Saint George, Utah quickly became one of our favorite places to visit every winter. There is so much to love from the desert scenery to the city itself, the prime location to National Parks, and the endless activities it offers. Most importantly though, there is superb mountain biking in St George for beginners and advance riders alike!
By Bekah Whitney
I consider myself a beginner to intermediate rider when it comes to mountain biking. Anything in the west that is rated difficult, I stay away from, as to keep my body intact. If you are looking for some rides on the beginner to intermediate side in St George, you have come to the right place!
If you have never mountain biked in St George before, this is a must! It is such a fun trail with plenty of flow and the uphill isn’t very long or steep.
Length: 4.2 miles Round Trip, Loop, Rated Intermediate
Elevation: 133′ Up, 460′ Down
Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 37.05299, -113.62678
Or Type in: New Bearclaw Poppy Navajo Trailhead (Biking)
Getting there: To get to the Bearclaw Poppy trail head you must drive through a small neighborhood in Bloomington, Utah off of I-15. Many children are biking and playing so make sure to abide by the speed limits of the area.
Uphill: The uphill section is a very easy wash with a slight uphill grade for most of the ride. If you are very new to mountain biking there are multiple “shortcuts’ ‘ where you can jump on the downhill faster. The uphill and downhill are directional so please make sure you are always following the signs as riders will not be expecting anyone going against traffic.
Downhill: The downhill starts on top of a hill and is wonderfully flowy. Since the trail follows along the bottom of a large, variable cliff, you will notice trails on your left (further up the slope and more hilly) that you can ride on to make your ride longer or go to the right (less hilly) to make it shorter. There are also sections where you can choose the moderate or difficult section to accommodate your skill level. Overall, Bearclaw Poppy is one of our favorite places to go for a quick fun ride.
Church Rocks is one of those trails that was exhausting, incredible, and so much fun. There were a few parts that I walked and there is one part that the MBT project suggested walking. Other than those few spots the ride was perfect for an intermediate rider.
Length: 5.3 miles Round Trip, Loop & Out and Back, Rated Intermediate with some short Difficult sections you can walk.
Elevation: 521′ Up, 523′ Down
Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 37.149696, -113.49058
Or Type in: Grapevine Trailhead
Getting there: On the MTB Project App, it wants you to park at Highland Park across the interstate. When we went to do this route, there was major construction and this option was not available. Instead we parked at the above trailhead coordinates for Grapevine/Dino Cliffs Trailhead.
Followed trails: Start on Grapevine at the top of the hill you will jump onto Prospector (One large steep hill you will have to walk), from Prospector you will get onto Church Rocks which will bring you down, around, up and down and up again. You will come to an intersection where you can go back down Grapevine to go back to the parking lot Or if you want a little more you can ride Dino Cliffs down.
The ride: Unlike Bearclaw Poppy where you go uphill then downhill, Church Rocks goes up and down multiple times. The trail can be difficult to follow at points so definitely have the route preloaded on your phone to check you are on the correct path. During the 5.3 miles of riding you will ride on top of sandstone, on ridges, and find fun flowy sections. Take it slow or walk when you need to and enjoy this ride!
Cove Wash trailhead has multiple routes, but the one I found the most fun was Precipice/Sidewinder/Barrel Roll loop. This one is great if you are looking for some new scenery, but there are some sections that just aren’t that fun due to the rockiness.
Length: 7.9 miles Round Trip, Loop, Rated Intermediate
Elevation: 946′ Up, 952′ Down
Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 37.12108, -113.67507
Or Type in: Cove Wash Trailhead
Getting there: Head towards Santa Clara out of St. George. Once in Santa Clara, drive through downtown and take a left onto Gates Lane. Gates Lane. Here you have two options. FIrst you can park at the Lower Cove Wash Trailhead down the paved road to your right, or you can go straight up the dirt road to the main Cove Wash Trailhead. If you choose the main Cove Wash trailhead, you will follow the dirt washboard road to a fork where you will veer to the right. Up another short hill, you will see the parking area on the right surrounded by a timber fence.
The ride: Unlike Bear Claw Poppy, these trails are not directional. Make sure to be on the lookout for riders going the opposite direction and remember uphill riders always have the right away. Sidewinder was my favorite section of trail as it was smooth and a little flowy coming down
Except at Bear Claw Poppy, there are no water stations at the trailhead, bring yourself plenty of water as it gets hot in the desert!
Deserts are among the most fragile ecosystems on the planet. Lack of water mixed with the heat makes for little biodiversity. Remember to stay on trails and avoid riding over vegetation. If it has recently rained and the ground is still wet, do NOT ride the trails until the ground has dried. Bike tires tear up muddy desert sand and clay and ruin the trail for future users. But fear not, it dries up very quickly when it does rain.
If you are new to mountain biking you may not know all the rules of the trail. Here are a few to know. Mountain bikers must yield to hikers no matter which direction they are going (although most hikers move to the side). When passing hikers let them know if there are more bikes in your group coming by. Uphill riders also have the right away over downhill riders as it is difficult to keep momentum. If trails are directional, do not ride against traffic for your safety and that of other riders. When you’re expecting a clear trail, you ride really fast sometimes!
Hi! I’m Bekah, but you can call me Beks, all my friends do! I travel full-time in a tiny home on wheels that my partner, Sawyer, and I built from a cargo trailer shell in 2019. We started out in beautiful Colorado and have been all over the United States over the years. This space is designed to inspire and guide the nature obsessed nomad, weekend warrior, and future roadlifer. I’m so excited you’re here!
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St George is an outdoor lover’s paradise. With so many hikes, mountain bike trails, state parks, and of course Zion National Park being a short drive away, it’s hard to run out of things to do.
Leave a comment below and let us know what other mountain bike trails you love near St George Utah and if you have ridden the trails mentioned in this post! Remember to share with your friends and family who love mountain biking and want to explore Utah.
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