Tip! Beginner mountain biking skills will quickly progress from the basics, such as getting to know your pedals. Practice will soon give you the confidence to start taking your foot on and off the pedals while pedaling.

Utah mountain biking offers some of the best rides anywhere. In fact, there are those who say that Utah is quickly becoming the mountain biking ‘capital of the world’, with a number of world famous trails. Perhaps it’s time to get out there and see for yourself…

Some of the more famous rides are of course Slick Rock Bike Trail, and White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park in the Moab area, but there are many other rides to explore.

The Moab area alone offers a staggering number and variety of Utah mountain biking trails, such as Poison Spider, Gemini Bridges, and Hurrah Pass. A host of other trails make this region an excellent destination for bikers of various abilities. The rides range from easier half day outings, to more demanding and technical rides, which may take a number of days.

Tip! Beginner mountain biking can be daunting, but if you make contact with knowledgeable personnel in a specialized shop, talk with experienced bikers, and do some reading, you will soon get the hang of it.

Another Utah mountain biking region to explore is the Zion area.

Zion National Park features some of the world’s most stunning rock formations, and other natural wonders. Mountain biking here offers views of landmarks such as the Subway, the Narrows, and the Great White Throne.

Gooseberry Mesa above Zion National Park has been called the best new trail in America. This Utah mountain biking trail includes an easy out-and-back ride, or a more challenging technical single-track loop.

Just when you think you have exhausted the Utah mountain biking possibilities, you discover the Brian Head area. There’s the town of Brian Head - with a permanent population of just over 100 - sitting at nearly 1000 feet. You can’t miss Brian Head Peak which rises to a dizzying 11,307 feet.

The spectacular and rugged Utah mountain biking area surrounding Brian Head, includes the Cedar Breaks National Monument, Sidney Valley, Lowder Ponds, and Red Desert/Tippets Valley. Here the lush forests and alpine meadows is in sharp contrast to the Moab area’s red rock desert areas.

Tip! A Canada mountain biking weekend may follow the Goose, with an overnight stay in the Sooke area, followed by a detour to East Sooke Regional Park, before you return. This is more or less 40km one way.

Brian Head offers beginner trails such as Twisted Forest, and the exhilarating downhill ride along Bunker Creek, always combined with extraordinary scenery.

Many other Utah mountain biking trails can be explored in areas like the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, San Rafael Swell, and Canyonlands, to name just a few.

For useful information, presented in an entertaining way, read “Mountain Biking Utah” by Gregg Bromka. In this revised edition of his book, you can devour 518 pages of action-packed information, detailing 100 Utah mountain biking rides, covering the entire state.

To quote from the back cover, ‘…through the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City, you can enjoy endless vistas atop Brian Head Resort, and discover Moab’s redrock splendor in and around Arches and Canyonlands national parks’. Gregg Bromka describe Utah mountain biking as only he can, further whetting your appetite with a number of photos and maps.

Tip! Riding like a pro, is just around the corner! Soon you will no longer be a mountain biking beginner, but the one other novices approach for advice..

Another great product to introduce you to the area, or to show back home to non-riding friends, is a 45-minute video, ‘Utah Mountain Biking’. Short clips of 30 of the regions most-loved trails have been filmed. Details are given about the location of the trail, and you will almost feel as if you are on the trail, as footage of riders are shown.

Tip! Another Utah mountain biking region to explore is the Zion area.

The region offers something for everyone. There is a vast amount of riding to be done. Be sure to set aside enough time for Utah mountain biking!

For more information visit Best-Mountain-Biking.com

Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.

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