Motorcycle Adventures

A dual-sport motorcycle and a dirt bike offer riders the best of both worlds. The Moab area is challenging and fun, with sweeping curves, tight twisting turns, and fairly technical trails.

Dual sport is a term for the combination of a street and an off-road motorcycle. Since dual-sport motorcycles are street legal, there are many places to travel, including backcountry dirt roads, singletrack trails, and scenic paved roads around Moab and in the national parks.

A good dirt-bike trail on Bureau of Land Management land is Sevenmile Rim, a 20-mile loop of moderate difficulty. There are a few difficult spots and a good map is essential. Go nine miles north from Moab on US Hwy 191. Just across from Archview Resort, turn west to begin the route. Travel a well-maintained road for four miles, turn west, and start up a series of steep ledges. You will pass a Sevenmile Rim sign at this turn. Follow the marked trail to Uranium Arch. Continue toward Monitor and Merrimac Buttes, carefully following the marked route. Continuing west from Merrimac Butte, the route crosses on the top of Wipe Out Hill. Travel south toward Determination Towers and exit the area via Tusher Wash Road.

An ambitious trail that combines paved and dirt travel is Potash Trail to White Rim Trail, a 110-mile loop with beautiful scenery. The first 13 miles are paved with turnouts to view the primitive rock art and arches. The last 11 miles of Potash Road are unpaved. The road climbs up out of the river canyon and makes its way to the White Rim plateau. Although White Rim is called a trail, it is technically a maintained park road in Canyonlands National Monument. Since the trail is within the park boundary, you pay the daily fee and all vehicles must be street legal.

Rules of the trail

• When exploring the area, always use caution and be prepared.
• Stay on established trails. Traveling off trails may cause land closures.
• Pass carefully. Don’t fly by a slower rider and always use courtesy when overtaking hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders.
• Be alert to oncoming traffic, particularly on blind curves, in dips, and on hillcrests.
• Have a good detailed map of the area you are riding in. Multiple trails crisscross and it can be confusing at times.
• Take water and food with you.

To rent dirt bike motorcycles, contact Highpoint Hummer and ATV Tours 877-486-6833, (435) 259-2972, www.highpointhummer.com.