If you're moving out of California, the first location pick usually isn't Utah, but it was mine. After almost 25 years, I'm still glad I did.
As far as I can tell, Utah is not a hot bed for motorcycle activity, except for the FIM Super Bike series which is here this weekend. (It just happened to be the third largest motor sports event in the world. Only Formula 1 and Moto GP being bigger.) No big rallies or high profile builders with television or film crews hovering around. It's quiet here and I like that.
Maybe the winters have something to do with the level of motorcycle activity. And this year it seems like winter just won't quit! Skiing and snowmobiling make more sense up here in the north. But down south in the desert you get more days with somewhat warmer temps and fewer snow days. This and the fact that there is an extensive system of trails for riding that is amazing in Utah and the other three states that make up the four corner region. Now I'm finding out first hand.
Soooo, I just picked up my first dirt bike in many years, a Honda XR650R with a Baja lighting kit and DOT tires to make it street legal. This is necessary in order to ride trails in National Parks and to connect dirt roads and trails with short jaunts on public roads to create epic rides. Add a desert tank, a hydration pack with food and water, tools and a few spare parts and your on your way. Riding with some other people isn't a bad idea either. With all of this in place, I was more than excited to get out and ride some dirt again!
Moab is Utah's main hub for trails for both mt. bikers and motorcycles. Three of the Utah's most famous trails are located in this region. The Slick Rock, Porcupine Rim and the White Rim Trails. Both Slick Rock and Porcupine where developed by motorcyclists, but they are no longer allowed to use it. Just a little ironic if you ask me.
The third trail is the White Rim. It was developed by time and the elements. After softer layers of sediment where washed away by the Green and Colorado rivers, all that left was a very thin but very hard layer of White Rim sandstone sitting on top of the Cutler Foundation forming a natural ledge. All of this started just a mere 225 million years ago. Good things take time.
Jump ahead to the early 1950s when uranium was discovered in the area. This ledge proved to be a perfect location for a road used by miners to access the different uranium mines in the area. But after only a few years other uranium deposits where discovered with much easier access leaving the White Rim to itself again. Thankfully plans to pave it never materialized.
The WTR was my first pick because you can get out and ride one hundred miles or more in a day depending on where you choose to start and finish. Somehow, I got hooked up with a bunch BMW riders on GS models (dual sport) and one Kawasaki rider. And they all worked at BMW of Salt Lake, or at least most of them. Some road down from SLC and the rest of us unloaded our bikes at the 191 and 313 junction. Then off we went.
We rode 313 to Mineral Basin road which was the beginning of dirt road and jeep trails that make up the WRT. I took photos when I could, but was having so much fun that I hated to stop. Of course some deep sand and a rock ledge helped me stop in a hurry a couple of times. The BMW riders blew my mind on how well they did with there bigger bikes, can you say 1200 cc GS with 7 gallons of fuel?
Here are some links you might enjoy looking at in addition to the photo's of mine posted here.
1) www.dgrin.com
2)www.sundaymorningrides.com
3)www.earthromer.com
Or just google white rim trail.
One more thing, I loaded up my truck and headed for home at the end of the day. The next morning I went out to unload my truck and it was snowing again. May 24th. I really hope winter is over.
–Mark Shubin
