2.0 miles

Distance

241 ft

Climb

-848 ft

Descent

00:23:04

Avg time

Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Captain Ahab (lower) Trail

Moab Trail Mix
Builder
Moab Trail Mix
Maintainer
BLM
Land Manager

Details

Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
Riding Area

Amasa Back
Moab, Utah
Difficulty Rating

Double Black Diamond rate
Voted Difficulty

Black Diamond (24 votes)
Trail Type

Singletrack
Bike Type

AM
Direction

Downhill Only
Popular direction shown
Dogs Allowed

Yes
eBike Allowed

No
Global Ranking
#61 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #20557 in Trail Running
- #6326 in Hiking
Local Popularity
100 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 85 in Trail Running
- 85 in Hiking
Land Manager

BLM

Jewel of the Amasa Back area, relatively new to the other trails. Fun transitions and some great little rock drops. Hymasa is a bit easier, so if you are unsure of your skill, start there, and then climb back up Hymasa to do Captain Ahab.

Local Trail Association

Moab Trail Mix
Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support
trail development & maintenance.
donate to earn trail karma!

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute)

More Stats for Captain Ahab (lower) mountain bike trail trail

Altitude change

-607 ft
Altitude min

4,002 ft
Altitude max

4,652 ft
Altitude start

4,652 ft
Altitude end

4,044 ft
Grade

-5.815%
Grade max

-45.441%
Grade min

33.255%
Distance climb

2,611 ft
Distance down

1 mile
Distance flat

325 ft
Avg time

00:23:04
Avg reverse time

00:38:58
view trail stats

Status:

on Jul 3, 2022

Dry

Avg: 4.7 (129 votes)

Your vote: 0

view (8,499)

Directions to captain-ahab-lower trailhead (38.513540, -109.609920)

update trails status or condition

Captain Ahab (lower) Trail Reports

status	date	description
	Jul 3, 2022 @ 3:55pm 3 days	Fun and challenging trail
	Jun 19, 2022 @ 8:23am Jun 19, 2022
	Apr 17, 2022 @ 11:42am Apr 17, 2022
	Apr 9, 2022 @ 10:16am Apr 9, 2022
	Mar 30, 2022 @ 11:54am Mar 30, 2022

view all reports »

Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

Past Week

10 rides
9 miles avg distance

6 Months

1,140 rides
10 miles avg distance

All

8,180 rides

Photos

1,277 |

Jan 19, 2018 @ 2:01pm

Jan 19, 2018

1,380 |

Jan 21, 2017 @ 11:04pm

Jan 21, 2017

741 |

Jan 18, 2017 @ 2:33pm

Jan 18, 2017

1,956 |

Jul 6, 2015 @ 10:19am

Jul 6, 2015

| 1 comments

Trail Lists

My Favorite Trails
7 trails

Routes with this trail

title	distance
Hymasa/Captain Ahab loop	8 miles
Trail One List - Captain Ahab	9 miles
Amasa Back - Pothole Arch, Captain Ahab, Cliff Hanger, Hymasa - RideSpots.com	14 miles
Half Ahab Loop	6 miles

31 Reviews & Comments

Score Time

nofunstravaguy

(May 29, 2022 at 15:53)

More flowy and rock rolls, drops and less climbs than lower Ahab. Easier than upper Ahab. More consequence. More flow, less jank.

[Reply]

dkrk279

(May 15, 2022 at 5:38)

One of the best trails in Moab. If you do the Hymasa-Upper Ahab-Lower Ahab loop it can be pretty challenging even for intermediate riders. However, this past trip I rode Hymasa and cut across to Lower Ahab skipping the upper portion. We rode Porcupine Rim the day before and still had 2 more days of riding so I didn't want to over do it on this particular day. There are only a few sketchy sections. The scenery is amazing as you work your way down around whale rock. The trail has plenty of flow mixed with climbing and technical challenges - what more can you ask for from a trail? A must ride if you are in Moab.

[Reply]

keeglebiker (Mar 24, 2022 at 14:35)

What a rip!!

[Reply]

bkxc

(Mar 23, 2022 at 11:33)

Still the one! Love this whole ride, great way to get started on a trip to Moab. I have to laugh about everyone saying it's not a double black, remember when you had to push your bike up a few of the climbs? Some of us ride that stuff! If you walk ANY of the stuff (up or down) here you're going to have a pretty rough time hitting Gold Bar Rim + Portal.

[Reply]

eeshtar

(Oct 16, 2021 at 19:24)

Why are we not using chili pepper ratings? Black, double black, idk just say this is 4 chilli peppers out of 5... good and spicy!

[Reply]

heephop

(Oct 9, 2021 at 6:16)

Maybe the most fun trail in Moab. Has an amazing flow if you are skilled enough to carry speed through the whole trail. The climb is really fun if you can keep your speed up in the technical areas and although challenging it’s a great feeling cleaning the uphill techy sections. If you’re an average or advanced intermediate rider you may struggle to find flow and will probably hate the climb but if you’re a more aggressive rider with good bike handling skills the hits keep coming back to back and you can get a great flow on this trail that combined with the drops and techy sections makes for an amazing ride. Definitely my favorite trail n Moab. Anyone who’s complaining about lack of flow or the climb probably just thinks they’re a better rider than they are and are the reason why trails like slickrock are now rated black when they should be an easy blue. My message to those complaining, get better at riding.

[Reply]

mcurtis125

(Oct 7, 2021 at 14:52)

First time riding on red dust and the ride was a spiritual experience for me. Growing up riding PNW in BC I agree this could be a single black but, the parts with exposure could make it a double. I agree with some comments that you need some speed to get the flow.

[Reply]

actin

(Sep 23, 2021 at 9:59)

So many gatekeepers saying it’s not double black. I think it boarders between double black and just black. If you can ride black it’s a good step up. Plenty of aggressive spots that are decent consequence. I think people knock the double black rating more because it’s an amazing trail that feels really well thought out for biking making it seem easier than it is. Absolute must ride if you’re up for it.

[Reply]

SlideReady

(Sep 1, 2021 at 7:25)

Great trail. I rode it blind solo and found lots of flow but look before you leap on the bottom section. Mostly a blue/black with a few options to get sketchy and a few challenging consequential spots toward the bottom.

[Reply]

michaelnill

(Oct 30, 2020 at 6:18)

From a mediocre Northwest rider, everyone's comments are correct. It's definitely not a double black. The climb is as bullshit as everyone says. The flow is there, but you have to work for it (what kind of flowy DBs are you all riding, and when can I hit them?). It's a 4.5 star route.

[Reply]

WillieB

(Oct 15, 2020 at 15:28)

Fun trail that would definitely be considered double black in most anyplace other than Moab

[Reply]

provin1327

(Sep 26, 2020 at 13:01)

This trail requires a lot of endurance and power to make it flow but it is for sure there. If this trail is above your skill level it will not flow and you will hate it.

The double black rating is warranted but only for the very end. It gets very technical and very exposed. The majority of the trail is black diamond and is tons of fun. It will push your technical riding for sure.

[Reply]

palantir0 (Jul 14, 2020 at 15:03)

I loved lower ahab - just need the endurance to keep the speed up. I did the Hymasa/Capt Ahab loop. My main complaint is that I didn't leave early enough and in July its bloody hot.

[Reply]

+ 10

mtbxyz (May 26, 2020 at 13:41)

If you think Ahab is a one star trail you need to find a new sport.

[Reply]

hi-dr-nick

Reporter (May 24, 2020 at 20:56)

To say lower ahab has no flow, well I hate to say it but get better...

[Reply]

MtbSince84

(Jan 11, 2020 at 19:11)

No flow? I agree that *upper* Ahab lacks flow, but lower Ahab has plenty.

[Reply]

MattK619xx (May 16, 2019 at 16:36)

I’m 13 and I can do it.

[Reply]

atfarley

(Mar 1, 2019 at 18:13)

Absolutly no way this is double black. This is a recent change made to water down the rating for so many new riders.

[Reply]

todd Trailforks (May 17, 2019 at 7:18)

I know, but that is what the sign says on the trail, and that is how the local association wants it marked on the map. But you can vote for it to be a different difficulty

[Reply]

palantir0 (Jul 14, 2020 at 15:05)

I think they mark it that way to keep all the travelers here from attempting something way out of their range.

[Reply]

twowheeledwanderer (Mar 16, 2021 at 9:40)

If you take some of the alt-lines it's definitely a doubleblack. Depends on how you ride it.

[Reply]

shred-harder (Mar 30, 2018 at 12:55)

This trail can be difficult due to short punchy climbs and tight corners (no switchbacks though). Much more fun second lap once you know where to shift and keep speed

[Reply]

IamZOSO

(Feb 25, 2018 at 7:46)

If this is double black, then Jackson's is as well. Jackson's is harder imo.

[Reply]

atfarley

(May 21, 2017 at 18:58)

This trail paired with hymasa is pretty brutal, physically. People I ride it with who are not in great shape, though skilled technically, don't like it nearly much as people who are in real solid physical shape. Ride at the end of your biking season for maximum enjoyment.

[Reply]

ericneely

(May 10, 2017 at 15:17)

Trail is now shown as double black on trail signs and that is accurate when compared to surrounding trails.

[Reply]

jarretw

(Apr 30, 2017 at 7:49)

My favourite trail in Moab!

[Reply]

Anthonyfonzi

(Mar 31, 2016 at 5:08)

One of the coolest trail I have ridden.

[Reply]

todd Trailforks (Mar 25, 2015 at 20:40)

I rode it at the end of a long day, and it seemed harder then it was. I got out there last week, and relative to the other trails and moab in general, definitely more of a single diamond. It is officially changed.

[Reply]