55+ Colorado Mountain Biking

3/26/25 Update: Thank you! Wayne Sherrod for posting and leading the Friday 4/25/25 afternoon "B" ride for interested riders and also posting and leading the Sunday 4/27 Klonzo ride. I (Mark Smith) have personally posted and will "lead" the main Friday ride at Dead Horse State Park and the Saturday 4/26 ride at Navajo Rocks. We can play Monday, 4/28 on an impromptu/choice basis - as a reminder, that is our "heading to Fruita" day. Looking forward to Moab!

2/22/25 UPDATE: re: Moab - the group meeting spot for the first ride day (Friday, 4/25) will be at the Lion's Park parking lot at 9: 30 AM - it lies at the intersection of UT 191 and UT 128 north of downtown Moab - I trust most of you know it. Restrooms and picnic tables exist there. It will likely be a "best" meeting spot every morning, but we can discuss. We will carpool from Lion's Park to the Friday ride.

The Friday ride will be the "Traverse" Trail system at Dead Horse Point State Park; there is a $20/per car daily charge at Dead Horse Point - good reason to carpool! - it's also a bit of a drive from Lion's Park.
I am sending an email to all Moab attendees to highlight this 2.22.25 update; hope it gets thru (I've had some experience where messages are not getting thru). Best, Mark Mark Smith

Ride days will be 4/25, 4/26, 4/27, 4/28. The ride host and organizer for this event is Mark Smith. My contact info is below. Specific ride info will be posted here as we get closer to the event.

1. Please let me know if you intend to attend any or all of the Moab portion of the trip. The chat/messaging link, at least by my account, appears to be not working. Thus, please contact me by text or call at 720.219.9832 and/or email at MarkS80232@gmail.com.

2. Secondly, please let me know if you seek to have dedicated camp space at the Group campsite I have reserved at Group Echo Campgropund. Please see my notes about the Echo Site and Sand Flats camping in the main text. IF you indicate you want a space at the group site, you are responsible for payment, unless a replacement person(s) is found.

3. Endless choices for MTBiking in Moab: I'm told the 'Traverse' trail system at Dead Horse Pt. State Park is a must do. Other days will include systems off Rd. 313, including Navajo Rocks; Mustang et al; Rodeo, etc. Other options exist. We'll meet mornings at ~10 AM, at a central spot, TBD, and then go to trailheads. Rides will be Blue-Intermediate.

4. Update 1/25/25: Forgot to Note: I have a site reserved at James Robb State Park in Fruita - nights of Monday 4/28 thru Thursday 5/1. I will have my camper; if someone needs a tent space, there's plenty of room, including parking your vehicle on site. $20 per night; let me know. 1/28/25 NOTE: Bill M. has taken this spot; thanks Bill.

Thank you for your requested replies noted above, Mark Smith
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NOTE : Modified from orignal post, including date changes for Moab
In recent years, the Fruita trip has included Moab elements added or mixed in. For Spring 2025, Mark Smith has 'formalized' the Moab outing, and will be trip organizer for Moab. Mark Spoor will be trip organizer for Fruita. Most members may focus on the Fruita portion. All are welcome on the Moab portion as well. Rides will not be full-day rides; let's relax and enjoy the desert SW as well!
RE: Moab: Mark Smith has reserved a group campsite (Group Site E-10; Echo Campground) at Sand Flats for 4 nights: 4/24 thru 4/27/25. The site is small with limited capacity (e.g. Rangers tell me my truck/trailer and another truck/teardrop + 2-3 tents (with 'tent' cars parked .5 miles away on a flat gravel road) at the large Fins & Things parking area) will fill the site. I am willing and able to park my truck at the Fins parking area. There are first/come-first serve campsites immediately adjoining or very near the E-10 Echo Group site (e.g. Echo 7,8,9, and 11). On a Thursday morning arrival (4/24), there will be opportunity to secure f/c-f/s sites (Sand Flats overall has 6 group sites and 140 fc-f/s sites).
There is no water at all at Sand Flats - water must be secured in town. The group site has no electric. There is a vault (not flush) toilets. I will monitor Moab group sites and secure a larger one if possible; the group sites are taken fast. Other camping and non-camping options exist. I have 5 gallon water jugs which I'm glad to share.
I don't have expert knowledge re: Moab trails, but there's a world of options. Rides will mostly be Blue/Intermediate. Members can gather on mornings on 4/25/25 thru 4/28/25 and choose daily ride options. Will include the classics (i.e. Navajo Rocks, Mustang, etc.) Drive up to Fruita on Monday, 4/28. The total cost of the Echo Group Campground for 4 nites is $328. Cost will be split on a per person/per night basis.

Dead Horse Point State Park - "Traverse" trail system. MEET at the Lion's Park parking area (ntersection of 191 and 128, just north of downtown Moab) at 9:30 AM; I figure it will take ~1 hour to gather and then meet at ~10:30 AM at the Dead Horse Point parking area. I've never ridden it but am told its great - no doubt! Our first "official" Moab group ride of 2025. I understand there is a $20 fee per vehicle at Dead Horse Point State Park - based on distance and cost, carpooling is recommended. I expect the Visitor Center will have detailed park maps. With group of potentially ~20 riders, we can break up by expected pace(s) at start. Bring chairs, food, beverages for mid-break and/or at end of ride.

NOTE: This is NOT the big group ride - this is a second, more advanced ride. ***The main Friday ride is Mark Smith's Dead Horse Point morning ride.

This ride is not for beginners - it is the technical tour-de-force trail for Moab flow. But for intermediate riders, it is an exceptionally fun and flowy trail.

Since we will be a little tired from the Dead Horse Point ride, we will climb the chunky HyMasa trail to the mid-point and only do the Lower Captain Ahab descent. The lower loop has most of the fun, ledgy features, but eliminates half of the climbing. Expect to do 650 feet of climbing/descending over 7 miles (total mileage). This will be about 1 1/2 to 2 hours of riding.

Meeting place: Amasa Back parking lot - From McDonalds in town, take Kane Creek road for 4 miles - at the point where the road changes from pavement to dirt, you will see the Kane Creek OHV trailhead. Keep driving 0.6 miles further to the Amasa Back trailhead parking lot. I will be in my silver CR-V.

Text me with any questions - Wayne Sherrod - (303)875-0923

Saturday, April 26th: Navajo Rocks, etc. MEET at Lion's Park at 9:30 AM to carpool. I expect it will take ~1 hr. to gather and get to the "upper" trailhead where we will meet at 10:30 AM. The "upper" TH is more centralized - it is 1.8 miles past the first parking area for Navajo Rocks on Highway 313 - the "upper" TH has restrooms; the lower does not. We will ride Navajo Rocks, but afterwards, interested persons may drive up the Highway 313 to do additional 'Horsethief" area rides (e.g. Mustang [2.6 mile loop with connecting additions] , Rodeo [a notable 9.1 mile loop]) following a break. Rides will be blue/intermediate. Moab trails are well-signed, including intersectinos - I have maps and originals can be purchased in town. As previously noted, we can break our group of ~20 up into different pace(s) at the trailhead. Bring chairs, food, drinks for a break mid-ride and at end of riding day.