San Rafael Swell Mountain Biking & Stargazing Trip

Sample Itinerary

Please note: this is just one possible itinerary for a four-day bike trip in the Swell. There are several different routes we could plan, depending on the interests and abilities of the group.

The night before your trip:

Meet us at our Green River, Utah, headquarters (7:00 p.m., Mountain Time) for a pre-trip orientation meeting. We’ll answer questions, talk about how best to organize your gear (we suggest packing a small day bag and a larger overnight bag; the overnight bag will be packed lower in the gear van, whereas the day bag will be accessible all day), and perform a pre-trip inspection of everyone’s bikes. If you are providing your own bike, please make sure that it is in good repair. We recommend a complete service by a professional shop prior to the trip. If your bike does not pass our basic safety inspection, we’ll ask you to rent a Holiday bike for $240.00/person.

Day 1:

Fill up your water bottles and make any last-minute purchases from our gear shop (see our packing checklist for items we have at our store), and then we’ll be off! It’s an hour drive west on I-70 into the heart of the Swell. We’ll start with an easy ride that travels along a maze of old ranching and mining roads in search of sites like the Lone Warrior and Head of Sinbad rock art panels, Eagle Canyon Arch, and the Swasey Cabin. After a trail-side lunch, we’ll climb gradually through pinyon and juniper to our camp on the edge of Reds Canyon, near the base of Family Butte. Set up camp and enjoy some appetizers while your guides whip up a delicious meal! As the sun sets, get cozy around a campfire and listen as Tom introduces you to the wonderful realm of stargazing with a visual orientation of our place in the universe.

Day 2:

 Rise with the sun! After a hearty breakfast, we’ll start riding with a nice, long descent to Muddy Creek and the Hondu Arch. Pause along the way to explore the Lucky Strike Mine, and admire the red patina that seems to bleed down the huge, white sandstone walls that surround us. We’ll ride back up out of the Muddy Creek area and seek out a camp with a view, perhaps at the base of the Flattop, or overlooking Chute Canyon and Temple Mountain. Eat a well-earned lasagna dinner while staring out at Temple Mountain, the San Rafael Reef, and three different mountain ranges! Perhaps tonight Tom will regale you with ancient anstronomy myths, or you’ll have the chance to peep a neighboring galaxy through his telescope.

Day 3:

Today’s ride can be as easy or as challenging as the group wants. Go on a long, self-supported ride down the Little Wild Horse trail and meet our support van on the Behind-the-Reef Road. Or, cruise around Temple Mountain and make camp early, then spend the afternoon hiking one of the slot canyons in the southern reef. Stretch out under the stars as night falls and enjoy the rare experience of simply watching it get dark. Which planetary object will become visible first?.

Day 4:

Today’s plan could be more hiking, or a longer ride around Temple Mountain. We’ll work our way out of the Swell and have lunch at a 3,000-year-old pictograph panel. Our passenger van will meet us here for the two-hour drive back to Green River. Our expected time of arrival back at our headquarters is 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Please keep in mind that each trip’s itinerary will vary widely based on group desires, Mother Nature, and courtesy for other groups on the trail. The Swell is known for its spectacular scenery and abundance of historical sites. Dispersed camping sites offer the ultimate opportunity for a “choose-your-own-adventure” exploration of the vast maze of old mining roads and slot canyons.