White Rim MTB Ride
Canyonlands National Park
The White Rim Trail; held within and around the borders of Canyonlands National Park, holds many wonders beginning its life first as cattle access to the scarce water sources, then uranium mining, and most currently as a trail to the desert wonders remembered so keenly by Ed Abbey. Wilderness, wind, geologic features, sand, sun, snakes, rocks, rocks, and more rocks, and the occasional pit-toilet and ruin is what makes the White Rim so spectacular. Sure! You can find these in many places outside of the hectic US National Park system, but what makes this trail so special is that it's heavily regulated by permits and extreme conditions making it one of the better remote trails in the system.
We (our mud-dog group of 7) decided to ride the trail with the help of our self-powered mountain bikes (sag vehicle included for full disclosure) in 4 days to cover the 100 miles. Permits for access and camping are awarded by the NPS well in advance and come with a stroke of luck on timing giving us the impression that the trail would be a party scene crowded with jugheads and unrelenting loud trail-mongers. For our adventure, this couldn't be further from the truth! We were alone for the most part and only joined by like-minded adventurers. Perhaps it was because it was Easter weekend or the tailend of the famous Moab Easter Jeep Safari, but we had ZERO issues with noise, trash, stinky toilets, or dust caused by the roadhogs. To be cliche, it was ABSOLUTELY perfect!
100 remote miles, thousands of feet in elevation gain, all dirt road with minimal access to water or shade. Those are the stats that dominate people's mind when they choose to ride the White Rim. Beyond that, are the many conversations with new friends, out-loud gregarious laughs, exposing your pure self to everyone, dirt where it may not belong, and epic disastrous hair! These will live longer in my heart than the 100 miles and grueling elevation gains that welcome the riders at the end of the trail. I discovered new strengths about myself, but more importantly life-long new friends like Bryan, Jenie, and Dan. Further, for the friends that have shared many adventures with us, like Kit and Stuart, they brought comfort, kindness, and forgiveness to the trip beyond their everyday contributions to our friendship. I can't say enough how important and impactful the make-up of a group experiencing this kind of journey can be. They made it when they could have broken it! Choose wisely!
I hope you enjoy the following photos as much as we did when creating them. A huge THANK YOU to Bradley, Stuart, Kit, Bryan, Jenie, and Dan for being such amazing "dirtbags" with me. I'd travel anywhere with you guys!
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| Airport Campground - Night 1 |
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| Musselman Arch - yes that is a 800 ft drop below the 4 ft slap of stone we're standing on. |
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| Ample & Free Bike Parking |
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| Candlestick Campground - night # 2 |
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| Sunset at Candlestick CG |
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Bryan having a good time on the edge!
Holeman Slot Canyon |
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| Holeman Slot Canyon & a VERY Happy Bryan |
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