Amasa Back Area

My new favorite trail in the world!! The tech climb up Hymasa is extremely fun, and i don’t particularly enjoy climbing. Once Ahab begins it’s a whole different level of tech skills. The ride up is filled with punchy climbs on slick rock and a plethora of lines to take near the blue painted marks.

Once the downhill sections begin the riding is bliss. Total nirvana. You’ll want to be a comfortable black diamond level rider, if not double black diamond ability. Almost everything is rollable but there are many small drops, mostly optional to make things even more fun. The views, the flow, the trail aesthetic. This is a masterpiece of trail building, desert riding doesn’t get better than Captain Ahab. Don’t miss it.

This trail is an adventure in itself. Sustained tech, backcountry feel, rugged beauty. If you're going to ride this clean, bring your extra sack. Legit Black Diamond trail. If you have the skills, this is a must ride- loved it!

Hymasa back is the best! Great intermediate / advanced ride to challenge an intermediate rider.

We loved climbing up Hymasa and then that EPIC EPIC descend down Ahab, but this isn't a review for Ahab is it? ????.

Back to Hymasa, the climb is technical and mellow most of the time with only a few short punchy sections that are a challenge to navigate.

A must ride in Moab. Hymasa is an awesome climb up with countless line choices and areas to "session" as you work your way up the multifaceted canyon edges towards Ahab. Ahab is legendary! The level of technicality increases and the section of downhill after the view point on Upper Ahab is SICK! It can be physically challenging on a hot day but bring plenty of water and sun block because there is no reprieve from the desert sun along the trail.

This is an amazing area to ride with world-class red rock scenery. Captain Ahab is the gem when it comes to the riding!

This is a gnarly jeep trail with some good tech. I prefer the singletrack in the area, but this is fun too.

This is in the Amasa Back Area and it is one of the best trails I've ever ridden. It is gnarly, chucky slickrock that is still somehow flowy. Also the scenery is epic. I used Hymasa to get to the beginning.

This trail is part of the Amasa Back Area and has to be accessed by climbing up an intermediate trail, but it is the gem of the trails in the system. I did a review on the amasa back area that is more descriptive but this is truly an amazing trail. I don't think this trail should be separated from the Amasa back area since it is the MAIN TRAIL. its 2 trails that make one loop with some options to go ride to some view points, or leave the area. One blue up and one black diamond down.

This trail system has to compete with the whole enchilada, but it is another amazing ride in Moab. If you can handle canyon riding, do not pass this one up! Definitely technical uphill rock climbs followed by steep techy descents, but if you can handle one of the roughest trails I have ridden it is well worth it, having what I consider one of the best descents I have ever ridden. If you are looking for more details the trail that is premier is Captain Ahab which also sits on this site ranked alone? but pretty much there is one blue trail that takes you up and if you can't handle the captain, ride back down for a really sweet ride. Super important *** pay very close attention for the trail markers after crossing the creek. there is a hike a bike right after the creek. but after that, it is extremely easy to miss the trail head and instead taking up a near impossible jeep trail. The actual trail rides above it, on the cliff right above, just out of sight. I have ridden many of the top trails on singletracks and this one should be in the top 10.

Magnificent advanced climbing singletrack on a planet where good climbing singletrack is extremely rare!!! Lots of do-able steps and lots of short steep pinches that you have to punch up. Hymassa constantly challenges you but allows you to overcome most of those challenges if you're a strong rider with advanced skills.

It makes for a great loop with Captain Ahab although Captain Ahab is a grade more difficult.

It's best ridden as a loop, climbing up Hymasa Trail to join Captain Ahab near the top...

The Hymasa Trail is magnificent advanced climbing singletrack. There are lots of rock steps and lots of short steep pinches you have to punch up. When you reach Captain Ahab you continue climbing for a while - only steeper and more challenging. Captain Ahab is a double black diamond trail! It is relentlessly and intensely technical with steep ups, steep downs, rock steps, rock drops, side exposure, rock gardens and very little easy going. Expert riders will be in nirvana. Advanced riders will probably survive with some dabbing and walking.

I like this trail. Some drops, slight exposure and absolute fun from top to bottom.

Words do not do it justice. Go ride it for yourself!

A phenomenal trail. All rock. Very technical. Recommend expert riders only. Pretty much everything is rollable, but there are plenty of small 2-3 ft drops. Exposure in places. Very easy to hurt yourself out here. Bring your big bike for big smiles.

Technical mountain biking at its finest. The uphill sections are demanding and the downhill requires focus. If you like to be challenged then this trail is for you. It does have flow but does require skill. I think every mountain biker should test themselves on this trail at some point.

Kudos to the trail makers. Pure awesomeness throughout.

This is a mildly techy trail that proved to be much more fun than riding up Amasa Back. As is fairly typical for Moab, it's a combo of rock and dirt. There are a few spots on the rock where the paint has worn which makes it a bit difficult to find the trail, but that's more of an issue descending as you'd expect. Overall, this is a great trail as an out and back if you don't want to do more highly technical trails connected to this area.

Two pretty legit technical spots, they get the adrenaline flowing. Both ride-able, and very fun. Outside of that, nothing super special, you kind of climb out of it a ways to get back to the main network, and adds some miles onto Amasa Back.

Ahab is beautifully laid out and an absolute blast to ride!

It's a super gnarly jeep trail trying your technical climbing skills and patience. We climbed this mother all the way to Pothole Arch. The view off the backside (south) is insane!! You should do it for this view if not for anything else.