(plus Lazy-EZ, Deadman's Ridge, Killer B, Rusty Spur, Longbranch, and North 40)The "Brand Trails" are a network of trails a few miles north of Moab. The trail names are based
on cattle brands and spell out M-o-a-b. The easy Bar M trail forms a loop from which the other
trails can be reached. Bar M, Rusty Spur, and Lazy-EZ are suitable for pure beginners. The
others require reasonable shifting skill, bike handling ability, and leg power. For experts,
there's Deadman's Ridge, Longbranch, and the "Killer B" descent off the Bar B loop.
The Bar M Loop is a fairly easy ride technically. Elevation change is modest at about 300 feet.
Many families ride this trail, including baby trailers and trail-a-bikes. The loop is 7 miles
long. It can be ridden in either direction. Most riders go counterclockwise. This direction
also is the optimal direction for riding the more-technical alternate route using Bar B, Rockin
A, then Circle O.
The Circle O trail is 100% slickrock, on top of Entrada sandstone. The Circle O trail itself
is only about 3.5 miles long with only 200 feet absolute elevation change. To ride it as a
loop, include 1.3 miles of the Bar M between the two trail ends. But to get there via the Bar
M, your minimum riding distance will be about 10 miles. This trail is quick up-and-down riding,
with a few upper-level moves to cross tire-traps and ledges. You can ride either direction,
but south-to-north is most common.
Rockin A connects the Bar B loop to the slickrock portion of Circle O. The riding is very similar
to Circle O -- quick moves on slickrock requiring good shifting, balance control, and stand-and-grunts.
It's only 1.7 miles in length, but to loop around via Bar M is 4 miles. Advanced riders use
Rockin A as a route between Bar B and Circle O.
The Bar B trail starts at the southern end of the Bar M loop. It starts as desert singletrack,
then throws in technical rock-rolling singletrack. The return half of the loop is easy doubletrack
and slickrock. Ridden counterclockwise, the end of the loop connects to the south end of Rockin
A.
Killer B is a steep one-mile descent from the south end of Bar B to old highway 191 in the valley below. It drops 500 vertical feet in 0.7 miles. There are a few extreme rock-clearing stunts, and a couple of very steep sandstone sections. Near the bottom, there's a split in the trail. There's a steep switchback bike route on the right versus a 600 foot stair-step hike on the right. From the bottom, use Old 191 to go back to Bar M or head downhill back to Moab.
Lazy-EZ is a lariat loop ride that starts on the "Short Loop" cutoff of the Bar M. The 3-mile
loop is easy riding, intended for those who are just getting their wheels on singletrack. But
it also gives a more interesting route for experts to reach the more tech trails. At the southern
end, the loop connects to Deadman's Ridge.
Deadman's Ridge starts on the Bar M where the southern tip of Lazy-EZ loop hits the Bar M. Deadman's Ridge connects to the north end of the Bar B trail just after the western half of Bar B loop leaves the south end of Bar M. The continuing trail goes south then curves back north to join Old 191 paved trail.
This is a short and very easy dirt singletrack suitable for beginners and children. It starts off the Old 191 paved trail and loops 1.3 miles around with views of the cliffs to the west.
Longbranch is a very technical 1.1 mile trail that forks off Deadman's Ridge (just before the
Deadman's Ridge trail descends down to Old 191) and joins the south end of the Bar B loop near
its connection to Killer B.
The 4-mile North 40 is a new addition, opening in late winter 2012. It forms a loop or figure
8 within the northern end of the Bar M loop. The trailhead is just across the doubletrack from
the Lazy-EZ trailhead.
Maverick is a short alternate route on the eastern limb of North 40. It's one-way from north
to south. Length is 1/2 mile. Note: if you're planning a loop ride starting on North 40 clockwise,
taking this trail downhill will bypass the O-to-40 connector.
O-to-40
This short connector ties the eastern side of the North 40 Loop to Bar M
at the northern connection to Circle 0. It provides a way to create a loop
ride without returning to the North 40 trailhead.
Although not considered part of the Brand Trails, Old 191 is a paved from Moab to Highway 313
that passes through the Brand Trails. Trails connect to Old 191 and in some cases connect to
each other via Old 191.
1.5-mile trail near the southern end of Rusty Spur, forks off Old 191 and descends to rejoin
Old 191 in the lower canyon. Mostly used as a connector (in place of Old 191) to maximize riding
on dirt.
From the north, exit I-70 at Crescent Junction and drive south on US-191 for 22 miles. From
Moab, drive 7 miles north from the Colorado River on 191. When you see the Gemini Bridges parking
area, look for a gravel road on the opposite side (east, away from the cliffs). Turn onto the
gravel road and immediately go right. Drive past the first parking lot. (This is restaurant
parking or fee parking GPS N 38° 39.38' W 109° 40.66'.) As you approach the fence and kiosk
at the paved trail, turn left and drive 1/4 mile to the gravel parking lot in the bottom of
the valley N38 39.107 W109 40.110. Ride either direction to reach the east or west side of
the Bar M loop. For other trails, see the individual trail pages.
Alternate: From Moab, ride the Old Highway 191 paved trail until you reach the Bar M sign.
Track Files:
GPX
all Moab Brand area trails
See individual trail pages for single-track files.
Higher resolution topo map for printing:
View
Lodging, camping, shops:
Links to Moab area resources
