more stats
2.0 miles
Distance
145 ft
Climb
-748 ft
Descent
00:23:03
Avg time
-603 ft
Altitude change
4,001 ft
Altitude min
4,651 ft
Altitude max
4,651 ft
Altitude start
4,049 ft
Altitude end
-5.8%
Grade
-76.1%
Grade max
31.6%
Grade min
2,093 ft
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
679 ft
Distance flat
00:23:03
Avg time

Captain Ahab (lower) Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Amasa Back
    Moab, Utah
  • Difficulty Rating
    Double Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (32 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in Trail Running
    • 75 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #23 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #64 in Trail Running
    • #548 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Exposure
    Life Threatening
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Double Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Extreme
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Drop, Rock Face, Rock Garden
  • Lighting
    No
  • Land Owner
    BLM

Jewel of the Amasa Back area, relatively new to the other trails. Fun transitions and some great little rock drops. Hymasa is a bit easier, so if you are unsure of your skill, start there, and then climb back up Hymasa to do Captain Ahab.

Trail Supporters
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 2 rides
  • 8 miles average
6 Months
  • 263 rides
  • 10 miles avg distance
All
  • 2,251 rides
  • Last: Jun 16, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on May 18, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.73 (186 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
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  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to captain-ahab-lower trailhead (38.513540, -109.609920)

        Photos

        180 more »
        3,040 |
        Jul 6, 2015 @ 10:19am
        Jul 6, 2015
        2,543 |
        Jan 19, 2018 @ 2:01pm
        Jan 19, 2018
        1,620 |
        Jan 18, 2017 @ 2:33pm
        Jan 18, 2017
        2,595 |
        Jan 21, 2017 @ 11:04pm
        Jan 21, 2017

        Videos

        72 more »
        youtuber Could this be the best trail in Moab?
        10:48 | 1416 | Oct 11, 2022 , Moab
        youtuber Escaping Winter Depression ASMR - Captain Ahab...
        11:39 | 1404 | Feb 4, 2020 , Moab
        youtuber Best Trail In Moab? (Captain Ahab)
        14:09 | 1037 | Oct 7, 2021 , Moab
        youtuber Better Than a Ripmo? (Long Term Ibis Ripley...
        14:28 | 1167 | Dec 15, 2020 , Moab

        Trail Lists

        Routes with this trail

        315
        Moab Hymasa/Captain Ahab loop
        ★ 5.0 • 8 miles • 1,323 ft • 13 • Loop •
        black diamond loop ( )
        352
        Trail One List - Captain Ahab
        ★ 4.0 • 9 miles • 1,569 ft • 6 • Loop •
        If you've ridden the classic "life or death" Portal trail in Moab, it's a bit hard to see why Captain Ahab...
        248
        Amasa Back - Pothole Arch, Captain Ahab, Cliff Hanger, Hymasa - RideSpots.com
        ★ 5.0 • 14 miles • 2,106 ft • 12 • Out & Back •
        is an awesome riding area with loads of options. For this route we suggest climbing up either the Cliff...

        50 Reviews & Comments


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        Frequently Asked Questions About Captain Ahab (lower)

        ▼ Where is Captain Ahab (lower) located?
        Captain Ahab (lower) is located in Amasa Back, Moab, Utah, United States. It is part of the Amasa Back trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 38.51354, -109.60992.
        ▼ How hard is Captain Ahab (lower)?
        Captain Ahab (lower) is rated as Double Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Extreme. The average grade is 5.8%. The climb difficulty is rated Double Black Diamond.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Captain Ahab (lower)?
        Captain Ahab (lower) has 145 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 748 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 4,001 ft to 4,651 ft.
        ▼ Is Captain Ahab (lower) a point to point trail?
        Yes, Captain Ahab (lower) is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.

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