Continuing on my plan of one bikepacking trip every month for the year I got out for a banger of a trip this weekend in Canyonrims Recreation Area. This was a loop of about 40 miles up Cottonwood Canyon, a side trip and down Bridger Jack Mesa.
The climb up Cottonwood Canyon was a cruise on fairly good gravel for about 18 miles. You can go straight to Salt Canyon overlook or cut right and go down Bridger Jack Mesa. This turn is easy to miss, it looks like a random pull out, but it goes! On the maps (Latitude40 and FA Barnes) it warns that it is not meant for full size jeeps, it does get skinny and have some pseudo exposure. I’d hate to drive parts of it.
Camping on the top ledge of a canyon? Yeah that was alright.
So it was April 25th in the desert and it snowed. Yup it snowed at 6400′. It didn’t stick and it made the trail tacky. But it was a COLD start. I was wearing all of my layers around camp.
The trail hugs the side of Bridger Jack Mesa and was an absolute riot on my Moots Frosthammer with 29×3″ tires. Levi on his 700 x 42c was doing great until he wasn’t.
Then the flats started. Levi ripped a tire. Then he tore a valve stem. I spun ahead and got my jeep and cruised back to pick him up.
This was a great overnighter, a bit of adventure trying to pick out a route and then going for it. I would recommend a mountain bike with bigger tires in case of sand. Oh and top off your Stan’s sealant before you head out. You can extend this by staying on Cottonwood Canyon and heading up in to Ruin Park or the Abajos. But it was great and I’ll probably do it again soon.