Kokopelli's Trail summit(u):m114
 Mileage
point 114, as referenced by the Copmoba brochure of the
trail ( revision 3, 1996) is the highest point on the
trail. Floating in lofty heights above red cliffs and
below snow covered peaks, it is much less rocky than the
previous lower summit at mile 88. Like the m88 summit(u)
it can be cycled in a day loop, combining the Kokopelli's
Trail with a descent down Castleton Valley. This is the
route shown in the profile. All junctions on the Kokopelli
Trail itself are very well signed.
01.(4210ft,mile00) START-END EAST:
junction Onion Creek rd and paved Ut128
02.(5630ft,mile10) junction with Kokopelli Trail,
route continues on right
03.(5780ft,mile11) route turns to left, away from
Fisher Valley Ranch
04.(7540ft,mile22) Kokopelli Trail turns left onto
good dirt road
05.(7810ft,mile25) low point between summits
06.(8560ft,mile28) TOP: summit(u):m114
07.(6490ft,mile33) Kokopelli Trail continues onto
paved La Sal Loop road on left, while profile
continues down into Castle Valley
08.(4060ft,mile44) START-END WEST junction Ut128 and
road to Castleton |
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Approaches
From East. The Onion Creek road connects the
Kokopelli Trail in Fisher Valley with Ut128. Onion Creek road
is also described in a downward direction for the m88 summit(u).
But a route like this deserves to be described more than once.
So the least I can do is describe it again in an upward
direction.
Early morning May sun bakes the red cliffs into a shimmer.
Once in the narrows of Onion Creek, dark shadows from
overhanging cliffs plunge the rider into momentary darkness
until the eyes adjust , exclamation marks in the form of ocher
rocks above. A second later blinding sunlight returns. The 16
to 20 stream crossings seem to go by faster than during the
descent. This is due to decreased stream flow in the still
comparatively cool morning.
Fisher Valley above the narrows is the first step in today's
ride up the geologic staircase. Climbing that first step means
reaching a serrated edge that could have been cut with a jig
saw. Below it the desert falls off into to a tortured
landscape of muddled rocks and defiles. What a thrill to reach
it! Red cliffs protect green ranch country in Fisher
Valley. Here the route joins the Kokopellli's Trail
itself. First heading in direction Fisher Ranch, the trail
soon finds a more adventurous route out of this topographic
puzzle. It heads back up the west side of Cottonwood Canyon,
down which the trail came from the summit at mile 88.
"Oh no, this could take forever" is a tempting
thought, when thinking back of the rough, rocky descent on the
other side. But the route on this side is much smoother, even
though far flung meanders reach closer to Dolores Canyon. The
rider is soon delivered to the top of the shoe box that is
Fisher Valley.
With further climbing the ride turns into a forested high
plateau ramble in cool air under a green, perpetually moving
canopy, cows mistaking my black monoframe Klein for a relative
of theirs, if I interpret their mooing correctly. Even though
this is mountain biking capital country the only vehicle I
encounter is a road grader - yes a road grader. But the end of
May is a relatively uncommon time to do this ride due to the
heat. Opposite to what one might expect, the higher you get
the more elaborately engineered and maintained the road
actually becomes. Junctions with the Polar Mesa and Gateway-
Moab road ( Paradox Trail ) are signed. The La Sals Mountains,
earlier always the white outlined triangles behind the red
walls that together take on the shape of a big red house from
the distance, now seem reachable - with just a little more
effort.
Past the junction with the Moab-Gateway road, the rider now
travels on a smooth surface, on which good time can be made.
The last climb to the summit traverses a bread loaf shaped
slope in open forest between extensive views of Castleton
Valley and the towering La Sals.
From West. The approach is described in a downward
direction. Surprise - Immediately after the highest point the
road turns paved, and the descent into red hot valley heat
between red vertical cliffs is as fast as with a motorized
vehicle. One short, but steep uphill at the bottom of this
valley is the last remaining opportunity for physical exercise
that is left before the route joins Ut128.
Tours
Dayrides. A dayride combining the two described
approaches, completing the loop with Ut128 through Professor
Valley measured 50 miles with 6250 feet of climbing in 5.4
hours (m3:06.05.23).
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Utah's summits and passes
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