The Amasa-Rockstacker-Jackson loop is 13 miles long and it will test you in every way. You climb around 1,000' on the way up to the plateau on a tough, technical, jeep road. Be ready to to climb those rock steps - there are many fun technical challenges on the climb. Once on top you'll quickly be awed by the views of Jackson Hole - a lone butte rising out of the desert floor below. Singletrack leads to slickrock which turns to single track again on the way to Pothole Arch, a great place for shade and a snack before the bomber run down. Check out the views of the Colorado River just past the arch on the West side of the plateau from a phenominal slickrock perch.
Back track on the slickrock to the point of a big "rockstack" (or cairn). The start of Rockstacker is still not obvious here - go Southeast for 100' over a rock ridge and then follow the rock ridge South down the edge of the plateau. You'll quickly discover the singletrack route and you'll be on the defensive immediately - one shot down a rock gap and then a plunge down a series of obsticles to the next plateau below. Here you'll ride a mix of slickrock and single track until a big rock ampitheater becomes visible. It's very easy to get lost here so scout the route carefully - shoot down the rock slab ramp and then stay high as you immediately contour right around a small ledge above the rock floor below. After about 100 yards you'll see a "rockstack" which marks the way down an sketchy highly exposed desent to the rock floor of the ampitheater. You'll ride singletrack and slickrock patches for another mile (or so) before intersecting Jackson Trail. There are many great ledge jumps along the way so have fun! Jackson trail turns to mainly dirt singletrack on the way down with some very exposed areas on the edge of the cliff above the Colorado River. Don't forget to look around you and give those white knucks a break. Wade the creek at the end of the run to meet up with the Amasa Back parking are to close the loop.
Equipment: For Rockstacker you need all the suspension you can pedal up - 6 inches if you've got it. We had 6 liters on water each for an early morning Summer ride. GPS coordinates are very helpful - this is a "route", not a trail, so route finding is essential. Walk what you feel is too sketchy - a screw-up here could be deady.
TO TRAILHEAD: Take Main Street South to Kane Creek road (just before the McDonalds). Take a right on Kane Creek and keep driving around 5 miles to the trailhead.
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Amasa-Rockstacker-Jackson Loop
| Dist: 12.75 mi |
Points: 1266 |
Calories: none |
| Time: none |
Speed: 0.0 mph |
Pace: 0:00 / mi |
This track shows the route up Amasa Back and then down Rockstacker trail to Jackson Trail.
Jackson Trail Junction
| Dist: 0.30 mi |
Points: 17 |
Calories: none |
| Time: none |
Speed: 0.0 mph |
Pace: 0:00 / mi |
The bypass off Amasa Back will deliver you to the junction with Jackson Trail.
Trent is ready to ride!
Location: 38.532612°, -109.600784°
Load your crash pads and get ready to ride Amasa Back!
First Parking
Location: 38.532589°, -109.600731°
This is the first place to park. There is another parking area up the road another 1/2 mile that is closer to the Amasa trailhead but I would park here if you intend to do the loop ride.
Amasa Back Parking
Location: 38.528004°, -109.597397°
This is the official Amasa Back parking area.
Official Amasa Back Trailhead
Location: 38.523903°, -109.601479°
This is where this bad a$$ ride starts with a set of technical stairs and a 3' ledge drop right away!
Sunrise on the climb
Location: 38.526112°, -109.603119°
The Amasa climb is up a techn ical jeep road. Get started by 6am in the Summer!
Rich climbs hard
Location: 38.525356°, -109.605522°
The jeep road is full of technical problems. Rich cleans this two stage rock climb.
Technique Matters!
Location: 38.524410°, -109.605583°
Steep technical climbs are all about technique. Rich keeps well balanced and forward after popping the front wheel up the rock. He'll pop the back wheel up while doing a pedal stroke to clean this problem.
Trent takes it all in after the hard climb
Location: 38.520687°, -109.606529°
This was our first ride in Moab. It's hard to describe how awesome this place really is!
Trent's Navigating the rock
Location: 38.518730°, -109.610184°
Many parts of the route up Amasa Back are solid rock. N otice the white lines that Trent is navigating to stay on track.
Trent's in low gear
Location: 38.518353°, -109.611389°
Get in the granny to get up this stuff!
Step-up Jump
Location: 38.518101°, -109.614349°
We found this step-up jump on the route up Amasa Back. The picture does not do it justice! The step has 3' vertical to clear, a very limited landing area, and an off camber rock at the top of the jump. If we had not seen riders on You Tube cleaning this we would have been very skeptical. Too much risk for us!
What Scenery!
Location: 38.518307°, -109.618614°
Gorgeous views are everywhere taking the hard labor out of climbing.
Jackson Hole
Location: 38.522514°, -109.621353°
On the back side of Amasa Back is a cliff with a view of a circular butte across the chasm. The route around the bottom of the circular butte is called Jackson Hole.
Trent Frames Jackson Hole
Location: 38.524723°, -109.623245°
On the edge
Location: 38.526031°, -109.624680°
I was not kidding about being on the edge!
Jackson lookout Jct
Location: 38.528065°, -109.627617°
Somewhere around this location is a trail that takes you out to the lookout over the Colorado River and Jackson Hole. We did not find it though.
Jackson Junction
Location: 38.529343°, -109.629318°
This is the route over to the Jackson Trail singletrack down the backside of Amasa Back. It's highly recommended! Great singletrack fun. Be aware, this route is advanced riding only with serious exposure. Walk the exposed sections to be safe. Go back down Amasa Back on the jeep road if your bike handling skills aren't excellent!
Trent shows how it's done
Location: 38.529961°, -109.634354°
Trent cleans a tough rock hop.
Tough Hop!
Location: 38.529713°, -109.637749°
Rich tries to clean this off angle hop. The first time the back wheel skidded out and he landed on his butt! He eventually cleaned it by popping the back wheel up and over.
Jackson Hole Lookout
Location: 38.528191°, -109.647926°
Nice lookout over the Colorado River and Jackson Hole
La Sals View
Location: 38.543335°, -109.641106°
Right near the junction with Rockstacker trail is a nice view of the La Sals.
Trent Near the Arch
Location: 38.551727°, -109.641106°
A nice little arch was at the end of the singletrack out on Amasa Back. It was shady even at 9am in the Summer! If you climb up in the arch there is an even larger arch visible!
Pothole Arch
Location: 38.551731°, -109.641083°
Natural Arch
Trent On The Edge!
Location: 38.552673°, -109.642113°
What a view of the Colorado River on the edge of Amasa Back! Trent's ready for the downhill action after putting on his crash pads.
Rockstacker Junction
Location: 38.542080°, -109.640747°
A large cairn marks the start of the Rockstacker trail. This is an extremely difficult "route." In places the trail is very hard to find and solid route finding skills are a must. You do not want to get lost out here! It is an extremely technical route with severe exposure in places. There are great ledge drops on the route though that are a blast if you are an advanced rider.
Rich takes the first drop
Location: 38.541893°, -109.640465°
Drops like this are typical on Rockstacker
Trent blasts down a double ledge drop
Location: 38.541592°, -109.639923°
The first part of Rockstacker is a plunge down off the Amasa Back plateau.
La Sal Mountains
Location: 38.537971°, -109.639336°
Great views all along this route!
Trent adeptly nails a technical section
Location: 38.536839°, -109.638962°
the route through this area is very hard to find. After the drop through this slot the trail goes back toward Amasa Back on a ledge for around 100 yards then there is an extremely technical and exposed series of drops down to the slickrock floor of an ampitheater. Most people should just walk this section because the risk of a fatal mistake is just too high.
Ledge Jumps Galore!
Location: 38.537739°, -109.638901°
Rockstacker is full of cool ledge jumps. Some are singles and others double. Good bike handling skills will keep you from going over the bars.
Rich shows how high the ledge jump is
Location: 38.535034°, -109.638542°
This is a fun ledge jump to hit on the way down. It's about a 4 footer with a nice slickrock landing.
Great Ledge Jump!
Location: 38.535152°, -109.638542°
This ledge jump is right in the path of the Rockstacker route - you can't miss it. Its a good 4 foot jump witha flat landing on solid rock. Roll it and pull back on the bars just before tipping over the edge.
Complex multi-ledge drop
Location: 38.533829°, -109.637337°
Rockstacker has many challenging sections including this cool multi-stage drop. Trent and Rich show how to clear it in style.
Colorado River Views
Location: 38.533123°, -109.633919°
Breathtaking scenery is everywhere. While you're trying to stay on your bike don't forget to look around!
Double Ledge Precision
Location: 38.533348°, -109.632706°
This double ledge jump required precision speed to clear. Too fast and you're going to crash. Too slow and you're going to crash. The guys nail it just right.
Trent enjoys the view
Location: 38.529202°, -109.626656°
Nearing the Jackson Trail junction on Rockstacker.
Cave
Location: 38.528511°, -109.618134°
Trent takes a brake in the only shade around - a cave in the cliff side on the way down Jackson Trail.
Jackson Trail End
Location: 38.533432°, -109.601669°
This sign greets those who want to climb Jackson Trail. The trail has very steep loose dirt in areas making a climb quite hard.
Creek Cross
Location: 38.532421°, -109.602806°
Crossing this creek is hit and miss. Today it was very easy and only about 2 inches deep. Other times this cross has been chest deep!
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