Behind the Rocks The Behind the Rocks trail is a tough, advanced-technical ride located just south of Moab. Used mainly as a trials-motorcycle trail, Behind the Rocks has stiff climbs, technical descents and ledges, and life-sucking sand. Only riders who are bored with the "easy stuff" should consider this trail. Options include a 19-mile point-to-point, and loops varying from 11 to 28 miles. (To ride a loop, take the fork specified to the Pritchett Arch road, turn left, and follow the US-191 signs back.) |
Point-to-Point Ride -- Requires Shuttle (Critical forks, loop connectors marked in boldface) When in doubt, keep straight or on largest road 0.0 North on dirt road N 38° 25.300' W 109° 25.930', Alt=5500' 0.25 Veer L (R=camping) 0.4 Fork R, N 38° 25.521' W 109° 26.014' 1.2, 1.3 Keep straight 1.6 L at fork, N 38° 26.415' W 109° 26.578' 2.1 Steep sand downhill, Alt=5850' 4.0 Keep straight 5.1 Fork hard R onto smaller DT (L = Loop 1) N 38° 26.440' W 109° 29.380' 6.0 Keep L as trail comes in on R 6.3 Cross DT, keep straight N 38° 27.146' W 109° 29.739' 7.6 R on Pritchett, 100 ft, R again (L = Loop 2) N 38° 26.722' W 109° 29.949' 8.0 Keep straight (L) 8.3 R goes over slickrock, L = main route N 38° 27.177' W 109° 31.258' | 8.6 Fork R (L = Loop 2.5) N 38° 27.28' W 109° 31.63' 9.5 Keep straight, cross DT N 38° 27.640' W 109° 32.202' 9.6 Keep straight 10.0 At bottom of steep hill, fork R (L = Loop 3) N 38° 27.658' W 109° 32.476' 11.5 Drop into Hunter Canyon Deep sand in bottom! 13.4 Fork R to Pritchett Trail (L = Lunatic Loop) END of BTR Trail N 38° 29.640' W 109° 33.773', Alt=4500' 13.5 Straight (R) 14.0 Spur to view Pritchett Arch, keep straight 15.2 White Knuckle Hill N 38° 30.70' W 109° 33.00' 15.5 Keep R (L = Pritchett Arch) N 38° 30.78' W 109°33.37' 15.8 Keep L 17.0 Keep L N 38° 31.4' W 109° 34.0' 19.5 Parking at Kane Creek Blvd. Alt=4100' |
Getting there, shuttle:
To leave a shuttle car,
drive south on Moab's main drag (US-191) to the McDonald's, and turn right
onto Kane Creek Blvd. After 1.5 miles, go
straight at the "Yield" sign where the road seems to turn right. Continue
along the Colorado River until the road turns to gravel and park on the
right. The trail's end is 100 feet back, on the south
side of the street where it exits private property. (The property
owner requires $1 per biker paid as you exit.)
Trailhead:
Now
drive your second vehicle to the trailhead. Head back to Highway 191 and
turn right (south). Drive 12.5 miles, and
watch for a small road on your right. You should see a sign that (among
other destinations) says Pritchett Arch. GPS is N 38° 25.30' W 109°
25.95'. Park near the cattle guard and
begin riding. Copyright 2003 Mad Scientist Software Inc
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