The Pack Creek Road and Gravel Cycling Route in Moab, Utah is one of the most enjoyable road or gravel cycling routes in the area. For this version of the route, we left directly from Moab Adventure Condo vacation rental on Spanish Valley Road. If you wanted to extend your ride, you could start from downtown and include the Mill Creek Bike Path. The ride is due south through the wide Spanish Valley just south of Moab and to the base of the La Sal Mountains.
To your right, you've got the massive walls of the Moab Rim, and on your left, you can check out the Sands Flats Recreation area with the La Sal Mountains in the background. If you happen to be riding in the spring, you might catch the La Sals with some snow on top. Most folks think of Utah mountains as the ski spots near Salt Lake City, but the La Sal Mountains are actually the state's second-highest range, with a bunch of peaks over 12,000 feet. Oh, and there was this one house on Spanish Valley Drive that had a huge ant problem.
Most people who visit Moab only know to go to National Parks, if they only knew what they were missing! Moab is a hidden gem for cyclists if you know to leave the parks and the crowds behind. Routes like the ride to Pack Creek are mostly car-free. Once you ride a few miles south of town you will feel as if you have the entire road to yourself. This ride is especially pleasant in the spring when there are few activities available in the La Sal Mountains due to the snow pack. With few cars heading for the mountains, there will be almost no vehicle traffic along the route.
The Pack Creek route has a gentle climb that you will barely notice while on your bike. If you're driving, you might not even realize you're going uphill. Even though the climb is over 1000 feet, it can sneak up on you, even when you're on a bike. If you're soaking in the views and not watching your speed, you probably won't even feel the climb. The route to Pack Creek actually has several different options. If you are looking for some serious climbing, all you have to do is bypass Pack Creek and continue on La Sal Loop Road. Just past this sign, the road turns straight up onto a climb known as Big Nasty. However, we turned right and headed to the small community of Pack Creek.
The community of Pack Creek consists of a few dozen small homes nestled around an irrigated area. The place really is an oasis in the desert.
The area was once the home of Desert Abbey, the author of Desert Solitude, the most famous book about the American Southwest. The book follows Abby's adventures as a park ranger, explorer, and cowboy in the Moab area. Many of the streets here reference his books. Luckily the homes were spared from damage during the Pack Creek Forest Fire.
Just past the small community, you will reach the end of the pavement and the end of your adventure if you are on a road bike. However, if you are on a gravel bike, the gentle grade continues for about 2 more miles. This is my favorite part of the ride as you ride through large cottonwood trees along Pack Creek Stream. I would recommend turning around at the Pack Creek Picnic area. Unfortunately, this area was the ignition point of the Pack Creek Fire and sustained a lot of damage.
Now for the best part of the ride, if you have someone to draft from you can literally coast all the way back to Moab Adventure Condo. You might even coast most of the way back to Moab if you wanted to.
If are looking for a super challenge you can continue to climb. Once past the picnic area, the road changes its name to La Sal Pass. This road is very technical and steep. I doubt you could get very far on a gravel bike but with a mountain bike, you could easily continue all the way to La Sal Pass at approximately 10,150 feet.
If climbing is your thing, you may want to check out the 7500-foot M.O.A.B. Climb.
If Links to the Pack Creek route on Strava Extreme head wind 💨 | Ride | Strava
Big Nasty Road Climb Big Nasty to Geyser Pass Turn Off | Ride | Strava
If you are considering a Moab bike adventure we would recommend checking out the townhomes at Moab Adventure Condo. We stayed with them and it was so nice to have room to relax and not be stuck in a cramped hotel room. They also had large double garages so we could securely store our bikes at night out of our bedroom. Most of their condos have bike repair stands and tools to keep your bike in working order while on your trip.
Comments