Being a mountain biker, I am sad to see the summer season drawing to a close this year. Pretty soon, I’ll be clipping into skis instead of pedals, but before jumping into the winter mindset, there is one place that can still make me smile from ear to ear. High up above Moab Utah, there is a place where you can experience a ride unlike anything you may have heard of before, a 7,000 foot descent from alpine forest into riparian desert; 30 miles of single and double track fun.
It’s 6 o’clock in the morning when we rise to the smell of silt, and the red canyon walls radiating the morning sunlight. Our camp is right along the Colorado river, off of the scenic UT128 highway, and at the mouth of Negro Bill Canyon. The Whole Enchilada has been on my bucket list for some time now, and we have painstakingly planned out our method of attack.
A little background: The Whole Enchilada is a 26.5 mile trail that starts in the LaSalle Mountain range, south of Moab Utah, high atop Burro Pass at 11,200 ft,. It descends roughly 7,000 feet to the Colorado River, (and not by coincidence, directly to our campsite). It consists of five sections: Burro Pass, Hazard County, Kokopelli, Porcupine Single-track, and Porcupine Rim. Each one of these sections has its own identity that sets it apart from the previous section. Rock gardens give way to red clay, then deep sand and slick rock, followed by big drops and technical double-track. The Enchilada truly has it all.
First we had to figure out a way to get to Geyser Pass at 10,400 ft. You can order a shuttle from several outfits in town for $25/person (4 head minimum…check out: Moab Cyclery and WES however we opted to run our own shuttle, leaving one car at the campsite at the bottom of the Porcupine Rim Trail. The road was easily passible in my VW, however be mindful that the road may be impassable for non 4×4 vehicles after rain, or anytime not during the regular season: July-September.
Starting up in the mountains it is crisp and cool, but as you descend into the desert, you’ll realize why it is recommended to bring 5 liters of water per person! The Enchilada is not a trail to worry about extra weight! Count on temperatures in the LaSalle’s to be half of what it is in town, and be sure to carry plenty of extra gear and tubes! This ride is no joke!
Follow main road out of CG…Proceed to Hazard County
Start your ride at Geyser Pass for a 1,000-foot climb to the top of Burro Pass. This section is steep and scenic. Take in the views now, as pretty soon your main focus will be concentrating on riding. Don’t be ashamed to walk your bike up some of the sections leading to the pass 15-20% grade can be rough at 11,000 ft! You’ll need to conserve your energy for the next 4 to 6 hours of descent down to the desert. From the top of Burro, descend down steep switchbacks through high alpine forest, which hosts several rock gardens and small, cold creek crossings. Crossing into an Aspen grove, you will need to pedal the next section to Warner Lake. As you climb above the lake, you will have a view of the Hazard County trail, which is the next section of the ride. Hazard is fast and flowy, and provides spectacular views! As you continue along the trail, you will notice a change in the flora and fauna as you transition into high desert, where you will encounter rock gardens and more switchbacks before reaching the Kokopelli trail.
Kokopelli begins at Sand Flats road, which provides a good bail out point if needed. It is a fast and open double track with lots of jumps and wide turns to pick up speed on. Fly down this portion of the trail and bolster your confidence, your gonna need it! Kokopelli ends with a small climb to the top of UPS (Upper Porcupine Single-track).
This section of the trail is highly varied, and brings a bit of everything you have done previously on the Enchilada to the table. Don’t wear yourself out yet! UPS mellows out shortly before reaching The Notch, a techy section known to be very tricky. We opted out of this section on account of the stories we’d heard of cracked frames, and broken chains. We descended further to the Lower Porcupine Single-track. Rocky terrain with a few ups and downs while flirting with the edge of the abyss is the defining characteristic of this section. Stop and snap some photos here, then search Google for Porcupine Rim Trail…you may be surprised to see how many people have posted the same picture! Here’s, ours:
Porcupine rim is arguably the most popular ride in Moab next to Slickrock and is a relentless section of broken rock with large drops and jumps (up to 4 ft). This section is double track and allows riders to scope their lines and choose how challenging they want their ride to be. Don’t trick yourself into thinking your almost home free. The Porcupine Rim trail winds up and down for the last 11 miles over large rock features and exposed descents as you near the end. The last section of Porcupine Rim is beautifully scenic as it descends down to the Colorado River along 128. Consequences are serious as you hop down the single-track trail that skirts the edge of the canyon.
Here’s the home stretch! Lower Kokopelli Rim trail will take you directly to the Campgrounds along the Colorado river. Alternatively if you caught a shuttle, you are now 4 miles from downtown Moab via 128/191. Take it all in for a minute. Hopefully you didn’t eat it; this enchilada is not good eating. For that I recommend heading into the Moab Brewery for a cold beverage and big plate of food! Happy trails!
Check out more reviews on Singletracks
Trail Tips:
• Know your limits! Bailouts are within the first 12 miles, and are worth taking advantage of if you feel you are in over your head. I would recommend this ride to any biker who wants to step up to the next level of mountain riding.
• Ride a full suspension! Don’t be a hero! Lots of padding and full suspension are a must on this long bumpy ride!
• BRING PLENTY OF WATER! This is one trail where weight should not be an issue! Don’t get caught in the desert heat with no H2O!
• Have fun and be loose! Keep your elbows out and your hands and arms relaxed and you will roll over anything. Know your bike well before trying this trail, this will be the most you’ve asked it to do for you in a long time!
You must be logged in to post a comment.