Skinny Tire Festival in Moab
Sat 14 March 2026
March 14th-17th. The Moab Skinny Tire Festival. A 4-day weekend of rides around Moab, Utah.
We stayed in a small cabin, next to the Archway Inn - host of the festival. Quaint little campground, serving tents, RVs and Cabins. Dinner at the Miguel's Bar (Mexican).
First ride was a bit of uphill to the Dead Horse Point State Park. Morning was a bit on the cold side, but starting with climbs decided that we'd warm-up. We started at the first sag station, avoiding the 10 miles from Moab, along the Hwy 119 to the turn up to Dead Horse Point. It was colder than anticipated and Grace took my coat to ride. Views (as always) were great.
Dinner at the Fiesta Mexican
Gallery for Dead Horse Ride
Today's ride is an out and back, along the river to toward the Castle Valley. It was extremely windy, the canyon was an amplifier of the wind. After yesterday's cold ride, Grace has purchased some full finger riding gloves. The real rub was that by the time of day that we turned around, the wind was now coming up the Canyon. So, head wind both ways.
The road was under constrution, so we did hit the automated 1-lane road lights they had set up. After the construction, the ride was on the highway (the bike path ends right about where the construction zone is). Hopefully, the new construction will extend the bike path a few more miles to some of the nice campgrounds along the river.
(Too windy, no pictures for Day 2 ride)
Dinner at Proper Brewing and Burger.
The feature of the festival, cycling in the Arches National Park. Grace was worried that I'd be too slow biking up the 3 mile, 8% climb at the enterance, so I took the SAG shuttle past it to the first Aid Station stop. Cycling was good today, sunny, calm and warm. I was able to stop at almost every pull-out, viewpoint along the road in. Something we'd never do driving in the park (too many stops). Lunch was a bit dissapointing, sandwichs and bike snacks. This was compared to the first two days where the lunch was at the ground of the Archway Inn and catered by an outfit with a BBQ trailer (BBQ chicken and beef first day and BBQ pork the second). BBQ and traditional sides (cole slaw, beans, etc.)
Dinner at Trailhead. Back to cabin and the Avs lost :(
Gallery for Arches NP
Last ride. Today we're biking on the Potash road. A great 'red wall' formation and river. Best part, no big climbs. A very flat 30 mile out and back ride to finish the festival.
We had dinner at the Spoke.
Gallery for Potash Road Ride
Checked out today to drive back. Stopped at Cactus Jacks for breakfast. Good portions, nice thick bacon and at 9:10 we seemed to have missed a weekday rush. Minutes after we sat down, the lobby was suddenly awash of people waiting for tables.
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Scouting the Dixon Dam route