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Rabbit Valley to Western Rim

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.2 (66)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Western Colorado
  4. …Fruita
  5. Rabbit Valley
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“A fast scenic rim ride covering two states and the best of Rabbit Valley. ”

Nick Wilder
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Map Key

19.7

Miles

31.7

KM

65%

Singletrack

4,899' 1,493 m

High

4,431' 1,350 m

Low

1,425' 434 m

Up

1,425' 434 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

11%

Max Grade (7°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

Overview

The Western Rim trail is one of the highlights of the area: over 6 miles of fast, scenic singletrack winding around rim above the Colorado River. The Rabbit Valley 2 trail is nothing special, but makes for a good 3-4 loop ride.

Need to Know

Due to small amounts of sand and the way some hills work, there is a slight preference for doing this route clockwise, as shown.

There are a lot of motorbikes on these trails. Remember they probably can't hear you. They aren't too bothersome though, and the trails are in good shape.

Description

You can either start from the main trailhead, or drive in another couple miles to the McDonald Creek trailhead. 4WD is not really necessary to go there, but it is a rough dirt road.

Starting from the main trailhead, quickly find Rabbit Valley 2 trail on the right side of the road. It starts as a flat, fast, wide singletrack goes up and down some small creeks. There are several sandy sections and dirt road crossings. At a few points, you use the dirt road for the trail, so look for signs to get you back on the trail.

Once at the McDonald Creek trailhead, follow the Kokopelli trail (dirt road) for another couple miles until you get to a huge 4-way intersection and good view of the Colorado River. This section has many intersections; keep you eye out for the carsonite posts with the blue-ish Kokopelli signs. Use the MTB Project mobile app in this section to stay on the correct path, and to avoid missing the start of the Western Rim trail.

From the four-way intersection with the Kokopelli Trail, follow a two-track trail with no signs in an non-obvious direction (use the MTB Project mobile app!). Follow this a few hundred yards, bearing left when another dirt road goes off the to the right.

The road soon comes to a gate and turns to singletrack. Go down a steep, very sandy hill for a short ways until you get to the rim. You now have miles of dead-level terrain on this rim with increasingly good views.

The rest of the trail is fast, smooth, and great fun. It's sometimes on slickrock, sometimes dirt, with occasional very short easy hills. Wander in and out of huge side canyons with views of the La Salle mountains, Colorado River, and farmlands below.

Climb back up to the top of the mesa where the trail turns slightly more technical and hilly, but still only intermediate difficulty. Remember to turn around and look at the cool terrain that you rode earlier.

The trail dead ends on a dirt road. Turn right to get back to the Kokopelli Trail. Follow it back to the big 4-way intersection with the start of the Western Rim trail. From there, veer left on Rabbit Valley 2 trail, and enjoy fast swoops through the valley back to your car.

Contacts

Land Manager: BLM Colorado - Grand Junction Field Office

Shared By:

Nick Wilder
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.2 from 66 votes

#1

in Rabbit Valley

#242

Overall
  4.2 from 66 votes
5 Star
41%
4 Star
45%
3 Star
8%
2 Star
5%
1 Star
2%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Rabbit Valley

#82

in Colorado

#242

Overall
120 Views Last Month
41,582 Since Mar 16, 2014
Intermediate Intermediate
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2%
67%
12%
19%
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Photos

Riding the Western Rim Trail in Rabbit Valley, Colorado
Feb 23, 2018 near Moab, UT
Catching some air...plenty of drops and obstacles to play on along the Rabbit Valley 2 Trail.
Apr 10, 2015 near Moab, UT
Aubyn enjoying the views along the Rim
May 3, 2021 near Moab, UT
Enjoying some slickrock options along the Western Rim Trail.
Apr 10, 2015 near Moab, UT
Over 6 miles of great singletrack on the Western Rim
Mar 16, 2014 near Moab, UT
One of the side canyons on Western Rim trail
Mar 16, 2014 near Moab, UT

16 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 69 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 6, 2024
Daniel Wegelin
Apr 19, 2024
Lost Justpastnowhere
Sep 23, 2023
Atsuko Ohtake
May 13, 2023
Sammy Rutherford
22mi
Apr 27, 2023
Atsuko Ohtake
Aug 20, 2022
Mark Hun
Ignore posted clockwise route and reverse it. Will be a LOT more fun going down kokopelli and returning via western rim. 19.3mi — 4h 30m
Jun 25, 2022
Atsuko Ohtake
May 29, 2022
Samantha Rosales
Knowles overlook to trail 2 parking and looped back on kokopeli trail. About 7mi

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