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Trip

Bears Ears, Utah

Mountain Biking

Trip Bears Ears
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Experience a remote part of Utah with a rich history on this guided bike adventure perfectly suited for beginner riders and up. Hike up to and learn about multiple ruins including the historic Moon House ruin.

The stunning Bears Ears National Monument was created to protect the Ancestral Puebloan ruins of the Cedar Mesa area in the southeastern corner of Utah. The area was home to over 10,000 people over 1000 years ago and includes fantastic views of the complex geology and amazing ruins. On this trip, powered by our local partners at Western Spirit Cycling, we will spend 4-days and 3-nights riding and hiking through some truly incredible canyon country. Perfectly described as 'off the map,' this trip is in a remote part of southwestern Utah.


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Itinerary
Itinerary
Subject to change based on conditions
  • 0
    Day number 0
    Day 0:

    Please arrive in Moab Utah the day before we depart. We recommend staying at Red Stone Inn, Best Western Canyonlands Inn, or Up the Creek Campground. This trip will meet the next day at 7:30 AM MST at Western Spirit’s headquarters, 478 Mill Creek Drive, Moab, Utah. Western Spirit will be happy to pick you up at your hotel.
  • 1
    Day number 1
    Day 1:

    From Moab, Utah we begin by heading south to Cedar Mesa. Our trip starts with a visit to the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, which will introduce us to the Native Peoples that used to call Southern Utah home. Here we will get to see ancient artifacts, learn about indigenous cultures and understand how to interact with the ruins we will visit this week. Once we finish up at the museum, we will hop back into the van and shuttle down to Comb Wash for lunch and the beginning of our biking journey. On our way, we will pass through and then parallel the 100-mile long Comb Ridge, a site visited by the infamous Monkey Wrench Gang whose mission was to preserve the American Southwest by dismantling environmentally damaging activities such as mining in the desert. Once on our bikes we will traverse down Comb Wash into “Champagne Camp”, aptly named for...well, you’ll find out.

    TOTAL MILEAGE: 20 miles riding
  • 2
    Day number 2
    Day 2:

    Today, we will ride out of camp following the road that will bring us to our hiking destination, the Moon House ruin. After lunch, we will have a hearty scramble into the canyon, and have the ability to climb up to the ruin. This multi room cliff dwelling is so unique a special recreation management area has been created to protect it. This site dates back to 1200 A.D. and is named for the pictographs in one of the rooms that are believed to be of the half and full moon. There is also an interesting white band painted along the walls of the ruin—what could it possibly signify? After seeing it all we will head out of the canyon to finish our ride to our camp along the southern border of the Monument.

    TOTAL MILEAGE: 30 miles riding, 3 miles hiking
  • 3
    Day number 3
    Day 3:

    After waking up in the sagebrush, we will ride our bikes up to our next hike of the trip; a large cliff dwelling situated way out on a peninsula of rock, overlooking a deeply carved canyon. Even without the ruin, the Cedar Mesa sandstone of red and white layers deposited in the Permian period over 200 million years ago is incredible. We leave our bikes to hike along the canyon rim and then begin down through the gently curving sandstone. Arriving at the ruin, you can just imagine how it might have been to call this place your home. It is breathtaking. After exploring the ruin, we will retrace our steps and bike back to our camp for an evening of star gazing and listening to the yipping of coyotes in the distance.

    TOTAL MILEAGE: 17 miles riding, 6 miles hiking
  • 4
    Day number 4
    Day 4:

    Today our ride takes us along the rim of a small canyon where we see more ruins and possibly a waterfall! We finish up our ride at an incredible viewpoint overlooking the San Juan River, Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods. After eating a yummy lunch and taking plenty of pictures, we will load up and shuttle to our final ruins of the trip. Here we will take a look at a couple of Kivas in immaculate condition for being thousands of years old and the remnants of old dwellings. Once we are finished looking at the ruins we will shuttle back to Moab and say our goodbyes.

    TOTAL MILEAGE: 15 miles
Trip Package Includes
  • All group camping gear such as chairs, tables, and solar showers 
  • All meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks
  • Roundtrip transportation to and from Moab
  • All on-trip transportation 
  • 2 certified guides
  • Bike tools & bike stands, replacement tubes, and chain lube
  • First aid kits, sunscreen, and bug spray
  • 20% off discount code to evo.com (exlusions apply)
Trip Package Does Not Include
  • Travel to and from Moab, Utah
  • Travel insurance (we recommend World Nomads)
  • Lodging before and after the trip 
  • Personal camping gear (can be rented from Western Spirit $90 pp/per tour)
  • Mountain bike (bike shipping can be arranged with WS or bikes can be rented from WS for $70 per day)
  • Personal items, extra snacks or alcoholic beverages (bring your own and WS will keep it cold) 
  • Guide gratuity
     

Questions? Call or email us!
Area Information

Bears Ears National Monument

The Bears Ears are a pair of prominent buttes that sit atop the plateau of Cedar Mesa in Southern Utah, the land of the Navajo, Ute, Hopi, and other Native Peoples.They appear for miles around like the ears of a bear poking just the top of its head into the horizon, so they have always been known as such by indigenous peoples. The Bears Ears lend their name to the national monument, but its boundaries encompass far more of this beautiful and historically rich region. Native tribes have long standing ties to the area, which contains over 100,000 cultural sites. In 2016 Bears Ears was designated a national monument in an effort to protect the area from new mining and drilling operations, thanks to the work of local tribes. Bears Ears is a remote and rugged site with a plethora of recreation opportunities.


 
Trip Planning

Trip Planning

 Participants on this trip will encounter a variety of temperatures but mostly dry conditions in this area of Utah. Expect cold nights down to the high 30’s and beautiful days of 70’s to mid 80’s. You may have slightly warmer days in September. We recommend a layering system for your clothing so that regardless of the weather you can stay comfortable throughout your activities. The majority of your gear and clothing will travel in a support vehicle so it is important to have a riding bag that can not only fit your water and food for the day but also have space for extra layers.

As the majority of riding on this trip will be on dirt roads with a few small rough and sandy sections, we recommend using a cross country oriented trail bike, full suspension or hardtail. A tire width of 2.3 - 2.5” is ideal for the sandy conditions you may encounter on this ride.  

Gear - Bring your own or rent
Bike Gear and Bike Clothing
Camp Clothing
Other
FAQ
FAQ
  • What ability level is this ride and adventure?
    This trip is rated as easy to moderate technical difficulty. Most riding will be on dirt roads or hard packed sediment with some sandy sections. Occasional short steep rocky sections are manageable with basic mountain biking skills. Overall physical difficulty is moderate with some strenuous climbing. This trip also includes hiking to some ruins, classified as intermediate level due to some scrambling.
  • What if I need to cancel?
    Please note evo defers to the operator's cancellation terms. Should you need to cancel for any reason, Western Spirit will apply the following cancellation policy: For cancellations prior to 60 days before departure, a $50 handling fee per person is retained and the remainder of your deposit is refunded. For cancellations 60-31 days before departure, 50% of your trip fees are refunded. For cancellations 30 days or less before departure, no monies are refundable. No one plans not to come! We urge you to get travel insurance (we recommend World Nomads).
  • Can I bring my own camp gear?
    Certainly! If you bring camping gear, please bring a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. We’ll provide everything else you need. Don’t worry about the camp chairs—we bring those too! Please make sure all your gear is in excellent, working condition before you head out on your trip.
  • Can I bring my own bike?
    Yes! Flying with your bike and shipping your bike ahead of time are both good options. If you are shipping your bike, send it to Western Spirit Cycling, 478 Mill Creek Dr., Moab, UT 84532. It is critical that you include your name, “Western Spirit Cycling” and tour date on the outside of the box. If you choose this service, you must get this organized through the Western Spirit office.
  • Can I rent a bike?
    Yes, a 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper 29’er with a dropper post, and helmet can be rented from Western Spirit for $70 a day. You MUST bring your own pedals if you ride clipless. Bikes will come with flat pedals.
  • What will the food be like? Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?
    We take our food seriously. We know that eating 3 great meals a day helps everyone enjoy the ride. For that reason, we can handle almost all dietary restrictions. It is common to have vegetarians, vegans, paleo diet followers, etc… all on the same trip. We will ask you before the trip to fill out a questionnaire where you can indicate your dietary preferences and restrictions.
  • What are the accommodations like?
    We call it “glamping”, or comfortable camping. Basically, we take care of all of the details like solar showers, hand wash stations, commercial kitchen, tables, chairs, rain and sun shelters, firewood, and everything else that you will need to be as comfortable as possible in the backcountry. It’s certainly not roughing it!
  • How should I pack my gear?
    The bulk of your gear and clothing will ride in the Western Spirit support vehicle preferably in a large duffle bag) and will not be accessible during the day. For this trip, you will need a riding pack and optional day bag: Your riding pack may be a hydration pack, but needs to carry 2-3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing, and food for the day. You may be away from camp and the support vehicle all day and need to be self-sufficient. A small day bag is optional and may be used to store things you’d rather not ride with, but would like to have access to during the day. This daypack will remain with the support vehicle and may not be accessible, depending on the day.
  • Are each day’s rides van supported?
    Yes! A Western Spirit support vehicle will carry the bulk of your gear as well as all of the camping equip[ment and food for your group. Please see the “How should I pack” FAQ for more info.
  • What is the maximum number of guests per trip?
    The maximum number of guests for this trip is 12. Two guides will lead the group.
  • What COVID-19 protocols should I expect?
    One of the safest places you can be during these challenging times is in the great outdoors, and Western Spirit has been working hard to support everyone who wants to get outside. There are many procedures in place to keep everyone safe and healthy, and these have been updated for this challenging time. You will be provided with a link to all details, but these include pre-trip health screening survey, daily procedures with no communal touchpoints, mealtime and shuttling precautions, and vigorous cleaning & sanitizing procedures between trips.
Testimonials
“There were too many good things to pick one over the other. All of the guides were phenomenal, tremendous food (I ate way too much!), great bikes, amazing camping locations, spectacular trails!”
Mark D
evoTrip 2016
“A trip of a lifetime. Adam and Tina made the trip 5 star with their cooking , organization and leadership to keep us on track and also have great downtime after rides. Super organized and super fun. Highly recommend this company. Awesome!!”
Barb C
evoTrip 2016
“I sure did enjoy the trip. I felt so privileged not having to do anything. I am so used to planning the menu, shopping for it, packing it, setting up camp, tearing down camp, and negotiating when, where, what, why and how with other trip participants. So to let Western Spirit handle ALL of that was really special for me.”
Bob S
evoTrip 2016

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Sorry, this trip is sold out
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Questions? Let us help! Call us at 1-866-386-1590

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