Seven miles north of Moab, the Moab Brand
Trails offer a wide variety of biking fun. The Rockin A trail is a
short technical section, only 1.8 miles long. However, the
up-and-down quick-turn type of riding makes it a fair amount of
work. This trail connects the southern end of the Bar
M Loop and the Bar B Loop to the Circle
O trail.
View southeast toward the La Sal Mountains,
showing a fork off Seven Mile Canyon near the beginning of the Rockin A.
Photos and write-up by Bruce, April 2009.
The shortest ride that includes the Rockin A trail is 8.7
miles. This is a counterclockwise trip around the Bar M, skipping a
one-mile portion of Bar M to ride the Rockin A.
Handlebar view of some smoother
slickrock on Rockin A. Note the
riding line and some faint yellow stripes to guide you.
Rockin A is significantly more technically than Circle
O. But it's half as long. So if you're trying to choose one over the
other, Circle O will be more satisfying for an early-intermediate rider.
Rockin A is uphill -- and a harder ride -- in the north-to-south
clockwise direction. My video shows it clockwise, but most riders prefer
to ride from south to north. This puts Rockin A slightly downhill in the
toughest sections.
Climbing out of Rockin A on the clockwise ride.
Hard-core bikers will ride Bar M to the Bar B
trail (right across from the Rockin A's start), then ride the Bar B loop
before entering Rockin A.
After completing Rockin A, ride Circle O before
completing your loop. Or, head back to Bar B and drop down Killer
B.
View to the west. The cliffs are
across the highway.
The ride is 100% slickrock. The Entrada sandstone forms waves, so
you'll be constantly making short climbs and descents. There are a couple
of ledges and wheel-traps that require either technical skill or a
dismount. There's no cliff exposure or other truly hairy stuff.
Typical trail surface. The route goes
straight up in this photo.
M.O.A.B. ride with Circle
O and Rockin A
If the above video does not appear on your
browser/device, you can watch it on YouTube by clicking
here.
Ride Description, direct to Rockin A on
Bar M:
0.0 Exit parking, turn right and ride south
0.7 Pass Gemini underpass, keep straight
1.7 Fork L (leave 191)
2.3 Fork R (L = Bar M shortcut)
2.9 Keep straight (Bar M loops to L)
After 100 feet, fork L on ST
(option: ride Bar B loop first) Start Rockin A!
4.7 At Circle O
(option: fork R to ride Circle
O)
L to return to Bar M
4.9 R on Bar M
8.7 Back at parking
The trail is marked by a stripe of stain on the
slickrock
(hard to see in the early morning or evening) and periodic
Rockin A marks as shown at left.
Getting there:
From the north: Drive south on US-191 for 22 miles south of I-70. From
Moab, drive 7 miles north from the Colorado River on 191. When you see
the Gemini Bridges parking area, look for a gravel road on the opposite
side (east, away from the cliffs). Turn onto the gravel road and
immediately go right, then right again into the parking area. GPS N 38°
39.38' W 109° 40.66'. The trail starts by riding the gravel road either
north or south. Our ride description assumes you'll ride south out
of the parking lot, counterclockwise on the Bar M.
