Grand Staircase Escalante & Capitol Reef Bike Tour
RIDING TYPE
Introductory
DURATION
5 Days
SEASON
April - May / September - October
Grand Staircase-Escalante & Capitol Reef Bike Tour | Beginner-Friendly Adventure
Introduction: Into the Heart of Utah’s Geology
The Grand Staircase has been called a “world class view a minute”—and it’s true. Our bike tour takes you deep into the incredible Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, one of Utah’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. We begin at the wonderful Boulder Mountain Lodge in the tiny town of Boulder, Utah. After a moderate hike along Calf Creek, we begin our descent on the famous Burr Trail toward Capitol Reef National Park.
The Henry Mountains, the last mountain range to be explored in the lower 48, tower over the elaborate canyons which make up the Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef. This trip is a great way to see the heart of Utah’s fascinating and diverse geology. With a comfortable lodge stay and three nights of supported camping, it is a perfect introduction to mountain bike touring, and riders of all abilities will marvel at the scenery.
Ready for your introductory adventure? Secure your spot on the Grand Staircase-Escalante trip today!
Trip Comforts & Logistics
This tour offers a perfect blend of rugged adventure and premium comfort, ideal for those new to multi-day touring.
Premium Lodging: Enjoy a double-occupancy stay (single available at checkout) at the renowned Boulder Mountain Lodge on Day 1.
Five-Star Dining: Day 1 dinner is hosted at the intimate Hell’s Backbone Grill, serving five-star cuisine.
Fully Supported Camping: The remaining three nights feature our comfortable, fully supported base camp setup.
Difficulty: This is an Introductory level trip—perfect for riders who prioritize spectacular scenery and manageable trails.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
Our adventure begins in Moab, where we’ll shuttle through some of Utah’s most spectacular—and least-traveled—landscapes.
After arriving in Boulder, Utah, we’ll head toward the town of Escalante along the area known as the hogback, with incredible views.
We will drop off the hogback to the Calf Creek Trail Head where we’ll start our moderate, 6-mile hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls.
This hike includes a great introduction to desert plants, incredible views of ancient Ancestral Puebloan granaries, some haunting petroglyphs, and, of course, a visit to the falls.
After our hike, we will shuttle back to the Boulder Mountain Lodge for dinner at Hell’s Backbone Grill.
From the lodge, we’ll begin a magnificent downhill ride on the Burr Trail through the stunning Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
The first 30 miles of this road have recently been paved, making for smooth riding as we begin atop Durffy Mesa.
As we drop into the narrows of Long Canyon, sheer sandstone walls rise for several hundred feet above us.
We will turn off the Burr Trail toward the Lamp Stand formation, where we will spend the next two nights.
Our 270-degree view includes the Henry Mountains, Boulder Mountain, and Navajo Mountain.
Today we will do a loop from camp on the Wolverine Loop Road.
The road provides some great swooping downhill sections interspersed with a few rolling climbs.
We drop down below the Wingate Sandstone, offering spectacular views of the Henry Mountains, which rise 7,000 feet.
Lunch will be at the entrance to the Wolverine Petrified Wood Area, where we can learn more about the vast natural history.
After lunch, we’ll pedal through Horse and Wolverine Canyons and back to the Burr Trail.
An optional extension is available for riders up for the challenge.
Today our ride begins at the boundary to Capitol Reef National Park, in the foreground lies the twisted rock formations of the Waterpocket Fold.
After a fun descent, 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.
After our hike, we’ll head back to the Burr Trail for lunch at the top of the spectacular Burr Trail switchbacks.
Descending the switchbacks places us at the base of the fold, where we head south to our camp, surrounded by desert solitude.
After leaving camp this morning, we will ride the most primitive section of the entire tour.
Along this doubletrack road, we will experience a few short, technical sections as we cross a series of drainages.
Once we hit the pavement, our ride is all downhill toward the shores of Lake Powell.
Despite the fact that so much fascinating country now lies underwater, the lake itself is quite beautiful and provides a dramatic end to our journey.
-TRIP NOTES
The fine print
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.
Road Surface
Variable, dirt roads, broken slickrock, clay, pavement.
Overall Rating
Introductory
Technical Difficulty
Easy to moderate.
Physical Difficulty
Easy to moderate.
Altitude
4,000 - 8,000 feet
Biking Mileage
16-28/35 miles per day. (optional extension on longest day)
Hiking Mileage
16-28/35 miles per day. (optional extension on longest day)
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
Moab, UT. Meets 7:00 AM MST at Aarchway Inn, 1551 North Riverview Drive. Drive ~4.5hrs to Boulder Mountain Lodge (lunch provided).
Getting There
30 mi south of I-70 on Hwy 191. Flying into SLC (~4hr drive or Moab Express) or Grand Junction (GJT, ~2hr or Moab Express).
Taxi Service
Moab Taxi 435-210-4297.
Lodging Before Your Trip
Aarchway Inn
Where the trip meets (10% off for WS guests) Use Hyperlink above or mention your a Western Spirit guest over the phone for discount.
Moab Taxi: 435-210-4297
435-259
Taxi: 435-259-8294
PACKING
Standard western spirit packing list
- Meals/camp gear provided
- Bring/rent bike & helmet, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cycling & camp clothing, personal items, tipping cash (10-20%)
Bring or rent
Bringing or renting
- Bike (rentals come with flat pedals)
- Helmet (gratis w
- Rental bike)
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Cycling clothing
- Cycling shoes
- 3-5 pair cycling shorts
- 3-5 cycling shirts
- Long sleeve cycling shirt
- Long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
- Cycling socks
- Windbreaker
- Tights or leg warmers
- 2 pair cycling gloves
- Rain jacket & rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Warm layer
- Sunglasses
Camp clothing
- Camp shorts/shirts
- Warm socks
- Long underwear
- 2 pair warm long pants
- Fleece/sweater
- Pile or down jacket
- Warm gloves and hat
- Brimmed hat
- Bathing suit
- Hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rain gear
Personal
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Towel
- Biodegradable soap
- Wet-wipes
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Sunglasses
- Optional day bag
- Stuff sacks
- Cash for tipping (10-20% of trip price)
Optional
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Favorite beverages
- Books
- Maps
- Portable USB charger
Need more information about our bike trips?
Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732.
Need more information about our bike trips? Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732
Gallery
-A DAY WITH-
Western Spirit
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