Ride Schedule and Details
Registration Opens
May 13, 2026!
BABErpelli Ride Schedule 2026
This is a rough outline. Details are provided in the Rider Info Kit you receive once you are registered. Mileage and elevation vary depending on if you choose additional side routes, take optional shuttles, or SAG a section. On the last day specifically, there are many options available. For this reason, we do not list mileage and elevation below.
Wednesday 9/23
Arrive in Fruita, camp or book hotel/airbnb of your choice.
Meet and Greet Happy Hour at Back Country Biker in Fruita
8:30am Ride Check-In and mandatory ride briefing.
9:15 am Ride Start
Aid station at Rabbit Valley
Camp above West Water
Thursday 9/24
7:15am Yoga
7:45am Breakfast
8:30am Ride Briefing
Aid station at Dewey Bridge
Camp in Fisher Valley
Friday 9/25
7:15am Yoga
7:45am Breakfast
8:30am Ride Briefing
Aid station in Castle Valley
Several route options including two shuttles, and your choice of classic Moab Downhill route
Camp in Moab (with showers!)
Closing celebration!
Saturday 9/26
7:15am Yoga
7:45am Breakfast
9am load bikes for return shuttle
10am Shuttle bus returns riders, bags and bike to Ride Start
12pm Unpack bikes and bags, tearful goodbye to all your new friends, ride end.
Sunday 9/27
Cancellation Policy
June 26th or sooner – full refund minus a $40 transaction fee
June 27th - July 17th – 50% credit towards next year
July 18th - August 7th – 30% credit towards next year
August 8th or later – 20% credit towards next year
Trip registrations are non transferable.
Ride Details
What to expect from us, on trail and in camp
We strive to handle everything but the riding, so you can pedal all day carefree, knowing everything else is sorted.
When you register you will get our Rider Info Kit, which covers everything from bike rental info to daily mileage and elevation, from training tips to packing lists. BABErpelli follows the same itinerary as our sister event, Bikerpelli, which has been going strong for 26 years so it’s safe to say our support system is dialed.
We chose to offer BABErpelli to a smaller group of riders to be able to focus more on the community aspect, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and included, seen and empowered. With only 50 riders we will be able to offer a smaller staff-to-rider ratio, and more individualized assistance for those who want it, including more availability for riders to SAG (skip) a section of the trail. We want this ride to feel approachable to folks who have the skills for a big trail like the Kokopelli but might not have done a group ride before, are riding solo or are unsure if this trip is a good fit for them.
Riding solo? No worries! We will have a forum set up for our registered riders to meet and ask eachother questions, arrange carpool or training rides if you’re in the same geographic area, etc. as well as a couple of town-hall style Zoom meetups where riders can ask event organizers questions. We want everyone to feel comfortable and ready for the ride!
What We Offer
Daily route briefings detailing each section of the trail before you ride it, using large section maps to illustrate.
Gear Shuttle. Only carry what you need on trail- water, snacks, tools, extra layer, etc.
Solid, home cooked meals. We take food seriously and do not skimp here! There are always fresh fruits and veggies, breakfast lunch and dinner, and options for folks with dietary restrictions (DF/GF/Veg).
Experienced bike mechanic, available in camp and at aid stations to help you keep your bike rolling. We bring a load of spare parts available for purchase if needed on trail as well.
First aid and medical support. Many of our crew are trained WFRs, and we have two dedicated chase trucks for use in case of an evacuation (either medical or mechanical), and use InReach devices for when we are out of cell service. We check all riders into aid stations and camps, so no one is ever left on trail, and we always know where you are
Gorgeous camps! Nights 1 & 2 both have incredible views, big skies and quiet nights. We will have a cold beverage waiting for you when you roll in, light the campfires at dusk, and have hot water for tea as it gets chilly.
Hot showers on Night 3! And a hot tub. And a pool. Option to rent a cabin if you are sick of the tent life.
Morning Yoga! Optional for everybody, and bring a mat you don’t mind getting dusty- we’re in the desert!
Community Building! Evening campfire discussions/story telling, closing night celebration (potential dance party?) with prizes for best team name/best team outfits and other categories TBD, community Spotify playlist to keep the vibe right, Fun Shirt Friday at Camp 2 (whether for the ‘gram or your literal Gram, the pics are great!)
Shuttle bus back to your car at the Trailhead.
What We Don’t Offer
BABErpelli is not a guided tour. It is a supported trip. You must be able to:
Navigate using any combination of map + compass + GPS that you choose, and read trail signs.
Assess your own ability. There is no staff on trail with you. You are expected to be able to complete each section of the trail by your own pedal power, or make the decision to skip a section in advance.
At minimum, be able to fix a flat. The mechanic is only available in aid stations and camps.
So What’s the Bathroom Situation in Camp?
(We know you’ve been wondering)
A “Groover” as pictured above, is a portable, sealable camp toilet that is inserted into a re-purposed ammo can, with a removable seat. Often used on multi-day rafting the trips, the name comes from the marks that would be left if there were no seat, and you were to just to sit on the ammo can. Don’t worry, we bring seats, so it’s just like sitting on a toilet. But outside.
Using the bathroom in the backcountry can be daunting for those unaccustomed to camping or bikepacking, but rest assured— we make it comfortable, almost fun!
We use Groovers (see photo) on nights 1 and 2. They start empty and fresh in every camp, and we take pride in finding creative, private places to put them, typically with a great view. The bathrooms are clearly marked, using the sealed bag of TP as the “door” so that when you take it with you, it’s clear the bathroom is occupied and ensures your privacy.
We provide hand sanitizer at the bathrooms, and handwashing stations with antibacterial soap when you return to camp. Please use them, for everyone’s good.
We also have two primitive foot-pumped camp “showers”, which are meant to rinse the dust off and have four heads each so are not meant to be a private or full shower. Water in the desert is scarce, and we prioritize what we bring for coffee and filling your hydro-packs! We suggest bringing your favorite body wipes to finish the job in your tent.
What You Need To Bring
You will receive a detailed packing list when you register, but here are the basics to give you an idea of what you’ll need.
Bring or rent a mountain bike, typically full suspension, definitely tubeless
Hydropack/bladder bike bag
Camping Gear
Great attitude
Sense of Adventure
That’s the gist of it!
Resources
Once you are registered, you may join the private Discussion Group we have on Facebook. It started years ago for Bikerpelli, and many of our returning riders are quick with a thorough answer, flush with details from their multiple laps on the Kokopelli Trail. As the route and schedule are the same, the info translates over perfectly to BABErpelli.
The creator of the Bikerpelli Trips also wrote a guidebook on the trail, and it’s free! You can check that out here.
Email us! We very excited for this inaugural women’s trip, and happy to answer any questions you have. We want everyone to have the tools they need to succeed on this trip, and we will help in any way we can to make sure you get them.