Grand Junction to Moab Routes
One of the most common questions that I am asked is to recommend a route off the pavement to get from Grand Junction to Moab. I have decided to put together this little post with information about all of the routes that I am familiar with.
Gateway-Castleton Road
This route is the quickest and easiest way to get to Moab from Grand Junction. About half the route is paved and the other half is off-pavement. The start of this route follows the Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway (Colorado 141) to Gateway and then follows the Gateway-Castleton Road the rest of the way.
Kokopelli 4×4 Trail
The Kokopelli Trail created by COPMOBA in 1989 has long been a popular route to mountain bike from Grand Junction to Moab. In the past few years, off-road enthusiasts looking for an alternate route to Moab have began following the Kokopelli Trail as well. I worked with a group from ExpeditionUtah to map out what we believe is the most accurate route that follows the bike trail as closely as possible.
Dolores Triangle Route
Another route that has recently gained a lot of interest is the Dolores Triangle Route. This route heads out of the Colorado National Monument and across the remote Dolores Triangle region. One issue with this route is that the Dolores River needs to be crossed to make it to Moab so it is only drivable by most vehicles in the late summer and the fall.
Sheep Creek Route
An alternate option to the Dolores Triangle Route above during the spring and early summer is the Sheep Creek Route. This one starts out the same way, but instead of heading towards the Dolores River crossing, it turns towards Gateway and descends the steep and narrow Sheep Creek switchbacks. It is possible that these switchbacks could be washed out and not drivable (they were repaired in early 2009) so make sure to do your research ahead of time. Once you reach Gateway, you will follow the Gateway-Castleton Road towards Moab.
If you have any comments, suggestions or questions please feel free to post them below.
This page last updated on: 12/19/09