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Two Tortoise Rock Loop
Two Tortoise is an ATV and 4x4 route connecting the Gold
Bar Rim 4x4 road to the Bull Canyon road.
It's located just below the Gemini Bridges area
north of Moab. Most riders will use Two Tortoise as an alternate more-fun
route to Bull Canyon, or as one side of a loop including the Little
Canyon Singletrack. This route is suitable for an advanced beginner or
early intermediate rider.
Two Tortoise Rock lies south of the
trail. Photos and trail description from a May 4, 2011 ride by Bruce.
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| The Two Tortoise route itself is around 3 miles long and is
intermediate in tech difficulty. Altitude change is about 200 vertical,
but with up-and-down riding the total climbing is 500. To reach and ride
Two Tortoise, you'll need to combine other trails. Our "featured
ride" is a loop using the lower Gemini Bridges
Road, part of Gold Bar Rim, Two Tortoise, part of Bull Canyon, and the
Little Canyon Singletrack.
Almost through climbing on Gemini
Bridges, as the road follows the tilted stone near the junction of the
Chinle Formation with the Moenkopi Formation. |
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For advanced beginners and early-intermediates, I recommend
parking on Gold Bar Rim right where it starts climbing and riding the loop
described below. This ride will be 6 miles.
We're 0.5 miles up Gold Bar. Note this
spot. Just to the left of this photo is a wide area where a few vehicles
can park to do the shorter version of the ride. |
| Stronger advanced-beginner riders can do the 16-mile ride
that includes the lower Gemini Bridges road to the 6-mile Two Tortoise
loop. The Gemini Bridges portion is scenic but technically easy and will
go by quickly. It doesn't add that much extra work to the little loop.
At this point, fork right. (As of
2011, there's no Two Tortoise sign or other trail indicators anywhere
along the route.) |
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Riders with the time and leg to do extra miles can add an
out-and-back to Bull Canyon in the middle of the loop. If you go only to
the hiking trail below Gemini Bridges, it will add 4 miles (two each way)
without adding much vertical change. When done from the bottom of the
Gemini Bridges road, this ride will be around 20 miles.
Trail view looking southwest. |
| Start from the bottom of Gemini Bridges road. Climb up and
over the Moenkopi skirts below the cliffs and descend into the scenic
canyon. Turn left when you reach the Gold Bar Rim road. This will take you
to Two Tortoise.
The trail meanders up and down. We're
descending toward the base of Two Tortoise rock. |
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After a short distance on Two Tortoise, you'll see Two
Tortoise Rock on the skyline to the south. You'll be able to appreciate
the landmark from various angles during your ride.
As we pass the rock, the angle
changes. 4x4 drivers going eastbound see this view, which they call
"doggie style." |
| Two Tortoise is mostly slickrock with short stretches of
dirt. There are only a couple of ledges that would challenge intermediate
riders. The hardest part of the ride is actually the little section of
Gold Bar Rim that you must ride to reach Two Tortoise.
Climbing away from Two Tortoise Rock
to the highest point of the ride. |
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Once you gain altitude, there are panoramic views. You'll
see the dark slash of the canyon of the Colorado extending from southeast
to southwest. The La Sal
Mountains sit on the skyline to the southeast. To the northeast is Eagles
Nest and the cliffs along Highway 191.
View to the southeast. In mid-photo is
the Moab Rim and Behind the
Rocks, with the La Sal Mountains on the skyline. |
| The trail meanders up and down, generally climbing. At the
western end, it descends a little before ending on the Bull Canyon road.
The riding is fairly easy here.
Looking to the northeast, we see the
canyon of the Gemini Bridges road, with Eagles
Nest (Little Canyon Rim) above it. |
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While you're riding Two Tortoise, I do recommend the
out-and-back in Bull Canyon. You're in the area. Why not? It's not that
much work. Just fork left on the Bull Canyon, then catch the critical
right fork 0.3 miles later. Park your bike at the hiking trail and walk to
the spot below the bridges. Then backtrack to the fork with Two Tortoise.
Looking at Gemini Bridges from the
hiking trail. |
| It's one mile from the west end of Two Tortoise to the
Little Canyon Singletrack. It will be on your right as Bull Canyon makes a
right turn and begins the final climb to the Gemini Bridges Road. If you
arrive at the Gemini Bridges road, backtrack around 0.1 mile on Bull
Canyon to the first left turn. Find the ST eastbound.
View of the Little Canyon Singletrack
as we descend. Pretty mellow riding for Moab. |
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When you reach the Gold Bar 4x4 route again, turn downhill
and retrace your route back to the Gemini Bridges trailhead.
Note for Big Mile riders: Ride the paved Old 191 path from Moab
to reach the Gemini Bridges road. This will add (at least) 16 fairly easy
miles to your trip. This will be a big day, so take plenty of water.
The Gooney Bird, a landmark on the
Gemini Bridges road. |
Two Tortoise Loop from Gemini/Old 191:
0.0 Southbound on Gemini Bridges Road
N38 39.378 W109 40.692
4.6 L on Gold Bar Rim N38 36.062 W109 40.463
5.1 Keep L - parking for short loop
N38 35.830 W109 40.221
(R=sandy connector to Little
Canyon ST)
5.2 Pass Gold Bar Singletrack
N38 35.881 W109 40.143
5.7 Fork R on Two Tortoise
N38 35.866 W109 39.742
7.7 Fork R (L = dead end) N38 34.797 W109 40.306 |
7.9 Keep L N38 34.830 W109 40.379
8.5 R on Bull Canyon Rd N38 34.934 W109 40.899
Alternate = L to Bull Canyon
9.5 Left on Little Canyon ST
N38 35.729 W109 41.007
10.7 Keep R (L = sandy DT to Gold Bar)
N38 35.683 W109 40.194
10.9 L downhill on Gold Bar
N38 35.881 W109 40.143
11.5 R on Gemini Bridges Rd
16.1 Back at 191 |
Little Two Tortoise with Bull Canyon:
Park at "Dead End" 0.5 miles up Gold Bar
0.0 L uphill N38 35.830 W109 40.221
0.1 Pass Gold Bar Singletrack N38 35.881 W109 40.143
0.6 Fork R on Two Tortoise N38 35.866 W109 39.742
2.6 Fork R (L = dead end) N38 34.797 W109 40.306
2.8 Keep L N38 34.830 W109 40.379
3.4 L on Bull Canyon Rd N38 34.934 W109 40.899 |
3.8 Fork R and enter wash N38 34.934 W109 40.899
5.4 Hiking trail to arches N38 34.914 W109 42.027
Double back
7.4 Pass Two Tortoise N38 34.934 W109 40.899
8.4 L on Little Canyon ST N38 35.737 W109 41.006
9.8 L downhill on Gold Bar N38 35.881 W109 40.143
9.9 Back at parking |
Getting there:
Gemini Bridges TH: From I-70 drive south on US-191 for 22
miles. From Moab, drive 7 miles north of the Colorodo. Turn west (left if
you're coming from Moab) into the parking area. GPS N 38° 39.381'
W 109° 40.672'. To avoid a parking fee (private lot), go across 191 to
the Bar M parking.
Gold Bar Rim road parking: Drive up the Gemini Bridges road 4.6 miles, and fork
L toward Gold Bar Rim and drive along the wash 0.5 miles. You can park
near the wash at N38 35.849 W109 40.304. Begin by riding up the hill.
Old 191 parking: Go to the north end of Moab. Just south of the
Colorado River, turn east on Highway 128. Immediately turn left and
descend to the parking area. Start your ride on the paved bike path
northbound.
Bathroom: Gemini TH
Water: none
Camping: primitive on Gemini Bridges Rd (bring your toilet!)
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