Mt. Biking Utah: Gemini Bridges with the Trailmonkey

Your Virtual Guide to Adventure Outdoors!

Utah
Mtn. Biking Maps & Trails

Virtual Tours:
Virtual Slickrock Trail
Virtual Poison Spider Mesa Trail
Virtual Porcupine Rim Trail

Adventure/Trail Guides:
Gemini Bridges Trail
Poison Spider Mesa &Portal Trails

Maps & Trails

Gemini Bridges Trail

Click on any of the images for a full-sized view!

GETTING TO THE TRAILHEAD:

(from the intersection of Main and Center Streets)

Head north on Main Street out of town. You will pass the trailtail just past mile marker 135 (a large parking lot with an old mining cart in it). You may want to leave a vehicle here if you're doing a shuttle. Continue another mile on Hwy. 191 and turn left onto Hwy. 313 (the signs say Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands). The trailhead is another 12.8 miles up, on the left, between mile markers 10 and 9. There should be a sign saying 'Gemini Bridges 6'.

CAMPING:

This is on B.L.M. land, so anywhere out of sight of the roads and trail is fair game. Please use the lands wisely, and respect signs, markers, and any posted out of bounds areas. If in doubt, stop by the B.L.M. office nearest Moab. It isn’t hard to find a nice spot away from it all, just don’t forget lots of water; as there is nothing out there for you.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Difficulty: Physically Easy/ Technically Moderate Elevation: Trailhead/High- 5,940 ft., Trailtail/ Low- 4,575ft. Best Season: Spring and fall Land Agency: B.L.M. Length: 13.7 miles Attractions: This ride can tour most of the canyons central to the Gemini Bridges area, canyons walled by slickrock fins and tapered facades. The twin bridges themselves are quite spectacular to behold, even if formed by other than watercourse. Trail Conditions: Rock-studded sediments, packed drift sand and wash-bottom sand on jeep trails and two-laned dirt roads.

TRAIL MAP:

Mile 0.0 is the intersection of the trail and Hwy. 313. Head down the dirt road (known as the 'Boulevard') and ignore the many lesser pull-offs and spurs for the first few miles. Cross a cattle guard at the bottom of a hill at mile 2.2. At mile 4.0. just after passing a lesser spur on the left, you arrive at a major triangular intersection in the middle of a large open plain. Follow the sign and turn right here (towards the La Sal Mountains in the distance). Go under a power line at mile 4.3. Just after a couple of lesser spurs, turn left at the signed intersection at mile 4.7 (going right would take you into 4 Arch Canyon and Crips Hole). At mile 5.6, turn right, up a short hill, at the signed intersection. At mile 5.7 you arrive at a kind of confusing intersection. There are many little spurs to the right here that all lead down to Gemini Bridges. Take the most obvious way (there is a sign) and reach the Bridges themselves at mile 6.0. Take a rest here. eat some, drink lots of water, and relax. When you're ready, head back up to the trail proper, and turn right at previous mile 5.7. A hint here, to avoid taking a spur back to the Bridges again, head towards the La Sals at the next couple of spurs. Turn right at the signed intersection at mile 6.4. At mile 6.6, turn right again (do not go up the short hill). Take a sharp left at a triangular intersection, at the bottom of a short downhill at mile 6.8. Keep right/go straight past a spur (to the Boulevard) on the left at mile 7.7. The trail turns right as you pass, at mile 8.4, a spur on the left. At mile 8.5, turn left, up the hill, past the signed turn-off to Bull Canyon. At the top of a short climb, at mile 8.7, keep left as you begin to descend a steepish, rocky downhill. The bottom of the hill comes at mile 9. 1, where you go left (past the signed turn-off to Gold Bar Rim) across the flat, sandy bottom. Pass the Gooney Bird Tower on the right at mile 9.6. Begin the only real climb of this ride at mile 11.0. Reach the crest at mile 11.8. No more climbing now, just a long, screaming fast downhill. As the road levels off at the bottom, turn left at mile 13.0 where the trail parallels the train tracks. Reach the end at the parking lot next to Hwy. 191 at mile 13.7.

TRAILSIDE NOTES:

The most popular way to do this trail is from the trailhead at Hwy. 313 to the trailtail at Hwy.191. Done in this direction, you are losing elevation the whole way, so it is basically one long downhill (there are however, a few up-hills ,… nothings for free). I've described the route like I have because of this. But, you certainly can start at the 'bottom' and ride up to the Bridges if you want. This is actually a great way to do it, as it makes the ride a bit tougher physically, and it negates the need for a shuttle. This is usually the way the trail is done if you are using it to access other trails such as Gold Bar Rim or Little Canyon Rim. Whatever, if you want to start at the 'bottom', simply -reverse the directions and do a bit of math to find the mile points. (This will, of course, use up a bit of brain power; so bring an extra Cliffbar).

Depending on time, and ability, there are a number of spurs off of the main trail which are worth checking out. Some give spectacular views into the canyon and "the Twins". Some portaging might be required. Exercise serious caution when climbing with bike!

A point or two about the 'signs' along this ride. First, don't absolutely count on them actually being there. Signs have a strange tendency to disappear whenever idiot rednecks and drunken teenagers go by; so don't rely on them too much. As well, keep in mind that the signs saying 'Gemini Bridges' are referring to the Bridges themselves, not the Gemini Bridges Trail. Therefore, once you pass the Bridges (in either direction) the signs will point in the opposite direction. This is pretty obvious most of the time, but sometimes you're a bit tired; so, as always, use your head and know which way you're going before you go there.

Poison Spider Mesa &

Portal Trails

Click on any of the images for a full-sized view!

GETTING TO THE TRAILHEAD:

(from the intersection of Main and Center Streets)

Head north on Main Street out of town. After crossing the river, (on your left before you reach Arches Park), turn left on Potash Road. This road takes back towards town, along the river, through the Portal, and along Wall Street rock-climbing area. The trailhead comes up just after a sign saying "Dinosaur Tracks". Take a sharp right turn (a little ways past mile marker 10). Click Dinosaur Tracks.

***Also, All around the cliff area by the dinosaur tracks are Petroglyphs. Caution climbing this loose slope, as sharp stones and cactii are everywhere!

TRAIL MAP:

CAMPING:

Free camping abounds all along the recesses of Wall Street, (the cliff face you’re driving past the whole way). First come first serve. A little loud sometimes, but hey, you get what you pay for… Also, all along the Colorado River and Highway 128, are multiple riverside camping areas. These are some nice spots, but they fill fast! They’re also close to a lot of the trailheads/ tails outside Moab. Please help keep the areas clean, as they do see heavy usage, and are still free and open, for now.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION:

Difficulty: advanced to gonzo abusive, (physically and technically). Elevation: 3,965 ft.(low)-5,040 ft.(high) Best Season: Spring and Fall Land Agency: B.L.M. Length: ~11.4miles (or 12.0 including at least 1.4 miles on pavement) Attractions: Poison Spider combines purist Slickrock with blast and blow surfaces like cobble, sand, and off-camber ledgy rock. Its view of Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area, crowned by the La Sals, is one of the most beautiful sights anywhere. The arch overlook, before going to the Portal or returning is also quite nice for a brake. Trail Conditions: Cobble and rock studded sediment, drift sand and slickrock on jeep trails. Singletrack and overland routes across slickrock. Exposed ledge (Portal trail).

Mile 0.0 is the old gate just as the trail heads up away from the road. The first 'Jeep Stencil' can be seen on a boulder at mile 0.4. These while paint markers will be your trail blazes through most of this ride- Head up a couple of short. steep, loose hills at mile 0.7. The trail levels off a bit and straightens at mile 1.6. You encounter your first sand pit (of many) at mile 2.1 as the trail swings right toward a cleft in the rock. You ride out of the sand and up a series of blasted technical climbs at mile 2.5. At mile 2.9, the trail splits; either way is fine (left is steeper, right is sandier). The trail splits again at mile 3.0; this time, unless you have four huge tires and a V-8, you should definitely steer toward the left. Top out of the technical climbing (for the moment) at mile 3.4, as you reach a four-way intersection. Head straight through, following (as usual) the white jeep stencils. At mile 4.7 you will pass a spur on the right that heads to a river overlook. The easy, flat stretch ends at mile 5.1 as the trail drops down to gain the slickrock. Stop here for a moment. See the four domes as you look northeast across the slickrock? You are shooting for the left side of the far right dome. There are many potential routes across the slickrock to reach that point, but the surefire way is to once again follow the jeep stencils. So head down the hill and turn left at the bottom. Go right at the 'Y' (mile 5.4), heading toward "the" dome. Turn right again at mile 5.6 at a confusing intersection there should be a carsonite trail post and a stenciled white bike showing the way). The arch and river overlook come at mile 6.1, about forty yards riverward. This is the usual turnaround point for those who are doing Poison Spider as an out-and-back. If that's you, simply turn around a retrace your route (after a nice long rest at the arch of course).

arch and river overlook

Those wishing to continue on to the Portal Trail should be thinking "gonzo abusive", and possess at least advanced biking skills. If you're looking for a confusing sand slog, followed by a death-defying (seriously), ledge traversing, single-track, ending with an extremely technical downhill, then read on for the scoop on the Portal Trail. Head straight away from the river, (following the jeep stencils), up and over a few slickrock domes until you drop into a nasty sand pit at mile 6.6. Head left at a confusing intersection at mile 7.1, then right at another confusing intersection to gain the slickrock again. This section is strange so take time to get it right. At the " T " (mile 8.1), turn right to climb a steep rocky hill towards the rim. Reach the top, overlooking Moab, at mile 8.7 and the intersection of Gold Bar Rim and the Portal singletrack. Head to the right and prepare for a bit of scary exposure. The Portal Overlook is at mile 9.8 and the trail turns right away from the edge and starts to get really technical. Turn left on a little spur at mile 11.1 to gain access to the road. Turn right and ride the road back to the trailhead at mile 13.3.

Parts check !!! (Body & bike).

Drop us a line, your comments & trails welcome!

Original Artwork, Text, & Maps © Trailmonkey.com 1997 -'07
Images Protected (Digitally Watermarked) by Digimarc embedding Paws Off Without Permission!
Privacy Statement & Disclaimer

Design and coded by Flying Squirrel Adventures
Designed & Tweaked by Flying Squirrel Adventures inc