Best Moab Mountain Biking Trails to Ride on Vacation

There is something about Moab that changes the way you see mountain biking. The first time I rolled out onto that red desert stone, I could feel the grip under my tires and the heat rising from the rock. The air smelled like sage and sand. By the time I finished that first ride, I was hooked.

Moab is more than a destination. It is a test of skill and spirit, a playground for riders who want to feel every climb, every corner, and every stretch of open desert. Over the years I have ridden nearly every trail in this town. Some push you to your limit, others remind you why you started riding in the first place. These eight trails are the ones that stay with you long after you wash the dust off your bike.

1. Slickrock Trail

Slickrock is the trail that made Moab famous. It is a wild sandstone playground that feels more like riding on frozen waves than dirt. The white lines painted on the rock guide you up impossible looking climbs and down smooth, rolling descents that feel like a natural roller coaster.

The first time I rode Slickrock I learned quickly that the desert plays by its own rules. The rock grabs your tires like sandpaper and rewards balance over brute strength. You will earn every foot of progress, but the view from the top makes it all worth it.

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 10.5 miles (loop)

  • Difficulty: Advanced

  • Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet

  • Trailhead: Sand Flats Recreation Area

  • Time: 2.5 to 4 hours

2. The Whole Enchilada

If there is a crown jewel of Moab riding, this is it. The Whole Enchilada begins high in the La Sal Mountains and ends along the Colorado River. Over the course of twenty six miles you drop more than seven thousand feet from alpine forest into red desert canyon.

It is not an easy day. The ride takes you through everything from aspen lined singletrack to boulder gardens and ledges that overlook miles of open desert. By the time you reach Porcupine Rim, your legs will be tired, your grin will be wide, and you will understand why this ride has become a legend.

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 26 to 27 miles (point to point)

  • Difficulty: Expert

  • Elevation Loss: 7,000 feet

  • Shuttle: Required

  • Time: 5 to 8 hours

3. Captain Ahab

Captain Ahab is what happens when trail builders truly understand what mountain bikers want. The climb up Hymasa is steady and scenic, winding past rock shelves and desert views, but the descent is where it all comes alive. Every berm, drop, and corner feels perfectly placed. It is technical but never unfair, fast but controllable, and every line just seems to flow.

When I ride Ahab, I forget about time. The trail pulls you in from the first turn to the last ledge above the river.

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 4.3 miles (Ahab only, 9 miles with Hymasa loop)

  • Difficulty: Advanced

  • Elevation Gain: 900 feet

  • Trailhead: Kane Creek Road

  • Time: 2 to 3 hours

4. Navajo Rocks

Navajo Rocks is the perfect mix of slickrock and singletrack. The loop rolls through broad sandstone domes and sandy washes with a rhythm that keeps you smiling the whole way. It is challenging without being punishing and delivers some of the best scenery in the area.

If you ride it clockwise, you will get the most natural flow on the descents and the best angles for photos. The light here in late afternoon is unreal.

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 17 miles (loop)

  • Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

  • Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet

  • Trailhead: Highway 313

  • Time: 2.5 to 4 hours

5. Klondike Bluffs

Klondike Bluffs is more of a trail network than a single route, and that is what makes it so much fun. You can choose your adventure here. Beginners can warm up on Dino Flow while more experienced riders tackle Alaska or Mega Steps.

The slickrock sections are playful and the views stretch to the horizon. On days when I do not want to repeat a trail, I come here. There is always a new line to find.

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 1 to 20 miles (varies)

  • Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced

  • Elevation Gain: 200 to 1,500 feet

  • Trailhead: Klondike Bluffs Road

  • Time: 1 to 5 hours

6. Mag 7

Mag 7, short for Magnificent 7, links a series of trails that drop from the mesa toward the Colorado River. It starts with fast rolling slickrock and ends near the cliff edges above the river. The terrain shifts from flowy to technical, from open slabs to tight ledges, and it always keeps you on your toes.

The final section, Portal Trail, is as thrilling as it is intimidating. It is exposed and unforgettable, a fitting finish to one of Moab’s best rides.

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 20 miles (point to point)

  • Difficulty: Advanced to Expert

  • Elevation Loss: 3,500 feet

  • Shuttle: Recommended

  • Time: 4 to 6 hours

7. Dead Horse Point Trails

When you want an easier day or are riding with newer riders, head to Dead Horse Point State Park. The trails here wind through juniper and sandstone with constant views down into the Colorado River canyon. The terrain is smooth, the grades are gentle, and the scenery is some of the best you will ever see.

Sunset here feels like standing on the edge of the world.

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 16 miles (total trail system)

  • Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate

  • Elevation Gain: 400 to 700 feet

  • Trailhead: Dead Horse Point Visitor Center

  • Time: 1 to 3 hours

8. Bartlett Wash

Bartlett Wash is where you let go of structure and ride purely for the joy of it. There is no marked trail, just an open expanse of slickrock where you can carve your own path. It is freedom in its purest form.

Ride it at sunset and watch the sandstone turn gold and rose beneath your tires. It is one of those places that remind you how much fun a bike can be.

Quick Facts

  • Distance: Variable (exploratory)

  • Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced

  • Elevation Gain: Minimal

  • Trailhead: Bartlett Wash Road

  • Time: 1 to 3 hours

Where the Mountain Bike Trails Never Really End

Every time I think I have ridden it all, Moab proves me wrong. There is always another line I missed, another stretch of slickrock that looks completely new in the changing light. These eight trails are the ones that capture what this place is about. They feature the long climbs that test you, the descents that make you laugh out loud, and the quiet moments when you stop, breathe, and realize how lucky you are to be here.

You can chase perfect rhythm on Captain Ahab, grind your way up the endless waves of Slickrock, or wander across the open stone at Bartlett Wash with no plan at all. Every ride here reminds you that adventure is not just about the miles. It is about the feeling of freedom that only the desert can give. And when the last light fades and the sand settles on your tires, you will already be dreaming about the next ride. Because in Moab, the trail never really ends.