One-way Distance: 0.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 5382 - 5562 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Horsethief
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic connector
The Hildalgo trail is part of the Horsethief Mountain Bike Trails area near Moab, Utah. The 6 tenths of a mile long trail provides a short connecting route between the Wildcat and 7-Up trails opening up the possibilities to create various loops with the other trails in the area. Hildalgo was a horse of western legend and movie fame owned and ridden by endurance rider Frank Hopkins in the 3,000 mile Arabian Desert Classic of 1890 where his Spanish Mustang pony Hidalgo beat the best of more than 100 prize Arabians entered in the race.
This post begins at the junction of the 7-Up and Hildalgo trails. We got here by riding the 7-Up trail over from the Wildcat trail.
Going in this direction the Hildalgo trail is all uphill.
It is a good mix of dirt and slickrock that ranges from smooth to bumpy to broken.
The route that the trail takes leads it up the opposite side of the drainage from the Wildcat trail.
A couple of short switchbacks aid in the climb.
The elevation gain is 180 feet but it is so gradual that unless you are really cranking on it it is not all that aerobic.
The trail travels along a scenic red and white sandstone bluff that is easy to spot from many places on the other trails in the area. It makes it a good point of reference for getting your bearings.
The trail builders ramped up the ledges well enough to keep the trail well within the abilities of most intermediate level riders.
