Friday, June 12, 2009

Rainbow Rim Trail

Located along the rim of the Grand Canyon and connecting five large "Points" of land which overhang the Canyon and the Arizona Strip is the Rainbow Rim Trail. I have been planning this ride for a long time, usually bikes are not allowed in the National Forest but somebody snuck this in one in and it is awesome.
This map shows the trails relation to Jacob's Lake and the National Park.




The Single Speed at the trail head.



Close up of the trail head sign/map.


The five "Points" are: Parissawampitts, Fence, Locust, North Timp and Timp. Each offers a different view and perspective of Grand Canyon features such as Powell Plateau, Steamboat Mountain, Tapeats Amphitheater and Great Thumb Mesas, as well as the Mt. Trumbull region of The Arizona Strip. In addition to the areas along the rim, the trail passes through a forest of old growth Ponderosa pine and drops into a number of steep-sided canyons filled with groves of aspens and small meadows
. Total length one way is 18 miles, we rode it as an out and back making it 36 miles of single track deliciousness.

I wish I had a camera that could have done justice to the views that are to be had.



As you can see from the map there are mutiple trail heads, you can jump on and off the trail at any of the points on the map making it longer or shorter as needed.













Typical section of trail, smooooth. I don't get a lot of chances to ride in the trees here in So. Utah and this trail gives you all you want.



18 miles in and we had to change a tire before turning around.


Duane and I in a typical biker pose. There is some kind of weird perspective thing going on in this foto and I look like a Hobbit. I think it's because I am standing downhill and leaning on the bike or maybe I am from the Shire.



I would suggest this trail to anyone. I think I should ride this trail no less than twice a year. I am putting this trail in my top 5 rides of all time for length, views, trail quality and all around goodness.

3 comments:

Michelle & Steve said...

Couple of things that I liked about this post:
1. I think that is the first time I've seen you standing next to the single speed. That is one HUGE bike.
2. I like posts about your latest mountain bike rides because they are guaranteed to have a shot of just the bike and view or trailhead, etc. That bike just doesn't take a bad picture...

El Scorcho said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
B & J Weston said...

Perhaps you do not remember that when your mother was 19 I worked for the summer at Jacob Lake Lodge. Is it still there. I went to the Grand Canyon a couple times and we had bikes which we rode down the mountain towards what is now Lake Powell, then there was a ghost town which we rode to and then were picked up and taken back to the Lodge.