The ride starts in a wash at the end of a dirt road. After about 100 feet in the wash, look for a rock "cliff" on your right with a trail leading over to it. That''s the end of the ride. Pick your way around a small trail to the right of the steep spot, onto level rock on top. Now head west (left), with an occasional zig or zag as you gain altitude.

Rising from the red dirt of the desert, this trail climbs onto beautiful rolling bowls of orange Entrada sandstone. Riders hug the shoulders of the ridges, gradually working up above the cliffs.

Stop and play around. There are countless rideable areas. Practice your stunts. Jump a six-inch ledge. Then a twelve-inch. Then an 18-incher. Find some half-pipes to roll around in. This is primo rock.

The official "end point" of the ride is the west end of the mesa. You can reach it along the south edge (easiest), over the top, or on the north edge.

Bring a repair kit, pump, and extra tube. The rock is so tempting, you''ll soon be doing stupid stuff. (We tend to get a high testosterone-to-IQ ratio here.) During one trip, we had major work on four out of five bikes.

Be sure to head up the bluff to the east, into the white monoliths we call "New York City." Zip along the sandy trail between the rocks. It''s an interesting cruise. Expect the sand to give you a real workout.

Riding time for Bartlett Wash can be anything between an hour and all day. We often combine Bartlett with another short ride after lunch. Other nearby quick rides include Hidden Canyon and Klondike Cliffs.