by Sam Demas May 2021
This new 190-mile bike trail passes through some of Utah’s most beautiful high desert country, starting at Brian Head Ski Resort and ending at Escalante. The trail (which includes some single track and lots of double track gravel road) wends through the Dixie National Forest, passing by the towns of Panguitch, Hatch and Bryce (apparently close enough for a side trip to Bryce Canyon National Park) and ends in town of Escalante in the region of the Grand Escalante Staircase. Along the way you stay at five huts on a trip described by the owners as a “luxury bikepacking experience”. I haven’t visited this system yet, so what follows is based on what I’ve read.
This enterprise — operated by Escape Adventures, a Las Vegas, NV tour operator that
offers a wide range of bike tours for folks of all abilities — started operations in Fall 2020. This six day, five night hut-to-hut tour operates July – October. 3-6 day tour options are available. Each of the five hut locations has two 6-bunk units. You can rent one or both units at each site depending on the size of your group. See the Aquarius Trail website for prices and reservation information.
In terrain and amenities this hut system resembles the two original biking systems operated by San Juan Huts of Ridgeway Colorado. However, the Aquarius huts are made of 9′ high shipping containers cut into 20′ long sections, each converted into what appear to be well appointed rustic huts. Like San Juan Huts, the huts are self service plus, i.e. stocked with water, snacks, food and, on request, beer; and they provide cooking/eating implements and stove, a propane heater for cold nights, sleep sheets and sleeping bags. In addition they provide an amenity rare in most hut systems: hammocks, showers (foot pedal powered), a towel for each person
, and a free pillowcase (which is the map for the hut system in addition to GPS tracks provided). Apparently gear shuttle is available for a fee. The huts are apparently ADA accessible. Guided or self-guided tours are available. At $889/person for the 6 day/5 night version of the experience, this is one of the most expensive hut systems in the USA; but if offers a higher level of amenities than most.
Editorial note: This latest in a series of new hut systems under development, the Aquarius Trail, looks way cool, but is leaning towards the luxury/glamping territory that I personally hope will not come to dominate hut-to-hut travel in USA.
For more details see the Aquarius Trail web site and a collection of articles available on the site: Two of these articles include: one by Tess Weaver and one by Dan Meyer.