 |
Upper Moo
Upper Moo is a 7.8-mile loop in the red dirt and rock west
of Vernal. It's usually ridden as an add-on to the Can You Moo? loop. The
trail is narrow desert singletrack, easy-intermediate technical, with about 300
feet of climbing. This trail is an easy aerobic ride, but you have to
commit to 20 miles if you're adding it to Can You Moo? The loop is best ridden counterclockwise.
Chad
leads the UMB guys uphill on Upper Moo. Photo by Mike,
August 27, 2004.
|
|
Update 2010: The trail has been
hammered by cattle and isn't seeing regular upkeep. The local bike shop
isn't sending riders to this trail any more. You can still ride the trail,
but check with Altitude Cycle about current conditions. |
|
Upper Moo forks off Can You Moo? at mile 5 (when riding
counterclockwise) at N 40° 23.670' W 109° 38.138'. You can reach the
trail from the north from U-121 if you want to ride Upper Moo alone
(although we're not sure why you'd want to), or to shuttle the downhill
side of Upper Moo and Can You Moo?
The trail was fairly straight-forward during our late-summer ride.
We're told it can be significantly harder to follow in the early spring
after cattle have tromped through the area in wet conditions.
At this spot on Upper Moo, Bruce is 19
miles into a 31-mile day. |
|
 |
This area is winter range for a LOT of cows. The trail
surface can change drastically during the wet months of winter. In winter
and early spring, please stop at Altitude Cycle in Vernal for directions
and current riding conditions. While you're there, pick up the excellent
trail guidebook to the Vernal region trails, which includes topo maps and
excellent mile-by-mile trail-riding directions. |
|
| Shuttle via U-121: You can also access Upper Moo
from U-121 by turning off on a dirt road about a mile southeast of Ashley.
(You can shuttle to the top and ride the downhill segments of Upper Moo
and Can You Moo without riding uphill.) Sorry, we don't have coordinates
or driving directions -- talk to the guys at Altitude Cycle in Vernal if
you want to try this option.
View to the west from the ridgetop.
Not the eye-popping views of southern Utah, but the riding needs no
apologies!
|
|
 |
Getting there through Can You Moo? Starting at
the view area on US-40 just west of Vernal, drive west (away from Vernal)
5.9 miles. As the road curves right around a small mountain, spot a dirt
road on the right. Park on the side of the dirt road at N 40° 20.253' W 109°
38.055'. Carry your bike through the gate (close it!) and start riding up
the old road. When the singletrack leaves the road on the left, keep right
as the trail drops into a wash. Ride five miles up Can You Moo until you
see a trail fork where Upper Moo keeps straight north (right-hand of the
fork) and Can You Moo turns leftward to the west. Immediately after going
through the wash, keep right at the fork to ride the loop
counter-clockwise.
|
Copyright 2004 Mad Scientist Software
|
