Contact Info
Moab, UT 84532
Basics
- Location:
- Southwest of Moab
- Length:
- 15 mile roundtrip
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time To Allow:
- 1/2 day
- Elevation Change:
- 1100 feet
- Season:
- Year round
Basic Directions
Head south on Moab's Main Street. When you reach the McDonald's on your right, turn right onto Kane Creek Blvd. After 1.5 miles, go straight at the "Yield" sign where the road seems to turn right. Continue 5 miles until the road turns to gravel, and watch for the "Amassa Rock Parking" area at GPS N 38° 31.329' W 109° 35.501'. Head further up the gravel road 1/2 mile, and turn right onto the trail at the sign.
Description
The Amasa Back Trail follows a packed dirt road through Kane Creek Canyon for 1.2 miles then crosses the river and follows a 4wd road up and across Amasa Back -- a mesa defined by a gooseneck turn in the Colorado River. At mile 3.2 is a 1/2 mile spur to the right to a great view of the Colorado River canyon and Poison Spider mesa. To reach the trail's end on the western rim of the mesa requires some route finding skills over broken slickrock. Your reward is another nice view over a different area of the Colorado River canyon.
Details
Location:
Southwest of Moab
Length:
15 mile roundtrip
Some say it's 22 miles.
Some say it's 22 miles.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Some rate it as advanced.
Some rate it as advanced.
Aerobic Difficulty:
Some rate it as difficult.
Time To Allow:
1/2 day
Some say 2 to 3 hours.
Some say 2 to 3 hours.
Elevation Change:
1100
Season:
Year round
Additional Details:
Amassa Rock has plenty of Moab''s great sandstone to play on. At the top, you can explore and play. But on the way, you''ll have eye-popping views of the canyons, as well as a cliff-side cruise overlooking Jackson Hole and its rincon (called Jackson "Not-Hole"). The lower two miles of the trail is a tricky series of ledges and rock challenges. Clearing the multiple rock obstacles will test your skills on the way up and again on the way down.
You''ll run into a couple of side routes. Just stay on the main path by following the tire tracks when in question. Side routes can take you out onto the peninsula, or down into Jackson Hole.
The end of the "official" trail is this view over the Colorado. But you can extend your ride by heading northeast. There''s a huge area of rideable slickrock waiting for you.
Information provided by utahmountainbiking.com.
