Length:  25 miles of Trail in System
Trailhead(s):  Amasa Back Parking Area
Elevation Gain:  Varies Based on Chosen Route
Trail Type:  Trail System
Dogs:  Allowed
Difficulty:  Intermediate to Double Black Diamond
Permit Required?  No
Considerations:  Desert Riding, No Water, Not for Beginners
Season:  Year Round

Amasa Back Overview

Amasa Back is an outstanding trail system – for advanced mountain bikers.  The riding is VERY demanding and comes with consequences, but it is incredibly fun for those with appropriate skills.  Then there is the scenery, oh the scenery.  It is nothing short of incredible.

For advanced mountain bikers, Amasa Back offers outstanding riding with technical climbs and gnarly, challenging descents.  Captain Ahab (Upper), a single black diamond, offers incredible views, great chunk, and a few features with high pucker factor.  Amasa Back (Lower), is a double black diamond offering demanding riding with at least four features that will challenge even the best riders.

Amasa Back is NOT a system for beginners or lower level intermediates.  Even the the access road that you must use to get to the trails, Cliff Hanger, is rated as a black diamond with its own special kind of gnar.

Amasa Back Riding for Intermediate Mountain Bikers

For higher level intermediate mountain bikers, the sole blue trail at Amasa Back (HyMasa) offers a good, challenging introduction to the Amasa Back system.  You can ride HyMasa up and down, getting a tough, technical climb that will tell you a lot about your physical conditioning and climbing skills.  If you are feeling particularly spry, you can give HyMasa (upper) – a black trail, a try or you can turn around and head back down HyMasa.  Trust me, the downhill is a blast offering a rowdy ride that will test your skills on some challenging sections.

Amasa Back Riding for Advanced Mountain Bikers

If you are an advanced mountain biker, your target at Amasa Back is Captain Ahab (upper) and, if you have expert skills, Captain Ahab (lower).  Your choice to access these is either riding by Cliff Hanger up to the Ahab Connector or riding HyMasa to HyMasa (upper) to Captain Ahab (upper).  Cliff Hanger is more direct than HyMasa, but is a jeep road.  Alternatively, HyMasa offers a longer ride on all singletrack, with great technical climbing challenges.  Regardless of the route you choose, Captain Ahab offers the best of Amasa Back riding.

Most people who ride Amasa Back stick to the HyMasa/Captain Ahab (upper) route, using HyMasa to climb and descend.  For advanced riders, this route offers plenty of fun and pucker factor.  For those who really want to get into the gnar, however, descending Captain Ahab (lower) will really give you the juice with some challenging riding, outstanding views, and about four features that give even the most experienced riders pause.  That said, if you have the skills, don’t miss Captain Ahab (lower) – it is an absolute blast and one of my favorite trails in Moab.

Concluding Thoughts About the Amasa Back Mountain Biking Trails

The bottom line about Amasa Back – it is a very demanding system, but one that every serious mountain biker should visit.  It’ll keep you coming back again and again as you try to learn clean all the features.  Ride on!

Scroll down to learn about the GEAR WE USE and OTHER OUTVENTURES in this area.

Additional Information for Amasa Back (Click below to follow links.)

• Trailforks Interactive Trail Map Link

• Bureau of Land Management Information Link