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Sovereign Trail moab
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The Sovereign Trail Moab 2011

Sovereign Trail moab

The Soveregn Trail in Moab offers miles of fun and scenic singletrack

 

Last year this was my last ride in Moab, I crashed on the last mile of the Sovereign Trail cracking some ribs and my sternum. As it happened, it turned out that this would also be my last Moab ride for 2011 as well, luckily for me though, this was not due to a crash. This time around I made it around the Sovereign Trail in one piece.

 

Sovereign Trail Map

Sovereign Trail Elevation

 

Trail Stats & Information Sovereign Trail

 
Nearby Town: Moab

Length: 15.45 miles : there are numerous options to lengthen or shorten the ride – My ride was 9.81 miles

Trail Type: Lollipop

Skill Level: [what the books say] Technically difficult. Physically very difficult

Skill Level: [My Opinion] Technically moderate. Physically moderately demanding with some very demanding sections

Duration: Book say’s 1-3 hours my time 2.38 hours

Trailhead Elev: 4,358 feet

Top Elev: 4,854 feet

 

 

Book Description

Sovereign is one of the newest mountain biking trail systems in Moab. The terrain in and around Sovereign is generally flatter than most of the terrain in the Moab area. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking this ride won’t be fun or challenging.The Sovereign Trail offers plenty of technical sections as well as rolling fast twisty singletrack sections and some short slickrock sections. The Sovereign Trail has quickly become one of the top Moab rides  

[Show as slideshow]

 

My Experience

I got to the Trailhead early, and was happy to be the first to arrive. Seeing as I had done this trail last year, I knew how to find the trail (unlike last year).
The trail climbs gradually for the first mile with some moderate technical stuff, nothing serious. What goes up must come down, and the gradual climb is followed by a gradual but fast slickrock downhill section, again, although fast, nothing very technical. The singletrack is fun to ride, and is unlike all the other Moab rides, although large sections are on slickrock, it’s not the redrock like most other trails. The Sovereign trail is pretty much a “Low Ride” with max. elevation gain of 970 ft. The Sovereign Trail is not extremely technical on the whole, but there are numerous short sections that are very technical, and should be approached with caution.  

 

Conclusion

I had a score to settle with the Sovereign Trail, and I did, the Sovereign Trail and myself are back on good terms. This trail is a fun trail, and as I mentioned above, unlike the other Trails Moab is famous for. Although I had a great ride, and will definitely do this trail again, it is not in my Moab’s “Favorite List” For anyone that like myself has a lot of time to ride the Moab Trails, then add this to your list, if you only have a few days to a week, then the Sovereign would probably not make my list.  

 

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : For a weekday, It was moderately busy

Wild Life : Definitely don’t need it on this scenic trail

Scenery : Really nice scenery.

Getting There : Willow Springs Road Trailhead: On US-191 north of Moab, turn east on dirt Willow Springs Road. Keep L at fork at mile 1.3. At mile 2.0, park in the rock-outlined area on your left N 38° 41.876′ W 109° 39.868′, just before a natural gas pump building on the R. Start the ride by continuing down Willow Springs Rd. Other : You can make this ride as long or as short as you like, there are numerous “Link Trails” that can be taken. Good Luck in finding a good trail map for this trail  

 

My Trail Rating : 8 / 10

 

 

Moab Rim CamparkThis Sovereign Trail review is proudly sponsored by :

Moab Rim Campark

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Mountain Biking Sedona part 1

Mountain Biking Sedona

Stunning Sedona views on the Templeton Trail

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Doctors orders were to rest for at least 10 weeks ‘cos of a cracked sternum and a couple of broken ribs I acquired on the Sovereign Trail in Moab 3 weeks ago. I have been in Sedona now  for 2 weeks, and there is no way I can mooch around doing nothing for another 7 weeks… My Sternum and Ribs are doing great, so I decided to hit the Sedona trails, and just hope I don’t bite the Sedona dust.

The first network of trails I did was as followed :

>> Big Park Loop >> onto the >> Templeton Trail >> then counter clock  Baldwin Trail >> back onto Templeton Trail onto >> HT Trail onto >> Rock Pathway onto >> Llama onto >> Little Horse and finally heading down Broken Arrow

 Sedona Trails Map
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Trail Stats & Information

 

Nearby Town : Sedona
Length: 19.28 miles
Trail Type: Point 2 Point
Skill Level: [what the books say] no info
Skill Level: [My Opinion] Technically moderate. Physically moderate [ there are some very demanding sections on Llama and Broken Arrow ]
Duration : My time was 05:40:34 but I took it easy, I think this trail can be done in 3-4 hours
Elev Gain : 2,519 feet
Top Elev : 4,676  feet
Min. Elev : 3,945 feet

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Book Description

I could not find any books describing the Trails I did on this ride, so the below descriptions are based on my personal experience :

>> Big Park Loop : I can keep this very short… BUSY!!!! I arrived at the Trailhead at 9.30am, and there were about 50 cars and 3 tour buses on the lot… If I did this combination again, I would skip this trail.

>> Templeton Trail : Fantastic singletrack with stunning views. There are some fast sections on this trail, but shred with caution, on some sections visibility is minimum, and this trail is popular with hikers. The first section is on dirt windy singletrack, and the second section offers some sweet slickrock riding. Extra caution is needed on the steep downhill to the creek, there is one VERY sharp rocky and gnarly switchback, that is just waiting to put a bitter end to your ride.

>> Baldwin Trail : The only problem I had with this trail, is that it is way too short!! I recommend doing this trail counter clock, it’s a fairly easy ride, but don’t be too Gung Ho or Baldwin will kick your ass!!. The climb is easy / moderate, and the down section is fast and can be furious.. be careful cos there are one or two sections that are pretty brutal.. all in all a fantastic loop.

>> HT Trail :  Short trail, sweet singletarck, more a connector than a trail

>> Rock Pathway : Mostly doubletrack, used as a trail connector

>> Llama : The skill level goes up a notch on this trail, the Llama throws a bit of everything at you, singletrack, slickrock, wash-outs, chicken heads, baby heads and  a bag full of stunning scenery. There is at least one section  on this trail, that anyone with the right amount of brain cells will dismount from their steed and walk…
The Llama Trail is a must !!

>> Little Horse : I only did a very short section of this trail connecting me to the Broken  Arrow.. The section I did was  very scenic.

>> Broken Arrow : Fantastic Trail, but can be pretty busy with hikers and Pink Jeeps!!… out of all the above trails / connectors, the Broken  Arrow was technically the most challenging of all.  Broken Arrow offers singletrack and  Slickrock. I would not recommend this trail to anyone wanting to test their new Walmart   Full Suspension Mongoose.

[Show as slideshow]

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My Experience

My first ever ride in Sedona was almost called off, because of the crowds at the Big Park Loop Trailhead, but once I got over the initial shock, and onto the Templeton Trail, I really started to enjoy myself.
What I really liked, was that the Sedona Trails offer various riding experiences, one minute you are are shreddin’ on a sweet dirt singletrack, then you get taken onto a slickrock   extravaganza.
Because of my injury, I did take things slow, but it gave me time to enjoy the trail more than I otherwise would have.

The people I met  on the trails, ( both mtb’ers and hikers) were very friendly (not so common anymore)

Conclusion

If  I had to explain to someone what the Mountain Biking in Sedona is like, it would be as followed :

Take a big shovel of  “Amasa Back Moab”, add a wheelbarrow of “Kokopelli Area Trails Fruita”, and mix it with a barrel of “Hartman Rocks Gunnison”.. Mix well, and let it settle, and you’ll have a fine piece of Sedona Trails..
I loved my first experience on the Sedona Trails…. BUT …

It is clear to me that there are tons of fantastic trails in and around Sedona, but if you are not a local like myself then you are pretty much limited to what trails to shred.  I have books, trail maps, GPS, websites, and more, but they all mean very little if you do not know the area like the back of your hand. I will be here for another 2.5 weeks, but I suspect that I will never get to ride the best trails in Sedona, ‘cos I can’t find them!!.. But I will do my best.

Other Info:

Traffic on Trail : For a weekday, It was pretty busy, mostly hikers.
Wild Life : Definitely don’t need it on this scenic trail
Scenery :  Fantastic.
Getting There :  Bell Rock Trailhead: From Sedona follow the 179 to Village of Oak Creek, Trailhead is marked on the left side of the Highway
Other : Trails are well marked, but do not attempt this ride without a map. Keep your eyes open for hikers and dogs not on their leash

My Trail Rating : 9 / 10

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I would like to thank Traildoc for his help and info on planning the Sedona Trails

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www.rip3d.info

www.rip3d.info

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2 days ago I managed to un-willingly produced  the “Mother of all Endo’s”  on the Sovereign Trail in Moab.  The result of this feat is a cracked sternum. This will probably keep me off the trails for a week .

To stop myself from going stir crazy, I started on a new site / blog with one of my many domain names I have lying around.
So, if you have nothing better to do, mosey on down to www.rip3d.info

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