mtb Sanctuaries: Utah Backcountry, Return to the Wild © Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool 2h agoBy Beau Flemister From BASE jumping through celestial cliffs to bikepackers night-riding under a constellation of stars, Utah’s backcountry is the sacred refuge for adventurists looking to get completely lost. Backcountry is defined as a geographical region that is remote, undeveloped, isolated and/or difficult to access. For adventurists in Utah, that’s precisely the point. From the wintry powdered peaks of the Rockies to the Mars-red rock formations of Arches National Park to the extraterrestrial-marbled, slick features in Moab, Utah’s vast open spaces of wilderness and protected lands offer a stunning stage for a multitude of outdoors activities. With vistas straight out of the set of a Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western — or, for a more current reference, think HBO’s "Westworld" (without the hot robots) — sure any family in an RV can post up in one of the national parks, but it’s the exploration that makes Utah a sanctuary. For instance, yearly records are broken in the freeride mountain bike range at events like Red Bull Rampage outside Virgin, while ultrarunners, bikepackers, canyoneers and fly fisherman get happily lost off the beaten track for weeks on end. High-fives and epic dirt abound in Virgin, Utah © GARTH MILAN/RED BULL CONTENT POOL Our advice? Pick any name on a list of Utah’s best of’s — Gemini Bridges, Dead Horse Point, Thunder Mountain Trail, Klondike Bluff — and you won’t be disappointed. No, those weren’t names made up by the Old Prospector, Gus Chiggins (YouTube it); they’re just a few of Utah’s backcountry hits. Bring enough water, pack your trash, embrace the solitude and watch out for them coyotes ... What you came for Where to begin? The list of sights, trails, treks and ridges in Utah is kind of like the menu at a Cheesecake Factory — little bit of everything and it’s all delicious. There’s a whopping five national parks in Utah and 14 national historic landmarks, so if it’s trekking you’ve got a hunger for head to Arches (for the 2,000 arches), Bryce Canyon for the hoodoos, Canyonlands for river rafting, canyoneering and fly-fishing, Natural Bridges and Rainbow Bridge for the (you guessed it!) massive stone bridges. Will Gadd finds a unique line in Moab, Utah © FRANCOIS PORTMANN/RED BULL CONTENT POOL But let’s face it; if you’re a mountain biker, Moab’s always been on your bucket list. Offering slick-rock trails through canyons and over mesa tops for bikers of every skill level, trails through the Amasa Back Area, Gemini Bridges, Klonzo and The Whole Enchilada should get the advanced rider’s hearts thumping. Core guys looking for softer rocks than Moab to build lines, jumps and lips head to Virgin, the world’s progression capital of freeriding. Lest we forget that Moab also serves as a virtual power spot for BASE jumpers, slackliners, high-liners and other envelope-pushers; the lot of them gathering at a 360-degree rim of 400-foot-high canyon cliffs known as the Fruit Bowl. (Just watch the vid.) Miles Daisher ejects off Fisher Towers near Moab © MICHAEL CLARK/RED BULL CONTENT POOL Canyoneering up your alley? Wedge that body through the magical, otherworldly Narrows portion of the Virgin River in Zion. Cedar Mesa, Escalante and Robbers Roost have great canyoneering as well. Serious climbers head to Indian Creek up at Bears Ears National Monument for the long and challenging sandstone “crack climbing” routes. Of course “bikepacking” is a thing, too. It’s like backpacking, but you’re covering way more ground. Stargazers love just about anywhere out there when the lights go out, and yep, the Colorado River runs right through Moab. So whitewater rafting could be on your menu too. And then there’s bird watching in Zion, skiing/snowboarding in the winter … See? Cheesecake Factory. Ask Ken Roczen, Utah's not all mountain bikes © GARTH MILAN/RED BULL CONTENT POOL Psst … psst … While most of the spotlight in the mountain bike realm shines brightly on Moab or Virgin, there’s an area in Southern Utah known as the Hayduke Trail or Trans-Utah route that has over 400 miles of empty trails and very few actual paved roads. True ‘effin backcountry. With some of the very darkest skies in the entire U.S. (for stargazers!) and routes that pass the spectacular Bears Ears National Monument, this zone is the perfect option for core bikers and bikepackers trying to get really off the map. Seasons-wise, for most outdoors activities, midsummer-through August is a scorcher; bugs can also be bad in the more forested areas, so springtime and fall are optimal times for trips. Winter can be good for riding if not too cold, but if it rains, the terrain can get too sticky in places (like Virgin). In winter, Utah transforms to a snowy sanctuary © ERIK SEO/RED BULL CONTENT POOL Speaking of Virgin, in May of 2000, a law was passed which required every homeowner in Virgin to keep and maintain a firearm. Exceptions to this law include: the mentally ill, convicted felons, conscientious objectors and people who can’t afford a gun. Sooo…careful who you piss off in that town. Searching for a hiking companion that won’t complain? The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary up in Angel Canyon (near Kanab) has tons of dogs ready to go on a hike with you. I know, right?! Hoodoos abound at Bryce Canyon's "Amphitheater" © MIKE CIANCIULLI Heresay “There are simply just not a lot of places in the world with terrain like Utah. It’s also close enough to California and Oregon, so quite driveable from a lot of adjacent areas. But anything you could think of for freeriding is available there: ridges, lips, jumps … whatever you can dream of building, really.” “But for me, a place like Virgin, Utah, is what you might call the progressive Mecca of freeriding in Utah. You can sculpt what you want out of the dirt and it’s just a bit more diverse, whereas in Moab you can’t build as much. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can pick out a line or one-off jump and make it work. The dirt is so soft — eroded clay — so it’s easier to build jumps and lips. But my main draw is the fact that Rampage has been out there for the last 12 years and Rampage is the one event that’s really shaped and pushed our sport. That and Josh Bender, of course, who was the first guy really pioneering the place for freeriders.” — Carson Storch, Professional Freeride Mountain Biker Carson Storch claims Virgin as a freeride Mecca © BARTEK WOLINSKI/RED BULL CONTENT POOL Don’t miss If you’re a core freerider making a trip out to Virgin, for instance, you already know options are limited for nightlife. The Bit and Spur Saloon in Springdale, however, is a legendary gathering place of the sport for drinks and grub. An O.G. party bar, the Bit and Spur is also ground zero for the after party of the yearly Rampage events. Did we mention the food’s good too? Looking for places to stay in Moab? 3 Dogs and a Moose and Gonzo Inn are great options, with cottages, hammocks and even wash/work stations for your bikes (tools there, too!). For food, don’t miss Paradox Pizza in Moab. If you made it to the gorgeous Lake Powell, get to the deck of the Anasazi Restaurant for sunset drinks. You earned it. Sometimes, Utah is best viewed from above © CHRISTIAN PONDELLA/RED BULL CONTENT POOL Around Thanksgiving each year, just outside of Moab, is G.G.B.Y. (Gobble, Gobble, Bitches, Yeah). An informal, annual gathering at the Fruit Bowl, G.G.B.Y. draws adrenaline junkies of all shapes, sizes and disciplines, but predominantly in the BASE jump and highline realm. "It’s like the Burning Man of climbing, slacklining, highlining, rope swinging, paramotoring and BASE jumping all combined," said Red Bull Air Force member Miles Daisher. Daisher chose Moab, Utah for his 4,000th BASE jump © CHRISTIAN PONDELLA/RED BULL CONTENT POOL But be aware of … Flash floods are a thing here, and a mighty dangerous one to boot in places like Zion. Don’t get caught between a rock and a hard place (no pun intended) if the weather goes south. Falling rocks in canyons are also hazards, that and not having enough water (or drinking enough of what you got). Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can also happen, and when you least expect it, since it’s so dry out there — so take it easy and rest now and then. Zion's hiking options range from easy to advanced © MIKE CIANCIULLI Environmentally speaking, with developments in our new administration, many of the nation’s protected national monuments are being threatened. The stunning and sacred Bears Ears National Monument in Utah is one of the 10 across the country under fire from loosened restrictions on development. Not only just a rad place to trek, freeride and climb around for adventurists, Bears Ears is a culturally historic area with huge spiritual significance to the indigenous Native America tribes surrounding it (Navajo, Hopi, Uintah, Ouray, Ute and Zuni). Contact your congress[wo]man if you don’t want to see it ruined. Lastly, backcountry doesn’t mean you can just leave or burn all your trash. Pack out what you brought in, or don’t pack so much if you can’t. 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