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Klondike Bluffs Area Trails
Klondike Bluffs has been a popular mountain bike destination for many
years. But new non-motorized trails have been created on the tilted rock
mesa north of Klondike bluffs to create many varied and satisfying ride
possibilities. Climbing (or downhill) routes go southwest to
northeast and include (from south to north)
Klondike, Baby Steps south, Little Salty, Baby Steps north, and Mega
Steps. Traversing routes in the northwest-to-southeast direction are
Copper Ridge Road, Dino Flow, and EKG.
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| The upper part of Baby Steps south connects via UFO to Little
Salty, Baby Steps north, then Mega Steps. At the bottom, the Copper Ridge
dirt road joins all trails. About 1/2 mile up the mountain, EKG traverses
from southern Dino Flow to Mega Steps, crossing Baby Steps south, Little Salty and Baby Steps
north before ending on Mega Steps. Midway between the Copper Ridge Road and EKG is Dino Flow, an
easier singletrack trail, extending from the Klondike road to Mega Steps. |
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Klondike Bluffs Trail
This is the old classic trail, which you'll share with jeeps and ATVs.
From the upper parking, it's 9.6 miles round trip. At the Arches National
Park border, you'll stash your bike for a half-mile walk to the Klondike
Bluffs viewpoint. An alternate is to use Baby Steps for half of the trip
and convert Klondike Bluffs to a loop ride rather than out-and-back.
[ Klondike Bluffs page
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Baby Steps Loop Trail
Baby Steps is a bike-only route with slickrock climbing and dirt
singletrack. It rejoins Klondike Bluffs for a tiny distance near the top
of the hill before dropping off the other side. After heading north, it
then climbs back over the ridge and descends to Copper Ridge Road. The top
of Mega Steps and Little Salty connect to upper Baby Steps, allowing a
combination of rides. The traditional Baby Steps loop is 14.8 miles.
[ Baby Steps page ] |
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Mega Steps Trail
Mega Steps is a good alternate climbing route, or a great downhill.
After climbing from Copper Ridge Road to the ridgeline, it traverses over
to Baby Steps. It's 3.2 miles in length, and is the northernmost trail of
the complex. A loop ride with Mega Steps and EKG will be 19 miles.
[ Mega Steps page ] |
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Little Salty Trail
Little Salty is an alternate up- or downhill route. It extends 1.7
miles from the
spot where Baby Steps climbs back over the ridge down to Copper Ridge
Road. It splits the area between Baby Steps south and Baby Steps north. A
loop up Baby Steps and down Little Salty will be around 13 miles
[ Little Salty page ] |
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EKG Trail
This trail traverses the slope between Baby Steps south and Mega Steps.
It's 4.1 miles long, and the minimum ride using this trail will be over 11
miles. Many loop ride routes will use part, or all, of EKG for a portion
of the return. As of 2012, the southern end of EKG now extends to Dino
Flow near its beginning on the Klondike road.
[ EKG trail page ] |
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Dino Flow Trail
Dino Flow skirts the edge of the escarpment to provide a high-speed
singletrack connection between the Klondike Bluffs road and Mega Steps.
Dino Flow runs mid-way between (and parallel to) EKG and the Copper Ridge dirt road, transecting Baby Steps
South, Salt Wash, Baby Steps North, Mega Steps, and ending at the Dinosaur
Tracks parking area.
[ Dino Flow trail page ] |
| Jasper and Agate Loops
These are easy and short interconnected singletrack loops west of Copper
Ridge Road. The ride using Midline to the Jasper Loop is suitable for kids
and true beginners. The northern trailhead is just west of the bottom of Mega
Steps.
[ Agate-Jasper trail page ] |
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Alaska Trail begins at the
intersection of EKG and Mega Steps. Heads northeast to the ridgeline,
meeting Nome and Homer on the way. Curves around to end at the top of Mega
Steps. Length 4 miles.
[ Alaska trail page ] |
| Nome Advanced-technical trail
starts on Dino Flow, crosses Alaska while climbing further uphill and
loops around to descend and end on lower Alaska. Length 2 miles.
[ Alaska trail page ] |
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Homer Up-and-down trail
connects Dino Flow near the Dinosaur Tracks trailhead to the northern side
of Alaska. It's a faster way up the mountain if you started from the Dino
Tracks parking. Length 0.8 miles.
[ Alaska trail page ] |
| Jurassic
High-speed smooth singletrack that extends from the southern end of
the Jasper Loop down the west side of the valley to the Klondike Trail
3/4 mile from the southern parking. 3.2 miles.
[ Jurassic trail page ] |
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Inside Passage
Short (0.4 mile) trail offers fun singletrack to bypass the first
section of the doubletrack (and moto-infested) Klondike Bluffs trail.
[ Inside Passage trail page ] |
| Miner's Loop 1.9-mile
lariat loop forks uphill off the southern end of the EKG trail.
Upper-intermediate to advanced technical.
[ Miner's Loop trail page ]
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Chilkoot Pass Short and
very easy lariat loop trail for beginners at the far north end of
Klondike. Forms a continuation of the northbound route of Jurassic,
Jasper, then Agate to reach the northernmost trailhead on the Dinosaur
Tracks road.
[ Chilkoot trail page ] |
| Azurite and Malachite Extensions
off Miner's Loop, connecting to Baby Steps uphill. Can be used for a
longer Miner's Loop ride, or as a route to connect uphill.
[ Azurite/Malachite trail page ] |
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Sidestep (North and South), Instep More-technical
riding options off Baby Step South, can be used to extend or shortcut
the classic ride, or as a nice technical loop in themselves.
[ Sidestep/Instep trail page ] |
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Getting there, main (southern) Klondike Bluffs
trailhead: Starting at the Colorado River, drive
15 miles north from Moab. Look for a turnout with parking on the right and
a sign for Klondike Bluffs Road. There will
usually be cars parked there (GPS N 38° 44.452' W 109°
44.037'). For a longer ride, park here and ride up the road.
Most cyclists will choose to go through the gate and drive 2.7 miles. Keep left at
the fork. At 2.8 miles, park your car in the broad parking area by the
fence. Go eastbound across the cattleguard through the fence and begin your ride. GPS track files (right-click and save as...):
All area tracks
High-res topo map for printing: View
Lodging, camping, shops:
Links to Moab area resources
Water: None
Toilet: Dinosaur Tracks parking
Camping: Not here
Information: Moab visitor's center
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Northern Klondike Trailheads: On Highway 191 8.5 miles
south of I-70 and 6.5 miles north of the southern Klondike Bluffs road
(about 5 miles north of the airport), watch for a "Northern
Klondike" sign at N38 49.504 W109 46.893. Turn east (toward the
sandstone bluff). Keep to the right as the road winds south around a small
hill. 1.2 miles from the highway as the road is heading east toward the
bluff, the first parking zone is on your right. This is the Chilkoot Pass
trailhead. Fork right on a fainter jeep road N38 49.103 W109 46.061, as the
main road continues to the dinosaur tracks. At mile 1.6, you'll come to the
trailhead for the Jasper and Agate
loops (N38 49.087 W109 45.625) on your right. At 2.0 miles, you're at the
bottom of Mega Steps at a larger parking area N38 49.179 W109 45.417.
Dinosaur Tracks TH: At the road fork at mile 1.2, keep left
on the main road toward the dinosaur tracks. About 1/2 mile further, turn
to the right into the parking area. The Dino Flow trail is up against the
mountain, to the left of the pit toilet. |
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