The Whole Enchilada: Moab's Ultimate Shuttle Ride
Alpine forest at 11,000 feet, aspen glades, high desert mesas, and a finale along the rim of a 1,000 foot canyon above the Colorado River. The Whole Enchilada strings Moab's best trails into one colossal descent — a full plate of everything this landscape serves, and one of the most famous rides in the world.
Browse Moab Mountain Biking ToursQuick Facts: The Whole Enchilada
| Route type | Point to point descent — a shuttle drop is essentially mandatory |
|---|---|
| Start / finish | Burro Pass high in the La Sal Mountains down to Highway 128 at the Colorado River |
| Distance | 26+ miles for the full route; shorter versions start partway down |
| Elevation | Starts around 11,000 feet; roughly 7,000 feet of total descending |
| Difficulty | Expert for the full route — sustained technical terrain and serious exposure |
| Full route season | Roughly late June through October, once La Sal snow melts; lower sections ride far longer |
| Shuttles | Multiple Moab shuttle companies run daily departures in season — book ahead |
Why the Whole Enchilada Is on Every Rider's List
Most great trails give you one landscape. The Whole Enchilada gives you all of them. You start in cool subalpine forest near the top of the La Sal Mountains, drop through aspens and meadows, cross open mesa country on flowing singletrack, and finish rattling down ledgy sandstone on the rim of the Colorado River gorge — often 30 degrees hotter at the bottom than where you started. It's less a trail than a vertical tour of southeastern Utah, and riders fly in from around the world to tick it off.
The name is honest in another way too: this is the whole meal, and it's a big one. The full route is a genuinely demanding expert day with technical alpine tread up top and relentless, exposed rock at the bottom. The good news is that the route is modular — shuttle companies drop riders at different points depending on season and ability, so there's a version of the Enchilada for strong intermediates as well as full plate experts. This guide breaks down the segments, the shuttle logistics, and how to pick your serving size. For the broader riding picture, start with our Moab mountain biking guide.
Local tip: The single most common Enchilada mistake is treating it as "just a descent." There's real climbing at the top, real heat at the bottom, and 4 to 7 hours of focused riding in between. Respect it like the alpine epic it is.
The Whole Enchilada, Segment by Segment
The route links several named trails top to bottom. Knowing them matters, because shuttle drops and seasonal closures are organized around these segments.
Burro Pass
A grinding climb to the pass at over 11,000 feet, then steep, loose alpine switchbacks through forest. Beautiful, technical, and only in condition once the snow is gone — usually late June or into July.
Hazard County
The reward for surviving Burro: fast, flowing singletrack through meadows and aspen stands. Many riders call this the most purely fun stretch of the entire route.
Kokopelli Section
A mellow connector along the Kokopelli Trail corridor that drops you out of the mountains and onto the mesa. Catch your breath — it's the last easy riding of the day.
UPS & LPS
Twisting slickrock and ledge singletrack across the mesa top, with the canyon opening up alongside. The moves get more technical and the run outs get more serious as you descend.
Porcupine Rim
The famous finish: miles of chunky ledges and rock moves along the rim, ending in a narrow cliffside singletrack plunge to Highway 128 beside the river. Ridden on its own, Porcupine Rim is a bucket list day; as the last course of the Enchilada, it's unforgettable — and unforgiving on tired arms.
Know your serving size: Shuttle companies offer partial drops all season — "Porcupine Rim only" or "from UPS" are classic choices when snow closes the top or when the full route is more than your group wants. There's no wrong way to order the Enchilada.
Guided Rides and Smarter Ways to Prep
The Enchilada rewards local knowledge: which lines ride clean, where the exposure demands a dab of caution, and how to pace 26 miles so the rim doesn't eat you alive. A guided day — or a warm up ride with a coach earlier in your trip — stacks the odds in your favor.
Moab Mountain Biking Tours
Browse the full lineup of guided Moab rides and find the right day out — whether that's an Enchilada style epic or a tune up on classic desert singletrack first.
See Mountain Biking ToursPrivate Guided Mountain Bike Tour
The best fit for a big objective ride: a private guide plans the day around your group's ability, handles pacing, and coaches you through the technical cruxes.
Book a Private TourGuided Mountain Bike Tour
A classic guided ride on Moab's famous terrain — the smart shakedown day to dial in a rental bike and desert technique before you commit to the big one.
Book the Guided TourLocal tip: Shuttle seats, rental bikes, and guides all sell out together in peak season — the Enchilada is a fall classic and September and October weekends go fast. Book the shuttle and the bike the moment your dates are set.
Shuttles, Timing, and What to Bring
Shuttle & Timing
- Book a shuttle: several Moab companies run morning departures to the La Sal drop points in season. Reserve ahead — walk ups miss out in fall.
- Start early: morning drops mean cool alpine temperatures up top and beating the worst heat on the rim.
- Check the drop point: snow, mud, or fire restrictions move the start partway down the mountain surprisingly often. Confirm with your shuttle the day before.
- The finish: the trail ends on Highway 128 by the Colorado River — arrange your pickup or pedal the paved river road back toward town.
What to Bring
- 3+ liters of water plus electrolytes — there's no reliable water on route
- Real food for a 4 to 7 hour day
- Layers: it can be 40°F at the pass and 90°F at the river
- Helmet, gloves, and knee pads — the rim punishes mistakes
- Tubeless ready tires, spare tube, plugs, pump, and multi tool
- Offline maps downloaded — cell service is spotty the whole way
Safety note: The lower half of the route has sustained cliff exposure, and afternoon storms hit the La Sals fast in summer. Ride within your limits, walk anything that spooks you near the rim, and get off the high country if thunderheads build.
The Whole Enchilada by Season
| Season | Conditions | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Top snowed in; lower segments prime | Ride Porcupine Rim or UPS/LPS drops while the alpine melts out |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Full route opens as snow clears; hot below, storms above | Earliest shuttle of the day; watch afternoon lightning in the La Sals |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | The classic window — golden aspens, cool desert | Book shuttles and bikes weeks ahead; this is peak Enchilada season |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | High country closed; low desert rideable in dry spells | Save the full route for another trip; ride lower Moab classics instead |
Building your trip around the ride? Our month by month Moab guides cover weather, crowds, and what's running year round.
Whole Enchilada FAQs
How hard is the Whole Enchilada?
The full route is a legitimate expert ride: technical alpine switchbacks up top, sustained ledgy rock with cliff exposure at the bottom, and 26+ miles of fatigue in between. Strong, experienced riders have an all time day. Riders below that level should start with a partial drop or a guided ride on friendlier terrain first.
Do I need a shuttle for the Whole Enchilada?
Effectively yes. It's a point to point route that starts an hour's drive up the La Sal Mountains and drops about 7,000 feet to the Colorado River. Moab shuttle companies run scheduled morning departures in season.
When is the full route open?
The upper segments hold snow into early summer, so the complete top to bottom ride is usually in condition from roughly late June through October. Lower segments like Porcupine Rim ride most of the year.
How long does it take?
Most fit groups take 4 to 7 hours including stops. Add time for photos, mechanicals, and the fact that the rim riding comes when your arms are most tired.
Can I ride just part of it?
Absolutely — that's how most people ride it. Shuttle drops at UPS/LPS or the Porcupine Rim trailhead serve up the desert half without the alpine start, and it's the standard choice in spring or for strong intermediates.
Is the Whole Enchilada scary?
Parts of it are exposed, especially the final cliffside singletrack above the river, and there's no shame in walking those moves. The exposure is manageable for experienced riders who stay focused and ride within their limits.
Order the Whole Enchilada
From alpine air to river heat in one impossible descent — this is the ride Moab stories are made of. Warm up with a guided day on the famous slickrock, book your shuttle, and come hungry.
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