Canyonlands National Park is one of the only national parks in the US where there are trails which allow mountain biking. You’re still not allowed to ride on any of the single track walking trails but there are a number of high clearance four-wheel-drive trails which make for a fun mountain bike ride.
From the visitors centre at the Needles section of Canyonlands National Park I rode the 7 mile one way trail to the Colorado River Overlook.
This track is open to high clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles; some of the step up’s and drop off’s are pretty significant so be sure to have a serious vehicle and know how to handle it if you decide not to mountain bike.
Much of the track is over slick rock marked by intermittent spray painted arrows and dots on the rock surface, a number of times I couldn’t find a marker and found myself wondering in which direction I was supposed to be heading. If you keep a bearing on the direction you came from and look around you’ll eventually come across another marker or a continuation of the dirt track.
The view at the end is well worth the sometimes tiring mountain bike ride. You can look down into the steep canyon forged by the Colorado River and see it snaking its way off to the left and the right.
If you visit Canyonlands National Park and have a mountain bike with you I highly recommend you take a couple hours to ride the Colorado River Overlook Trail.
The following photos were all taken on my mobile phone, for which I apologise.
My Bike Against the DANGER Sign
My Bike Propped in a Crack in the Rock on the Edge of the Overlook
Yet Another Picture of my Bike & the Colorado River Canyon
Can you spot my bike?
Portrait of my Bike
Panorama of the Colorado River Canyon, and of course - my bike...
Last Panorama of the Colorado River Overlook
Would you rather mountain bike or four-wheel-drive to this lookout?
Want to see more of our Great North American Road Trip?
- The Plan
- Map showing Posts by Location
Don’t forget to interact with Sam’s Playground on Facebook & Twitter @SamKynmanCole.
January 18, 2012 at 11:10 am
Would way rather Mountain Bike it! You did well with no shocks etc. Good job.
Cole @ Four Jandals recently posted..Peyto Lake – Banff National Park: Weekly Hump Day Photo
January 18, 2012 at 11:49 am
I agree Cole, mountain biking is so much better than driving. This track was pretty fast for the most part (other than when I lost the trail and needed to search or it) and was a lot of fun on my rigid single speed. Mountain biking Red Canyon however was a different story, my hands were exhausted and sore after the downhill stretch – would have loved 6″ of travel…
http://samsplayground.com/mountain-biking-red-canyon-utah/
Sam recently posted..Not Our Finest Moments
January 18, 2012 at 11:58 am
I think I’d four wheel drive, Sam. Glad you didn’t go over any of those edges on the bike, and that you survived to post this one! Very dramatic scenery in your shots.
Andrew Graeme Gould recently posted..Coquimbo, Chile: Fishing for machas
January 18, 2012 at 12:27 pm
When I rode this I didn’t really believe a 4WD would be capable of the whole route. However a couple of days later we went out back Moab in a four wheel drive and I was amazed by the stuff a skilled driver can do.
Sam recently posted..Earn Money – Science & Medical Research
January 18, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Fabulous site! You are a fellow adventurer~
January 18, 2012 at 3:12 pm
We’re certainly doing our best. By the way, I love the header photo of you riding with ski’s on your blog, awesome.
January 18, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Thanks! I just cut off my hair so I have to update it!
Susie Lindau (@SusieLindau) recently posted..Photo Prompt for 100 Word Flash Friday Fictioneers!
January 18, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Wow! Those are amazing shots, Sam! It’s got me really believing in smartphones, if only to automatically and easily capture these unforgettable moments! =) I’ve never mountain biked before, but now I’ve got the urge to learn! =)
Samantha Bangayan recently posted..This Expat’s All-Encompassing New Year’s Resolution
January 18, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Mountain biking can be a lot of fun. You can often see similar scenery as if you were hiking, but a lot faster!
The phone photos are fine for web but I wouldn’t bother to print any. So it’s always a shame when you capture some amazing scenery but then realise the quality isn’t in the image to do anything with it other than go back with a real camera and hope to get the same shot.
January 18, 2012 at 3:19 pm
Actually as an aside my phone is the Samsung Galaxy S (the first version) and I’ve always been impressed by its panorama photo taking ability.
I just select panorama mode and then move the phone in a panning motion and it automatically takes the shots and stitches them together to get the above panorama shots without any post processing – easy.