Round Trip Distance: 0.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 5212 - 5263 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 15 mins.
Trailhead: Wipeout Hill
Fee: none
Attractions: Fun connector
The Middle Earth trail is located in the Navajo Rocks Mountain Biking Area north of Moab, Utah. The trail begins on the south side of Highway 313, across from the Wipeout Hill trailhead, where it cuts across some sandstone domes to the Coney Island trail. The Middle Earth trail is a nice alternative to riding the old dirt jeep road and the highway when going to and from the Wipeout Hill trailhead and the Rock Tops and Coney Island trails.
The Wipeout Hill trailhead is near mile marker 16 of Highway 313 which leads to Dead Horse Point State Park and Canyonlands National Park. The Middle Earth trail begins across the highway from the parking area.
As the trail starts out it heads east parallel with the highway for a short distance before turning south.
As the trail heads south it is making a gentle climb along a packed sand singletrack.
Near the top of the hill the trail climbs a slickrock dome where red painted stripes point out the route to follow.
The trail makes a nice descent down the south side of the hill. From here, if you know where to look, you can pick out the Coney Island trail off in the distance.
At the base of the slickrock the trail contours around the west side of the remaining hillside.
After one more little drop the trail gets into its final stretch and transitions back to packed sand.
At the 0.6 mile point from the parking area the trail reaches Coney Island and comes to an end.
