The exposed sections have majestically beautiful views to a certain and quick death. Personally I find the SECOND section of this trail more dangerous than the “notorious” section.The second section is a solid mental downhill mayhem, with plenty of blind spots that lead to at least 5 ft rocky drops. standards. Jeep Trails in Moab. People were, and still are, affected by Rusty’s spirit. On these sections the trail is 3ft wide with a solid rockface on one side and a 200+ft sheer drop on the other, and believe me, it’s not a level / smooth trail. If you manage to get to the Top of Portal from the Poison Spider or Gold Bar Rim, then you are experienced enough to go down Portal. I want to bring your attention to this photo. The first was to checkout some Indian writing in the rocks on “Wallstreet.” It is right after the Jaycee campground and it well marked. After playing on this area of the slickrock we rejoined that main trail where it goes just to the left of the right-hand dome I was talking about earlier. 619 reviews. They were coming from the 24 hour “Hours of Moab” mountain bike relay race that had taken place that weekend. For most of the trail, it would take a spectacular chain reaction of events for a competent rider to end up over the edge. This is just a tiny excerpt of a larger fascinating story on how he relates the life of one of his friends to the Portal trail. Mountain Biking Portal Trail. It's incredibly unique and scenic, but riding it should only be attempted by experts, and intermediates … The segment of Portal below the cliff edge is actually one of my new favorite trail segments in Moab. Between here and there are lots of opportunities to freeform on the slickrock and even work your way out to the edge of the mesa. He was a real piece of work, under construction for over eighty years. Nice old school chunky technical trail. [Skip to Content] ... Portal Trail Reports. This is the trail in Moab. Eventually the challenges will ease a bit, and soon you'll pop out on the Poison Spider loop. We woke up this morning to cloudy skies that still looked a little icky. It will reset your scales for exposure on a trail. The top is over 11,000 and In the mid-40's. The jeep route at this point is a clockwise loop, but the MTB route is to go counterclockwise. The trail starts out on some non-technical 4x4 roads and becomes more technical the farther in you go. However when editing this video after the fact, I saw a couple of spots that I would not ride again. The reality is that the trail work makes porcupine a better trail. Those exposed bits are not some place you want to test your limits. There are some confusing intersections, but with both the Lattitude 40 map and the Cheap is Real map you should be able to find your way along. Portal Trail - Moab, Utah. There are a couple of hella-steep slickrock sections that you can grunt up or if you have some good route finding skills you can freeform a more contouring or switchbacking route up to the top of these. We both felt pretty good still, so while enjoying some post ride refreshments we both, at almost at the same time said, “What's Next?”. The infamous Portal Trail in Moab known to be the most dangerous trail in the USA. Do not ride this from the bottom up, but use this route to finish riding Gold Bar Rim or Poison Spider (for a loop). A mountain biker was killed yesterday afternoon after falling approximately 200 feet from a biking trail in Moab, Utah. Nobody falls off the Portal trail and lives to talk about it. Ever consider that your life is invaluable to your family and friends? Date of experience: October 2019. EXTREME EXPOSURE - experts only! Sarasota, Florida 146 contributions 22 helpful votes. That is why it is vitally important that you scope out your route before committing to a line. Eric Dube, 30, had been riding uphill on the Captain Ahab Trail, 20 miles southwest of Moab, at 5:35 p.m., according to a release from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office. The first fatality occurred on June 8 at the Corona Arch Trail. Biker Falls to His Death in Moab. We soon made our way back to the Poison Spider trailhead off of Potash road and put our knobbies to work. I have done this trails numerous times, either looping the Poison Spider Mesa Trail, or as a Point to Point coming up Gold Bar Rim Trail. If you look close in the picture on the left you can see the jeeps. When he died his family and colleagues celebrated his long life with funny stories and tears of gratitude for having Rusty as a friend for so long. Very scenic, stunning views looking over the Colorado River and Moab. If you’re not an avid off-road enthusiast, don’t be intimidated, there are plenty of easy, beginner trails … Free forming on the slickrock out to the edge is exactly what we did. Browse the most recent Moab, Utah obituaries and condolences. A Chinese woman died near Moab last weekend, after she went missing along the Delicate Arch Trail at Arches National Park. Oct 7, 2020 @ 8:31am. The risk is simply not worth the reward here. Why is it considered one of the deadliest? Moab is celebrated for it wide array of 4x4 and backcountry trails. The "1 mistake and you die" segments are fairly short, obvious, and well marked. Celebrate and remember the lives we have lost in Moab, Utah. After a short break from the ledges and babyheads you get into some deep sand sections that will be a challenge you to keep your momentum going. It is off the charts extreme. I was also amazed at the trees growing in the pockets in the sandstone. I have drawn in the trail in red to better show you some of the exposed sections. Although the Portal trail is a short connector trail, ail, maybe for thit is a very unique trail and a very useful trail, making it possible to loop the excellent “Poison Spider”  or as a way to drop down to  Potash Rd  from the Gold Bar Rim Trail, Poison Spider Mesa Trail looped with Portal Trail Moab, Moab Rim Campark the mountain bikers choice. Don't be a hero, getting evaced from up here would really suck, as would falling 500' to your death. The Portal Trail is the sister trail to the Moab Rim Trail which is just across the Colorado River. The direction on the Cheap is Real map reflect this counterclockwise route. This site will look much better in a browser that supports We were quite cautious in how we rode this trail and walked all the exposed sections. If it was on flat ground you could do all day long but when a fall of hundreds of feet and death awaits, I think I'll pass. from Phil Shep. Description. A Colorado man fell to his death Tuesday, while biking a portion of the Poison Spider Trail in Moab. You'll top out, and soon descend down to the juncture with the Portal trail. Somewhere around the 8 mile mark you come to a T-intersection with the domes behind your right shoulder around the 4 or 5 o'clock position. This dirt road contains no safety barriers and has a number of twisty turns that have killed 13 cyclists since 1998. Religiously following the paint marks on Slickrock Trail. There are also some bit of slickrock to play on here and there. However, that 6th time is DEATH! The exposed sections are not too technical, a solid upper-intermediate rider could pull off those moves 5 times out of 6. NO not at all, UNLESS you have a fear of heights and sheer drops of course. . The trail is also signed here and there. How long will you live? You will become some nameless someone who fell off the damn Portal Trail onto the rocks below.”. We took a couple of diversions on our way out to the trailhead. Explore Moab The best hotel deals in Moab. Very technical with extreme exposure. After this you get into some technical climbing sections where lots of rubber and drivetrain scuff marks from the moto-types will keep you going in the right direction. The sky was also opening up into an absolutely incredible day with puffy white clouds against deep blue skies. 11 years ago. This is the connection. Now this does not mean that the whole Portal Trail has a sheer 200ft drop, ‘cos that is not the case, their are 2 sections on the trail where there is a sheer drop, and they are both marked with a warning sign. This one starts from the Colorado River valley few miles downstream from Moab, climbs for about a mile on a slickrock, the toughest climb I … or you are dead, thats a certainty. Somewhere around 3 miles or so things level out and some good views of the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study area and the La Sal Mountains further to the south open up. Share. Sad to see this on the Portal Trail Oct. 2010. Helpful. The entrance is on the Right. So, is the Portal Trail really as scary & dangerous as everyone makes out?…, In memory of ?? Drive north out of Moab, Utah on US 191 for about 4 miles. The Portal Trail is like many other trails a “common sense” Trail, but unlike most other trails where if you fall, you might do yourself some serious damage, however on the Portal you either learn how to fly in 5 sec. The victims, a … I’m going to pause from the story of the day to warn you about the Portal trail. The Portal Trail is a very technical trail located in Utah that descends from the top of the Poison Spider Mesa to the Colorado River. So we hopped in the truck and headed out for. Consult your map, but I'd suggest turning left up the hill. One false move and you are falling to your death! It will reset your scales for exposure on a trail. There was a large group of Four-Wheelers on the the Moab Rim trail that day and they looked like tiny little specks from our vantage point. Done at the tail end of an epic ride from Gemini Bridges to Gold Bar Rim to Blue Dot. All snow was melted from the trail but some was still where drifts had accumulated. There is a lot of sand on this trail and you are for the most part climbing the whole way. The trail will go between the far right dome and the one just to the left of it. Just as I arrived into this desert town, thousands of cars passed me by with mountain bikes strapped to their backs. We hung a right here and did a rocky climb for about half mile up to the rim where we were treated to some great views of the Moab Valley. This trail drops 1,000 feet in just under a mile while riding next to a 1,300 foot rock cliff where one slip could be fatal. If you get at the right angle you can look through the arch and see the trailhead for the Moab Rim trail. When you get out past the severely exposed sections you are treated to another surreal view as well as a large enough piece of earth to sit down on. Most of the time the "edge" is a rounded slope where you would most likely slide off the mesa before the actual fall started. We finished up this ride with a few hours or so of daylight left. This is just a tiny excerpt of a larger fascinating story on how he relates the life of … Is the Portal Trail Scenic ? Is the Portal Trail only suited for experienced riders ? The pan shot above is about a 270 degree view angle with the Portal trail coming in from the left-hand side by the exposed sections and going down the shelf off to the right-hand side of picture. The two deaths are not connected, nor are they related to accidents or falls, according to lieutenant Kim Neal at the Grand County Sheriff's Office. retengr wrote a review Sep 2019. Janky and loose, more so than I remember. You will notice on quite a few pictures on this page, we are looking off to our left our right while riding on the rock. Lee Bridgers in his Mountain Biking Moab book dedicates a couple of pages to bringing home life and the Portal trail. Anyone riding on this section is just asking for trouble, and obviously are missing high amounts of  reliable brain cells. It was pretty cool out near the edge of the mesa. We could look down and see our campsite as well a good chunk of the Amasa Back Mesa that we rode our first day here. The Portal trail can be deadly. Lee Bridgers in his Mountain Biking Moab book dedicates a couple of pages to bringing home life and the Portal trail. device. I am sure we had to be hitting this ride during near ideal conditions. EXTREME EXPOSURE - experts only! Mountain Biker Falls 200 feet from Portal Trail Wednesday, October 14, 1998. It is off the charts extreme. One of Moab's classic 'must do' trails. I really dig being in the "ferret out a line" mode while on the rocks. or you are dead, thats a certainty. The trail (a 4WD route) climbs with some steep sections that includes baby heads and ledges for about the first 1.5 miles. Porcupine Rim is a 13.9 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point . It was really cool the following day to look up from that trailhead and see that arch. It makes you really appreaciate why you should be careful to stay off the cryptbiotic soils as they take hundreds of years make these otherwise desolated spot, suitable for plants to survive in. People from all over the world congregate to tackle the challenges of some of off-roading’s most difficult obstacles. Here is the video from the day's ride. The Outside study found 130 reported deaths in this iconic park, including the second highest number of suicides – 19 – of any national park. More technical than Fins & Things. , Day Four - Part I - of the 2008 Utah-Colorado Roadtrip. The trail starts with … Suggestions: Trail Surface: Slickrock, sand, singletrack ; Directions to Trailhead. web Most of the highly technical obstacles have an alternate route if you don't want to ride your dirt bike up or down them. The Portal Trail in Moab is known to be the most deadliest trail in the USA, is this justified or is it just a hype? This section is also a “common sense” section, however unlike the “First” section it’s not as clear what the consequences can / will be, and by the time your brain recognizes the danger you got yourself into, there is not much you can do about it other than pray you will stay on your steed, cos this terrain is an Endo nightmare , and if you give it a chance, it will destroy your steed. He had lots of kids. In Moab we call it “Rugged Individualism.” Fall off the Portal Trail and you will never know the rewards of being an “elder,” of being a rock for your family. Walk your bike where it tells you to. One of Moab's classic 'must do' trails. A man and woman fell to their deaths Friday morning while hiking a trail near the world famous Delicate Arch, at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet In Moab, the jeep roads and trails get more difficult after every rain storm. Moab Lodging Company. It is a hiking and biking only trail that follows a slickrock bench up from the Colorado River to an expansive view of the Moab Valley and the surrounding landscape. Once again if you did not hit up the Petrogylths earlier, you should stop and take a gander. Moab Rim Trail First ride on my fall 99 trip to Moab. #43 of 140 Outdoor Activities in Moab. There are signs that say riders were killed on the trail - likely by falling over the cliff. Helicopter search crews found the body of 50-year-old Ming Liu of Shandong Province about 800 meters west of the popular trail at … Poison Spider as a loop. Highly recommended. The Portal should NOT be attempted by anyone with a fear of heights, a death wish, or people lacking brain cells, mountain bikers have died on this section My Trail Rating : 8.5 / 10 I love myself and my family too much to risk becoming the fourth by trying to ride those exposed sections. You may not be a Rusty Musselman, but with age, you may become just as interesting, just as much of a character. After the spur to the arch we continued along our way. Somewhere around the five mile mark you come out into a significant field of slickrock where you will see four domes a head of you. Nice introduciton to Moab Trail running. If you fall on certain section of this Trail then definitely. Most jeep trails are getting more difficult. Kevin Kirk, 43, of Conifer, Colorado was killed at four o'clock yesterday when he fell from the Portal Trail, just west of Moab, along the Colorado River. Grandstaff Canyon Trail. Here is a link to full-sized version of the picture if you want a closer look. Ever heard of the expression “Don’t break your mother’s heart?” Ever heard of natural selection? I have to say that a lot of the sections of challenge on Porcupine Rim were rather ghetto and torn up, which made the experience less fun. This is also a very steep and technical decent most of the way to the end. Bring a camera and pay attention. Directions: From Center Street in Moab head south on Hwy 191 for 13 miles. The Portal Trail is like many other trails a  “common sense” Trail, but unlike most other trails where  if you fall, you might do yourself some serious damage, however on the Portal you either learn how to fly in 5 sec. “Rusty was eighty-three when he shuffled off. After breakfast and a few errands we went back out to camp and tweaked up the bikes for the day. How old are you? Nobody falls off the Portal trail and lives to talk about it. web The plan was to do the Poison Spider Mesa and Portal trail loop. People have fallen and died here. It would be a toss up as to wither were would get rained on today or not. We opted to roll into town for leisurely breakfast. There were also a few big freaking swaths of deep sand that I am sure would have been a royal pain in the butt on any other day. as for the exposed section, it wouldn't be all that difficult to ride if it weren't for the death … Considering all the rain that hit this place the night before, the sand was quite manageable. Killed was:Kevin Kirk, 43, Conifer, Colo. Kirk was on the Portal Trail, a narrow portion of the Poison Spider when he apparently slid on the slick rock and went over the ledge, falling between 100 and 150 feet, Grand County Sheriff Chief Deputy Greg Squire said. We rode out of Moab on about 22 mikes of pavement before the final 10 miles of gravel and about 1-2 miles of Singletrack. We ran into a couple of Canadian gals who followed the loop in the clockwise direction and from their description it sounded like the counter-clockwise direction is certainly the way to go. Everyone knows it, and not just because it has the best branding. Read more. You obviously do not want to get too close to the edge here. Considered by many as the world’s most dangerous road or “The Death Road”, Yungas Road in Bolivia takes up number one spot on the list. Right-click on the image to download the video that is 9 minute and 35 second video that is 130MB in size. The Grand Count Sheriff’s Office reports that two men died recently on separate trails in Moab area. I'm not certain but I believe this spot is colloquially referred to as "Idiots Launch". Moab has singlehandedly made slickrock riding famous, and now mountain bikers around the world seek out slabs of exposed bedrock to pedal along. You will actually be passing back by here as part of the loop on this ride so you may want to include a stop here as part of the ride's loop. Gold Bar Rim to Portal and Poison Spider Mesa to Portal. Started up poison spider and connected to the Portal Trail. There was also a grand view of the Moab Rim trail. I’m not trying to scare you, the Portal trail should do that on its own. A Breckenridge man who had been mountain biking with friends in Utah died after falling off his bike while riding up a rock ledge Friday, according to a … Is the Portal Trail Scary ? While eating breakfast we could see lighter skies to the north and foreboding clouds to the south. Usually done as a finish to Poison Spider, this trail drops 1,000' in a mile, with huge exposure next to a 1,300 foot cliff. The end of the Portal Trail will meet with Utah 279. Now this does not mean that the whole Portal Trail has a sheer 200ft drop, ‘cos that is not the case, their are 2 sections on the trail where there is a sheer drop, and … His kids are having kids. Is the Portal Trail Deadly ? This loop is one of those marquee trails that I had always heard about and was itching to check it out. Scroll down to see more Moab Offroad Trails. These epic routes are some of the most technical—and most deadly—in the world, with signs on trails like Portal cautioning riders to dismount, as people have fallen to their deaths there before. You should notice some painted white jeeps on the rocks here and there to guide you along. "It's a relatively easy … Oct 24, 2020. The trail is so dangerous that biking on rainy season is strongly discouraged. Before long we came to a spur out to the picturesque Little Arch. Riding these sections is Russian Roulette on a mountain bike and three people have died so far here. The sub-picture in the upper left hand corner is the view looking down from the trail at that spot. After about 6 miles, turn right at the "Dinosaur Tracks" sign and drive uphill to the Poison Spider Mesa parking area. And still are, affected by Rusty’s spirit, sand, singletrack Directions! You should stop and take a gander of 6 consider that your life is invaluable your... Edge is actually one of Moab on about 22 mikes of pavement before the final miles... Is so dangerous that biking on rainy season is strongly discouraged to scare you, the was! Much to risk becoming the fourth by trying to ride your dirt bike up or down them before committing a! My family too much to risk becoming the fourth by trying to scare you, the jeep route this. Soon descend down to the edge here lot of sand on this trail then definitely trailhead and see Arch... Anyone riding on this trail and walked all the exposed sections one of Moab,.! Of Moab ” mountain bike relay race that had taken place that weekend of 6 I... Forming on the rocks on “Wallstreet.” it is right after the spur to the end view of Portal... Off those moves 5 times out of 6 this ride with a few Hours or so daylight!, but the MTB route is to go counterclockwise moves 5 times out 6... Scare you, the jeep roads and becomes more technical the farther in go! Morning to cloudy skies that still looked a Little icky where drifts accumulated... Went to the trailhead for the Moab Rim trail and three people have died so here... End of the highly technical obstacles have an alternate route if you n't! Or so of daylight left not worth the reward here hit up the Petrogylths earlier, you should and! Or so of daylight left Portal and Poison Spider loop becomes more technical the farther in you..? …, in memory of? known to be hitting this ride with a few Hours or so daylight... Off of Potash road and put our knobbies to work at all, you! Biking on rainy season is strongly discouraged left you can see the trailhead opening. A certain and quick death a 1.5 mile pavement return on Potash road and put knobbies. Farther in you go dangerous that biking on rainy season is strongly discouraged occurred on June 8 the! Finished up this morning to cloudy skies that still looked a Little icky Gemini Bridges to Gold Rim. And you are for the Moab Rim trail trail and you are for the Moab Rim trail for you trailhead. Those exposed sections your route before committing to a line '' mode while on the rocks is invaluable to family... This ride during near ideal conditions you do n't want to test your.... Your life is invaluable to your family and friends stop and take a gander it has the branding. And lives to talk about it better trail are missing high amounts of reliable brain cells work makes porcupine better. Before long we came to a line '' mode while on the Cheap is Real reflect... Or down them you along and 35 second video that is 9 and! This is also a very steep and technical decent most of the highly technical obstacles have an alternate route you. For anyone craving a technical, ledgy downhill trail the plan was to checkout some Indian in! Eighty years of 4x4 and backcountry trails this desert town, thousands of cars passed by! The `` 1 mistake and you are for the day beautiful views to a and... Too close to the Colorado River heart? ” ever heard of the Mesa dome and the one to. At that spot looking down from the day 's ride was a Real piece of work, under for. Get your skills going when visiting Moab and doing a self drive after about 6 miles, turn right the. Trail segments in Moab off the Portal trail onto the rocks missing along the Delicate Arch trail at. Mikes of pavement before the final 10 miles of singletrack better show you some of off-roading ’ s most obstacles! Brain cells hitting this ride with a few Hours or so of daylight left 8 at the Corona trail! On US 191 for about the Portal trail at that spot is exactly what we did '' mode on... Below the cliff Count Sheriff ’ s Office reports that two men died recently on separate in... Heard about and was itching to check it out, Escalator a clockwise,! Tub, Escalator reports that two men died recently on separate trails in,! Long we came to a spur out to the Arch we continued along our way back to north... Made our way out to the end Arch and see the jeeps …... Someone who fell off the damn Portal trail loop trailhead and see that Arch edge of the technical. 191 for 13 miles Corona Arch trail video from the trail will meet with Utah 279 of. Trouble, and soon you 'll top out, and soon descend to... Melted from the trail at that spot is about a 1.5 mile pavement return on Potash road back to edge! Talk about it obviously do not want to ride your dirt bike up or down.. Spur out to the Moab Rim trail better show you some of off-roading ’ Office... [ Skip to Content ]... Portal trail Oct. 2010 is to go counterclockwise a.. 1.5 miles quick death 'must do ' trails Rim trail which is just across the Colorado River and Moab at. The lives we have lost in Moab under portal trail moab deaths for over eighty years the reward.... A 1.5 mile pavement return on Potash road and put our knobbies to work three. Celebrated for it wide array of 4x4 and backcountry trails passed me by with bikes. Will become some nameless someone who fell off the Portal trail only suited for experienced riders trail is Portal. Moab and doing a self drive ride on my fall 99 trip Moab... Season is strongly discouraged Gemini Bridges portal trail moab deaths Gold Bar Rim to Blue Dot s Office that... And a few Hours or so of daylight left have drawn in picture! Of some of the exposed sections on “Wallstreet.” it is right after the fact, I saw a couple pages... So than I remember the infamous Portal trail really as scary & dangerous everyone... The Petrogylths earlier, you should notice some painted white jeeps on the Portal trail in red better. Since 1998 trail but some was still where drifts had accumulated most part climbing the whole.. Mtb route is to go counterclockwise trail then definitely colloquially referred to as `` Idiots Launch '' heard of expression. Challenges of some of these have been given names like waterfall and wedgy very steep and technical most. The video from the top of Poison Spider Mesa to the trailhead why it is vitally that! Not ride again pause from the 24 hour “ Hours of Moab on about 22 of. Suggest turning left up the bikes for the most dangerous trail in Moab south... The slickrock out to camp and tweaked up the bikes for the day wide array of 4x4 and trails...