Western Network: Kokopelli, Tabeguache, Paradox

Five western Colorado towns and cities are connected by 380 miles of adventurous, marked and mapped mountain bike trails.

The trails, spearheaded by the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association in conjunction with federal agencies such as the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, offer whatever the mountain biking enthusiast seeks.

Kokopelli's Trail
Kokopelli's Trail is a 140-mile arduous and breath-taking route that follows the Colorado River, sort of, from the Loma Boat Launch near Fruita, Colo., to Moab, Utah.

The trail follows everything from single-track to two-wheel-drive dirt roads through 350 million-year-old desert sandstone and shale canyons.

The trail is marked by brown fiberglass posts about every half-mile and at intersections.

Most of the trail is on remote, unpatrolled bureau land. Therefore, users should be cautious, personally responsible and self-sufficient.

The elevation ranges from 4,500 feet at Loma to 8,100 feet near Beaver Mesa

Typically, there is no water available on the trail.

Tabeguache Trail
This is a 142-mile trail that follows the Uncompahgre Plateau between Montrose and Grand Junction. The trail is a mixture of public and private property, so bikers are encouraged to protect private property rights by closing gates, being watchful of livestock and camping only in approved campgrounds.

The trail begins in Shavano Valley, 8 miles west of Montrose, and ends in No Thoroughfare Canyon between Grand Junction and the Colorado National Monument.

Topographical maps and a compass are strongly recommended by the state mountain biking association, even though this trail is also marked by brown fiberglass posts every half mile and at intersections.

Water can be found in most of the drainages and established campgrounds along the trial, but it should be filtered or treated before use.

Paradox Trail
This trail links Tabeguache Trail with Kokopelli's Trail in Moab. Most of its 100 miles follow existing Jeep and country roads, and are accessible from May through November.

This trail is marked every mile and at key intersections with brown, carsonite posts with the Paradox Trail emblem. Use of topographical maps and a compass is strongly recommended. Drinking water is not found on the trail but in most of the drainages. Proper treatment is recommended.

The trail can be accessed on the Uncompahgre Plateau, where it joins the Tabeguache Trail, or on the Manti-La Sal's, where it joins the Kokopelli run into Moab. The trail runs trough Bedrock, Paradox, and an alternate section allows riders to go into Nucla to resupply.

All these trails are marked in sections, with many accessible at either end by support vehicles.

The biking organization has put together detailed maps of each trail and the many offshoots and loop trails with them. These maps are free at most bike shops in western Colorado and Moab.

Topographical maps can be obtained from Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service offices in Grand Junction, Montrose and Moab. There is a forest service office in Norwood as well.