The Gooseberry Mesa bike trail system is one of the most popular and well known biking areas in Utah, and is rated among the top mountain biking adventures in the United States. Not every dirt trail, bike rider should head up to Gooseberry Mesa with the intention of mastering the compilation of trails there. In fact, very few of the miles of biking here are for the novice; moderate to strenuous is the reality of the Mesa. The great news is that the conglomeration of trails can be combined in any direction or sequence to customize your ride, and there is no shame in trekking your bike across certain stretches instead of riding.
Anyone who has ridden a bike out to the rim of Gooseberry Mesa will attest to the breathtaking and awesome scene that awaits them. The views are particularly stunning. Don’t be in a hurry to leave once you have accomplished the feat of pedaling to the edge. Also, be especially safe on your ride and keep your eyes on the trail as you advance. Always wear a proper fitting helmet, and keep your fingers near the brake levers as you descend any trails of Gooseberry Mesa.
To get to the trailheads from Hurricane, take Utah Hwy 59 from town as if traveling to Kanab. At about 14.5 miles you will see a Scenic Byway sign between mile markers 8 and 9. There, turn ‘hard’ left and follow the Byway dirt road 3 miles to the unmarked Gooseberry Mesa turnoff, again to the left. Once on this road, go 3.6 miles on the winding dirt road to a BLM outhouse. Here, you have the choice of parking and mounting your bike as the road becomes noticeably tougher to traverse, or put it in 4-wheel drive and continue another 1.3 miles before arriving at the official trailhead. You may want to take some compass bearings at this point, because the various bike trails are confusing and mostly unmarked.
First-timers are well advised to ride with a companion on Gooseberry Mesa. Start early and bring food and water. Enjoy your adventure, and come back. This is a true mountain biking experience that should be done several times to fully appreciate.
|
