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  Bikepacking Roots -- Supporting and advancing bikepacking

WWR Segment 6

Segment 6 Description
Segment 6 traverses along the western margin of the Colorado Plateau through Utah’s high plateau country. The climbs and descent are long, the views from up high are absolutely massive, and the geology becomes vibrantly colorful. Elevations range from 5,000 feet in the lowest basins to well over 10,000 feet atop the highest plateaus. For southbound riders departing Soldier Summit, a few miles of highway riding leads to the northern end of Skyline Drive, a 100-mile-long rugged and rough 4x4 road that traverses the length of the Wasatch Plateau. 6,000 feet of climbing leads to the steeply rolling ridge crest and dozens of miles of near-treeline riding. The route plunges 5,500 feet to the town of Salina before climbing more gradually along creeks and through higher sage-covered valleys to the scenic Fish Lake and the Awapa Plateau. A descent leads to the small town of Loa before another 3,000-foot ascent takes riders back into the pines atop the sprawling Aquarius Plateau. Bryce Canyon National Park and its famous amphitheaters and towers comes after another big descent into a high valley. The segment then gradually climbs to the southern end of the Paunsaugunt Plateau before dropping through a private ranch and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The southernmost 40 miles are the fastest of the segment on smooth dirt roads and pavement leading to the touristy town of Kanab. Water and resupply options are less frequent along this segment, so careful planning may be required. Long stretches of this segment are also impassible when wet, necessitating paying close attention to weather forecasts.


Segment length: 337 miles
Total climbing: 24,000 feet
Recommended number of days: 6-8
 
% Paved (approx.): 15%
% Dirt road (approx.): 45%
% 4x4 road/2-track (approx.): 40%
% Singletrack (approx.): 0%
% Rideable (approx.): 97%
 
Average physical difficulty* (1-10): 6
Average technical difficulty** (1-10): 5
Bikepacking challenges: Limited resupply options, long sections absolutely impassible when wet, remote, limited water, early summer or early winter snow, summer heat, early summer snow cover at higher elevations
Longest stretch between resupply (miles/days): 124 miles / 2-3 days
Longest stretch between water sources (miles/days): 40 miles in several places

Alternate route options: The Bears Ears Loops (included on the map below) offer several alternate options in central and southeastern Utah between the main Western Wildlands Route, Bears Ears National Monument, and Moab.
Western Wildlands Route GPS data, guidebook, and mobile app:
Visit the download page!

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Bikepacking Roots is the only non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing bikepacking, growing a diverse bikepacking community, advocating for the conservation of the landscapes and public lands through which we ride, and creating professional routes. We value human-powered experiences and an inclusive, engaged, and informed membership (6,000 strong) that makes a positive impact as we adventure by bike.

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Our Business Partners that support the bikepacking community, conservation, and public lands:
Our organizational partners that support bikepacking, advocacy, conservation, and outdoor recreation:



Bikepacking Roots is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization (EIN
81-2622394)

All content and route data copyright 2016-2020 Bikepacking Roots

  • Home
  • News
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Issue Submission
    • Where we stand
    • Who are bikepackers?
    • U.S. Public Lands History
    • United States' wild lands at risk
    • Bikepacking Community Survey
    • Archive of submitted public comments
  • Routes
    • Our Routes
    • BPR Route Rating Scale
    • In development
    • Western Wildlands Route >
      • WWR Updates
      • WWR Downloads and Guides
      • WWR Segment 1
      • WWR Segment 2
      • WWR Segment 3
      • WWR Segment 4
      • WWR Segment 5
      • WWR Segment 6
      • WWR Segment 7
      • WWR Segment 8
      • WWR Segment 9
    • Bears Ears Loops >
      • Bears Ears Loops Downloads and Guides
      • Bears Ears Loops Updates
    • Plateau Passage >
      • Plateau Passage Segments
    • Colorado 14ers Loop
    • Craters and Cinder Cones
    • Orogenesis
    • Northwoods Route
    • Pony Express Route
  • Community
    • BIPOC Bike Adventure Grant >
      • BIPOC Bike Adventure Grant Application
    • Go Bikepacking! Teton Valley
  • Join/Give Today!
  • About
    • Mission
    • Who we are
    • Route Test Team
    • Partners
    • Contact
  • Store