After our assembly in Grand Junction, we start off Day 2 with an amazing ride down the Colorado River to Moab. Along the way we’ll pass Wall Street, a popular climbing area where you can watch climbers scaling vertical sandstone walls. There are two roadside signs pointing to some of the finest petroglyphs in the Moab area, and there are other rock art panels along the way – so keep an eye out. If this isn’t enough, there is also a roadside pullout to view dinosaur tracks, and farther downstream is the aptly named Jug Handle Arch, over 46 feet high and only 3 feet wide.
Day 3 is one of the finest bike rides in the U.S.! We are headed to Arches National Park. The scenery is exceptional with multi-colored sandstone arches and pinnacles set against a backdrop of the La Sal Mountains towering nearly 8000 ft. above. The mileage and elevation profile includes a must-see side trip to the Windows Section to view some of the largest and most accessible arches in the park. Short walking trails lead to each of the arches. Other attractions along the way include Balanced Rock, perched atop a 128 ft. pedestal; Fiery Furnace, a maze of red rock fins; and Skyline Arch. The turn-around point is Devils Garden Trail head, where we’ll find some of the best hiking in the park, including a hike to 300 ft. wide Landscape Arch, one of the largest arches in the world!
Day 4 we will head to Canyonlands National Park. We head North out of Moab following the Moab Canyon Pathway to the turnoff for the park. As we ride through the ranch land on the way to the park entrance we get out first look at the immense Island in the Sky mesa with it’s sheer sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. We’ll stop for lunch at the visitor center and look out over the mesa to the famous White Rim Trail. Then it is back to Moab to enjoy another great dinner.
We continue our adventure on Day 5 with the pinnacle of the week, our Mountain Loop Ride. This tour has it all – beautiful red rock canyon scenery and stunning alpine vistas of the second highest mountain range in Utah. The climb starts gradually up the valley, then continues up into pines, scrub oaks and aspens of the higher elevations. A continuous and demanding climb awards outstanding scenery. We can enjoy cruising along the top of the world before decending into the valley and back to the river and a return to Moab.
We continue on Day 6 by tackling an additional loop south of Moab. We’ll enjoy another steady climb into the mountains with spectacular views. The descent is a dream on wonderful roads. After refreshments in Monticello we will ride back to the start of the loop, and drive back to Grand Junction where we will conclude our Moab Hub Tour adventure.
