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The route of a classic, but punishing, endurance race that ran for 18 years.


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Map Key

10.9

Miles

17.5

KM

Doubletrack

5,764' 1,757 m

High

5,177' 1,578 m

Low

794' 242 m

Up

891' 272 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Views

Description

This trail runs through beautiful terrain and often punishing conditions. It parallels, then joins with the Behind the Rocks road to complete a roughly 15-mile loop.

With about twice your recommended daily allowance of sand, the ride is harder than the mileage would suggest. Many stretches are more likely to be used by OHVs than bicycles.

Despite a few really fun sections, this one really wasn't worth riding unless you were curious about the famous 24 hour race that used to be run here. But things may have changed.

First, larger modern tires on both mountain and fat bikes mean that sand is not as onerous as it used to be. Second, heavy and increasing OHV traffic (and power) in the area means that erosion has increased dramatically and sand has vanished from some of the rockier sections. Third, riding the Behind the Rocks Loop in the counter clockwise direction means that you are surfing down most of the longer sandy stretches rather than grinding up them. Some deep, steep channels now have high, swoopy corners, which are super entertaining.

Finally, the section of trail surrounding Prostitute Butte is truly stunning and worth visiting. The north side is slickrock terraces beside a lovely sandstone wall, and expansive views over Hunter Canyon.

Contacts

Shared By:

F Felix with improvements by Kristen Arendt and 1 other

Trail Ratings

  2.1 from 10 votes

#35678

Overall
  2.1 from 10 votes
5 Star
10%
4 Star
10%
3 Star
10%
2 Star
20%
1 Star
50%
Trail Rankings

#1,408

in Utah

#35,678

Overall
23 Views Last Month
3,728 Since Dec 11, 2013
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

Balcony Arch, Prostitute Butte
Mar 5, 2021 near Moab, UT
View of the fins Behind the Rocks.
Dec 5, 2013 near Moab, UT
Sandy, but fun descent. Don't try to ride up it!
Sep 12, 2020 near Moab, UT
"High Dive": gnarly 4x4 feature. There used to be more sand in it, making it more rideable. Pretty challenging now!
Sep 13, 2020 near Moab, UT
"High Dive": gnarly 4x4 feature.
Sep 12, 2020 near Moab, UT
Road to Balcony  Arch
Nov 3, 2019 near Moab, UT
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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Check-Ins

Apr 15, 2023
O S
This is not an MTB trail. It should not be on this app. 5mi
Mar 21, 2021
Chris O'Donnell
Sep 9, 2020
F Felix
Recent rain made the sand very rideable. All in all, this route may be due for a MTB renaissance.
May 23, 2017
Baron Kamp
May 1, 2015
Beth Koe
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