Telluride to Moab

MEETING TIME AND PLACE

This trip will meet at 7:00am MST at Western Spirit, 478 Mill Creek 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 Mon-Fri, 9-5 to schedule your pickup. Muffins, scones, fruit and coffee will be served.

ENDING TIME AND PLACE

We will ride into Western Spirit between 2:00-3:00 pm on the last day.

ITINERARY

TRIP DAY 1

This great ride begins in historic Telluride, after our three hour shuttle from Moab. Our route takes us directly underneath the dramatic Mount Sneffels Wilderness Area and offers outstanding views of the snow capped San Juan Mountains. In the early summer the wildflowers are incredible. In the fall, the golden hue of aspen and scrub oak add a nice touch to the spectacular mountain scenery. This afternoon, we will climb up towards Last Dollar Pass, which is just over 10,500 feet. This is a tough long climb but the awesome scenery will keep you going. Our camp is situated just over the top of the pass and we're sure that you'll understand why this is one of our favorites. TOTAL MILEAGE - 14 miles ELEVATION GAIN - 2,400 feet

TRIP DAY 2

Our second day begins with a fun descent down the backside to Hastings Mesa and Route 62 which we will follow for two to three miles before heading back to the dirt. On this 2,200 foot downhill, we will descend through beautiful meadows filled with lush stands of aspen trees. A few rollers and a great creek crossing keep the fun level high. After our long descent, we begin a gradual climb up to the Uncompahgre Plateau which we will follow for the next few days. Views off to the south of the plateau lend a proper perspective to this amazing area. From the mesas, we can see the valleys far below us and the snow capped peaks above us. The plant life changes as dramatically as do our views. Tonight our camp will be in the aspens at 9,000 feet. TOTAL MILEAGE - 39 miles ELEVATION GAIN - 3,100 feet

TRIP DAY 3

Our ride today takes us along the top of the Uncompahgre Plateau. From Windy Point, views of the La Sal Mountains are spectacular. Here the red rock desert country joins the mountains in an impressive geological display. The sediments that were laid down millions of years ago were warped upwards when the mountains rose from beneath the surface. The resultant landscape provides an interesting contrast of high snow capped peaks and arid desert. We can see the route that we will be following on our way to the La Sals. Yet the steep climb up John Brown Canyon remains deceptively hidden. TOTAL MILEAGE - 52 miles ELEVATION GAIN - 2,800 feet

TRIP DAY 4

Our last day on the plateau takes us through beautiful pine forests to just above the town of Gateway. From camp, we'll roll along the plateau before we begin a great descent through a beautiful canyon. The vegetation in this canyon is quite diverse and changes dramatically as we lose elevation. After this descent we will then climb a thousand feet before we arrive at our camp in the Ponderosas, where we'll have lunch. An afternoon of relaxation is in order. A short hike from camp will take us to a point overlooking Unaweep Canyon which is where we will be heading in the morning. From this impressive point we will get a hint of tomorrow's big climb up John Brown Canyon. TOTAL MILEAGE - 17 miles ELEVATION GAIN - 1,900 feet

TRIP DAY 5

Today we have a long descent followed by the big climb. First we will descend 3,000 vertical feet in 10 miles. After we roll through the small town of Gateway and cross the Dolores River, we begin the difficult ascent into the La Sal Mountains. The climb up John Brown Canyon is a strenuous one, however soon after beginning the climb great views of the mountains appear. In the afternoon, we reach North Beaver Mesa where we will camp high above the Colorado River at 8,300 feet. Here on the mesa top our view encompasses both the mountains and the desert. There are few places in the world where such a perspective is possible. TOTAL MILEAGE - 34 miles ELEVATION GAIN - 5,000 feet

TRIP DAY 6

If you like to ride downhill, you will love today's ride. We will descend a total of 5,700 vertical feet and 31 miles into the Moab Valley. We will begin our ride on the north side of the La Sal Mountains and work our way around to the central range, high above the Moab Valley. But first we start with a quick tour of the evidence of life here about 80 million years ago. Hidden in the scrub oak at an elevation of 7,500 feet are dinosaur track impressions in the rock. They're about twice the size of anyone's Sidi's! While still pondering this amazing site we'll hop on our bikes for a ripping 1,700 foot descent toward Castle Valley. We will get on the La Sal Mountain Loop Road (paved) and climb about seven miles up to Bald Mesa. In the afternoon, we ride a great 26 mile, 4,000 foot descent into the Moab Valley. TOTAL MILEAGE - 35 miles ELEVATION GAIN - 1,800 feet
TERRAIN

Riding Surface: Hard packed clay, loose gravel; some loose, rocky sections. Mostly dirt road route with some pavement, no singletrack.
Technical Difficulty: Moderate.
Physical Difficulty: Difficult. Steep climbs, long days and high elevations make this ride a challenging one.
Altitude: 4,000 - 10,500 feet.

Please Note: Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety, and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.

TRAVEL LOGISTICS

-Driving
Moab is located 30 miles south of Interstate 70 on Highway 191. We have a roomy parking area.

-Flying into Salt Lake City, UT
Airport Code: SLC
From Salt Lake City there are 2 options.

1) Rent a car and drive to Moab, it will take approximately 4 hours. You can park at our shop while you are on your tour.

2) Contact Moab Luxury Coach at 435-940-4212 to make a reservation. They have a limited schedule, so please contact them to find get rates and days they drive.

-Flying into Grand Junction, CO
Airport Code: GJT
From Grand Junction there are now 2 options.

1) Rent a car and drive to Moab, it will take approximately 2 hours. You can park at our shop while you are on your tour.
Thrify Car Rental has an office in Moab 435-259-7317.

2) Contact Moab Luxury Coach at 435-940-4212 to get rates and days that they drive.

-Flying into Moab
Great Lakes Aviation flies from Denver to Moab for $99 each way. They have two flights daily. Scheduled flight times and additional pricing can be found on their website. Or call 800-554-5111 to make a reservation.

For a shuttle from the Moab Airport into town call Coyote Shuttle at 435-259-8656, or Rising Star Taxi at 435-210-4438.

LODGING

It is a good idea to book your rooms ahead and here are a few recommendations.

Best Western Canyonlands Inn
$160-230
435-259-5167, 800-528-1234

Ramada Inn
$100-200
888-989-1988, 435-259-7141
The Ramada is where the Bighorn Express shuttle from Salt Lake City stops.

Red Stone Inn
$70-90
800-772-1972, 435-259-3500
They have a bike work station with stand and bikes are allowed in your room.

Big Horn Lodge
$90 and up
800-325-6171, 435-259-6171

Cali Cochitta B&B
$125-165
888-429-8112, 435-259-4961

Apache Motel
$50-75
800-228-6882, 435-259-5727

Dream Keeper Inn
$125-185
888-230-3247, 435-259-3247

The Gonzo Inn
$160 and up
800-791-4044, 435-259-2515

Up the Creek Campground
$25-30, $6 showers
435-260-1888

Moab/Canyonlands Central Reservations
800-505-5343
Central Reservations represents every variety of lodging in Moab and will help you choose the ideal room for you.

Above rates are approximate.

WEATHER

There are really just two kinds of weather: weather you like and weather you do not like. Come prepared for both and you won't care what the weather does.

If you have questions about temperatures for your specific trip please feel free to give us a call 800-845-2453 or email us at biking@westernspirit.com. We will be happy to give you packing suggestions and help you with ideas for things to do before and after your bike trip.

PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP

You will receive a tour packing list with your tour confirmation package. Be sure to bring everything on this list. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed! When you arrive for your tour, we will give you a dry bag in which to pack your gear. If you have questions about anything on the list, please call us.

SHIPPING YOUR BIKE

You are welcome to ship your bike to us in advance of your trip. For a moderate fee we will unpack it, build it, and ship it back home to you afterwords. Bikes can be insured to $4,000. Domestic shipping only. If you decide you want to go this route, you must call us in advance of your trip so we can inform the shop that your bike is on its way.

To ship your bike UPS, send it to Western Spirit Cycling, 478 Mill Creek Dr, Moab, UT 84532; 435-259-8732. It is critical that you include your name and tour date on the outside of the box. Check with your local UPS people for the number of days needed for it to arrive in time. There is no Saturday delivery to Moab. It is imperative to have your bike finely tuned and cleaned before your tour so you know it is in top running condition.

If you have any other questions about trip logistics, please feel free to send us an email or, better yet, to call us at 800-845-2453. We will be happy to try to help you answer any other questions you might have about our bike trips.

THINGS TO DO

RESTAURANTS

BREAKFAST
The Moab Diner, 189 S. Main St - classic greasy spoon, great service
Jail House Café, 101 N. Main St - up scale menu w/ eggs Benedict and ginger pancakes
Red Rock Bakery, 74 S. Main St - fresh baked bagels, muffins, scones

LUNCH
The Peace Tree, 20 S. Main St - juice bar, smoothies, wraps
Slickrock Café, Main and Center St - full menu

DINNER
Banditos Grill, 467 N. Main - great Mexican
Zax Woodfire Pizza, 96 S. Main - pizza, burgers, etc

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
The Center Café, 100 West, 435-259-4295 - award winning globally inspired cuisine
Buck's Grill House, 1393 Highway 191, 435-259-5201 - excellent steaks
The Desert Bistro, 92 E. Center, 435-259-0756 - great southwestern food

BOOKS

The books listed below can be purchased by calling Canyonlands Natural History Association at 800-840-8978 or checking out http://www.cnha.org/.

DESERT SOLITAIRE by Edward Abbey
This is the quintesenitial Abbey tale, and a thought provoking historical view of Moab.

THE MONKEY WRENCH GANG by Edward Abbey
This early tail of the environmental struggle is set in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park.

MAPS

Your guides will have all the maps necessary for your trip. If you would like your own copy for a souvenir, here is all the info:

The maps listed below can also be purchased by calling Canyonlands Natural History Association at 800-840-8978 or checking out http://www.cnha.org/.

MOAB EAST, Latitude 40
This map covers many Moab area rides.

MOAB WEST, Latitude 40
This map covers the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK: Maze District/NE Glen Canyon NRA
National Geographic Trails Illustrated
This map covers the Maze.

ACTIVITIES

RIDES
For all rides we recommend the Moab East and West maps.
Gemini Bridges - a great 2-3 hour introductory ride which can be done with a shuttles, we recommend Acme Shuttle at 435-260-2534 or Coyote Shuttle at 435-259-8656.
Porcupine Rim - a more advance 3 to 6 hour 20-30 mile adventure that can also involve the shuttle companies above.
Amasa Back - Take the Kane Creek Road off Main Street by Burger King and head out along the Colorado River through the Moab Valley Portal. This ride is an out-and-back and can be fun even if you don't make it past the pavement.

RIVER TRIPS
Canyon Voyages, 800-773-6007 - whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Colorado River, including half-day, full-day, and multi-day options

HIKES
Arches National Park, 435-719-2299, 5 miles North of Moab on Highway 191 - hike to the famous Delicate Arch (4 miles round trip) or explore the Windows section of the Park. Whether you have a hole day or just a few hours, Arches is worth the trip.
Other Hikes - There are literally hundreds of hikes in the Moab area, we recommend Negro Bill Canyon or Hidden Valley if you have some time to explore.

SHOPPING
Main Street in Moab - Almost all of Moab's shops can be reached by strolling down Main Street. You can find everything from silver Navajo jewelry to toy lizards.