Rusty Spur Trail
Rusty Spur is a short singletrack loop in the Brand Trails area of Moab. It's a very easy trail, fun for true beginners and kiddies. But it's dirt singletrack, so it's not suitable for training wheels or towed kiddie-trailers. Rusty Spur has a main loop that's 1.3 miles of dirt plus 1/10 mile of paved trail that closes the loop. There's a 0.3 mile ST connector for those who are heading southbound to the loop from the Brand Trails parking. The shortest ride is a lariat loop from the lower Brand Trail (Bar M) parking. The ride is 4.2 miles total, with only trivial elevation change.
Riding notes, lariat loop:
0.0  West to leave parking the way you drove in
(Note: LOWER parking lot!)
N38 39.104 W109 40.107
0.3  Through fence to paved Old 191 at kiosk
Left on Old 191 N38 39.014 W109 40.299
1.0  R on ST Rusty Spur Connector
N38 38.594 W109 39.716
1.3  Join main loop, keep straight (L)
N38 38.391 W109 39.521
2.0  At south end of loop, turning back
2.4  Keep L (R = Sidewinder Bar M)
2.5  L on Old 191 N38 38.357 W109 39.348
2.6  L on Rusty Spur Loop
N38 38.409 W109 39.453
2.8  R to return on Connector
N38 38.390 W109 39.519
(L for another loop)
3.1  Join Old 191, keep L N38 38.596 W109 39.720
3.9  R through gate N38 39.014 W109 40.299
Straight east to parking
4.2  Back at parking
Getting there:
From the north: Drive south on US-191 for 22 miles south of I-70, then follow the directions below.
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. The first parking area is reserved for the Bar M diner. (Paid parking is available at the far end of this lot GPS N 38° 39.38' W 109° 40.66'.) Continue driving south until you approach the fence (and paved bike path) on the right, then turn 90 degrees left (east) and drive to the gravel parking area in the little valley. The ride will start by backtracking up to the kiosk at the paved trail.
Alternate: From Moab, ride the Old 191 paved trail until you reach the Bar M kiosk. (You'll pass the south entry to the loop about 1/10 mile from the kiosk.) Across from the kiosk -- to the west -- is the singletrack.

Copyright UtahMountainBiking.com 2011. Trail status can change. Use this guide at your own risk.