Skyline Traverse Bike Trip
RIDING TYPE
Intermediate | Advanced
DURATION
4 Days
SEASON
June & August - September
Conquer Central Utah's Skyline Drive Traverse
This four-day, three-night cycling trip takes you along Skyline Drive in the Manti-La Sal National Forest, a route known for its stunning high-elevation views and challenging climbs. The journey begins near Soldier Summit and follows a scenic ridgeline, offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding canyons and mountains. The route consists of well-maintained unpaved roads, requiring a mountain or gravel bike. E-bikes are welcome as well! Be prepared for significant elevation changes and remote conditions. You’ll spend your nights camping under the stars, enjoying the peaceful solitude of the mountains. The trip concludes after a rewarding descent, leaving you with lasting memories of the rugged beauty of central Utah.
Tailored for Intermediate/Advanced riders seeking a significant high-country cycling challenge, featuring:
Extreme Elevation: Cycle at altitudes up to 10,500 feet, demanding high physical fitness due to steep climbs and long days.
Iconic High-Country Route: Ride the full length of the historic Skyline Drive, with continuous views of the San Rafael Swell and the valleys of Central Utah.
Major Physical Feat: Conquer the trip’s largest challenge on Day 1: a 4,450-foot elevation gain over 24 miles.
Terrain: Primarily well-maintained unpaved roads (dirt/gravel), making it ideal for mountain or gravel bikes, with no technical singletrack.
Historical Immersion: Follow infrastructure largely developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
We begin our journey from an unassuming road near Soldier Summit in Central Utah.
From this location we will climb into a totally different world of alpine views and quiet forests.
This day features the biggest climb of the trip (4,450 ft) over 24 miles, rewarding us with cooler temperatures and views for miles and miles in the high country.
We trace the route of the Skyline Drive, a modern, continuous drive largely developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s.
These workers constructed roads, trails, and campgrounds, connecting disparate logging roads into the scenic drive we enjoy today.
We will savor all of these workers’ hard work as we enjoy more views and wildlife along the ridgeline.
The road itself, which is one of the highest in Utah, provides high elevation vistas of the deep canyons and valleys on either side of the plateau.
Looking off to the East you can see into the deep canyons of the San Rafael Swell.
To the West, the small towns of Central Utah including Ephraim and Manti are visible.
Today’s terrain allows you to enjoy little reprieve from climbing with undulating terrain.
Today you get rewarded for all of the climbing you’ve done over the last three days.
Just a touch of climbing in the morning is followed by an almost uninterrupted descent all the way down to I-70.
You’ll see the alpine views give way to forests, then pinion and juniper, then to desert as we descend off the plateau.
We’ll shuttle back to Moab after a delicious lunch for our final farewells.
-TRIP NOTES
The fine print
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.
Road Surface
Hard packed clay, loose gravel. Mostly dirt road route, no singletrack. Some loose, rocky sections. Some pavement.
Overall Rating
Intermediate/Advanced
Technical Difficulty
Moderate
Physical Difficulty
Difficult. Steep climbs, long days and high elevations make this ride a challenging one
Altitude
4,000 - 10,500 feet
Biking Mileage
24 - 28 miles per day
Hiking Mileage
24 - 28 miles per day
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
Moab, UT, 7:00 AM MST at Aarchway Inn, 1551 North Riverview Drive. Ending time: return to Moab 3:00-5:00 PM last day. Getting there: 30 mi south of I-70 on Hwy 191; fly into Salt Lake City (SLC), Grand Junction (GJT), or Moab (CNY).
Lodging Before Your Trip
PACKING
What we provide
- Meals
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Camp mugs & dining ware
- 1 cycling water bottle
- Camp chairs
- Dry bags
- Solar showers
- Sunscreen & bug spray
- Bike stand
- Lube
- First aid kit
Bring or rent
- Bike
- Helmet
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Cycling & camp clothing
- Rain gear
- Personal items
- Tipping cash (10-20%)
Bring or rent
Bringing or renting
- Bike (rentals come with flat pedals)
- Helmet (gratis w
- Rental bike)
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Cycling clothing
- Cycling shoes
- 3-5 pair cycling shorts
- 3-5 cycling shirts
- Long sleeve cycling shirt
- Long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
- Cycling socks
- Windbreaker
- Tights or leg warmers
- 2 pair cycling gloves
- Rain jacket & rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Warm layer
- Sunglasses
Camp clothing
- Camp shorts/shirts
- Warm socks
- Long underwear
- 2 pair warm long pants
- Fleece/sweater
- Pile or down jacket
- Warm gloves and hat
- Brimmed hat
- Bathing suit
- Hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rain gear
Personal
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Towel
- Biodegradable soap
- Wet-wipes
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Sunglasses
- Optional day bag
- Stuff sacks
- Cash for tipping (10-20% of trip price)
Optional
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Favorite beverages
- Books
- Maps
- Portable USB charger
Need more information about our bike trips?
Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732.
Need more information about our bike trips? Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732
Gallery
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