Riding the Temple Wash Loop version, you'll climb about 800 vertical feet. Most of it comes in a stiff 10% grade during the third mile, along the southwest side of Temple Mountain.

The Ridge lariat loop climbs 700 vertical (400 feet of it in 3/4 mile), then drops back 600, which you regain climbing around the north end of Temple Mountain, for a total of 1300 feet of climbing.

Whichever way you ride this trail, it can be a navigation nightmare if you don't know where you're going. In the mining areas, there are doubletracks branching off every few hundred feet. But here's the principle: if there's ever any doubt, just go straight! Be sure your map-reading biker has an odometer for the major trail forks. We've also provided extra GPS coordinates, just in case.

The ride starts in the Moenkopi Formation of the early Triassic, then follows the lower Chinle skirts of the castle-like cliffs. Temple Mountain itself is pale Wingate sandstone with Kayenta sandstone caprock. From the sides of the mountain, you'll have seemingly endless views over the San Rafael Swell's Sinbad area.

Temple Mountain is the site of dozens of inactive mines. Early in the 1900s, radium was mined here. Starting in the 50s, uranium ore was extracted from scattered veins within the Chinle Formation.

During the Triassic Period (245-205 million years ago) sandy streams flowed from the mountains in the west (see our page on the geology of the San Rafael ). Leaves and other vegetation on the stream bottom compacted into dense deposits of organic matter. The streambeds were then buried deep underground. Hot groundwater picked up tiny amounts of uranium and radium from nearby volcanic rock, and slowly filtered through these ancient streambeds. The yellow mineral replaced the carbonaceous deposits in the streambeds. (In the Moab area, uranium is found in the Morrison Formation from the late Jurassic, another era of streambeds meandering over floodplains.) That's why the uranium is found in small scattered deposits.

Riding notes, Temple Wash Loop:
0.0  From parking on the paved road, go west
       N 38° 39.194' W 110° 39.260'  alt=5300'
1.8  Just after log fence (on L), turn R
       N 38° 39.946' W 110° 40.911'  alt=5400'
       Go NE along lowest ridge break
2.1  Keep R (L goes to stone cabins)
2.5  Fork L northwest (R goes to Ridge route)
       N 38° 40.416' W 110° 40.794'  alt=5630'
3.7  After stiff climb, keep straight and uphill
       N 38° 41.199' W 110° 41.208'
4.3  Peak altitude 6010'. W side of mountain
4.8  Straight (R) downhill
       N 38° 41.407' W 110° 40.459'   alt=5830'

5.4  Straight (L) and E towards cabins
       N 38° 41.142' W 110° 40.089'
5.3  Pass cabins, keep L and east downhill
5.9  Orange trail in from L, keep straight
       N 38° 41.103' W 110° 39.408'
6.2  Ridge DT in from L, stay E on road
       N 38° 40.850' W 110° 39.322'  alt=5400'
       Go down bottom of N. Temple Wash
8.1  Ignore sandy DT exiting wash
8.3  Fork R on DT as it crosses wash
       N 38° 39.635' W 110° 38.376'  alt=5250'
       Stay on main road
9.2  Veer R at fork
9.3  Back at car

Getting there: Heading southeast on US-6 near Green River, turn right onto I-70. 8.1 miles later, take Exit 149 for Hanksville/Goblin Valley. Turn left (south) and drive 23.5 miles, then turn right on the paved road towards Goblin Valley and Temple Mountain. Five miles later, park on the right side of the road, where the Goblin Valley Road turns left (south). N 38° 39.194' W 110° 39.260'. Begin riding west on pavement (the direction you were driving in your car) towards Temple Mountain.
Alternate parking:  Continue in your car through the Reef. About 1/4 mile after the pavement turns to dirt, spot a doubletrack on the right (near the sign). That's the "over-the-ridge" route. 0.2 mile later, there's room to park on the right. To the right across the wash, spot the doubletrack that follows the BASE of the ledges heading northwest. That's the clockwise loop outgoing, or the alternate loop return.