If you are headed to Moab for mountain biking, chances are you’re hoping to roll over some of that legendary slickrock. Or maybe catch an incredible canyon-rim view. Or maybe find some technical rock trails. Or maybe you just want to give your legs a serious workout and forget about everything except what’s over the next climb. If you said “yes” to all of the above, then the Navajo Rocks Loop trail is the perfect destination. It’s got a little bit of everything Moab offers wrapped up in an 18-mile bow.
Navajo Rocks is actually five connected trails. Rocky Tops, Coney Island, Big Lonely, Big Mesa and Ramblin’ all offer something different for riders, and they combine to equal one heck of a day in the desert. Here are some highlights from every section.
Rocky Tops (4.6 miles)
The recommended direction to ride Navajo Rocks is clockwise, and Rocky Tops is first up. It’s the most technical portion of the ride, and features short uphill/downhill sections, rocky turns, and great views from the rim of a small canyon. There are some fun slickrock segments of Rocky Tops, and overall it’s a really fun way to get your legs and lungs ready for the rest of the loop.
Coney Island (3.1 miles)
This is the least enjoyable part of riding Navajo Rocks. The standout feature is a long, lonely climb up sandy doubletrack. No way to sugar coat it, this part sucks. Luckily, once you top out, things start to flow pretty nicely. Packed dirt with a few segments of sand twist and turn through the sage and rabbit brush, and riders can carry some good speed. Also, some good views of Big Mesa open up to showcase what’s in store.
Big Lonely (3.2 miles)
Some people might call me crazy, but this was my favorite trail on the loop! The flowy fun continues, with good dirt and smooth turns. There is also some great slickrock to be found in Big Lonely. The single tough climb pays off with a speedy downhill over centuries old rock that will make you question “how fast is too fast?” in case of a bail. Overall, this 3 mile segment flies by, and it’s time for perhaps the most interesting portion of the ride.
Big Mesa (3.4 miles)
This trail had me wondering if I was biking or hiking. The incredible scenery of Big Mesa more than makes up for the lack of speed. Though it’s not too technical, there are a few short, tricky climbs up some slickrock segments, and lots of tight turns to negotiate. At times, you ride between massive sandstone boulders, and the ride is easily delayed due to the need for official Moab MTB photos.
Ramblin’ (3.3 miles)
Time to bring it on home. If your legs aren’t spent already, Ramblin’ will finish them off. This is sort of a microcosm of the entire Navajo Rocks loop: terrain of every variety awaits. Short technical rock sections, a couple of slickrock downhills, sandy washes, and packed dirt all force your gaze to the trail rather than the amazing views around you. The big finish is a climb that a fellow rider declared “just plain mean” before you arrive back at the main trailhead. Luckily, you’ve got your beverage of choice waiting in your cooler, because you are a savvy and grizzled desert rider.
Overall, I have to rank Navajo Rocks Loop as one of the most enjoyable rides I’ve done in the Moab area. At times I wondered if I bit off more than I could chew, and worried that I didn’t have nearly enough water. However, my complaints were drowned out by my “woo-hoos”, and the wonderful views along every part of the trail give you plenty of excuses for pit stops. If you need to find one trail to check almost every box Moab offers, this is is.
Getting There
From Highway 191 near the town of Moab, turn east onto Highway 313 (this is the road that leads to Canyonlands National Park/Dead Horse Point State Park). Just over 5 miles later, look for the dirt parking area on the north side of the road. Park here. Rocky Tops trail starts on the other side of 313. Ramblin’ trail ends in this parking area.