june 12-15, 2025
Bears Ears National Monument MTB/Gravel
Spend four days riding gravel and trails in Utah’s beautiful desert landscapes
About the Ride
Join us for an unsurpassed 4-day Bears Ears backcountry tour! This ride takes place on gravel roads
June 12-15, 2025
Moab, Utah
Our route begins below the 8,000 foot Bears Ears Pass, surrounded by ponderosa pine, and follows Elk Ridge, the backbone between the Abajo Mountains and the Colorado River. We’ll explore secluded canyons, rich in cultural history of the ancestral Puebloan people. The proceeds from Climate Ride Bears Ears will support the vital work of the tribes protecting Bears Ears through the Bears Ears Coalition. For over 5 years, Climate Riders have been contributing to support their incredible work. Let’s keep the momentum going!
Event Details
Positive Planet Impact
Full Event Story
Bears Ears is a national treasure as amazing as its sister parks immediately to the north, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. Bears Ears contains (and protects) hundreds of ancient stone and earth dwellings and rock art panels, and scores of intricate wilderness-quality canyons cutting down through the sandstone to the Colorado River. If you want to visit Bears Ears, the most intimate method is by mountain bike.
Our route begins below Bears Ears Pass, surrounded by ponderosa pine, and follows Elk Ridge, the backbone between the Abajo Mountains and the Colorado River. We’ll explore secluded canyons rich in the cultural history of the ancestral Puebloans, searching for ancient rock art and cliff dwellings. After our dramatic descent to the boundary of Canyonlands National Park, the landscape changes from cool alpine to colorful desert. Our final night is spent at this area’s most beautiful campsite, Cathedral Butte.
For this charitable event, biking will take place on gravel roads and trails. This trip is designed for beginner to intermediate mountain bikers, or experienced gravel riders. Some sections of trail are best suited for mountain bikes with suspension, while others are fast and smooth and would be great for a gravel bike. If you choose to ride a gravel bike, please be aware that some sections may be sandy, technical or both! Local guides and our Climate Ride team will take care of all the details, allowing us to ride, connect, and see the national monument, which is threatened with losing protected status and being opened to oil and gas drilling and mining.
On this charitable biking event, we travel where few tourists go. We stay in beautiful backcountry camps.
This trip is well-suited to road cyclists who can get comfortable on a mountain bike. The terrain is gravel roads and trails. You should train to ride 30 miles per day on gravel roads. There are shorter options each day if you choose to ride in the support van. Or if you wish for extra mileage, there will be options on most days.
This tour was operated in conjunction with the outfitter, Rim Tours which is permitted to operate in the areas we ride. Climate Ride charitable events bring together bright minds, breathtaking routes for all cycling abilities, and an unforgettable combination of passion and purpose. On this trip, we’ll get a first-hand look at the environmental issues affecting Bears Ears. You will have access to our superb personal fundraising software and the full support of our team. Climate Ride Bears Ears is an event that supports the Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition. Participant fundraising will protect the natural history and landscape that we will experience by bike.
Photo Gallery
Itinerary Overview
Itinerary subject to change, your Ride Guide will include full details.
Day 1
Bike 14 miles. 1800 ft. gain/ 587 ft loss. There are options for additional mileage.
On our way to the trailhead, we pass through Blanding where we will stop at the Edge of the Cedars Museum to learn more about the ancient peoples of the Four Corners region. After this educational and truly interesting stop we’ll drive on towards the start of our bike ride on the south side of the 8,000-foot Bear’s Ears Pass, close to Natural Bridges National Monument. We’ll ride up and over the pass and check out the views into upper Arch Canyon on our way to camp overlooking another spectacular canyon, Hammond Canyon. We’ll stay here for 2 nights and with good eyes or binoculars, there are ancient ruins of cliff dwellings across the canyon. We’ll set up a cozy camp in the ponderosas and take care of all the details while there are opportunities from camp for hiking or riding extra miles. Washbasins are available for cleanup and a solar shower is usually available for 1-2 evenings during the trip. Scrumptious hors-d’oeuvres and a delicious, healthy meal will cap off a perfect, action-filled day! Stories around the campfire will cap off your first day into the southwest wilderness.
Day 2
Bike 12.5-18 Miles. For 12.5 mile option, 1427 ft. gain/1427 ft loss. There are options for additional mileage. Hike 6 Miles.
After coffee and breakfast, we’ll head on down the trail. Our ride today includes a rip-roaring descent to the trailhead of our hike. On foot, we’ll explore the high plateau desert surroundings and view spectacular and well-hidden cliff dwellings which demonstrate the ingenuity and building skills of the long-ago inhabitants of this region. We recommend bringing small binoculars for this hike if you have them. After the hike, you may choose the challenge of riding back up to camp or opt to save your energy for the days ahead and catch a ride with the support vehicle. Miles range from 12.5-18 for this out and back excursion plus 6 miles of hiking.
Day 3
Bike 33.5 Miles. 2085 ft. gain/3024 ft. loss.
Today we begin our traverse the Elk Ridge Plateau. Aspen meadows line our route as we make our way to Big Notch – a challenging climb but well worth it for the views at the top! After lunch, the riding is fast and fun as we descend towards Cathedral Butte and our final camp at Cathedral point. Our camp tonight overlooks Canyonlands National Park and is truly one of the most sensational campsites in the area.
Day 4
Bike 18.5-25 Miles. For 18.5 mile option, 368 ft. gain/2208 ft. loss. There is an option for 7 miles of pavement riding with additional 300 ft. climbing)
Our ride today is fast, fun and mostly downhill! We’ll lose over 1,000 feet of elevation as we descend toward Dugout Ranch and the world famous Indian Creek climbing area. We’ll have lunch and check out the petroglyphs & pictographs at Newspaper Rock and then head back to Moab. Miles today are 18 or 25 if we ride the pavement to Newspaper Rock. After lunch, we’ll shuttle back to Moab to arrive between 3:00-4:00 pm.
Ready to get started?
FAQs and More Info
What’s Included
Included:
- All meals and snacks are provided from arrival on Day through your departure on the last day
- Luggage transport
- Professional guides and bike mechanic
Not included:
- Bike rental (Mountain bike $75/day; E-Mountain bike $125/day)
- Camping equipment ($85 to rent for the entire trip)
- Transportation to/from ride start and end
- Gratuities for guides
Meals & Camping
This is a backcountry camping trip. You can bring your own tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad, or you can rent equipment from our outfitter and they will be brought to camp.
Our guides carry solar showers and washbasins on each tour. Washbasins are available every day. Depending on the group size and weather, solar showers are usually available every other day. We suggest bringing unscented “baby- wipes” for quick clean up after riding.
Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks are handled by our expert local guides. We serve delicious energy packed meals with lots of fresh ingredients to satisfy all tastes. We can accommodate special diets; just let us know your preferences. We do not provide alcoholic beverages, but feel free to bring your own. We do provide sodas, Gatorade, and plenty of water. If you require or prefer special snacks and electrolyte supplements we recommend that you bring them.
What Kind Of Bike Should I Ride?
Our route through Bear’s Ears National Monument is quite rugged and varied. We’ll pedal over slickrock, dirt roads, and sandy washes. This trip is great for full suspension or hardtail mountain bikes. If you are an experienced gravel biker, most of the route is rideable with the right gravel bike. If you do choose to ride a gravel bike, expect some technical terrain, potential sand, rough rocks with small shelfs or curb-like drops and areas where you’ll need to find a line to pedal through. We’ve had riders complete the entire route on gravel bikes before but we don’t reccommend a gravel bike for novice cyclists. The ideal gravel bike for this event would be a bike with disc brakes, 40c or larger tubeless tires, and a wide range of gears for steep climbs.
Continue reading below for more info on rental bike options in Moab.
Travel Information & Accommodations
This charitable mountain biking trip begins at 8 am in Moab, Utah. You may safely leave your car at our meeting place or you may arrange a pick-up at your hotel. A continental breakfast of coffee, juice, fruit, and bagels will be served while our staff is loading your gear into the support vehicles and taking care of last minute details. If you prefer a larger breakfast you may want to dine before you arrive. We recommend Jail House Café or the Moab Diner, both located on Main Street.
The cycling event will end in Moab on Day 4 at 2 pm.
GETTING TO AND FROM MOAB:
Fly Directly into Moab
– Countour Airlines, a partner of American Airlines has daily service to Moab from Pheonix, AZ. The Moab airport is Canyonlands Field (CNY) and lies 17 miles north of Moab on Hwy 191. You can rent a car through Enterprise, (970) 242-8103 or use one of several taxi-like services. For a full list of ground transport options visit http://discovermoab.com/transportation-services/.
From Salt Lake City, UT
– Delta, United, Frontier, Southwest, Alaska, Boutique, American, JetBlue all have flights into SLC.
– Rent a Car: Drive time is about 4 hours to Moab. If renting a car please know you must return it to Salt Lake City or pay an exorbitant drop fee. All major rental car companies have a presence at SLC.
From Grand Junction, CO
– United, Delta, American and Allegiant Airlines all fly into Grand Junction. You’ll need to rent a car to get to Moab but it’s a beautiful, less than 2-hour drive, take Hwy 128 if in daylight!
– Enterprise Rent-A-Car, (970)242-8103, 406 S. 5th ST. Grand Junction, CO. http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/deeplinkmap.do?gpbr=1228&bid=004&cnty=US Enterprise may be able to do a one-way rental to Moab — most others will probably require it be a round trip rental.
MOAB LODGING:
Here are handpicked recommendations.
Bed & Breakfast
– Cali Cochitta: 435-259-4961, http://www.moabdreaminn.com/. Quaint home with hot tub, beautiful rooms, antique furnishings, and a superb breakfast chef.
– Sunflower Hill B&B: 435-259-2974, http://www.sunflowerhill.com/. Moab’s finest. American and European antiques. Ask for a room in the Garden Cottage. Very private, hot tub, gardens, lots of charm.
Moderately priced
– Red Stone Inn: 435-259-3500, http://www.moabredstone.com/. Bike friendly hotel, bikes can be brought in to rooms! Kitchenettes w/microwave, coffee maker, reasonable rates.
– Big Horn Lodge: 435-259-6171, http://www.moabbighorn.com/. Also very bike friendly. New furnishings.
More expensive, the “Best” hotels
– The Gonzo Inn: 435-259-2515 http://www.gonzoinn.com/. The best in Moab. Uniquely furnished. Bike friendly with pool & spa.
– Best Western Canyonlands Inn: 435-259-2300, http://www.canyonlandsinn.com/ Nice, centrally located.
Resorts or Ranches
– Sorrel River Ranch Resort: 877-317-8244, http://www.sorrelriver.com/. Luxury accommodations on the Colorado River, 18 miles from Moab.
– Red Cliffs Lodge: 866-812-2002, http://www.redcliffslodge.com/. Located on the banks of the Colorado River, 15 miles from Moab. This western style lodge caters to the adventure traveler.
Nightly Condo Rentals/Lodging Resources
– Vacasa: https://www.vacasa.com/usa/Utah/Moab/. Nightly rentals of condos and other properties.
– Center Street Condo: 303-619-1954, http://www.vrbo.com/153549. Delightful one bedroom condo in the heart of downtown.
Campgrounds
– Up the Creek Campground: 435-260-1888, http://www.moabupthecreek.com/. Beautiful, quiet & shaded walk-in campground near downtown Moab.
Will It Be Too Hot To Do This Ride In June?
In June, the weather in the lower elevations of southern Utah tends to be warm to hot, however, this ride takes place at elevation (between 6,000 and 8,000 ft) which means that temperatures can be from the 70s to high 80s during the day, and into the 40s at night. By June, the higher elevation snow has usually just melted, and the days are typically sunny and clear with cooler evenings. Many think it’s the best time of year to visit this National Monument! The weather in the desert can be very temperamental and hard to predict, so packing layers is a good idea (including jackets and fleeces), and we recommend following the packing list provided in your Ride Guide.
If you plan on spending some time at lower elevations (like Moab) before or after the trip, remember to also bring shorts and light t-shirts or tops as the weather at lower elevations can be in the high 80s to 90s.
Read our packing list in the Ride Guide and you will be well-prepared.
Cell Phone Service & WiFi
There is limited cell phone access. Enjoy this digital detox!
Do I need to be an experienced mountain biker or gravel rider to go on this trip?
Climate Ride Bears Ears is a moderate, multi-day off-road experience that takes place in remote areas, mostly on doubletrack with packed dirt, loose rock, and a bit of sand. A mountain bike is required. While you don’t have to be an expert mountain biker, we recommend doing at least some of your training on a mountain bike. You should be comfortable riding on packed gravel and should be generally physically fit.
If you want to bring your gravel bike, go for it! The gravel roads are rocky in some places so you should have strong gravel bike skills.
This is not a technically difficult ride but there are some obstacles, climbs, and descents. Steeper pitches can be easily walked! Overall if you’re a cyclist and have some experience riding mountain bikes, you will be just fine!
What do I need to bring on the ride?
All riders need to have a mountain bike or gravel bike (see below for bike rental info), helmet, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad (see camping gear info), and a suitcase or duffle containing clothes, toiletries, and anything else necessary for several days on the road. The Ride Guide will contain a more detailed suggested packing list. The Ride Guide will be distributed to participants several months before the event. If you have a non-perishable personal favorite snack or electrolyte brand please feel free to bring some along!
Mountain bikes or gravel bikes are required for this trip as we’ll be riding on gravel roads. The most important factor in choosing a bike and pedals is your comfort. You want to be riding a bike and using pedals that you will be comfortable riding with for multiple hours a day, for several days in a row. Our local outfitter has mountain bikes (high-quality full suspension bikes) available for rent.
IF BRINGING YOUR OWN BIKE: Have your bike tuned up before the tour and have any worn-out parts replaced. You may want to ship your bike ahead of time to Rim Tours in Moab. The assembly fee is $40 or $80, if they also disassemble and box it up at the end of the trip as well. As for tires for your tour, any good off-road tires are fine. We use Wilderness Trail Bike’s latest creations. They’re the best! We do recommend bringing a full suspension bike.
Fundraising Beneficiaries
Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition is the sole beneficiary for this ride. Proceeds from this event go towards their work in Bears Ears National Monument and the Climate Ride cause. Because of this, you cannot change your beneficiary selection after registering.
Can I rent a bicycle in Moab for the ride?
Yes! Our partner in Moab will have mountain bikes for rent in various configurations and sizes. These are high-quality full suspension bikes. More information will be available in the Ride Guide. If you wish to ride a gravel bike, please bring your own.
What kind of support can I expect while on the road?
Climate Ride has partnered with a local Moab outfitter to provide the most experienced and friendliest professional guides. We have rest stops each day with snacks and water, and on-route we have vehicle support that carries luggage, and also functions as a mobile mechanic and first aid station. You can also expect an unlimited supply of camaraderie and encouragement from the Climate Ride staff, the guides, and your fellow riders!
Are showers available on this trip?
We carry solar showers and washbasins on each tour. Washbasins are available every day.
Depending on the group size and weather, solar showers are usually available every other day. We suggest bringing unscented “baby-wipes” for quick clean-up after riding.
Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates
Fundraising Deadlines:
| $500 To Be Raised By: | March 12, 2025 |
| $1400 To Be Raised By: | April 10, 2025 |
| $2800 To Be Raised By: | May 12, 2025 |
Learn more about deadlines and transfers on our Policies page.
Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!
More Questions?
Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!
Testimonials
Our Supporters
