I just started planning my first trip to Canyonlands NP for end of March. Do you think it would be possible to do the White Rim Road with a single speed cross bike loaded with panniers? My camping gear is ultra-light (less than 9 lbs for everything), but with all the required water and food for 2 nights in the backcountry, the bike will be heavy. My current notion is to pack very light, with most of the weight in the required water supply, and bring lightweight hiking boots to walk the bike up the impossibly steep sections or through the deep sand. For camping I was thinking I could avoid the White Rim Road vehicle campsite reservation system and plan on hiking into backcountry for each night of camping.

The reasons why I’m thinking of doing it this way are that my only “mountain bike” is a single speed cross and it is already set up to hold my panniers. I looked at bike rentals in Moab, but could find none that would take panniers. I thought about renting a suspension bike anyway and carrying my camping gear on my back + handlebar bag, but still there would simply not be enough space for all the heavy water. Unfortunately I’ll be alone on this trip, so no loving wife to drive the support vehicle with the burgers and beer waiting at the end. I’d like to figure out a way to do the White Rim Road in a bike and hike mode with at least one night out, if not two.

Any suggestions or advice?