Dino Flow and Jasper Loop

This loop is the friendly side of Klondike Bluffs. The riding area north of the Moab airport is best known for slickrock climbs like Baby Steps and Mega Steps, but the north end has a different personality. Dino Flow runs along the base of the escarpment on hard packed dirt with small rollers over washes and rock ribs, and the Agate and Jasper loops just west of it are gentle, well signed singletrack in low rolling terrain.

Linking Dino Flow with the Jasper loop and the Midline connector makes a loop of roughly 6 miles that suits confident beginners and anyone who wants a fast, fun warm up without the punishment of the harder Klondike trails. Dino Flow carries most of the elevation change, and none of it is steep. The Jasper section winds along a conglomerate ledge past fields of red jasper stone that gave the trail its name. Midline follows an old doubletrack and is quick and smooth, so the finish goes by fast.

The area is open and exposed with almost no shade. Spring and fall are prime. Summer rides should start early, and the dirt here turns to sticky clay after rain, so give it a day or two to dry.

From Moab, drive north on US 191. Continue past the airport and watch for the Northern Klondike sign on the east side of the highway about 5 miles north of the airport turnoff, or 8.5 miles south of I-70. Turn east onto the graded dirt Dinosaur Tracks road. At 1 mile a smaller road forks right to the Agate and Jasper parking area, and the main road continues 2 miles to the Dinosaur Tracks parking area at the north end of Dino Flow. The Dinosaur Tracks lot has a pit toilet and a short walk to a real dinosaur trackway. No water at either lot.

Trails in this area are well signed at every junction, and Dino Flow is marked with purple paint where it crosses rock.

Start on Dino Flow heading south from the trailhead. The trail hugs the bottom of the bluff and rolls constantly through small washes and over low rock ribs. It is never technical, but the dips reward a little speed. There is one tight switchback that many riders walk. Along the way Dino Flow crosses several connectors that climb toward Baby Steps and Mega Steps. Ignore those and stay on the purple line.

When you reach the signed junction for the Jasper side of the system, leave Dino Flow and cross west over Copper Ridge Road toward the Jasper loop. Ride the Jasper loop, which winds along the edge of the conglomerate layer and then flattens out below the hills. Jasper East is the firmer half. From Jasper pick up the Midline connector and follow it north on old doubletrack back through the Agate area to the trailhead. Total distance is about 6 miles with around 450 feet of rolling climb.

Add-on: riding both Agate and Jasper as a figure eight from the Agate and Jasper lot is about 4 miles and works well for kids and true beginners. Rock collecting is prohibited here, so leave the jasper and agate where you find them.