The Aquarius Trail Hut System provides and supports a backcountry experience like no other! Spanning almost 200 miles from Brian Head in the southwest of Utah, east to Escalante is a mountain bike route dotted with five backcountry huts known as the Aquarius Trail Hut System. The huts are connected by high-alpine and desert singletrack, doubletrack and jeep roads, and the odd stretch of pavement.
The Aquarius Trail Hut System (ATHS) is a 200+ mile hut-to-hut bike route that connects the high-elevation peaks outside of Brian Head, Utah (11,307 ft) to the desert town of Escalante (5,800 ft).
Aquarius Trail Hut System Mt. Bike Tour Utah
From the seat of your bike, you’ll enjoy remote hut accommodations, purpose-built as well as wild singletrack, challenging jeep tracks, dirt roads, hidden lakes, and spectacular vistas. Ride the Aquarius Trail and enjoy the marvels and scenery from the peak of Brian Head, through Panguitch, Hatch and Bryce, down to the beautiful town of Escalante.
This wooded high country runs across the northern edge of the Grand Staircase-a massive series of sedimentary steppes-for about 100 miles. Formed 20 million years ago by the tectonic plate uplift on the Colorado Plateau, the Aquarius Plateau encompasses more than 900 square miles.
The ATHS are also outfitted with composting toilets and ample fresh water. As compared to other hut systems we’ve reviewed, we found the availability of solar power to be the most stand-out feature of the ATHS-you can charge your GPS, phone, camera, or whathaveyou with this extensive lithium battery bank and warm showers are made possible by filling a solar shower bag with hot water.
Read also: Aquarius Monthly Forecast
The Aquarius Trail Hut System route starts at the base of Brianhead Resort in Brian Head Utah and ends in the small desert town of Escalante.
Welcome to Utah’s Color Country, one of the greatest places in the world to ride your bike. From the seat of your bike you will experience Brian Head Peak, at a towering 11,306 ft., down Proctor Canyon into quaint little town of Hatch. Keep exploring all the Dixie National Forest has to offer; like a big climb up to the scenic Powell Point where John Wesley Powell surveyed Southern Utah. In the days ahead you’ll enjoy remote hut accommodations, secret singletrack and fast descents to more beautiful places.
The Huts
A system of five huts are strategically placed along a 190 mile route through some of Utah’s most scenic backcountry - spanning from the peak of Brian Head at 11,307’ to the beautiful town of Escalante at 5,820’. These unique huts are built using repurposed high-top (9′ 6″) shipping containers. These containers were used across the Pacific Ocean to haul commercial goods.
Once retired they made their way to Phoenix Arizona where they were cut apart into 20 foot sections, and constructed with interior walls similar to what you would find in a new home. They were designed to be off grid so that they could be located in off-the-beaten-path locations.
Each hut can sleep a total of 12 people. Plan to make friends, because whoever shows up on night one will presumably be with you throughout the five nights.
Read also: Understanding Aquarius
The kitchen sink, hand washing station, and body rinse stations utilize manual foot pumps. Forest Service-approved pit toilet bathrooms and body rinse stations are available at each hut. The body rinse stations utilize outside temperature water, but if needed one can heat water on the stove to create a warm rinse.
The huts are constructed with two sleeping cabins - 6 beds in each cabin. Bunk beds in each hut can accommodate 12-14 riders (each hut has two sleeping units with three bunk beds in each unit. One of the bunk beds folds out into a futon that can sleep two people) Bedding/towels are provided at each location.
Each unit and the kitchen have electronic charging outlets to charge phones and small electronics. The separated bathroom unit and storage is equipped with a pit toilet and hand washing station. The storage area has a generator (to charge ebikes), bike stands, extra water storage, propane storage, and other hut supplies. Each completed hut was built with an enormous deck and customized roof to house the solar PV panels.
Each hut on the Aquarius Trail had a fairly set menu for us to cook for dinner like burgers, spaghetti and meatballs, salad, orange chicken, etc… which were all good. The huts have solar-powered fridges, so there are lots of fresh food options, which was nice compared to the mostly canned food supplies in the San Juan Huts. For lunches and snacks, there are supplies to make sandwiches and a variety of sweet and salty snacks to choose from.
On the surrounding deck you will find sections of turf to spread out on, lazy chairs, and space to hang the two supplied hammocks.
Read also: Symbolism in the Age of Aquarius
E-bikes
E-bikes are allowed at each hut so groups of mixed abilities can enjoy the same adventure. One of the unique things about the Aquarius Trail Hut System is that it’s e-bike friendly. Each hut is equipped with a generator for charging batteries and the distances between huts are low enough so that you don’t have to worry about running out of juice.
*Note: while e-bikes are allowed on the Aquarius Trail, they must stay on the main route and not take the singletrack options. If you choose to ride an e-bike you will be riding mostly on dirt jeep and fire roads.
The Route
The route cobbles together a variety of different Jeep roads, singletrack, fire roads, and a little bit of pavement between each of the 5 huts, making each day a little bit different and unique.
- Day 1: Brian Head to Hatch Hut
- Day 2: Hatch to Red Canyon (Butch Cassidy Hut)
- Day 3: Red Canyon to Pine Lake Hut
- Day 4: Pine Lake to Clayton Springs (Aquarius Hut)
- Day 5: Clayton Springs to Escalante
Your adventure begins at Brian Head Peak (11,307), where you descend the exciting Bunker Creek Singletrack. Mountain Bike Action Magazine rated this Singletrack as one of the top ten best trails in America!
Energize with a hearty breakfast for this morning’s invigorating eight-mile, 2,500-foot climb through Proctor Canyon to the top of Sunset Cliffs! Sunset Cliffs is the mountain border for the Bryce Canyon Valley. After viewing the stunning scenery, you descend eight miles to Tropic Reservoir, and take a plunge in the crisp (yet refreshing) waters. Cruise a 19-mile section of the Great Western Trail to Red Canyon. Once you get to the hut take a little time for hiking or opt for the Cassidy Loop in Red Canyon.
Get ready for some of the best single-track in Utah-Red Canyon. From the hut, ride down Thunder Mountain Trail through the beautiful hoodoos of Red Canyon. From here cross Highway 12 and ride up to the Casto Canyon trailhead, passing many amazing views of Slate Mountain and Powell Point. Casto Canyon, crosses a small creek bed up to 44 times before eventually meeting up with jeep roads that cross the high planes of Bryce Canyon country to Pine Lake Hut.
Today you will climb to the top of the Aquarius Trails namesake - the Aquarius Plateau! Get ready for the BIG climb -2,200 feet over 10 miles to the top of Barney Top 10, 577 feet. On your way to the top, don’t forget to ride out to Powell Point (an optional 8-mile out and back ride to a vista overlooking southern Utah). Once back on route, continue onto Barney Top and across spectacular high meadows to the Aquarius Hut at Clayton Springs. If you are still thriving for another ride, opt to ride down to Barker Reservoir and back.
There are two different ride options from the Aquarius Hut to the midpoint at Posey Lake. Take the non-technical ride on Hell’s Backbone Road or choose the backcountry singletrack ride on the Great Western Trail. Each is very different. The dirt road option is across big open meadows with antelope roaming freely while riding along the mountain singletrack, you will be challenged to technical riding and more climbing (climb 2,500 feet and descend 3,300 feet over the first 15 miles). Choose to stop at Posy Lake where, time permitting, you might have the opportunity to do some hiking around the lake. From here choose dirt road or then ride cowpuncher 5 mile singletrack to Cowpuncher Guard Station and Blue Spruce Campground. Passing through various vegetation zones, today’s ride borders the Box Death Hollow Wilderness. Continue riding along Hell’s Backbone Road until you reach Scenic Highway 12. From here it is a beautiful ride along the Hogback back to Escalante. Along the way, stop at Calf Creek and cool off in the crystal clear waters. Optional 3 mile hike to Calf Creek Falls is a great side trip as well. This 128 foot waterfall is nothing shy of amazing!
The Aquarius Plateau is among the high geologic tables that comprise the High Plateaus Section of the Colorado Plateau. As North America’s highest timbered plateau, the Aquarius Plateau tops out at 11,328′ at Bluebell Knoll.
Important Considerations
Given the elevation and terrain, the full five-night trip is available to book July to October. It is possible to do a shorter trip in June, but you’ll need to contact Escape Adventures directly.
Since this is a point-to-point ride, you’ll need to set up a shuttle. If you leave a car at Escalante Cyclery (the finish), you can book a shuttle with Aquarius Trail Hut System from Escalante to Brian Head on day 1.
You’ll want at least a hardtail mountain bike, but a full-suspension trail bike would be more fun, especially if you plan on riding most of the singletrack. If you don’t have your own bike or you’ll be flying in and don’t want to bring yours, you can rent one. They have Specialized and Santa Cruz full-suspension bikes available as well as e-bikes.
You honestly don’t need to bring a lot of gear because most everything is provided for you at the huts. Some days were pretty straightforward for navigation where there were long stretches on the same road.
You will need to book a semi-private or fully private trip if you plan on doing your own vehicle support. Take all the planning out of your trip with a guided trip. Escape Adventures offers a 6 day/5 night guided trip that includes two guides, a support vehicle, and meal preparation.
Hut Locations and Seasons
| Hut Name | Elevation (ft) | Season | About the Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatch Hut | 7027 | May 1 - End of October | Part of the Headwaters section of the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area. Offers excellent fishing in Mammoth and Asay Creeks. |
| Butch Cassidy Hut | 8034 | May 1 - End of October | Located near Red Canyon, with hoodoos and trails following in the footsteps of the famous outlaw. Close to Bryce Canyon National Park. |
| Pine Lake Hut | 8385 | June 1 - Mid October | Situated near Pine Lake at the foot of forested peaks. In 1869, the famed expeditioner, John Wesley Powell, led a crew of mountain men and former soldiers 1,000 miles down the Green and Colorado rivers. |
| Aquarius Hut | 10,023 | July 1 - Mid October | Located on the Aquarius Plateau, the highest timbered plateau in North America. Near Barker Reservoir, stocked with Brook Trout. |
| Clayton Springs | 8034 | July 1 - Mid October | Near Death Hollow, a dramatic canyon with an extraordinarily deep gorge. Close to Hell's Backbone Bridge and the Hogsback on Highway 12. |