[Closed] New Zealand and Moab?

When in Whistler, were you a park rat or did you ride the valley trails?

If you rode valley trails, which ones did you prefer?

Obviously, if you only ride park, Moab is gonna be a culture shock for you 😉

i’ve been to both, but it was almost 20 years ago. they may have changed.

both were good, but i’d choose nz over moab. saying that, it is a long way to nz and moab is pretty unique and quicker to get to. i’d consider the travel time against the length of the holiday as part of the decision making process.

You mention it in the OP but worth emphasizing. It's been a few years since I've been to Moab but I do recall some (maybe even quite a few..) no e-bike signs. Some trails that are shared with moto's obviously aren't an issue but I do think it'd be worth looking into in more detail before you get too far into planning.

When would you be thinking of going? If you’re tied to certain dates, that might be the deal breaker on Moab, as in peak summer you’ll need to get up at the crack of dawn to beat the heat to ride, and in winter there’s snow!

Having said that, I’m going there in August, but not for bike riding!

Ebike rules aren’t simple, it varies a lot: https://www.discovermoab.com/ebikes/

The landscape around Moab is totally incredible though, so maybe it’s worth hiring bikes for some key trails and hiking elsewhere?

Slickrock Trail, Poison Spider Mesa, Poison Spider Loop, White Rim Trail, Dead Horse State Park, Sovereign, and Fins & Things can all be ebiked I think. Not the Whole Enchilada and Porcupine Rim though. Though it’s not clear that it’s actually enforced (but might be an insurance issue if you needed rescue?!)

@markgraylish on both occasions we rode top of the world and one half day the first trip over in the park. Hard to pick favourites as last time we rode whistler, Squamish, Pemberton, the island and the north shore and there a poop tonne of trails within those!

@stwhannah not tied to dates at all, we’d just visit whenever the weather was most suited. Still to find the happy middle ground for Whistler between snow high up or cold and wet.

Travel time did occur to me as a factor but think NZ would be more welcoming to ebikes but also more expensive.

@Golfchick

I now live in North Vancouver so have done a ton of riding up and down the Sea to Sky corridor but I rarely ride the Whistler bike park. I've also been to Moab many times (and many other great spots in that area e.g. Fruita & Grand Junction) so trying to get a feel for the type of riding you like but I guess you don't mind pedalling!

Personally, I get bored of riding the same trails or locations so I'd recommend Moab as it's just so different to BC or the UK but you might run into problems with eBikes...

I (briefly) visited NZ once many years ago but I've never ridden there so can't really comment, except I've not seen anything which suggests any weird landscapes like around Moab!

I’ve been to both, but it was almost 20 years ago. they may have changed.

both were good, but I’d choose Moab over NZ for biking any day of the week. it is a long way to NZ and moab is pretty unique and quicker to get to. I’d consider the travel time against the length of the holiday as part of the decision making process.

Moab is the best xc mountain biking in the world, end of*. It's just so different from the alps, UK, Utah mountains etc etc. The surface is just brilliant. It's like tarmac laid by an anti gravity machine 🙂 The utterly crazy uphill that you can do with insane amounts of grip. Brilliant. The scenery, the desert, the sandstone towers. Just top notch.

As above though, they seem not very keen on ebikes, but I reckon that you'd still get shit loads done. Use an eeb on the allowable trails, and get shuttles for stuff like Porc Rim or Enchilada (assuming it's in season when you go)

Actually, scratch that unless you're very good with heat. I'd recommend going when the lower desert routes are in peak condition, which means Enchulada would probably be snow closed.

Me and the missus did three weeks in Utah about 18 years ago and it wascthe best holiday ever. Powders snow, skiing, boarding, bouldering, Indian creek splitters, Poison Spider, Porcupine Rim etc etc.

Wanted to go back this year with the kids, but Covid...

* yeah, OK. Silly thing to say given the paucity of other destinations that I've been to compare it to. But still. Love it.

You can't compare a country against a town.

I've been to both a long time ago.

If it was for two weeks or less I'd fly into Denver and pick up a hire car and head to Moab via some other locations too. Make a road trip of it.

missed the ebikes bit, i got too excited thinking about holidays.

a fair few trails in whistler don’t allow ebikes. look on trail forks, you can filter the trails that are ebikeable

I've done both and I'd choose Moab over New Zealand (although ones a country and ones a city - small).

There is so much around Moab, big variety and so many staggering areas. Dead Horse Point, Dinosaur Trails, Slickrock etc. The riding is unique.

And the very local stuff.

I've been to Moab twice and will go again.

Gonzo Inn Moab is a good place to stay.

I rode up to Slickrock early one morning. There was no one there.

You could carry on to Colorado too.

I've not done moab but have done a few trips to NZ. How long have you got for the trip? NZ is great as can be an out of UK summer trip, a nice mid winter break in the sun, amazing country and people, a lot of variety depending where you go and can be done pretty cheaply.

I just looked up the trails on Amassa Back in Moab and the main jeep route up (Cliffhanger) allows ebikes but all the other trails (e.g. Captain Ahab!!) ebikes are banned.
(Captain Ahab is my favorite Moab trail)

I’ve been to both, .....

both were good, but I’d choose Moab over NZ 

Just to add/clarify, I went to NZ for the kayaking, not the biking. We just did a couple of days biking in Queenstown for rest days. There is no way in the world I would even consider for one nanosecond doing an mtb holiday in NZ ahead of Utah.

(White water kayaking, yes, mtb no chance.)

Having been to both for the biking, back when I still flew, I'd opt for Moab over NZ every time (but I'd also throw in Crested Butte if time permitted).

Thanks all yeah by Moab I meant the whole area really, same when I say Whistler really, we don’t just ride there but anything nearby.

Sounding like Moab is a clear winner but sounds like an ebike is a stupid thing to be stuck with.

In terms of Whistler, I checked with WORCA and the only trail they’ll not be able to ride is lord of the squirrels, there was one other area I think but there wasn’t a huge amount of trails there that I’d be particularly bothered about.

Happy to pedal and do so with my 100 mile a week average. You’ve gotta pedal to get to trails right!

In terms of Whistler, I checked with WORCA and the only trail they’ll not be able to ride is lord of the squirrels, there was one other area I think but there wasn’t a huge amount of trails there that I’d be particularly bothered about.

For clarity for anyone who hasn't ridden Whistler, Lord of the Squirrels is the descent trail from the alpine area on the opposite side of the valley to the bike park but there's a specific climbing trail (Into the Mystic) and a growing network of xc trails up in the alpine. Basically, anything above the Flank trail (does what is says on the tin), e-bikes are verboten*.

The Lord of the Squirrels area only has a very short open period anyway. In "good" snow years, the trails may not be cleared until well into July and sometimes they close early September when the snow arrives again. They've also be closed early due to Grizzly bear activity and the whole area is pretty sensitive so locals generally abide by the closures (for obvious reasons!)

*I'm not aware of any ebike restrictions in other areas of Whistler (or Pemberton, Squamish or the North Shore)

Yeah we last visited in mid July and the top half was completely closed because of snow. We were gutted and my best pal is equally gutted now he won’t be permitted to ride it when we do go back. Although even the pedal up to the half way point was too much for him and his knackered knees.

If my choices are New Zealand of Moab, then Moab - for all the reasons that have already been mentioned, it's closer and cheaper to get to, the riding is unique, and up there amongst the very best there is... But if it's up to me, there's more to ride in BC, and it's the sort of riding I prefer.

Ridden all over NZ, love the place, great people and banter, the riding is great and varied but as with most stuff in New Zealand if you want the best experience you will need to travel.

Having said that Moab is top of the bucket list for me, need to scratch that itch.

Only been to Moab but it was fantastic. Unlike any other place. Great riding in amazing scenery. Good food too. As mentioned, make a road trip of it and there is a lot more to see and do. I really liked the old gold mines and we saw some great wildlife. Hired some decent bikes too (Santa Cruz) if the ebike doesn't work out. Accommodation wasn't cheap, but we got a motel room and could just wheel the bikes in, which was handy.

Moab (providing ebikes are available) - and you can tie in the likes of Fruita and Grand Junction very easily as well. We will be back out later this year for a little 'greatest hits' road trip - Pheonix, Sedona, Prescott, St George, Cedar City, Moab, Fruita, GJ... I can feel the heat and dust already!

Ridden in NZ a few times. Great place but I can't afford helicopters anymore so I'd go for Moab. If it's a few weeks in duration NZ is a long way.

Leftfield option.... how about Tasmania? Amazing island and with Derby and the other trail areas easily enough for a good holiday?