The Maze – Canyonlands Mountain Biking

Typical Itinerary

Day 1:

Meet at Holiday River Expeditions’ headquarters at 7:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) in Green River, Utah. You’ll have time to organize your gear (it’s best if you separate gear into a “day bag” and a “camp bag” to help us effectively organize the support van) and buy any last minute items from our store (check out our packing checklist to see what carry here). Before we take off, your guides will complete a pre-trip inspection of your bike. If you’re bringing your own bicycle please make sure that it is in good repair. We recommend getting it serviced by a professional shop before the trip. If your bike does not pass our inspection you will be asked to rent a Holiday bike for $180.00/person.

Get settled in the vans for the 3-hour ride south to the Hans Flat Ranger Station, a remote National Park Service outpost and the Maze District headquarters. We’ll start riding from here, rolling along the edge of the Maze, catching glimpses of the canyons below through the pinyon and juniper trees. Pause for lunch and to stretch your legs at the Bagpipe Butte Overlook. Not far from there, we’ll take a sharp left turn and drop off the edge of the world, down the Flint Trail, and into the region the old-timers called “Under the Ledge”. Camp at the Golden Stairs. You’ll cover about 15 miles this first day, with options to ride out a couple of spur trails.

Day 2:

Start the day with coffee and eggs cooked to order, then ride downhill and around Elaterite Basin. It’s a short ride today, only 12 miles. The goal is to arrive at our camp at the Maze Overlook by lunch time, giving us the whole afternoon to hike into the Maze itself. Scramble down through layers of geologic time, using steps carved into the smooth rock surfaces. Hike through willows and cottonwoods at the bottom of the canyon and discover the Harvest Scene, a pictograph panel that may have been painted over 3,000 years ago. Hike back up in time for sunset over the Chocolate Drops.

Day 3:

Today we’ll ride back out the way we came, up the Golden Stairs and south to the base of Teapot Rock. After the initial climb out of camp, the riding is mostly rolling and downhill. Total miles for the day are approximately 20, with an option to add a 9-mile side ride to Sunset Pass. Tonight’s camp is in a slickrock alcove, with views of the La Sal Mountains far to the northeast.

Day 4:

This morning we’ll ride around the canyons that feed the rapids of lower Cataract Canyon. Stop at multiple overlooks and trace the shape of the canyon. Imagine the Colorado River far below, splashing and roaring over its rocks. The road here is well-graded, and the miles pass quickly as we gradually descend to Highway 95 and the Hite Bridge on the upper end of Lake Powell. 25 miles today. A 2-hour scenic drive will bring us back to Green River at approximately 4:30 in the afternoon.

Please keep in mind that this is a sample itinerary. The Maze is large and there are a number of routes we could take to explore different corners. The above is one possibility. We could also ride deeper into the Orange Cliffs Unit of the Glen Canyon Recreation Area, check out Cleopatra’s Couch and Panorama Point, and camp at the Bowdie Canyon Overlook, right above the Colorado River.