Dreams Of A White Rim Overnighter.
I first visited Canyonlands in April of 2017 during a trip to Moab, shortly after moving to Denver. Immediately I was struck, stunned, and felt gravity pulling me towards this incredible and ancient place. I looked down on the Shafer trail and thought to myself "this is a road? Can you ride your bike on it?". Yeah, you can ride your bike on it. The White Rim Road is a 100 mile loop that travels through the Island In The Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. It's rugged, exposed to the elements, and breathtakingly beautiful. Ever since that day in 2017 I've wanted to ride this. I'm not interested in riding it fast and firmly believe one should take as much time as possible to soak it all in.
Looking ahead to 2025 I'm planning my White Rim overnighter. In fact, I'm planning a lot of adventures in Canyonlands in 2025 including biking most of the major roads within Island Of The Sky and the Needles District, but that is not what this post is about. I'll tackle the White Rim in two days and plan to cover 50-60 miles on day one and the remaining miles the following day. Traveling from my home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, I should be able to complete this with minimal impact to my work schedule.
Logistics of the ride aren't too difficult but water is of course the main issue. There isn't any. There are some access points to the river such as at Mineral Bottom, but the water is so silty it is incredibly difficult to filter without letting it settle for a long time. It's best to either do this ride in a day or in two days as any longer than that and you'd have to carry a ridiculous amount of water.
I'll ride my Priority 600HXT Hardtail
My bike of choice for this endeavor is not the Salsa Cutthroat, as much as I love that bike. I'll take my belt driven hard tail to deal with the gnarly terrain this road throws at you. Although it's a touch on the heavy side not having to deal with drivetrain maintenance on a ride like this is a blessing.
My gear loadout
While I'm still considering exactly how I'll pack for this I've got my basic set up listed here.
Tent - TarpTent Aeon Li - a 17oz one person shelter
I've thought about the perfect shelter for bikepacking and I believe I have found it with this tent. Weight is minimal, it requires a single pole, it's incredibly storm worthy, and best of all it will fit into the tightest of spaces.
Sleeping bag - Western Mountaineering Flylite - 14oz 35 degree down bag
While people seem all in on quilts I simply prefer to use a fully enclose bag. This bag is lighter than most quilts i've had and should lead to a great nights sleep. Western Mountaineering makes the best sleeping bags on the market.
Western Mountaineering Flylite
An incredibly lightweight down bag for warmer weather adventures
Sleeping pad - Thermarest Neoair Xlite MAX
Comfort, lightweight, and a high R value make this sleeping pad the top pick for just about any adventure where conditions can be highly variable. I'm going with the long and wide version of this pad because I'm tired of tossing and turning and falling off my pad.
Stove - I'm going stoveless for this trip
I've decided to go stoveless for just about all of my adventures. I have refused this decision in the past because I'm a huge coffee drinker and you really need a stove to make coffee, until now. Recently my wife discovered NoNormal Coffee which comes in paste form. You can add it to cold water or spread it on food. I'll plan to spread it on my morning peanut butter tortilla wrap. This means I can pack less water because I don't need it to cook with and I've not just lightened my setup I've got more room! For snacks!
Pack - Blackdiamond Equipment Distance 15
I've had this pack in my gear arsenal for quite some time and I believe it to be the best pack for an overnight bikepacking trip. I can pack three liters of water in the main pack body along with light clothing layers, snacks and electrolytes in the chest harness, and my single tent pole in one of the side sleeves.
I haven't decided on what bikepacking bags I'll run but it will likely be the Osprey Escapist series. I do like the style and weatherproofness of the system. Plus, I have the handlebar bag and the seatbag, so there ya go. I'll likely need a custom framebag built for the Priority because of the odd frame shape, but that's alright. I am excited to get my permit and hit the road after all these years of dreaming about it.
Canyonlands National Park is an extremely special place to me and any time I get to spend there is a gift. If you're planning a visit I'd encourage you to do so and to do so in an unrushed manner. There is a lot to see. Most importantly, do not tread on cryptobiotic soil. It is what keeps this landscape together.
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