WHITE RIM TRAIL! I set out alone on a Utah adventure
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- I road White Rim Trail by myself in one day. In this video I tried to give a detailed synopsis of exactly what to expect if you are thinking of riding it or just want to have as much information as possible about the trial, the difficulty and what you'll see during this incredible 100 mile route through the Utah desert along the Colorado river.
As a 75 year old rider, I find the White Rim a must ride trail. Since my first time in 2023, I and friends, decided to ride this yearly. We took a total newbie with us and he did fine.
I do however think that Counter Clockwise is the easiest route. By the time the distance starts to get to you, it’s the easier part of the trail.
This is something that should be on everyone’s bucket lists.
I have to agree with you that counter clockwise would be a bit easier, for the reasons you mentioned. I was pretty tired near the end and on t trip all of the sand was at the last 15 miles or so. It wasn’t bad but did require some attention.
Very accurate description! I've only done it in my Ram TRX but along the way I was analyzing the trail to ride it on my dual sport. Well done. Thanks.
I did it solo. Loved it. Headed back there again to do again in September
I do most of my riding Solo and this one was nice because I could ride my own pace but it would sure have been nice to have a person or two to enjoy a couple beers with afterward and just to kind of enjoy the ride in general. I’ve watched a bunch of your videos, looks like your wife is in the van at the end of the rides? That’s a great way to do it. Me and mine aren’t there yet but hope that in the near future we’ll be doing these rides together.
Great job. Love the bike.
Thanks!
I ran it in May of this year on a Honda CRF450X. One day, clockwise. Perfect time of year if you can avoid rain. The loop is right at 100 miles. Its only 80 miles from the start of Shaffer to the top of the Mineral Bottom switchbacks. The rest is half flat dirt rode and half pavement back to the park entrance. For the technical sections, Murphy's Hogback is long but not that difficult, unless for some reason you fall or stop. There are a few smaller technical sections usually not mentioned before Murphy's and before Hardscrabble. Hardscrabble itself is a bit more technical than Murphy's, especially if the trucks have torn it up. Have sufficient gas in case you have to turn around. I have a 3.2 gallon tank on my 450X and it gets about 50 mpg. Avoid going on a larger adventure bike unless you have some technical riding experience and are riding with other people. I suggest everyone start at Island In The Sky Visitor Center and go down the Schaffer switchbacks (as is most common) and do the trail clockwise to minimize the chance of meeting oncoming traffic on the difficult sections. If you are unloading, I suggest driving down the Shaffer Switchback road about 1/2 mile where you will find an unloading/parking area. Happy Trails!
Enjoyable video...thank you.
I live in Grand Junction. I can be in Moab to ride all of the trails over there in 1.5 hrs from Grand Junction. I have ridden White Rim 5 times. Your opinion, as well as the many other opinions of the many other videos of the ride (as you mentioned) are all opinions. These opinions are based on the rider, the bike they are on, the experience of the rider, the weather, trail condition, the tires the bike has on it and so on. Lots of the video's you can find on CZcams all show "the ride". A person watching the video can see "the trail".
White Rim trail is not hard.....for me. For others, yes, it may be hard. For others, yes, it may be easy. I have done it in less than 4 hrs 4 of the 5 times I have ridden it. I ride a small 250 dirt bike. I personally wouldn't want to do it on a big bike...but I know lots of people do. No worries. Ride what you have. I love it. As you mentioned...highly recommend the trail. Do it in 4 hrs. Do it in 8 hrs. Do it in 2 days...whatever the rider wants. It can be dusty. It can be muddy. It can be hard for some, easy for others, as all rides and trails are. Be prepared. Be able to change a flat if you get one. Know your mpg and take extra fuel if you'll need it. As you mentioned, I have ridden it and seen no one so being prepared and capable are very important.
See, I think it would be just as fun on my k1600 as my truck, but I have no clue!
Very accurate....I did White Rim a few years ago on a Mountain Bike with buddies in 3 days. We plan on doing it on our motorcycles and figured it as a one day ride....you convinced me to do it in two....good information....@stanforadventure
Awesome. Are you taking the GS?
Yes probably my GSA 1250 but also have the option of an older KLR 650 that I acquired and I'm experimenting with pumping more oomph and horsepower into...I'll keep you updated...hope to see you at a festival or two this summer...SFA @@upshiftingadventures4034
You are spot on with your review! Me and my buddy just finished it today. 3-19-24 and I would describe it just as you did. The only thing that I would add is know the weather for the day you are going to do it. We did it last year and got into a mess with the mud! We had to leave my friends bike and come back and get it the next day because the mud packed his front wheel and it wouldn’t roll. The mud just turns to a sticky clay!
Good point, thank you. I had nice overcast weather but remember thinking that I hoped it didn’t rain.
It didn’t we had an awesome day!
Nice review as per usual, really would like to do the white rim trail. It stopped my wife and I in 2022 as we had our GSD with us, no dogs aloud apparently. Your assessment is perfectly easy to understand. Would you do this trail on the big girl? PS maybe a quick owners review on your Ectotherm? Price is high but worth it?
Thank you for watching and for the response. The trail was awesome and I had a great time riding it. I would definitely do it on the GS. Some portions of sand might be annoying and I’m sure it it’s worse at some times during the year than others but, yes, the GS would be fine. As for the jacket, totally worth it. I think the price is a bit on the high side but if that’s what it takes for Mosko moto to keep putting out the high quality gear they are known for, then I’m willing to pay. It works great as a light weight shell and when plugged in, it is very warm without any of the typical “hot spots” many of the other jackets have.
Great video! I'm coming down from British Columbia in May to ride the White Rim trail. This makes me feel better about doing it solo. My CRF300l will be loaded with camping gear so I hope it works out. I got a camp spot booked at Hard scrabble bottom so I won't have to push to get it done in a day.
That will be an epic ride. Hardscrabble camp ground is in an amazing area. Please let me know how the trip goes.
I would say your assessment was spot on. I have only done it in my 4runner but am planning on doing it on my DRZ. You picked the perfect time to do it as the temperature is mild. Summer could be bruttal. No matter what, a motorcycle is going to be sooo much faster than a 4x4. Took me about 15 hours in my rig.
It is certainly a lot longer in a 4x4 as opposed to a motorcycle. But 15 hours is still a pretty good time.
Id say allow for 10 minimum on bike. Take your time take pics. Nicest bathrooms in the park system too.😊
Summer IS brutal. Stupid brutal. That's what gets people killed. Unless you're VERY well equipped and traveling with a group, solo would be a bad idea.
Friend worked Grand Co. SAR and the stories I've heard!
PS If you do visit any of the American deserts in summer, take some German lessons because that's what you'll hear all the time! Germans simply cannot get enough of the desert heat. I get it, but also don't!
@@upshiftingadventures4034 so true. That's what makes two wheels so amazing for adventures like this. You can get through stuff so much better (in this environment). The standing thing makes a huge difference too. Legs are amazing suspension. Whereas doing it on four wheels means a LOT of rattling and slamming stuff you cannot avoid. Or resort to crawling to avoid scrambling your brains! Still a lot of fun though. Wife and I rented a Jeep and drove I think Long Canyon. Was a total blast.
Great video and timing. I'm looking to head down from Montana to ride this tomorrow. Thank you for your clear concise explanation.
Awesome. You’re gonna love it. What type of bike?
2020 fe501s set up for camping. Your video was just what I needed to see for inspiration.
Pretty cool ride for sure. I’ve never done it on a Moto, but I’ve ridden on my singlespeed mountain bike a couple of times. It takes a bit longer than 5 hours on my mtb, but I was able to do it in one day.
Like I’ve said many times in the past, those who can do it on an MTB are a whole other breed.
@@upshiftingadventures4034 one day on a single speed is pretty damn epic! Next he'll say it was a rigid single speed!!!
Nice video. Great ride. Like your attitude and humble approach. Mountain biked this in the 90's and it was a blast. Murphy's Hogback was a nice challenge. Would love to ride this and so much more in Moab on a moto. On my list, for sure!
Thanks for watching and commenting. Mountain biking White Rim is a hell of a feat. I only had to twist the throttle and stay upright. It’s a whole other animal when you’re using leg power.
Sweet rig !
Thank you.
That's a good review! Looks like some great scenery.
Thank you. It was fantastic scenery. Some of the best there is
Great overview, Thank you!
Headed that way in April with my KTM 690. What was your mpg and/or fuel usage?
Fuel usage was pretty good because of the slower speeds. I’d say I averaged 20 to 25 mph over the course of the route. My low fuel indicator came on as I was on the long stretch of Mineral Bottom road headed back to the highway. My bike is highly modified and I only get around 48 mpg’s so if you’re running a stock bike you’ll get another 30 miles or so over mine. I had 4 MSR fuel bottles on me just in case but made it from my camp ground, thru the trail and in to town to a gas station.
Great video. What trailer hitch mount do you use and are you happy with performance. I have the same bike. 701.
Thank you, I appreciate that. The trailer hitch is a Bikemaster. I'm pretty happy with it. It is a little quirky, but holds the 701 nicely and I've never worried about the bike while on it.
Really enjoy your videos maybe a few more super Duke ones lol
Thank you I really appreciate it. And by the way, more super Duke videos coming up 🤘
YES!!!
I would sure love to take my street legal UTV on that beautiful trail, but the forest service will not let you.
Yeah I’m not sure why but I suppose it’s because the side by sides will tear up the trail pretty bad.
If you want to do half of it one day and camp can on the white rim is that possible? Is it a loop or you have to turn back and ride where you started from?
It is a loop that starts and ends about 5 miles from each other. There are camping spots along the trail but you will need to reserve them in advance on recreation.gov.
@@upshiftingadventures4034 Thanks! Great Vid and info!!
This trail is easy. If you find any part of it hard, you should just go home.
I don't think that every rider would find it easy, and certainly don't agree that they should be encouraged to "just go home" if they find it challenging. I think a new adventure rider would probably find some parts of the trail challenging and I would encourage them to ride the trail and improve their riding skills. The point of the video was to give an easy to understand assessment of what will be encountered on the trail so that people can decide if they want to give it a try. White Rim is a long trek for a lot or riders and a lot of people would like to know in advance, what they will be experiencing before committing to such a trip.
@ericharris197 It’s not technically hard but it’s long and chips away at your endurance especially when you bang it out in 8 hours and it’s 110°. Oh and losers like their own comments….
If you must rely on a motor to ride off road, you should just go home.
See, everyone can play this game!
I think our trails are too crowded. Not to mention all the rescues of people that bite off more than they can chew. & the closers of so many trails because of people that should just stay home.
@@ericharris197 If our trails are "too crowded," then we need more trails, not more couch surfers. Juvenile and adult obesity is a significant health concern in the country, so "staying home" is not what we want. We actually want the opposite.
Where I live, mountain bikes are banned on the most enjoyable trails. A legacy of over 40 years ago when land managers freaked out about bikes on trails. All the assertions they made have been debunked. Yet hikers still enjoy exclusive use of many of these PUBLIC trails. That's not sound land management.
"Tax-cut mania" has left public coffers unable to care for infrastructure that we HAVE, much less expanding our public open spaces.
Add to that the advent of middle and high school mountain biking, we have far larger needs for much more trail mileage. CA's population over doubled since my birth; its public trail systems have not kept up with this population growth.
Pay a dollar for more trails today and you could save 100 dollars in future health care costs. Plus you get happier, healthier people as well.