---
title: Moab Finally Has Mountain-Bike Trails Beginners and Families Can Ride
description: The new Mud Springs flow system near Moab brings beginner, family and adaptive-friendly mountain biking to a destination long known for its expert-only terrain.
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
updated: 2026-09-12T19:15:01.006Z
canonical: https://richtravelmagazine.com/article/mud-springs-moab-beginner-family-mountain-bike-trails
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/mud-springs-moab-mtb-288016.webp
categories: Destinations
content_type: News
region: Utah
publication: Rich Travel Magazine
schema_type: Article
---

For decades, planning a Moab mountain-biking trip meant confronting a hard truth: the terrain that made the town famous was not built for you unless you were already good. Slickrock and The Whole Enchilada are rated intermediate to difficult, and shops and guidebooks routinely warn beginners away from them. A rider new to the sport, a parent with kids, or a cyclist on adaptive equipment could reach the gateway to two national parks and still find little singletrack meant for their skill level.

Mud Springs was built to close that gap. The public system opened with a ribbon cutting on September 11, 2026, roughly 11 to 12 miles south of Moab in the Upper Spanish Valley, and it is the first purpose-built, machine-constructed mountain-bike trail network in the area. The trails are fast and flowy, cut by machine with bermed turns rather than pieced together over bare rock. Phase 1 runs about 11 miles: roughly 7 miles of beginner- and intermediate-level trail built last fall, plus about 3.5 miles of intermediate- and advanced-level trail expected to be finished this season. At full build-out the system is projected to grow well beyond that, toward 20 to 25 miles of singletrack.

Mud Springs was built for youth racing, families, adaptive cycling and riders of varying abilities, the result of a nearly decade-long effort. Michael Soleta, director of the Moab Office of Tourism, said Mud Springs "complements experiences like Slickrock and The Whole Enchilada while adding another accessible option for families, adaptive cyclists and those newer to the sport." From the trails, riders get views of the La Sal Mountains.

During construction, the National Ability Center provided handcycles so trail staff could ride the routes themselves and feel how adaptive equipment moves through the berms and features. The opening on September 11 drew more than 1,100 youth mountain bikers for the Utah High School Cycling League's first weekend at Mud Springs, more family riding than Moab's older trails were ever laid out to host. The league returns on September 26 for its Region 3 race, the first sanctioned league race held in Moab since 2022 and the first competition run on a full adaptive course.

## Moab's First Trail System Built for Progression

Mud Springs does not stand alone. Moab already has gentler options for newer riders, including the Moab Brands trail system, Klonzo, and the singletrack at Dead Horse Point State Park, alongside the marquee rides that built the town's name. Local bike shops, guides, rental providers and shuttle services work with visitors across experience levels, so a beginner can arrive without gear and still get onto suitable terrain. What Mud Springs adds is a single machine-built system designed from the ground up for progression, a place where a child can ride a first berm and an adaptive rider can lap a purpose-built course.

Moab takes in an estimated 2.5 million visitors a year as the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands national parks and to Dead Horse Point and Utahraptor state parks. Most come for the parks, not the slickrock. The Moab Office of Tourism, the destination marketing arm of Grand County, hopes Mud Springs gives more of those visitors a reason to bring their bikes.

More on visiting the area and the Mud Springs trails is at [discovermoab.com](https://www.discovermoab.com/).

## FAQ

**Q: When is the best time of year to mountain bike in Moab?**
Spring and fall are the prime seasons. Summer in the high desert gets very hot, which makes midday riding uncomfortable and, for beginners, genuinely risky. Plan around the shoulder months for the most comfortable conditions.

**Q: What is a flow trail, and how is it different from Moab's famous slickrock?**
A flow trail is a machine-built track with smooth, rolling bermed turns designed to let riders carry speed without technical rock moves. Moab's classic slickrock riding, by contrast, runs directly over bare sandstone and demands more skill, balance and nerve. Mud Springs is flow trail, which is why it suits newer riders.

**Q: Can I rent a mountain bike and gear in Moab?**
Yes. Moab has a well-established cluster of bike shops that rent mountain bikes and equipment, and many also offer guides and shuttle services, so you can arrive without your own bike and still ride.

**Q: Besides mountain biking, what else can a family do in Moab?**
Moab is the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands national parks and to Dead Horse Point and Utahraptor state parks, so a riding trip pairs easily with hiking, scenic drives and time on the Colorado River.