6 Intermediate Single Track Trails: Mountain Biking in St. George Utah
Not sure what to do in St. George Utah when you come to visit? Do you enjoy mountain biking? St. George is your mountain biking paradise. Riders are able to recreate on the 242 mountain biking trails all year long. The desert is a great place to ride bikes and offers mountain bikers a chance to experience terrain unlike that of Northern Utah. Mountain biking in St. George, Utah offers a wide variety of trail difficulties, lengths, elevation gains, and scenery. Warm weather, sunny skies and red rock cliffs make for a great day of mountain biking. Here are some popular intermediate single track trails. If intermediate isn’t your speed, check out trails more tailored towards advanced or beginner riders.
Barrel Roll Trail (Santa Clara Reserve)
Length: 5.4 mi
Configuration: Loop
Elevation (gain/loss): +109/-97 ft
Barrel Roll Mountain Biking trail is a rather popular mountain biking in St. George, Utah trail. This ride will take around an hour for the average rider. Barrel Roll has a few ascents and descents scattered throughout the course. Riders enjoy this terrain type because the descents offer riders a chance to catch their breath after ascending. This trail has great views of the Ivins area and Snow Canyon State Park. It’s recommended to ride the trail clockwise so the more technical areas on the track are on declines.
Church Rocks Trail
Length: 8 mi
Configuration: Loop
Elevation (gain/loss): +525/-562 ft
Church rocks is a stand alone slick rock trail not always clearly marked, but is part of the Prospector and Dino Cliffs trail network. This is a great trail for those who prefer to ride slick rock. Church Rocks becomes popular after rain storms because other trails get muddy and slippery. The trailhead isn’t always clearly marked. Riders enjoy fun and short climbing and descending sections on the classic Utah slick rock. Take breaks to enjoy the scenic views from this trail. Riders prefer to ride the trail clockwise.
J.E.M. Trail
Length: 13 mi
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation (gain/loss): +631/-600 ft
The J.E.M. Trail is a network of multiple trails. Starting out on the Gould Rim, then to the J.E.M. Trail and lastly to the Hurricane Rim, this excellent intermediate ride is made of fast rolling hills. The J.E.M. Trail is only 13 miles but riding the Gould Rim and Hurricane Rim in addition makes the whole ride 21 miles. It’s recommended to ride counter-clockwise for the best riding flow and overall experience. Take adequate provisions (water, food, spare parts) as parts of this trail get remote.
Paradise Rim Trail
Length: 4 mi
Configuration: Loop
Elevation (gain/loss): +400/-376 ft
The Chuckwalla Trail or Halfway Wash Trail are the best access points to the Paradise Rim Trail. Riders recommend to ride the trail from top to bottom as the trail has some technical sections that are rather difficult to navigate up because they are steep. Slick rock and short sand sections comprise the Paradise Rim Trail. Keep an eye out for the beautiful desert flowers that bloom next to the trail. The scenic overlooks provide amazing views of Entrada in Santa Clara. Be cautious as there are hikers, climbers, and dog-walkers that use the trails.
Prospector Trail
Length: 11 mi
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation (gain/loss): +1,150/-281 ft
This trail has great flow and is very smooth. You’ll cross up and over small ridges and down through gullies. There is one section that consists of a sandy hill but doesn’t last more than 100 yards. In the middle of the hill you’ll intersect with the Spanish Wash trail which is an equestrian trail so keep an eye out for fellow recreationalists who aren’t mountain biking in St. George, Utah. A little farther down the trail, you’ll intersect with the Church Rocks trail. Riders recommend taking a right and riding the rest of the trail in a counter-clockwise direction. When you see the black volcanic rock, head down into the wash for a more enjoyable experience (Prospector trail in blue, Church Rocks Loop in yellow in bottom right corner).
Zen Trail
Length: 6 mi
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation (gain/loss): +294/-307 ft
The Zen Trail is considered a high technicality mountain biking trail in St. George, Utah. This is a short but fun ride. The trail leads up to a rim that provides scenic views. Zen Trail can be ridden as an out and back trail with starting points on either end. The trail is very lightly used so you’ll most likely be out there by yourself or just you and your riding partners. For the most part, Zen trail is single track but a section of the middle is ridden on a powerline road. There are only a few short technical sections that may require you to walk your bike up depending on which direction you are riding.
Get out Mountain Biking in St. George Utah
By now you’re probably well aware of the scenic opportunities mountain biking in St. George, Utah opportunities! Each trail provides a unique balance of difficulty, pleasure and scenery. As always make sure you take proper provisions with you and keep an eye out for mountain bikers and other recreationalists. For more information on these trails and many more in the area, check out MTB Project. Hopefully “what to do in St. George, Utah” will never be searched again! Utah’s Best Real Estate Group is working hard to provide you with the information you need to plan your perfect weekend in St. George.
Utah's Best Real Estate Group
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