Right on the way into (or out of) Moab, the Bar M Loop and its subsidiary trails are a great introduction to Moab mountain biking. Start from the Gemini Bridges Trailhead and pick up the bike path to head under 191 and access Bar M, a mostly-flat mix of doubletrack and slickrock that’s perfect for novice mountain bikers.
Those with a bit more experience will prefer to turn onto Bar B (2.8 miles in) for a sandy singletrack peppered with slickrock patches and narrow rock passes. This 2.5-mile loop is a perfect for those new to slickrock to hone their handling skills.
Even more slickrock practice is available on the 1.5-mile Rockin’ A; this trail is 95-percent slickrock. The route is marked by a painted orange stripe (and red arrows) right on the rock. Moab newbies will not only get a good idea of what their bikes can (and can’t) do on the grippy surface, but will delight on this slickrock playground.
More slickrock is available on the 3-mile Circle O trail (at the end of Rockin’ A), or if you’d had your fill, beeline it back to the trailhead along a fast stretch on Bar M.
-Mapped by Mark Harrison and Tim Shisler
TO TRAILHEAD: From the intersection of Center St. and Main St., head north on Main St. (becomes UT 191) for 9.8 miles and turn left on Gemini Rocks Rd. Make an immediate right turn into the parking lot. Fee applicable.
