. At night, we needed a layers and coat. During the day we would end up sweating in a sleeveless jersey within one hour. The views of the desert terrain was more colorful and dramatic than I imagined. The sky at night was so clear that I had my first real viewing of the Milky Way. The night sky was so bright with more stars than I had seen in my entire life. Sunsets were bright and huge. October really seemed to be an ideal month.
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Info on White Rim Trail
http://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/whiterimroad.htm
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