Vermilion Cliffs Overnighter

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Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, AZ

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Forrest Radarian

Northern Arizona - Bikepacking and Adventure Riding

159 km

2 029 m

Vermilion Cliffs Overnighter takes bikepackers along the red butte-faces of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and climbs through the aspens and pines of the northern Kaibab Plateau. Grand Canyon Overnighters Guide: https://www.theforrestbiome.com/grand-canyon-overnighters

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# Route Overview

Vermilion Cliffs Overnighter takes bikepackers along the red butte-faces of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and climbs through the aspens and pines of the northern Kaibab Plateau.

Bikepackers start the route by biking down @slice[Orderville Canyon](d,0,13851.8) on smooth dirt roads that tunnel through groves of ponderosa pines.  A turn provides a smooth @slice[descent off the Kaibab Plateau on paved Highway 89A](d,14004.6,32365.3) along with an @poi[iconic pullout](130810609) for expansive views of House Rock Valley and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.  Riders then head north adjacent to the rock escarpments as the desert benchlands funnel into @slice[Coyote Valley](d,59920.7,65728.6).  Then, it's a climb up and into the @point[Buckskin Mountains](d,76488.92) where doubletrack carries cyclists through pinyon-juniper groves and intermittent grasslands that slowly climb up into ponderosa groves once more at @poi[Jacob Lake](130856165).  After a resupply, bikepackers continue south as ponderosas give way to aspens, firs, and spruce at the high point of the route.  Finally, a ride through an old burn scar followed by mature woodlands leads to the closure of the loop.

## Route Highlights
- Riding along @poi[House Rock Road next to the Vermilion Cliffs](130810610).
- Colorful and iconic exposed geology.
- Opportunities for side-hikes (permits required) at @poi[Wire Pass](130810613), @poi[Buckskin Gulch](130810860), [The Wave](https://www.recreation.gov/permits/274309), and [Coyote Buttes South](https://www.recreation.gov/permits/16851).
- Riding from desert benchlands up to aspen-filled forests.
- Great dirt roads along a majority of the route.
- Great campsites at the @poi[Stateline Campground](130810612) and @poi[Jacob Lake](130856164).
## 
## Recommended Tire Size: 2.2"-2.6"

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# Riding Seasons:
* **BEST TIME:** Early Summer (May - Mid-June)
* **BEST TIME:** Fall (September - October)
* *NOT POSSIBLE/ADVISABLE: Winter; Spring; Mid-Summer (November - April; Late June - August)*
##

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# Surface Color Guide
- **Purple** = Improved Dirt Surface (Frequently Maintained, Usually Smoother)
- **Red** = Rugged Dirt Surface (Infrequently Maintained, Typically Rougher/Rockier)
- **Brown** = Primitive Dirt Surface (Rarely/Never Maintained, Particularly Rocky/Rutted/Eroded)
- **Blue** = Vehicular Pavement

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# Surface Conditions and Route Difficulty

- **Physical Difficulty: 5*** (Rugged terrain with frequent climbs, some of which may be steep and unrelenting)
- **Technical Difficulty: 5*** (Continuous sections of track may be rocky, loose, and steep; (e.g., 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain) suitable for riders with intermediate off-road experience)
- **Based on Bikepacking Roots' Rating Scales*
##

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument mostly sticks to improved dirt roads through US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land.  Most of these roads feature hard-packed dirt, wider tread, and smoother surfaces.  The roads that traverse the Buckskin Mountains at the norther portions of the route feature decayed doubletrack and rocky sections in places.

If any rain/snow is forecast, most of the unpaved route will become peanut butter/death mud and impassable in places.  Leave No Trace and avoid riding at these times until the route dries out.  In addition, flash flooding from precipitation is a real possibility in the lower portions of the route around the Vermilion Cliffs and House Rock Valley - stay safe and stay out of washes or low areas at those times.

The technical difficulty of the route is due to the few sections of rocky and loose doubletrack that extends up and across the Buckskin Mountains.  The physical difficulty is mostly due to the climbing.  Although most of the climbing is sustained and rolling, the one ascent up into the Buckskin Mountains is steep and will require most cyclists to hike-a-bike.

## Noteworthy Climbs
1. @slice[Climbing up into the Buckskin Mountains](d,72379.2,77578.8) from House Rock Valley Road

## 
## Noteworthy Primitive, Rocky Surfaces
1. @slice[The climb up into the Buckskin Mountains](d,74636.1,76606.2) from House Rock Valley Road

## 
## Noteworthy Vehicular Pavement
1. @slice[Kaibab Descent to Vermilion Cliffs](d,14004.6,32365.3): Has little shoulder and high speeds on the road, but traffic can be light - especially in the morning. There are good lines-of-sights for both cyclists and drivers.

## 
## Parking

Vermilion Cliffs Overnighter is intended to be ridden in a counterclockwise direction. Park your vehicle for the duration of the route at the @poi[Murray Lake Trailhead for the Arizona Trail](130810606).  This AZT trailhead is located just south of Jacob Lake right off Highway 67 and is about 0.25 miles down an unpaved, but 2WD accessible, road.  There are several parking spots for long-term parking. Parking is not visible from the highway due to the woods (which is good for keeping your car out of view).  There is also a pit toilet and informational sign on the AZT. There are also many spots further along the dirt road where you can park your car in the forest if you need to.

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# Water and Food

## Water Reliability Scale
- 1 = unreliable
- 2 = seasonal;
- 3 = mostly reliable;
- 4 = definite source
## 
The remote nature of this route means riders need to carefully plan their water and food.  The tablelands and canyonlands around the Vermillion Cliffs, House Rock Valley, and Buckskin Mountain are true desertscapes with little reliable surface runoff or pools.  Plan to carry several liters of water and carry more than you think you'll need should you arrive at a source and find it dry.  Most riders will need to carry enough water for over 24 hours at the start until they hit reliable sources on Day 2.

Definite water can be found at @poi[Jacob Lake](130856165).  Beyond that, water is mostly found in dirt cattle tanks, metal cattle tanks, and Arizona Game and Fish Water Catchments (Wildlife Tanks).

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# Fees and Permits
- Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument, Kaibab National Forest, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument have no fees.
- A [Recreational Land Use Permit](https://land.az.gov/applications-permits) is required for any travel or camping on Arizona State Lands. Apply for and pay for one before you head out on the route. Carry it with you.

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# General Access and Tribal Nations
This route stays explicitly within land domains where riding is public and legal. Although it may approach boundaries with the surrounding Tribal Nations, you should never ride onto the reservations without securing tribal government permission. Doing so otherwise is disrespectful and unlawful.

I must note that although this route stays on "public lands," the formation of Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding land designations involved the forced removal of tribes such as the Havasupai, and they have endured legal battles to keep their vastly smaller chunk of land out of their historical precedent. Know the land you are riding on is traditionally theirs, know their current reservation boundaries are smaller than where they historically inhabited, and know where you are riding to keep yourself both legal and respectful.

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# Camping
In the the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument, Kaibab National Forest, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and House Rock Valley, excellent and numerous dispersed camping abounds.

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# Sample Route Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary.  Use it as a rough guide for your own planning purposes.  Feel free to use it, adapt it, or don't use it at all and make your own plans.  Plan your trip on this route based on your own strengths, comfort, experience, wants, and needs.

**Day 1**
- **Mileage**: 40 Miles
- **Elevation Gain:** 1000 Feet
- **Water:** None - Carry enough water to get you through tomorrow.
- **Resupply:** None
- **Camping:** @poi[Stateline Campground](130810612); Dispersed camping at a few pullouts further down the road
## 
**Day 2**
- **Mileage**: 42 Miles
- **Elevation Gain:** 4200 Feet
- **Water:** @poi[Wildlife Tanks](130810862) about halfway into the day's riding; @poi[Jacob Lake](130856165)
- **Resupply:** @poi[Jacob Lake Inn](130856165) has a restaurant and small convenience store.
- **Camping:** @poi[Jacob Lake Campground](130856164); @poi[Kaibab Camper Village](130856166); @poi[Jacob Lake Inn](130856165); Dispersed camping in the woods nearby
## 
**Day 3**
- **Mileage**: 17 Miles
- **Elevation Gain:** 1500 Feet
- **Water:** @poi[Wildlife Tank](131913671) near the end of the ride
- **Resupply:** None
- **Camping:** Finish!  @poi[Jacob Lake Campground](130856164); @poi[Kaibab Camper Village](130856166); @poi[Jacob Lake Inn](130856165); Dispersed camping in the woods nearby

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# Other Route Options:
Looking for a longer route, other overnighters, or a day ride at the Grand Canyon?  Check out these nearby options below:
- [North Rim - Capes of the Canyon](https://www.theforrestbiome.com/capes-of-the-canyon-northrim)
- [Grand Canyon Overnighters](https://www.theforrestbiome.com/grand-canyon-overnighters)
- [North Rim COTC Passages](https://www.theforrestbiome.com/capes-of-the-canyon-northrim-passages)
## 
**Vermilion Cliffs Overnighter is made from Passage 1: Jacob Lake, Passage 2: Vermilion Cliffs, and Passage 3: Buckskin Mountains from the North Rim - Capes of the Canyon.*

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Vermilion Cliffs Overnighter

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