The Maze 6-Day Bike Trip
RIDING TYPE
Intermediate
DURATION
6 Days
SEASON
March-May/ September - October
Canyonlands Maze District 6-Day Bike & Hike Tour: Great Gallery & Intermediate Riding
The Maze: 6-Day Grandeur & The Great Gallery
Nestled in the most remote district of Canyonlands National Park, the Maze is unique in the world. The vast open skies and magical rock formations are best experienced from the saddle of your mountain bike. Our guided 6-Day Bike Trip begins with a spectacular hike to the Great Gallery, one of the finest pictograph panels in North America.
Over the next few days, we will descend the famous Flint Trail to camp at the Maze Overlook. Later, we will ride to the Land of Standing Rocks, completing our journey with a ride along the Orange Cliffs. The riding is equally thrilling, featuring rolling technical doubletrack and a challenging 28-mile unsupported day. The Maze is a true Canyon Country mountain biking experience.
Ready for a 6-day technical and archaeological adventure in Canyonlands? View Dates and Book Now!
Intermediate Technical Riding & The Great Gallery Archaeological Hike
This tour is designed for Intermediate to Advanced riders, integrating deep cultural exploration:
- Archaeological Access: Includes a significant hike to the world-renowned Great Gallery in Horseshoe Canyon.
- Technical Challenge: Traverse rugged, four-wheel drive jeep roads featuring sand, slickrock, ledges, and technical doubletrack.
- Unsupported Day: Includes a crucial 28-mile unsupported riding day to test your endurance.
- Iconic Descents: Ride the thrilling, engineered switchbacks of the Flint Trail.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
We will begin our tour with a shuttle to the Horseshoe Canyon area of the Maze District.
Most of today will be spent hiking down into Horseshoe Canyon to see what many believe to be the finest pictograph panel in North America, the Great Gallery.
Archaeologists believe that this Barrier Canyon Style panel was done by the Archaic people thousands of years ago.
Our camp for the night will be at North Point, offering an expansive view of the Maze District.
Today’s ride will begin along the mesa top with views of Cleopatra’s Chair, Bagpipe Butte, and the Land of Standing Rocks.
Next, we will descend the Flint Trail, an incredible example of early engineering, dropping nearly 1,000 feet in two miles.
After this big descent, we will head out through Elaterite Basin where we will encounter some steep technical descents before cruising through Big Water Canyon to the Maze Overlook.
Our incredible view from this two-night camp includes the Chocolate Drops and the White Rim.
Today we’ll take a challenging hike into the jaw-dropping Maze canyons visible from our campsite.
The “hike” involves some scrambling as we follow rock cairns to the canyon floor.
Our goal will be the Harvest Scene, a pictograph panel painted by the Archaic people thousands of years ago.
Once down in the canyons, you’ll truly see how intricate and awe-inspiring they are.
After leaving camp, we’ll ride back towards the Flint Trail.
Today we will ride the steep downhills of Elaterite Basin in reverse—a challenging technical climb.
Then we’ll swing around beneath Land’s End and ride at the base of the Orange Cliffs until we get to Sunset Pass.
After a fast two-mile descent, we’ll cruise through the Waterhole Flat area to our camp below Teapot Rock.
Today’s out and back ride begins with some difficult and challenging technical miles in Teapot Canyon.
Caution is advised on challenging sections.
As we ride through Red Cove and the Fins, we’ll encounter jaw-dropping scenery.
In front of us to the north is the spectacular Land of Standing Rocks.
Here, iconic formations like Lizard Rock, The Wall, The Plug, Standing Rock, and Chimney Rock protrude from the ground to create a surreal landscape.
Our last day of this tour takes us back through Waterhole Flat, underneath Gunsight Butte and on to Lake Powell.
Our course parallels the Colorado River as it cuts its way through Cataract Canyon.
The riding is quite fun and easy as we cruise along a hard-packed dirt road, around numerous corners and past many slickrock pour-off canyons.
The road opens up before ending just above Lake Powell.
-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
Four wheel drive jeep roads: packed sediment, ledges, sand and slickrock.
Overall Rating
Intermediate
Technical Difficulty
Moderate with some difficult, rocky sections.
Physical Difficulty
Moderate, some long rides, not many big climbs and one unsupported day.
Altitude
4,000 - 6,000 feet
Biking Mileage
27-35 miles per day .
Hiking Mileage
27-35 miles per day .
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
Moab, UT, 7:00 AM MST at The Aarchway Inn, 1551 N Riverview Dr (meet at northern dirt lot).
Ending time: return to Moab 4:30-5:30 PM last day.
Getting there: 30 mi south of I-70 on Hwy 191; fly into Salt Lake City (SLC), Grand Junction (GJT), or Moab (CNY).
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
What we provide
- Meals
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Camp mugs & dining ware
- 1 cycling water bottle
- Camp chairs
- Dry bags
- Solar showers
- Sunscreen & bug spray
- Bike stand
- Lube
- First aid kit
Bring or rent
- Bike
- Helmet
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Cycling & camp clothing
- Rain gear
- 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
Three chapters to every day on the trail. We sweat the details so you can simply ride, eat well, and look up.
Wake to cowboy coffee on the rim, fresh fruit, pancakes and granola. Unforgettable sunrises over the canyon — every single morning.
Learn More ↗
From the Rainbow Rim Trail to the White Rim Road in Canyonlands, our guides put you on the right line for breathtaking Grand Canyon views.
Learn More ↗
We pick camps for a reason. Rivers, lakes, sunset vistas — and a chef-prepared meal under one of the darkest skies in the lower 48.
Learn More ↗-More Trips Like This
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