The White Rim Trail offers something for all levels. For the beginner, it’s a challenge. For the experts, it might be smooth sailing. But either way, the views, the camping, and the general camaraderie on the trail make it worth adding to your bucket list. And with fall in full force, it’s the perfect time to head to the southern Utah desert.<\/p>\n
Here is how to plan your own mountain biking trip along the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park.<\/h4>\n
Important Reminder: As it goes in all of the destinations we share, please practice <\/em>good trail etiquette<\/em><\/a> and remember to <\/em>Leave No Trace<\/em><\/a>. This means packing out all of your garbage (including toilet paper) and following the established rules.<\/em> In the desert, this also means<\/em> learning how to protect cryptobiotic soil<\/em><\/a> and how it has a huge impact on our ecosystems.<\/em><\/p>\n The White Rim Trail is a 100-mile semi-loop that can be ridden in either direction. We rode the route west-to-east and started our trip at Mineral Bottom and ended at Shafer Hill. The advantage of starting at Mineral Bottom and riding counter-clockwise is that you get the long (and least scenic) section riding along Mineral Road out of the way at the very beginning and the scenery (in my opinion) got better every day. The disadvantage of counter-clockwise is that you have to ride (or walk) up Shafer at the very end…and believe me, it’s no fun. On the elevation profile, you’ll also see that counterclockwise appears to have some longer uphill sections than riding it clockwise.<\/p>\n In total, the White Rim Trail gains about 7,500 feet of elevation. Going counterclockwise, there are two major climbs – Murphy’s Hogback at the approximate halfway point and Shafer Hill on the last day. These two climbs are tough, and I ended up walking my bike up a majority of these sections….which is nothing to be ashamed of, by the way.<\/p>\n Most people take 2-4 days to complete the White Rim Trail by bike. Some people might consider four days to be more of a booze-cruise sort of pace – and for most of my friends, I think it was. But as a beginner, 4 days seemed perfect. Most of the elevation gain is gradual, but 25 miles of dirt is still a lot of ground to cover. <\/p>\n Four days meant we had plenty of time to take breaks and explore our surroundings and still arrive at camp with a couple of hours of daylight. We also took our mornings slow, not getting on the trail until about 10 or 11 every day.<\/p>\n With that said, many people do it in much less time. in fact, some people do it unsupported in a single day, which would definitely be a slog. When planning your trip, you need to consider first and foremost how good of biking shape you are in and then what type of pace you want to keep.<\/p>\n The White Rim Trail is a moderately rough, but decently maintained 4WD jeep road. There is no potable water anywhere along the trail, so unless you are a stellar biker who can confidently bike the entire 100 miles in a day, it is best to be accompanied by a 4WD support vehicle. That way, all of the food, camping gear, and extra water can be transported by the vehicle, and you don’t have to carry any gear on your bike. <\/p>\n For our group of 7, we had one Toyota Tacoma that we were able to cram all of our gear in. You’ll also need a very study bike rack that can hold two bikes. That way if someone gets tired, they can hop in the truck and keep the driver company. For more on what gear to pack, scroll to the bottom of this post.<\/p>\n A couple of things to keep in mind… the person driving the support vehicle should have some experience with 4WD roads, especially if it’s been raining and the road is slick, muddy, or rutted. Most of the road is pretty mellow, but there are a few tricky and steep parts where you’ll want someone experienced behind the wheel. <\/p>\n\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAbout the White Rim Trail<\/h2>\n
White Rim Trail Map<\/h3>\n
![\"White](\"http:\/\/www.global-kite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/White-Rim-Trail-Map.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n![\"White](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/White-Rim-Trail-elevation-profile.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHow many days does it take to bike the White Rim Trail?<\/h3>\n
![\"Plan](\"http:\/\/www.global-kite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_7122.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nYour White Rim Trail Support Vehicle<\/h3>\n
![\"Plan](\"https:\/\/bearfoottheory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSC01625.jpg\")
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