Moab Mountain Biking Adventure: The Good, The Dusty, and The Expensive
Hey hey! Here's a tale about my epic week in Moab, Utah last spring. If you're planning your own Moab adventure, particularly for some serious mountain biking, I wanted to share my experience from last May - complete with the awesome trails, the not-so-awesome price tags, and yes, the relentless desert wind that nearly blew me off a few cliffs.
Getting to Moab: The Journey Begins
After months of planning and obsessively watching YouTube videos of Moab's legendary red rock trails, my buddy Jake and I finally loaded up and made the very, very long drive. But, we broke it up with a stop in Grand Junction for some much-needed caffeine and snacks.
Pro tip: Fill up your gas tank before hitting that final stretch into Moab. The gas stations there know they've got you cornered, and the prices reflect it.
Accommodation: Finding Our Base Camp
We initially looked at some of the campgrounds but decided against sleeping on the desert floor for five nights (I'm getting too old for that), so we split an Airbnb about 10 minutes from downtown. It wasn't fancy - basically a two-bedroom apartment with bikes allowed inside - but the AC worked, which turned out to be crucial. May temperatures were already hitting the mid-80s F (almost 30 C) during the day.
The place cost us about $180 USD per night split between two guys. Not cheap, but everything in Moab seems to operate on the "captive audience" pricing model.
The Riding: Desert Singletrack Heaven (Mostly)
Slickrock Trail
Had to start with the classic. If you've researched Moab mountain biking at all, you know about Slickrock. The 10.5-mile (about 17 kilometer) loop is basically a mountain biker's pilgrimage site, and it lived up to the hype - mostly.
What nobody properly explained is how technically challenging some sections are. The trail is marked with painted white dots and dashes on the sandstone (the "slickrock" that's actually surprisingly grippy), but there were definitely moments where I had to swallow my pride and walk my bike.
The views though? Absolutely insane. Miles of Mars-like landscape stretching out beneath you while you're perched on these wild rock formations. Worth every drop of sweat.
One unexpected issue: the wind. Holy crap, the wind. There were gusts so strong I had to actually stop and crouch down to avoid getting blown sideways. May is apparently prime wind season in Moab.
Magnificent 7 (Mag 7)
This trail network was the highlight of the trip for me. We shuttled to the top (using Coyote Shuttle, $30 well spent) and rode about 25 miles (40 kilometers) of connected trails including Bull Run, Arth's Corner, and Gold Bar Rim.
The descending was incredible - flowing through these red rock canyons, launching off natural features, and stopping every 15 minutes to take yet another photo that would never do justice to the actual view.
Fair warning though - the "Mag 7" is more technical than most of the YouTube videos make it look. There were definitely some pucker moments on exposed edges where one bad line could mean a long fall. I'm an intermediate rider at best, and I found myself walking sections I wasn't comfortable with.
Navajo Rocks
After two days of getting beaten up on the more technical trails, we decided to try something more flowy. Navajo Rocks delivered exactly what we needed - a 17-mile (27 kilometer) loop with a mix of slickrock, dirt singletrack, and some moderately technical sections.
The Rocky Tops section absolutely cooked my legs with the climbing, but the Coney Island descent made it all worthwhile - fast, flowy, and with just enough technical features to keep it interesting without feeling like I was risking life and limb.
The wind was still brutal though. Riding across exposed plateaus felt like pedaling through molasses at times.
The UTV Situation: Sticker Shock
So here's where our plans hit a snag. We had a rest day scheduled mid-week and thought renting a UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle for the uninitiated - those off-road buggies you see ripping around the desert) would be the perfect way to explore without using our already-taxed leg muscles.
I nearly choked when I saw the prices. $450 - 600 USD PER DAY for a two-seater, plus a mandatory insurance fee of around $45. And that didn't include the gas, which these things apparently guzzle like it's going out of style.
After some quick math (and checking our rapidly dwindling vacation budget), we decided to skip it. Instead, we drove out to Canyonlands National Park that day, which turned out to be incredible in its own right. The Island in the Sky district offers mind-blowing views that rival the Grand Canyon, but with maybe 1/10th of the tourists.
The Food: Fueling the Adventure
Moab's food scene is better than I expected for a small tourist town. After massive days of riding, we were consuming calories like it was an Olympic sport.
Highlights included:
• Quesadilla Mobilla: A food truck with some of the best quesadillas I've ever had. The "Enchanted Chicken" saved my life after Slickrock.
• Moab Brewery: Decent beer, massive portions, and they didn't judge us for looking (and smelling) like we'd just been dragged behind a truck through the desert.
• Doughbird: If you're a breakfast sandwich person, their bacon, egg, and cheese on a homemade biscuit will change your life.
One mistake: not bringing enough snacks for the trails. The local grocery store (City Market) was expensive and picked over. Next time I'll pack a checked bag full of Clif Bars.
Gear Lessons Learned
A few quick notes on what worked and what didn't:
• Hydration pack with 3L capacity was essential. I drank every drop on each ride.
• Sunscreen application needs to be religious. The desert is harsh, even when it's not scorching hot out.
• Bike gloves with full-finger protection saved my hands during an inevitable crash on Slickrock.
• Regular glasses + contacts were a mistake. The wind and dust had me cursing. Should have brought proper sealed riding glasses.
The Crowds: May is Prime Time
One thing to note: We went in May thinking it would be "shoulder season." It wasn't. Trails were busy, especially in the mornings, and finding parking at popular trailheads after 9 AM was a struggle.
That said, it never felt overcrowded on the actual trails. Mountain bikers tend to spread out naturally, and the vast landscape absorbs people pretty well.
Weather: Perfect... Except for the Wind
Temperature-wise, May was ideal. Daytime highs in the low-80s F (mid-20s C), nighttime lows in the 50s (mid-teens C). Perfectly comfortable for riding without melting.
But I can't emphasize the wind enough. It fundamentally changed some of our riding experiences. There were sections where a headwind was so strong I was grinding in my easiest gear on flat ground. Check the wind forecast when planning your trip – apparently fall tends to be calmer.
The Inevitable Question: Was It Worth It?
Given the cost (about $1,500 USD all-in for my share of a 5-day trip), the physical beating my body took, and the occasional frustration with crowds and wind – was Moab worth it?
Absolutely, unquestionably yes.
There's something almost spiritual about riding through that red rock landscape. The trails are like nothing else I've experienced - the combination of technical challenge, raw beauty, and the sheer alien nature of the environment creates a riding experience that's impossible to find elsewhere.
Plus, I've got about 8.5 million photos on my phone to prove I was there, at least 20 of which are actually decent enough to show people without boring them to tears.
Planning Your Own Moab Mountain Biking Adventure<
If you're thinking about your own trip, here's my quick advice:
• Book accommodation early, especially for spring and fall
• Consider shuttles for the one-way trails (worth every penny)
• Bring more water than you think you need, then add another bottle
• Check wind forecasts and try to avoid the windiest seasons
• Build in rest days - your body will thank you
• Skip the UTV unless money is no object
• Get your bike thoroughly tuned up before arriving - the terrain is rough on equipment, especially tires. Slickrock feels like sandpaper, and I probably took three months of life out of my tires. Worth it, though!
*Keywords: Moab mountain biking trails, best Moab MTB trails, Slickrock Trail guide, Magnificent 7 mountain biking, Moab adventure travel, UTV rentals Moab, Moab spring riding conditions, mountain biking vacation Utah, Navajo Rocks trail Moab, desert mountain biking tips*
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