Put Green River, Utah on your map of mountain biking destinations. The Athena Trail officially opened on March 17th, 2018 and is the first of many trails the city hopes to build in the coming years. I finally got an opportunity to ride this 5.5-mile loop and it is a lot of fun. The terrain and desert singletrack reminded me a lot of the mountain biking in Vernal and Fruita, Colorado. While the Athena Trail is not something you’ll want to drive to Green River exclusively for, it is an awesome stopover en route to Moab or Fruita.
The Athena Trail Loop
The loop is bi-directional and so far I’ve only ridden it clockwise. People I spoke to at the trailhead said it really doesn’t matter how you ride it as it’s basically the same in both directions. The trail is cross-country style with a lot of up and down, climbing and descending. The climbs are short, however, and a bit punchy. In fact, I was surprised at how technical some of the climbs and descents were. I’m ashamed to say that I hiked-a-bike a couple steep, rocky uphill sections that I simply did not have the strength to punch through.
The Athena Trail was several years in the making. The trail is a step in a new direction for the City of Green River as there are many more in the planning stages. The city has been working on a master plan for a trail system that would allow greater access to the surrounding desert. This is possible after securing a grant through the National Park Service and forming the Green River Trails Committee in 2014.
The trail is named for the Athena missile. This was a long range intercontinental missile that was regularly launched from the Green River Test Site. The former launch complex operated in the 1960s. When the military closed the site in the 1970s, the buildings and infrastructure were abandoned. The Green River Trails Committee hopes that the former complex will transform into a launch site for mountain bikers and hikers.
The trailhead lies adjacent to the former missile base, just off of the I-70 exit. Locals refer to the place as “tent city” for the concrete pads that once housed dozens of military tents. From the trailhead, you climb nearby hills and buttes, then drop down into dry washes before climbing again. On the backside, the trail enters a bit of slickrock where orange markers show the way. Eventually, Athena meanders to a point that overlooks the Green River and San Rafael Swell. Mountain bikers who are well acquainted with the terrain of southern Utah will enjoy all the unique desert features along the loop.
Perhaps Green River will no longer be just a gas and food stop over for mountain bikers heading to Moab. With a new trail system, Green River may become the destination. Or riders en route to Moab and Fruita will now include Green River as part of a trail circuit. I suggest next time you’re driving down I-70 and have your bike on the rack, take a break, stop in Green River, and give the Athena Trail a ride.
Getting There
On I-70 in Green River, get off on the east Green River exit. Go south onto a dirt road, then immediately right (west) at the “T” intersection. After about a quarter-mile, turn left on a narrower dirt road. Continue past the concrete pads of “tent city,” then turn right into the parking area. There is an informational kiosk at the trailhead.