Tag Archive for: massive rock

Hidden Valley Moab Rim

Hidden Valley onto Moab Rim - View before heading down the Moab Rim

 

The Hidden Valley onto Moab Rim is one of my Moab favorites. This trail offers fantastic scenery, a very remote feeling without being remote ( if anything goes wrong, it’s no more than a 1.5 hour walk to civilization).
The Hidden Valley onto Moab Rim trail offers everything the big trails offer, such as Porcupine. The trail can be looped, or as an out and back.
This trail offers the longest and steepest slickrock downhill section, almost a mile of solid mental 22 percent downhill.

 

Hidden Valley onto Moab Rim

Trail Stats & Information

Nearby Town: Moab
Length: about 13 miles (14.3 miles if you visit the Moab Rim View Point)
Trail Type: Loop or Out & Back
Skill Level: [what the books say] Technically extremely difficult to downright abusive. Physically difficult
Skill Level: [My Opinion] Technically moderate – difficult. Physically moderate [ if done from Hidden Valley ]
Duration: 2-4 hours
Trailhead Elev: 4000 feet
Top Elev: 5400 feet

Book Description

If you are not a skilled mountain biker do not attempt this ride. Be sure to take lots of water. This trail can be ridden from Moab, as a loop or as a shuttled trip, in either direction. It has a brutal climb at the head and an equally brutal downhill at the tail anyway you slice it. The ride up from the northern end on the massive rock slab to the rim is one of the most difficult climbs I know of. The southern end is so technical that you are going to be walking the bike. The northern end can be ridden in its entirety, if you are very fit and very skilled. Trail Surface: Extremely rugged 4WD trail and a very technical singletrack that is only suitable for hiking–portage or risk bone damage. Huge ledges, sand, loose rock, and hardpack. Kayenta slab rock, Navajo sandstone.

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My Experience

I have lost count on how many times I have done this trail, and I still love it as much as I did the first time. The scenery is great, the trail is exciting and has an adventurous feel to it. As always the 40 min. portage is a grunt, but once on Hidden Valley, the grunt was well worth it, and is soon forgotten about.  The side trip up to the Moab Rim View point is very strenuous, and even though it might not look very technical, it has the potential of  destroying you and your bike if you loose control at very high speed. 

   

Conclussion

This is still one of my favorite  trails, it’s more like an adventure than a “ride” . Last year I wrote that the singletrack that cuts through Hidden Valley was in really bad shape, and it was becoming  almost impossible to ride because they were so deep. The good news is, the trails for whatever reason in excellent shape again.

   

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : about 5 hikers
Wild Life : a Bull Snake
Scenery : Absolutely Fantastic 360 degree 3D Scenery
Other : Be WELL prepared for punctures, carry spare tubes and a repair kit. This advice is for ALL Moab rides, not just this one. DO NOT attempt this trail if you are not experienced riding on extremely rocky trails and very steep drops.

 

My Trail Rating : 10 / 10

 

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The Hidden Valley onto Moab Rim Trail starts from your campsite.
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In the past I have received emails from people that call me crazy ‘cos of the way I rate this trail, a lot of people call this trail “extremely difficult to very dangerous ” So let me explain how I rate a trail.

I myself would put me in the “Intermediate MTB’er” category, and far from being Advanced. So on a trail like this, where there is a 40 min. portage, that is IMPOSSIBLE to ride both up or down, I do not consider this section Mountain Biking.. If I did, this trail would be “Suicidal”

All the trails I rate are based on my opinion, and on how “comfortable” I was while riding it.

Hidden Valley and Moab Rim Trail

Hidden Valley and Moab Rim Trail

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The Hidden Valley onto Moab Rim is one of my Moab favorites. This trail offers fantastic scenery, a very remote feeling without being remote ( if anything goes wrong, it’s no more than a 1.5 hour walk to civilization).
The Hidden Valley onto Moab Rim trail offers everything the big trails offer, such as Porcupine. The trail can be looped, or as an out and back.
This trail offers the longest and steepest slickrock downhill section, almost a mile of solid mental 22 percent downhill.

Hidden Valley onto Moab Rim

Trail Stats & Information

Nearby Town: Moab
Length: about 13 miles (14.3 miles if you visit the view point)
Trail Type: Loop or Out & Back
Skill Level: [what the books say] Technically extremely difficult to downright abusive. Physically difficult
Skill Level: [My Opinion] Technically moderate. Physically moderate
Duration: 2-4 hours
Trailhead Elev: 4000 feet
Top Elev: 5400 feet

Book Description

If you are not a skilled mountain biker do not attempt this ride. Be sure to take lots of water. This trail can be ridden from Moab, as a loop or as a shuttled trip, in either direction. It has a brutal climb at the head and an equally brutal downhill at the tail anyway you slice it. The ride up from the northern end on the massive rock slab to the rim is one of the most difficult climbs I know of. The southern end is so technical that you are going to be walking the bike. The northern end can be ridden in its entirety, if you are very fit and very skilled. Trail Surface: Extremely rugged 4WD trail and a very technical singletrack that is only suitable for hiking–portage or risk bone damage. Huge ledges, sand, loose rock, and hardpack. Kayenta slab rock, Navajo sandstone.

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My Experience

Since I came to the USA 4 years ago, I have always spent the whole month of October and the first week of November in Moab. I always stay at the Moab Rim Camp Ground, and the Hidden Valley Trailhead is just 5 min. away. Hidden Valley and Moab Rim Trail was the first ever Moab trail I did, I enjoyed it the first time, and I enjoy it every single time. This trail is stunningly scenic, and apart from the 40 min. portage at the bottom of  Hidden Valley, it’s a pretty easy ride. This trail can be looped in 3 hours.

Conclussion

EXCELLENT fun and scenic ride with a remote feeling even though you are just miles from Moab, once on the Rim you feel like you are the only person on earth. Excellent Moab scenery. The climb and portage to Hidden Valley is brutal, but once that is behind you, it’s cool running’s.

Personally I DO NOT agree with the difficulty rating mentioned in the guide Books. Although the Downhill is absolutely mental, with a 22+ grade, it is actually manageable, I have managed it myself with just 2 “get offs”. However, if anything goes wrong on the downhill it will probably cost you and your bike dearly.

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : about 5 hikers
Wild Life : who needs wildlife on a ride like this!?
Scenery : Absolutely Fantastic 360 degree 3D Scenery
Other :  Be WELL prepared for punctures, carry spare tubes and a repair kit. This advice is for ALL Moab rides, not just this one.

My Trail Rating : 9.5 / 10

 


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