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A dangerous challenge for true experts. A scenic hike-a-bike for mortals.


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Map Key

2.5

Miles

4.0

KM

Singletrack

5,033' 1,534 m

High

3,977' 1,212 m

Low

52' 16 m

Up

1,100' 335 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

66%

Max Grade (34°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Only rideable downhill.

Description

Usually done as a finish to Poison Spider, this trail drops 1,000' in a mile, with huge exposure next to a 1,300 foot cliff. People have fallen and died here. It's incredibly unique and scenic, but riding it should only be attempted by experts, and intermediates with a great attitude should be willing to walk most of it.

Starting from the end of the Poison Spider trail, the Portal Trail hugs the rim with a nice easy downhill grade and smooth, easy surface at first. This doesn't last long and it's time to wake up when you see the "Dismount Here" sign from the BLM. They mean it. Unless you've done this section before, really know what you're doing, and are prepared to die to do it again, go ahead and dismount. It's not that the moves are all that impossible, but the consequences are all that bad, and several boulders want to push you right off the trail and over the cliff.

Continue for about half a mile right on the edge of the rim. Several sections are rideable by intermediate riders, but most people will dismount for many short sections. Enjoy the amazing views of Moab and the La Sal mountains beyond.

The trail takes a sharp right and is now directly above the Colorado River. It is no longer right on the edge of the cliff, so that danger is mostly past, but now the descent begins in earnest: the next mile loses 1,000' over many drops, ledges, and pinches. Most people will feel more comfortable walking many sections, though about half might be rideable by intermediates.

The trail finishes along the highway, where you'll either ride back to town or to your car at the Poison Spider trailhead.

Contacts

Local Club: Moab Trail Mix

Land Manager: BLM Utah - Moab Field Office

Shared By:

Nick Wilder with improvements by Kristen Arendt

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 77 votes

#66

Overall
  4.1 from 77 votes
5 Star
45%
4 Star
29%
3 Star
17%
2 Star
6%
1 Star
3%
Trail Rankings

#9

in Utah

#66

Overall
321 Views Last Month
40,565 Since May 1, 2013
Very Difficult Very Difficult

0%
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6%
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Photos

Following Kyle Mears down the most brutally technical section of trail in Moab.
Jan 10, 2017 near Moab, UT
Hard to see how a trail fits on that ledge... or who thought it was a good idea to build it!
May 1, 2013 near Moab, UT
Looking back at the tame part of the portal trail
Apr 30, 2019 near Moab, UT
Not what you want to do on Portal.
Nov 14, 2016 near Moab, UT
High over Moab
May 1, 2013 near Moab, UT
Portal trail
Apr 28, 2013 near Moab, UT
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 91 days ago
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Check-Ins

Mar 22, 2022
Paul Bozich
Did four of the seven at MAG 7, with Portal being the icing on the cake. Truly a unique, scary, and potentially deadly trail. But, E P I C. 29.2mi — 321h 00m
Oct 15, 2021
Matt Castelli
The rim part is only exposed in a few parts. The real techy gnat is after you leave the rim. 2 or 3 endos lol
Aug 13, 2021
Taylor Ball
Nov 6, 2020
Grady Hardy
Nov 1, 2020
Will Falltrick
Techy! 20mi — 4h 00m
Oct 13, 2019
Patrick Burns
Fun at the top and the bottom. Most of the middle is janky scary tech. Challenging when you are tired, which is what you are at the top.
May 14, 2019
Clay Cooper
wow very difficult had to walk two areas
Apr 28, 2019
Courtney Harasz
6 mechanicals(4 Flats, 1 shifter, & 1 broken dropper post cable 22.4mi
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