The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Join us for a 5-day Mountain Bike Tour of this vastly scenic geologic anomaly. You'll be riding between 6000'- 9000' above sea level on rolling trails through the lush meadows and shady forests of the Kaibab Plateau. Warm days with cool nights, beautiful single track, campsites in Old Growth Ponderosa Pine Forests with stands of Quaking Aspen and lush fields of fragrant Lupine make this tour marvelous!
Summer is the perfect season for mountain bike riding on the Grand Canyon's North Rim. Our 5-day route explores the labyrinth of trails and roads in the Kaibab National Forest. These trips are best suited for riders with some mountain biking experience who are in good physical condition and able to ride for 4-6 hours a day. This week is yours for riding, hiking to View Points, viewing ancient ruins, sleeping out under the stars or just kicking back at camp and taking in the spectacular views. Our meals are delicious, and our guides are seasoned experts who will help you make this the best week of riding you've ever had!
We meet the group for a pre-trip orientation on the evening before the tour 7pm in Kanab, UT. We’ll give directions to our meeting point in Kanab for the start of the trip and issue 2 Dry Bags, water and dust proof bags, per person for packing your personal equipment for the trip.
Breakfast on your own. We meet at 9am to load your personal gear onto the gear vehicle. We depart Kanab by van to the start of our ride. 13 miles
We’ll continue southward on the Arizona Trail riding to the North Rim Village in Grand Canyon National Park. 23 miles
We’ll ride over the east/west divide on the plateau and descend to the western edge of the North Rim. 29 miles
We’ll ride south on the Rainbow Rim Trail. You’ll have plenty of time to take in the views at Timp Point where you can see Thunder River, gushing from the Red Wall Limestone 4000’ below. 18-38 miles
We finish this tour with the northern section of the Rainbow Rim. That’s right, more riding on the most scenic single track in North America. After lunch we’ll meet our van for the return shuttle to Kanab (ETA 5pm). 17 miles
ITINERARY CHANGES MAY BE MADE DUE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL OR BY DISCRETION OF THE GROUP LEADERS.
HOW DO I GET TO THE ROCKING V CAFE IN KANAB, UTAH? From the Las Vegas Airport take Interstate 15 North to St George, UT (approx 2 hours). Continue North on I 15 to Hwy 9 East to Hurricane, UT. From Hurricane (pronounced “Hurr-a-cun”) you have two choices; take Hwy 9 E through Zion National Park (slower, supremely scenic & highly recommended) to Hwy 89 South to Kanab. Or, if you’re feeling pressed for time, from Hurricane take Hwy 59 East through Colorado City, AZ, turn left at Hwy 89A in Fredonia and head North to Kanab. Rocking V Cafe, 97 W Center St, Kanab, UT.
DO I NEED PREVIOUS MOUNTAIN BIKE EXPERIENCE? Yes. Some mountain biking experience is necessary to enjoy this tour. This trip is suitable for a fit experienced beginning mountain biker. Learning to safely handle a mountain bike on single track is not difficult. We will give a complete orientation prior to the start of the ride. All of our guides are experienced riders and great coaches. Daily, we will discuss and demonstrate cycling techniques and safe riding skills to help improve your ability on the mountain bike.
HOW MANY MILES PER DAY? On this 5-day trip we ride 13-38 miles per day. Mountain biking moves at a slower pace compared to road riding. A rough rule of thumb is to double the number of mountain biking miles when comparing it to road riding (10 miles on a mountain bike feels like 20 on the road). Extra riding and hiking is always available from each camp for those who wish to extend their day.
WHAT KIND OF SHAPE DO I NEED TO BE IN? Mountain biking is a wonderful, healthy sport that attracts people of all ages and walks of life. It can be as strenuous or mellow as you make it; it all comes down to being in good general health, being accustomed to regular exercise and controlling your pace. If you can ride at a comfortable pace for 4-6 hours at home you will do fine on the trip. Remember, it is possible to ride a mountain bike for fun and it doesn't have to be a race. Everyone rides at their own pace so there is plenty of time for photos and relaxing.
WILL I NOTICE THE ALTITUDE? Our route on the Kaibab Plateau lies between 6000 and 9000 feet above sea level. If you live near sea level you will feel a difference, and everyone adjusts at different rates. The quickest way to adapt to the altitude and dry air is to make an extra effort to drink plenty of water and eat salty foods when you first arrive and throughout the day during the trip. It's dry in the southwest, so drink and snack frequently.
CAN I BRING MY OWN BIKE AND HOW DO I SHIP IT? Yes, you must make sure your bike is in good repair and has been recently serviced by a qualified bike shop. It’s vital to check all systems; brakes, shifters, drive train, cables, tires and wheels. Ship your bike to Zion Cycles, 686 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767, via FedEx or UPS. It’ll be ready when you arrive (or assemble yourself... see the Equipment List for details).
WHERE DO WE LEAVE OUR CAR? At the Pre-Trip Meeting we’ll show you a map and give directions to where we’ll meet the following morning to launch our trip, Treasure Trail Motel, 150 W Center St, Kanab, UT. This is where you’ll leave your car parked during the trip.
HOW LONG IS THE SHUTTLE TO THE TRAILHEAD? About 1½ hours.
PACKING INFORMATIONAt the Pre-Trip Meeting you’ll receive 2 Dry Bags, water & dust proof bags. The large bag is for your clothes, sleeping bag & sleeping pad; it's carried on top of the gear vehicle and is not easily accessible during the day. The small bag is for extra clothing & items you may need during the day and don’t want to carry on your bike. The small bag is carried on the gear vehicle and easily accessible when you’re near the gear vehicle. Finally, your Hydration Pack is for items you need with you while riding; water, snacks, sunscreen, camera, rain jacket, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: We have limited space on the gear vehicle; follow the equipment list carefully! Bring only what you’ll need for your trip; excess clothing and gear can be left in your hotel or car.
SEASONAL TEMPERATURESThese summer trips usually have cool nights (35-50F), warm sunny days (60-90F) and the possibility of some wind & thunderstorms. We suggest dressing in layers, with good Gore-Tex rain gear as the top layer.
EQUIPMENT LIST: MULTI-DAY DESERT TOURSThis equipment list was compiled from personal guiding experience and updated with guest feedback from mountain bike trips beginning in 1985. It’s not meant to overwhelm, but to educate & prepare you for the varied conditions we’ve experienced in the field. By taking time to thoroughly go over this list, you'll begin to insure the quality of your trip. Items in Italics are available for rent, with advanced reservations.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Bike Helmet (rental bikes come with helmets) - Sunhat, Baseball Cap or Visor - Eye Protection (if prescription, bring a spare pair) - Hydration Pack (minimum 70 oz resevior and capacity for snacks etc) - Cycling Gloves - Closed Toed Shoes - Sunscreen and Lip Screen (light colored clothing also works)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Sunglasses - Bandanna - Base Layers (synthetic or wool, avoid cotton!) - Down Jacket - Ski Hat (Wool or Fleece) - Cycling Shorts - Shorts - Long Pants - Gore-Tex Rain Suit - Sandals - Earplugs (for sleeping) - Headlamp or Flashlight (with new batteries, spare bulb and extra batteries) - Personal First Aid Kit (Include anti-Inflammatory, anti-acid, Band-Aids, topical antibiotic, Aloe Vera gel, athletic tape or Second Skin, cold/sinus meds, eye drops, personal & prescription medications)
PERSONAL ITEMS: Toilet Kit (normal toiletries in small travel sizes) - Wash Cloths (1 per day for your daily "desert shower") - Insect Repellent (Citronella works well on gnats)
OPTIONAL ITEMS: Camera - Book - Personal Journal or Pencil & Paper - Binoculars - Small Musical Instrument - Beverages (CANS ONLY PLEASE, 4 cans per person per day, transfer wines and liquors from glass to a plastic bottle with secure screw-top lid)
CAMPING GEAR: You can rent all items in Italics from Magpie Cycling Adventures with advanced reservations - Tent (with rainfly, stakes, poles, stuff sack, ground cloth/foot print & 50 ft. 1/8" Nylon Cord to secure tent in places where soil is thin) - Sleeping Bag with stuff sack - compact bag with synthetic fill, rated 20-30F - Sleeping Pad (Thermarest self inflating pad)
MOUNTAIN BIKE RENTALS Advance reservations are necessary! We recommend the high performance full-suspension rental mountain bikes from Zion Cycles in Springdale, UT. We're happy to make a reservation for you with Zion Cycles, add the charge to your invoice, as well as pick-up & return the bike before & after the trip. We'll need to know your height & inseam to insure that we reserve a bike in your correct size.
IF YOU RENT A BIKE consider bringing the following items from your personal bike; your own comfortable mountain bike seat (without the seat post), your own clipless pedals and your own MTB shoes with cleats.
IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN BIKE Full Suspension is Highly Recommended! Your bike must be in good repair! Service all systems: brakes, drive train & wheels. Magpie Cycling Adventures assumes no responsibility for the condition of your personal bike and reserves the right to deny usage of bikes considered unsafe by your Guide! Our tools are for minor adjustments & repairs while on the trip.
SHIPPING YOUR BIKE - send it FedEx or UPS to Zion Cycles, 868 Zion Park Blvd., Springdale, UT 84767. Clearly mark exterior of box; “Please Assemble for Magpie Cycling Adventures” or “Do Not Build - Please Hold for Magpie Cycling Adventures”.
60 Day Cancellation Policy; you will receive a refund of your deposit less a 50% Processing Fee when you cancel 60 days prior to trip departure. No refunds will be available for cancellations received less than 60 days prior to trip departure unless you find someone or another Group to fill your space(s). WE CAN NOT MAKE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY, so we urge you to consider investing in Travel Insurance offered by Travel Guard or USI Travel Insurance Services. If you are purchasing a non-refundable airline ticket, we strongly suggest contacting our office prior to the trip to be sure we have adequate registration. Magpie Cycling Adventures reserves the right to cancel any trip due to unforeseen circumstances or inadequate registration, which makes the trip economically unfeasible to operate. With an inadequate registration, we will operate the trip if all trip participants agree to pay a supplemental fee. In the event of a trip cancellation, you will receive a full refund of all monies paid, however Magpie Cycling Adventures is not responsible for additional costs incurred in preparing for the trip (i.e. non refundable "Advance Purchase" airline tickets, equipment, medical expenses).
