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ADV NewsA Ride On Moab’s Iconic White Rim Trail

A Ride On Moab’s Iconic White Rim Trail

An unforgettable adventure through some of Utah’s most iconic red rock landscapes.

Published on 01.27.2025

The White Rim Trail stands as one of Moab’s most iconic rides, renowned for its serpentine twists and turns and breathtaking views overlooking the Colorado River. This 100-mile off-road loop weaves its way through the stunning Canyonlands National Park, offering a mix of intermediate-level terrain along with boundless vistas of towering red rock formations nestled within vast canyons.

It’s one of the most spectacular landscapes you can visit in the American Southwest. Or so I heard because despite riding Moab on several occasions, I’d never explored the famous White Rim Trail. Not for lack of wanting. Mainly because there’s so much good stuff in Moab to ride. Plus since 2015, riding the White Rim Trail requires a permit — an extra step that takes some planning ahead and demand for permits often outstrips supply during the peak fall and spring months.  But on this trip, I was determined to scratch this one off my bucket list.

The opportunity appeared in the form of the Mosko Moto Dusty Lizard Campout, which would be held for the first time in Moab. A few years ago Mosko Moto started this new ‘camp and ride’ adventure rally format with small gatherings in premier adventure riding destinations like Park City, Utah, Joshua Tree, California and Silverton, Colorado. It’s a perfect way to get to know an area with a range of different trail options provided on GPX tracks rated by difficulty. Plus you get scenic camping, tasty food, live music, beer and a fun group of riders to swap stories with by the campfire.

Camping at Moab's Area BFE
The views at Area BFE

After making the trek out from LA to a hotel near Moab Thursday night, we woke up bright and early on Friday to ensure we were prepared to order our White Rim Trail permits for Saturday online. The cost is only $6 a piece but they give out just 50 passes per day for motorcycles, bicycles and cars, 25 of which can be ordered online. At 7:59 am on the dot we had our browsers fired up ready to pull the trigger as soon as they became available. Unfortunately, we were only able to snag two permits before they sold out with three riders in our group. Before giving up, I tried calling the Sky Visitor Center (435-259-4712) that manages the permits. Luckily, they said they still had a ticket available we could pick up in person at their downtown Moab headquarters. We scrambled down there as quickly as possible and scored one of the few remaining tickets just in time. Phew!

Mosko Moto Dusty Lizard Moab

After that, we headed to the venue where the Dusty Lizard was held. Area BFE is a 320-acre off-road recreation park with its own trails and tons of camping options for your RV, Van or motorcycle. It’s conveniently placed at the south end of Moab so you get quick access to all the trails in the area and you’re close to town for gas, restaurants and even a coin wash to spray down your bike at the end of the trip. After checking in and finding a flat spot to set up camp with a sweet view of red rock cliffs and snow-covered peaks, we decided to head out for a shakedown run before the big ride Saturday.

Camping Dusty Lizard Moab
Getting Mosko Bags set for a ride.
The 320-acre Area BFE property had an abundance of space to set up camp with incredible views of the surrounding red rock and snow-covered mountains.

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With a bit of a late start, we made our way to the Kokapelli Trail for a chance to experience incredible cliff top views overlooking the Colorado River some 2,000 feet below. The twisty asphalt on Highway 128 up to the trailhead was scenic enough on its own, looking up at the sheer cliff walls we’d soon be standing on.

The Kokapelli trail is wide and flowy but gets technical in spots. At one point we did come across a steep, rutted out drop off that had us looking for an alternate route. There are quite a few unique cave-like structures to explore along the way as well. 

Riding the Kokapelli Trail
Caves on the Kokapelli Trail
More caves on the Kokapelli Trail.
A number of unique cave-like structures can be explored along the Kokapelli trail on the way to Dome Plateau.

Once at the Dome Plateau Overlook, we hiked down to the edge of the cliffs to take in the breathtaking views looking down at the Colorado River meandering through the canyon below. In the past you could ride all the way down and get a picture of your bike parked on a precarious-looking rock overhang. Now these paths are restricted only to foot traffic. Even so, the experience is no less stunning.

Views at Dome Plateau
Dome Plateau Overlook
Dome Plateau offers spectacular views overlooking the Colorado River some 2,000 feet below.

On the way back to camp we took the scenic La Sal Loop Road through the mountains as the sun was starting its descent beyond the horizon. Right at twilight, I heard a buddy on the intercom yell he’d just come within inches of hitting a deer. I was on high alert after this but still had to look down from time to time to check my GPS. Perhaps this time I looked down too long. 

Riding Moab

As I raised my gaze back at the road, all I could see were two large deer jumping in tandem directly in front of me. I collided with deer #1 going about 50 mph with zero time to react. All I could do was grab on the handlebars and brace for impact. I could feel the forks bottom out like I’d jumped off a 5-foot ledge to flat ground. I hit the deer straight on in his hind quarters and luckily this bonked him off the road into the darkness somewhere, rather than him coming up over the top and hitting me. With a little luck, I was able to hold on and ride it out. 

Encounter with a deer
After hitting a deer at roughly 50mph, the sturdy Tenere 700 showed just an exploded front fender and a few gashes in the fork tubes. Luckily, I made it through this scary incident unscathed.

After making a stop to assess the damage, the sturdy Tenere 700 showed just an exploded front fender and some deep gashes on the upper fork tubes. Everything was still functional minus the front fender. After making a few adjustments, I was able to get back on the road and ride the rest of the way back to camp, shaken but intact, and somewhat elated I’d just dodged a bullet. I guess you can never be too vigilant riding at night in Utah.

Back at camp, I definitely had a story to tell by the campfire and I enjoyed meeting a few new people and catching up with old friends. One thing you do notice at the Dusty Lizard events is that there is a diverse range of ages all commingling together. It’s great to see a new generation of ADV Riders in their 20s and 30s entering the sport. I guess I’m one of the old guys now!

Hanging out in the Dusty Lizard Lounge
Dusty Lizard Moab Entertainment

As Saturday morning arrived, it was off to the White Rim Trail entering from the east end of the Shafer Trail. Right away, you start to get some interesting views along the Colorado River that give you a taste of what to expect on the White Rim. One famous spot we checked out on Shafer is Thelma and Louise Point — the classic 90s road trip adventure movie ends with Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis driving their convertible ‘66 Thunderbird off a giant cliff. In the script, it was supposed to be the Grand Canyon they were flying off into but it was actually filmed here. 

Shafer Trail Thelma and Louise Point
Shafer Trail Thelma and Louise Point
Shafer Trail Thelma and Louise Point
Thelma and Louise drove their convertible ‘66 Thunderbird off this cliff in the classic 90’s road trip movie of the same name.

Another iconic view point on the Shafer trail is the long set of switchbacks that descend down to the entrance of the White Rim Trail. I wasn’t aware that you had to reach this from the western side of the trail, so unfortunately we missed out on that. Luckily, the Shafer’s switchbacks don’t require a permit, so we’ll have to go check that out on our next trip.

The White Rim Trail starts out with incredible panoramic overlooks of the Colorado River down below that only get better as you travel farther south. Incredible views of red rock cliffs capped by white limestone looks like icing on a cake, giving you a sense of how the trail got its name. 

Off in the distance, there are flat topped mesas and countless other mountains that keep you bombarded with stimuli as you ride the well-marked trail and try to keep your eyes on the road. It’s definitely more leisurely than challenging but there are spots with deep sand, tricky off-camber switchbacks and a few steep rocky inclines that can throw some challenges if you are a newer off-road rider. 

White Rim Trail
White Rim Trail was built by miners to access uranium deposits for nuclear weapons in the 1950s, but the mines produced very little uranium and they were eventually abandoned.

One obvious reason for limiting the permits to 50 per day is to keep traffic down, and that’s a good thing because most of the time you get to experience the views without anyone else around. Only street-legal vehicles are permitted, so you won’t see any Dirt Bike, UTV or ATV traffic. We did come up on a number of mountain bikers during the ride, so it’s always important to keep your speeds down and be courteous when passing. Although, some of those bicyclists who were quite fast and had no problem catching up to us whenever we stopped for a quick photo. 

Riding the White Rim Trail
Riding the White Rim Trail
Only street-legal vehicles and cyclists are permitted on the White Rim trail. Remember to keep your speed down and be courteous when passing.

We stopped for lunch at Musselman Arch which offers a spectacular view of a large arch structure that towers over the canyon below. There is a section you can walk over but after seeing how a large section of the arch had already crumbled and fallen down the cliff at some point in the past, we decided to enjoy viewing it from afar.  

Musselman Arch on the White Rim Trail
Musselman Arch on the White Rim Trail
Musselman Arch on the White Rim Trail
Musselman Arch is about 6 feet wide and spans of 120 feet. You can see an adjacent arch that was part of a continuous walkway has fallen down the cliff at sometime in the past.

As the trail continues, it heads in a northerly direction away from the Colorado River and begins to follow the Green River but the views are no less spectacular. In that transition, you get some expansive views of the surrounding buttes and spiral rock formations jutting out of the ground.

Exploring the White Rim Trail
Exploring the White Rim Trail
As the trail heads in a northerly direction away from the Colorado River and intersects with the Green River, you get some expansive views of the surrounding buttes and spiral rock formations jutting out of the ground.

As we joined up with the Green River, our first stop on a cliff overlooking the river had an overhang. This view offers a straight drop down from the edge several hundred feet. Just walking over to the edge can make your knees feel weak, so we opted to crawl out to take a peek.

White Rim Trail Overlooking the Green River
White Rim Trail Overlooking the Green River
This cliff overlook has a sheer drop off of several hundred feet. Walking out to the edge is not for the faint of heart.

Gradually, the trail starts to drop down in elevation, taking you to the level of the river for a closer look. Some of the most vibrant green foliage I’ve ever seen grows in this area,  which contrasts with the dark red sandstone and deep blue sky with puffy white clouds floating by. It’s quite a feast for the eyes. The weather couldn’t have been better either for a spring day with temperatures in the mid 70s, which we definitely appreciated since there is little to no shade out there.

White Rim Trail on the Green River
White Rim Trail on the Green River
Riding Moab’s White Rim Trail
As the White Rim Trail descends, bringing you down to the Green River’s edge, you are greeted by vibrant green foliage, which sharply contrasts with the dark red sandstone cliffs and the deep blue sky. It’s truly a visual feast.

After several hours, the White Rim Trail finally came to an end and we headed back towards the town of Moab. The trail itself is 91 miles but getting to it and back turned our ride from camp and back into a 180-mile trek. While the trail isn’t really technical, fatigue does set in near the end of the trip. It’s a longer day than you might expect so be prepared with plenty of snacks and water because there are no services out there. And once you are on the trail, you are committed with no escape routes other than heading back the way you came.

Riding Moab’s White Rim Trail

The White Rim definitely lived up to its reputation and proved to be quite a unique backcountry experience. I can see why it’s such a popular destination for all of those who love the outdoors. Words and pictures don’t do it justice of course. You just have to go there. It’s definitely one of the most scenic trails I’ve ridden a motorcycle on. And if there’s anything better, it probably exists somewhere in Utah.

Despite the many trail shutdowns in recent years implemented to help protect the area from overuse, there are still countless trails to ride in Moab. Way more than you can explore in a weekend. Luckily, Mosko Moto is bringing their Dusty Lizard event back to Area BFE for a second year in a row. Perhaps we’ll see you there! 

Photos by Daniel Cronin and Rob Dabney

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

Author: Rob Dabney
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Kellen Cummings
Kellen Cummings
January 27, 2025 6:01 pm

Nice article.

Tenerizer
Tenerizer
January 28, 2025 8:14 am

Looks like a good winters vacate area for riders coming from the 51st state away up north lol
Too bad the Canuck Loonie is only worth 69 cents in the US.
With both southern and northern borders tightening up crossing has become a little tougher even if you’re on record for a speeding ticket.

Eric
Eric
January 30, 2025 4:36 pm

Good read and fantastic pics. Makes me really want to do the trail now.

Kirk
Kirk
January 31, 2025 2:39 pm

Did the white rim on my KLR650 years back, camped at Taylor, White Crack and Airport. Quietest most surreal place I ever been.

ZeusandMoses
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