House Rock Wrap
Bikepacking Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni in House Rock Valley
Route Guide
Location
Marble Canyon -
House Rock Valley, Arizona, USA
Days to Ride
4 - 6 Days
Physical Difficulty*
4/10
Seasons
Late March - Mid-May
Late September - Early November
Length
206 Miles
Technical Difficulty*
5/10
Primary Surfaces*
Rough Gravel; 4 x 4 Track
Elevation Gain
11,497 Feet
Tire Size
Recommended: >2.4”
*Based on Bikepacking Roots’ Route Rating Scale (More info found under "Route Difficulty, Surface Conditions, and Direction to Ride”)
-
See the “Route Alerts and Closures” section from Bright Angel Bikepacking to get the latest area updates.
A Recreational Land Use Permit is required for any travel or camping on Arizona State Lands. Pay for one before you head out on the route. Carry it with you.
If any rain/snow is forecast, most of the unpaved route will become impassable peanut butter/death mud in places. I cannot stress enough that House Rock Valley Road will become absolutely impassable during precipitation events making riding your bike anywhere from untenable to impossible.
Flash flooding is a real possibility in the washes around the Vermilion Cliffs and House Rock Valley due to the Dragon Bravo and White Sage burn scars on the Kaibab Plateau - stay safe and stay out of low areas at those times.
This is a large exposed area, and the wind can get ferocious, especially in the spring. Keep a positive mindset if you got caught in some. This usually means a headwind coming from the south or a crosswind coming from the west. Make sure your tent is pitched well, or choose to cowboy camp using some natural features as wind protection.
There is a wild bison herd managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department that lives out on House Rock Valley. These bison are wild and temperamental - give them lots of space and do not approach too close. Be prepared to detour your ride if necessary around certain areas or water sources.
2. House Rock Wrap Overview
House Rock Wrap takes bikepackers on a wraparound traverse across House Rock Valley and the Kanab Plateau along the edges of Marble Canyon and the Vermilion Cliffs. Riders can expect to camp rim-side at Pronghorn, Bedrock, South Canyon, Houserock, Buck Farm, and Triple Alcove points. These overlooks provide expansive views of the Colorado River as it courses through the redwall layers of Marble Canyon - a precursor to the Grand Canyon. House Rock Valley is framed by the sheer rising walls of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument to the north, the iconic Saddle Mountain Wilderness to the south, the gorge of Marble Canyon to the east, and the ascending flanks of the Kaibab Plateau to the west. The route crosses a multitude of dirt roads through high desert grasslands and sagebrush where pronghorn, deer, and bison frequent.
"Aesak" is the traditional Southern Paiute name for this basket-shaped region, and riders can expect to ascend across this important cultural landscape from lower grassy-arid plains to elevations where pinyon-juniper woodlands dominate. The route also passes through Coyote Canyon adjacent to the Paria Plateau with abundant opportunities to see endangered California Condors. Adventurous side-hikes and inner-canyon access are provided by the Nankoweap and South Canyon Trails as the route travels through the remote heart of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument and the Kaibab National Forest.
Highlights:
Marble Canyon viewpoints at Pronghorn, Bedrock, South Canyon, Houserock, Buck Farm, and Triple Alcove points.
Riding the length of House Rock Valley Road through Vermilion Cliffs and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument.
Opportunities for Marble Canyon side-hikes at South Canyon and Nankoweap Trails.
Hiking (with Permits) right off the route through the geological wonderlands of The Wave, Coyote Buttes, and Buckskin Gulch.
Observing endangered California Condors at the Condor Viewing Site.
Expansive high grassland views framed by dramatic geological rises and sinks.
Camping rim-side at remote desert locations along the Marble Platform.
Crossing vast sage basins on the Kanab Plateau.
Climbing up beautiful and striking Warm Springs Canyon to climb the Kaibab Plateau.
3. Map and GPX
4. Datasheet and Sample Itinerary - House Rock Wrap
This is a route Datasheet that includes important resupplies and water sources. The sample itinerary is for a suggested 5 day ride; it should serve 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, comfortabilities, experiences, wants, and needs.
5. Route Design Philosophy and Vision
House Rock Valley sits along the base of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - one of my favorite places on Earth for its beauty and remoteness in northern Arizona. Years ago as we were driving along Highway 89A to bike along House Rock Valley Road north to the AZT terminus, my friend Darren looked out down Buffalo Ranch Road and declared the area worthy of biking. It would be years later and after I moved to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon that I would find myself winter-bound and hungry to ride some desert landscape in spring. I was building the Capes of the Canyon bikepacking route and found myself peering at maps that showed dirt roads heading out to rim viewpoints of Marble Canyon in House Rock Valley. I threw my bike on my car and headed off for an overnight in the area. Riding down those roads and exploring sandy doubletrack to nowhere became my Colorado Plateau weekend escape from snow. This route was born from that riding. It's designed to visit the trailheads, travel across the vast dirt roads, juxtapose the narrow tableland canyons and expansive open grasslands, and wrap around the cultural landscape of House Rock Valley.
6. Trip Reports
Blogged trip reports and photos from past rides of the route.
7. Route Description
Riders start at the northern terminus of House Rock Valley Road in Utah. After a short ride down the road, bikepackers start a steep climb up Five Mile Mountain Road. Make sure to turn around to look back on the spectacular rock formations of the Paria Plateau. Then, it's a fast dirt cruise downhill followed by a short ride on the shoulder of paved HWY 89. Riders rejoin dirt and ride across the vast sage plains west of the Kaibab Plateau.
BLM doubletrack and unpaved roads traverse the Kanab Plateau where tracts of pinyon-juniper thickets intereperse with the sage. This is wide-open country out here with views of the Kaibab Plateau to your left and the Grand Staircase to your right. The route veers towards the broad foothills as it slowly climbs in elevation. Eventually, riders join FR 22 and arrive at the mouth of Warm Springs Canyon. The climbing is relentless but beautiful as riders top out over 8100 feet at Jacob Lake Lookout Tower. Stop for food, legendary cookies, and lodging at the Jacob Lake Inn or camp at the several campgrounds nearby. Then, it's a fast downhill on paved 89A.
The pavement ends as you turn right on old doubletrack and begin to enter the northeastern heart of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. Ride with respect, appreciation, and soak in the beauty. This next section of road quickly becomes fine red desert sand that can sink a tire. Luckily you're heading downhill and the sand is intermittent with hardpack. Regardless, you may have to hike-a-bike a bit over the next several miles until you reach the low point of the route. From here on out, most of sand will be left behind. Make your way south on very rocky-to-smooth doubletrack that cuts across the scenic grasslands. You'll be able to see the cleft of Marble Canyon's gorge ahead of you in the distance. Keep your eyes peeled for pronghorn and deer out here. Dip down into North Canyon Wash and then rise up in the grassy sea once more as the rift in the land comes before you at the edge of Marble Canyon. Stop at Pronghorn Point for a view of the Colorado River flowing through Marble Canyon below along with views of Twentyseven Mile Rapids.
Retrace and head south where spectacular Bedrock Point comes into view. Gaze deep down Marble Canyon's main channel in addition to the side-labyrinths of Bedrock and South Canyons. Camp rim-side at Bedrock for the night. In the morning, retrace and head west towards the growing flanks of the Kaibab Plateau. Stop for water at Buffalo Tank and then make your way towards privately-owned Kane Ranch. Here, you'll turn south along the foothills and slowly begin to gain elevation. A spur road will take you out towards South Canyon and its open abyss. Prepared and adventurous bikepackers can leave their bikes on top and hike the primitive and strenuous route down into Marble Canyon. Retrace and make sure to stop at the Arizona Game and Fish House Rock Valley Headquarters, aka. Buffalo Ranch. There is a wild bison herd managed by the AZGFD in the area, so be aware and give them tons of space. Bikepackers have permission to enter the headquarters where non-potable water can be obtained from a spigot/trough.
Afterwards, continue the retrace back to the main road where a turn south steadily gains elevation. The grasslands will transition to pinyon-juniper woodlands along with splotches of sage. As you approach the lower lollipop of House Rock Wrap, the Saddle Mountain Wilderness will adjoin the road; make sure to keep your bike on the interior portion of the loop per Wilderness regulations. The road will become rockier/chunkier as you ascend to a high point as the distinctive curve of Saddle Mountain rises before you. Stop at a wildlife tank for water and then make your way to the Nankoweap Trailhead. This is the toughest established trail in Grand Canyon National Park, so if you want to hike it, park your bike and walk your way in - just make sure you're prepared and have a permit for any overnight camping.
Continuing on the loop, a thrilling descent carries you down to the Triple Alcoves Trailhead where a short 0.5 hike leads out to commanding views of President Harding Rapids on the Colorado River below. Get back on the bike and continue to follow the curve of the lollipop as you next take a tangent out to famous Houserock and Buck Farm Viewpoints. Enjoy the evening here and camp for the night rim-side. Come morning, you'll close the loop and start to take the main dirt Buffalo Ranch Road back out towards paved Highway 89A. Bikepackers swing right on House Rock Valley Road which is wide dirt that can be frequented by ATVs and Jeeps. Ride north and stop at the Condor Viewing Site which features a viewing lens to peer at the release pens for California Condors on top of the cliffs. Continue north to pass by the AZ/UT stateline before crested walls of red sandstone and jagged buttes rise around you. Several famous hiking trailheads pepper the route including access to The Wave and Buckskin Gulch (both require day/overnight permits). Push north and finish your ride back at the northern terminus of House Rock Valley Road.
8. Route Difficulty, Surface Conditions, and Direction to Ride
Physical Difficulty = 5/10 (Rugged terrain with frequent climbs, some of which may be steep and unrelenting)
Technical Difficulty = 5/10 (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)
Most of House Rock Wrap sticks to large dirt roads that parallel the eastern and western flanks of the Kaibab Plateau. There are sections of chunky doubletrack on the western Kanab Plateau to connect some key roads. And there is a significant piece of pavement as riders descend from Jacob Lake to House Rock Valley along HWY 89a. Most of the dirt roads are in fine condition, but they can become rutted, washboarded, and eroded after a serious monsoon season or frequent ATV use. In addition, sand is an expectation for several miles of the route when first entering House Rock Valley; it's temporary, but there. Most of the doubletrack along the route is a mixture of smooth to rocky-rugged.
The technical difficulty of the route is due to the presence on the Kanab Plateau of several miles of rocky/steep 4x4 roads. It also is due to the sand upon entrance to House Rock Valley and the rugged doubletrack that climbs up to Pronghorn Point, Bedrock Point, and Nankoweap Trailhead. It can get rocky in sections and eroded after monsoon season.
The physical difficulty is due to some sustained and steep climbs that define the western end of the route at Five Mile Mountain Road and Warm Springs Canyon.
The route is intended to be ridden in a counterclockwise figure-eight direction. This way you go down 89a from Jacob Lake and not up it. You also descend the worst sand instead of climbing it.
9. Ecoregions and Landscape
House Rock Valley is located on the Colorado Plateau. Sitting as a basket cradled by the Kaibab Plateau, Marble Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs, and Saddle Mountain, the area is typically arid, wide, and rolling.
Marble Platform
Locations on Route: House Rock Valley
Description: Desert scrub and desert grasslands stretching across the limestone plateau of House Rock Valley.
Escarpments
Locations on Route: Vermilion Cliffs
Description: Cliff-benches that descend dramatically in red shades from high conifer desert forests to semi-desert shrublands at the bottom.
Grand Canyon
Locations on Route: Marble Canyon
Description: Dramatic relief of exposed rock and geology that can vertically extend from 2000 - 8000 feet. The upper elevations of the route will pass by sagelands, pinyon-juniper forests, yuccas, and needlegrass.
Arizona Strip Plateaus
Locations on Route: Stateline Campground and Coyote Canyon
Description: Woodlands and shrublands that receive little summer moisture. Lots of junipers, sagebrush, grasses, and snakeweed.
Northern Woodlands and Sagebrush
Locations on Route: Kaibab Plateau along Buffalo Ranch Road, Nankoweap Trailhead, Warm Springs Canyon
Description: Found in a ring around the lower elevations of the Kaibab Plateau. Expect juniper-pinyon forests intermixed with an abundance of sage. Most precipitation occurs during the colder seasons.
Semi-Arid Benchlands and Canyonlands
Locations on Route: House Rock Valley Road
Description: Narrow canyons snake through mesas with loads of exposed bedrock. There are lots of sand, grasses, and sage.
Cold Desert Sagebrush-Grasslands
Locations on Route: Kanab Plateau
Description: Rolling plateaus and valleys that are relatively low in relief compared to other areas of the route. Large amounts of sage and gramma grasses grow in arid soils.
Montane Conifer Forests
Locations on Route: Jacob Lake, Kaibab Plateau
Description: Trees include ponderosa pines, Gambel's oak, firs, and blue spruce. Fescue grasses grow well in the abundant moisture of the summer rains. Both the soil and air are cooler in the high elevations.
Inner Canyon
For riders looking to stash their bikes on top and hike over the rims into the inner gorge of Marble Canyon, a unique ecoregion awaits. The inner canyon is its own unique ecoregion composed of limestone, granite, shale, sandstone, and metamorphic rock. Temperatures at the bottom differ from the top by nearly 20 degrees F. The Colorado River flows at elevation 3000 ft. and is frequently lined with rich riparian corridors. Hikers can expect to see cottonwoods, willows, mesquite, and tamarisk along the waterfront and especially lining side tributaries. In warmer months, these plants stand out as incredible neon green oases promising shade among the cooking red and ochre rock.
Know your physical limits. It is a 2000-4000 foot vertical climb from the river to the rim. During summer, temperatures at the bottom of the Canyon can be nearly 120 degrees F. DO NOT attempt to do a rim to river hike when temperatures are elevated for your safety and the safety of first responders. Cool temperatures on the rim don't make cool temperatures in the canyon.
10. Where Bikes Are Allowed and Not Allowed
House Rock Wrap Specific Bike Access
When traveling out to Nankoweap Trail along the southern lollipop of the route, make sure to stay on established roads and do not stray outside the loop as the Saddle Mountain Wilderness comes right up to the road. Bikes are not allowed in Wilderness Areas.
No riding singletrack or trails anywhere in this area. This includes South Canyon, Nankoweap, and Triple Alcoves. You are allowed to cycle on any established dirt roads.
General Access
Bikes are STRICTLY forbidden below the rim in the inner gorge of Marble Canyon which is managed by Grand Canyon National Park. DO NOT RIDE YOUR BIKE DOWN INTO THE CANYON - you will get fined, it is illegal, and you will hurt the perception and opportunities of other bikepackers on this route.
Finally, respect tribal land and do not ride without permission in the lands of the Navajo Nation (Diné) just across the Colorado River at Marble Canyon. 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 in this area 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.
11. Native Nations and This Land
House Rock Wrap travels through an area known as Aesak (traditional Southern Paiute name), so-named for the basket-like topography of the land. The land around Aesak including Marble Canyon and the Grand Canyon is the current and traditional home to eleven federally recognized tribes (as well as other non-federally recognized tribes) including the:
Havasupai Tribe
Hopi Tribe
Hualapai Tribe
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians
Las Vegas Band of Paiute Indians
Moapa Band of Paiute Indians
Diné (Navajo Nation)
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe
The Pueblo of Zuni
Yavapai-Apache Nation
Native people are absolutely still here in the area, and have been here for thousands of years. The Grand Canyon region is both an actual and spiritual home. To many Tribes, the Canyon is a Living Landscape. When you as a rider are bikepacking through this area, make sure to treat the Living Landscape as as you would a literal home: Recreate with Respect. Act with care.
The Grand Canyon is a Cultural Landscape; It is not a theme park.
Grand Canyon National Park has spent the last few years moving in the direction of rebuilding relations with associated tribes of the area. The Park has worked to turn Desert View into the Desert View Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site. The work to rebuild relations will continue to take work by the Park.
Further information on the tribes of the Grand Canyon area and the history of Native/park relations can be found below:
In August 2023, President Joe Biden created the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni (Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon) National Monument. This effort was led by a coalition of Tribes in the area with an eye towards protecting their Ancestral Homelands, preventing uranium mining from impacting the watershed, and safeguarding the cultural and ecological aspects of the region. Nearly 1 million acres in size, and spanning land on both the North and South Rims, the National Monument now encompasses the entire Kaibab National Forest in the Tusayan District, parts of the North Kaibab District, and BLM lands around the House Rock Valley area. The Capes of the Canyon travels extensively through these ancestral lands. Keep the successful efforts of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition in mind, as well as the intent of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, as you bikepack the route. Further information on the Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon NM is found below:
12. Leave No Trace and Bikepacking Ethics
Bikepackers, like all backcountry users, leave an impact on the land, vegetation, and wildlife of the places they travel through. Leave No Trace outlines specific actions that bikepackers can take to minimize their impact on the land. Below are some considerations I would urge bikepackers on the COTC to take that are specific to this area.
Ride on Dry and Compact Roads/Trails
The soil of the Colorado Plateau has a high clay and silt content with some serious caliche. Rain and snowmelt will turn the ground to peanut butter mud, or even horrendous death mud. It will clog up your tires and derailleurs. Even worse, it tears up the roads and trails as you leave long ruts and holes in the ground behind you. If there is rain in the forecast, don't ride the route. Wait for it to dry. This could take hours, days, or weeks depending on the time of year.
Look but Don't Disturb or Photo-Geotag Cultural and Archeological Items
There are parts of this route that may pass by unmarked sensitive cultural/historical/archeological sites or items. If you see or stumble on something, look at it, enjoy it, and learn more about the item when back in the frontcountry. Leave it exactly where it is and do not collect it. DO NOT post locations, geotag photos, or post the items on social media. This is at the request of both the Native Tribes of the area, Grand Canyon National Park, and Kaibab National Forest.
Avoid touching these items as well. Remember that this place is a Living Landscape to many Native groups - this means all items contain a life force and are alive in some way that creates a balance of nature. Take on an approach that treats all things (animate, inanimate, natural, cultural, etc.) as deserving the respect, dignity, and privacy that we would want/expect for ourselves by others. Looking through this different "cultural lens" takes some work. Taking these actions are an opportunity to demonstrate respect and awareness of Indigenous perspectives of the world.
Camp at Least 0.25 Miles from Water Sources
Plan to camp 0.25 miles or further from all water sources on this route, especially the Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife tanks. More information on water sources can be found below.
Leave No Trace is much bigger than just these. Both Bikepacking Roots and Bikepacking.com have excellent resources on Leave No Trace for backcountry cyclists. These include:
Plan Ahead + Prepare
Travel + Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Bikepacking Roots has the Love Where Your Ride Campaign where they partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to make bikepacking specific principles. Visit the site to see a breakdown of each principle listed above.
Backpacking.com has the Leave No Trace for Bikepackers: Ride. Camp. Respect principles where they outline many of the same items listed above but also include Know the Land and Represent the Community (both excellent inclusions). Visit their website to read more.
13. Water Sources
Water is scarce along this route. This area is arid and the tablelands/canyonlands around the Vermilion Cliffs, House Rock Valley, Kanab Plateau, and Coyote Canyon are true desertscapes with little reliable surface runoff or pools. Plan to carry several liters of water, sometimes enough to last at least 24 hours and more than you think you'll need should you arrive at a source and find it dry. On the western portion of the route to Jacob Lake, riders should expect to carry as much as they need to get to Jacob Lake.
Water is mostly found in dirt cattle tanks, metal cattle tanks, and Arizona Game and Fish Water Catchments (Wildlife Tanks). There is an AZGFD Headquarters located out at Buffalo Ranch with year-round spring water available from a spigot being fed into a trough. The wildlife tanks along the route can be chock full of bugs and algae in the summer, but are safe to drink with treatment/purification. AZGFD Wildlife Tanks help provide water to wildlife in the ever-drying environment of the southwest under climate change. There is no camping within 0.25 miles of AZGFD Wildlife Tanks (or other water sources). This route requires riders to dry camp. Be prepared to load up at water sources so that you can camp far away from them.
Consider making a donation to help the AZGFD keep these wildlife tanks stocked at AZWildlifeHero.com. You can also donate to Wildlife Water Works which is a nonprofit whose mission is to, "Replenish, Refurbish & Create Arizona Game Water Catchments." Donations to Wildlife Water Works can be made here. I suggest a minimum donation of $25 because it's hard work by volunteers to keep these water sources maintained and filled.
14. Food and Resupplying
The only resupply option along the route is at Jacob Lake. The area features Jacob Lake Inn which has a restaurant, small general store, and the most legendary cookies on the Colorado Plateau. You can easily plan to get water, food, and meals here.
15. Camping and Lodging
Most of this route features dispersed camping around Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, BLM lands, the Kaibab National Forest, and the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument.
Established campgrounds include Jacob Lake Campground, Kaibab Camper Village, and Stateline Campground.
Lodging can be found at Jacob Lake Inn.
Marble Canyon is truly one of the most remarkable places for dispersed camping right up against the edge of the gorge at numerous locations for those making the remote trek out.
16. Parking
Parking can be found at three locations along the route:
Northern terminus of House Rock Valley Road: There are two large parking areas on either side of House Rock Valley Road, here right off of paved HWY 89a. The Paria Contact Station let me know that this is an acceptable place for overnight parking.
Dispersed parking near Five Mile Mountain Road: You can also choose to drive further down House Rock Valley Road to park and camp at the bottom of Five Mile Mountain Road. There is a large dispersed campsite available.
Buckskin Gulch Trailhead: You can overnight park at this location, but no camping is allowed. The Paria Contact Station requests that if you do plan to park here and leave your vehicle overnight that you put a piece of paper in your windshield with your (a) First and Last Name, (b) Say that you are bikepacking down House Rock Valley Road and not hiking into Buckskin Gulch, (c) the date you started your ride, and (d) the date you intend to finish your ride. This is so rangers don't think you have hiked into Buckskin Gulch without a permit nor that you have gotten hurt and need rescued. My suggestion is to park in the back away from the trailhead, put the piece of paper up, and call the Paria Contact Station/stop by during open hours to let them know your intentions beforehand.
17. 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 is required for any travel or camping on Arizona State Lands. Pay for one before you head out on the route. Carry it with you.
18. Important Information
Impassable When Wet:
If any rain/snow is forecast, most of the unpaved route will become impassable peanut butter/death mud in places. I cannot stress enough that House Rock Valley Road will become absolutely impassable during precipitation events making riding your bike anywhere from untenable to impossible.
Bison:
There is a wild bison herd managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department that lives out on House Rock Valley. These bison are wild and tempermental - give them lots of space and do not approach too close. Be prepared to detour your ride if necessary around certain areas or water sources.
ATVs:
ATVs frequently use House Rock Valley Road/BLM 1065. Expect mild intermittent washboard along sections of the road and some dust from passing vehicles. Outside of here, ATVs are much more rare across the Kaibab Plateau, although you will see them. However, I have found drivers are pretty respectful, will check on you/offer you water, and give you space when passing.
Wind:
This is a large exposed area, and the wind can get ferocious, especially in the spring. Keep a positive mindset if you got caught in some. This usually means a headwind coming from the south or a crosswind coming from the west. Make sure your tent is pitched well, or choose to cowboy camp using some natural features as wind protection.
Fences:
There may be "cowboy fences" on this route which consist of barbed wire wrapped around vertical wooden branches that are strung across roads. They can be opened by removing a loop of wire on one side. Most importantly, leave fences as you found them; re-close them if they were closed.
Dark Skies:
Grand Canyon National Park is an International Dark Sky Park. This means that you can expect to have anywhere between Bortle Class 1 - 3 night skies overhead (even better night viewing during a new moon). The Bortle Class Scale is used to rate night skies on their clarity and lack of light pollution. A Bortle Class 1 is the darkest possible and there are several locations along these routes where, should you camp, you will have this level of darkness. Here, night skies will be virtually unimpeded by artificial light. You can use the following sites to explore more:
Flash Flooding:
Flash flooding is a real possibility in the washes around the Vermilion Cliffs and House Rock Valley due to the Dragon Bravo and White Sage burn scars on the Kaibab Plateau - stay safe and stay out of low areas at those times.
19. Route Finishers
If you thru-rode, section-rode, or partially-rode the route, head to the link below to complete a Route Finshers' survey and see who has ridden the route.
20. Social Media and Route Updates
21. Acknowledgements
I'd like to thank Janna for her time riding and exploring the many dirt roads across House Rock Valley. I'd also like to thank Matthew Jenkins for sharing his ideas for crossing some eastern portions of the area. For his thoughts and guidance on Indigenous perspectives of the Living Landscape, I'd like to thank Jack Pongyesva of the Intertribal Centennial Conversations Group and Grand Canyon Trust. I'd like to thank Bikepacking Roots for showcasing House Rock Rock under their Community Routes Project (CRoP). Finally, I’d like to give a huge shoutout to Rebekka Anderson of Erosion Studio for her fantastic artwork creating the route logo.
