The West’s one-stop, multi-activity Moab Adventure Center offers a myriad of outdoor and cultural explorations into the epicenter of backcountry adventuring surrounding Moab, Utah. No longer a closely held secret getaway for fat tire enthusiasts, beginning mountain bikers too can enjoy easily accessible Native American rock art sites and mountain bike trails perfect for the first-timer.

Moab Adventure Center http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/ that has garnered the Best of State (Utah) Award for Adventure for seven consecutive years shares its Top 5 mountain bike trails for beginners along with their Top 5 favorite Native American rock art sites, many located minutes from downtown Moab.

“It doesn’t get much better than a day of mountain biking in Moab and exploring in the red rock landscapes of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks,” said Brandon Lake, co-founder of Moab Adventure Center. “Moab’s unique combination of small resort town hospitality, beautiful scenery and the cool waters of the Colorado River have made it one of the most sought after destinations in all of the southwest.”


Bikers can stop by Moab Adventure Center (MAC) for last minute supplies and directions before heading out on trails ranging from one plus to nearly 14 miles. When asked, the experts at Moab Adventure Center list the following as their Top 5 rides for beginners:

• The 1.1-mile Intrepid Trail Loop in Dead Horse Point State Park is one of the few dirt single-track systems recommend for families with younger children. Another easy ride, also part of this particular loop system is the 4.2-mile Great Pyramid Loop for riders with some experience at shifting on dirt trails. The 9-mile Big Chief Loop ties the two together with a few white-knuckle challenges but most of the trail can be ridden with a single-gear bike. http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/dead-horse-pt.htm
• The 7.9-mile Bar M/Courthouse Loop is a fairly easy ride technically with an elevation change of about 300 ft. Many families ride this trail, including baby trailers and trail-a-bikes. http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/trips/biking/courthouse.php
• The 13.5-mile Gemini Bridges Downhill is a popular warm-up ride for locals due to its dramatic scenery and long descents along a decent dirt and gravel road.

For more information on guided Moab Mountain Biking on some of these and other mountain bike trails in Moab visit the following link: http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/trips/biking/


Thousands of years ago ancient peoples left their own marks on the cliffs and canyon walls of Utah. Here’s a list of the best sites found in and around Moab as recommended by the staff of Moab Adventure Center:

• Look for the Potash Road petroglyph panels on blackened, sheer cliff faces along Potash Road on the north side of the Colorado River just out of town. Another close site, the Kane Creek Panels beyond the mouth of Moon Flower Canyon expose ancient figures, desert bighorn sheep and a number of abstract shapes. A short distance farther are more panels with bighorn sheep, snakes and human forms.
• South on Rt. 191 toward the entrance of Canyonlands NP is Newspaper Rock, one of the finest rock art displays in the West with a 200-square-foot area of extremely dense Native American petroglyphs created by several ancient cultures beginning some 1,500 years ago. The drawings consist of animals, human figures and many inexplicable symbols.
• Poison Spider Panel near the Poison Spider Mesa Trailhead and the Great Gallery complete the Top 5. Great Gallery comes with a challenging 6.5-mile round-trip hike into Horseshoe Canyon (part of Canyonlands National Park). Here humanoid forms, some undoubtedly gods or great ones, stand 10-feet tall with animals and special symbols incorporated into their robes. http://www.discovermoab.com/rockart.htm

At the Moab Adventure Center, “We make it easy to plan a simple 2-hour off-road safari or an entire week filled with adventure, all with the assurance that you’ll have the time of your life,” said Lake. Available activities include river rafting, canyoneering, mountain biking, hiking, 4x4 off-road exploring and hot air ballooning.

As a special 2011 season incentive to package a variety of experiences together, the Moab Adventure Center is offering a 10% savings on each activity when combining three or more adventures together. See: http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/trips/

Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/) is a division of Western River Expeditions ( http://www.westernriver.com/), an adventure travel company (celebrating its 50th year) headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. The company is the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT. Its programs are available from March through October.

Established in 2004, Moab Adventure Center serves active travelers with half, full, and multi-day adventure programs including Moab rafting, Hummer safaris, Arches National Park Tours, canyoneering, Moab mountain biking, Colorado River jet boat tours, horseback riding and hot air balloon rides. In addition to activities, the Adventure Center also offers Moab lodging and Jeep rentals as well as complete Moab vacation packages.

The Moab Adventure Center is located at 225 South Main Street, Moab, Utah 84532. For information and reservations please call (435) 259-7019 or (866) 904-1163 or send an email from http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/contact/.