Sovereign
 
 
On our last day we rode one of the newest and best trails in Moab, The Sovereign Singletrack. Located north of Moab and bordering Arches NP, this was basically an out-and-back singletrack with a loop at the end taking us across a huge expanse of almost white slickrock which borders Arces NP.  The trail consists of sweet flowing singletrack and mixed with slickrock and technical ledges and obstacles. This is another gem well worth riding!
Moab 2007: Day 4
The Willow Springs Road Trailhead. Singletrack starts .7 miles behind truck away from camera.
Steve and Rob unloading the bikes.
John and Rob prepping their bikes.
Rob mounts up his jerry-rigged helmet cam.
Steve relieves himself.
Helmet Cam testing.
OK. Ready to roll.
Rob’s “rain cover.”
John and Rob pose along Sovereign Trail.
Steve and Rob pose along a slickrock portion of the trail.
One of the nastier climbs on the trail. Try to find the two riders in the foreground.
Rob and Steve hiking up the trail. This part was very technical and steep.
Steve relieving himself again.
We ran across this mom and future mountain biker on one of the fireroads that crossed Sovereign.
Steve powers up a steep nasty switchback.
Steve looks up ahead to a slot that the trail passes through on the way to the slickrock in the distance.
Steve powers up to the slot, making it look easy.
After dabbing, John clears the slot.
After a steep climb we take a break and refuel at this scenic viewpoint.
John “The Navigator” checking the maps.
Bikes resting along the Sovereign Trail.
Rob shoots some video.
Looking out toward the slickrock area and Arches NP beyond.
Rob and Steve emerge onto the creamy slickrock.
Steve dabs on a steep section.
Rob having a good time.
Heading up the slickrock toward Arches NP.
Rob shooting some video on the slickrock.
Steve looks at home on the slickrock.
John poses near the border of Arches NP.
Steve relieving himself again.
Rob heading up the slickrock toward Arches. Note the color of the rock changing to a more reddish color.
This stuff was a blast to ride on!
Too much fun!
John riding up a “humpback” of slickrock.
John crests the hill.
But wait...there’s another hill to crest. Onward!
John nearing the top of a “humpback.”
Rob shooting video of Steve on the slickrock.
Rob and Steve pose with Arches NP in the background.
The trio poses with Arches NP in the background.
John “living on the edge.”
Steve “teeters on the edge.”
Steve and Rob climb up to a viewpoint looking into Arches NP.
Another view.
Slot canyons similar to The Fiery Furnace in Arches NP.
Another view of Arches NP.
A view from the viewpoint back down.
Steve takes a short break.
John at the top of Sovereign slickrock.
John and Rob getting ready for the return ride to return to the truck.
Just before we start to climb back up to the mesa Rob’s chain breaks again.
More chain repair.
A view looking back on what we rode across.
An arch along the Sovereign Trail. it’s hard to tell scale, but this arch is only about a foot tall.
A nice sweeper on the way back.
Rob and Steve climbing back up the mesa. Note fallen, cramping rider down lower on the trail.
Rob powering up the hill.
Back at the truck at the Sovereign Trailhead it’s time for some calories.
Cheers!
Heading back to Moab...
...The desert was in bloom.
More bikers heading out Willow Springs Road back to Moab.