Gooseberry Mesa Trail lies a few miles west of Zion National Park. It is a fabulous combination of the grippy fun of Moab's Slick Rock and the fun, tight twists and drops of rock and packed trail through bristlecone pine and sage that is found in the opening miles in Lower Porcupine Rim Trail.
In other words: it is a total blast!
Gooseberry has many trails of which South and North Rim are the principles with many others spidering on and off these routes. South Rim starts off rather non-technical--a warm up for a more challenging back half that winds up at the scenic "Point". Slick rock riders will appreciate the ability to ride angles and slopes that aren't do-able on any other kind of surface but Gooseberry is far gentler in the length and technicality of climbs. It's just pure fun without the need for a third lung or muscle doping for those extended all out climbs that turn thighs into jello.
I had a few hours mainly to myself to enjoy these rides. I loved the fast, twisty, but tight trails that dumped you into more slick rock. There were a few riders out on the trail including a group down from Idaho and an older rider from Denver who has made the pilgrimage before. All of this was at a about 5000' elevation with maybe a 100" total elevation gain over the 12+ miles I rode. The views of Zion were an ever present awesome backdrop during the ride.
A few days later, I got in a ride that was incredible and breathtaking in its uniqueness and beauty. It was like a ride one might have seen in a Western with breathtaking vistas of Red Canyon and it's brilliant red hoodoos and canyons. In fact, the Cassidy trail is alleged to be the route of Butch Cassidy. My trip was to tackle
Thunder Mountain's 7.9 miles of epic canyoneering and downhill riding.
I dropped the car at the trail head at 7600' and then took a paved bike path up 5 mile
s to the turn in along an ATV route. The trail head was 2.1 miles further up at Coyote Hollow at 7800'. From there the trail provided some nice windy cuts through the rolling mesa and hollers before reaching Thunder Mountain at 8200'. Throughout the entire ride keeping and eye on the trail was a challenge given the sweeping views around. Some unmelted ice and snow made it more technical and kept speeds slower than desired. On a dry track, the undulating single track to Thunder Mountain would have been a great sprint and drift.
Reaching the top at 10.5 miles in, what lay below was an incredible view of hoodoos and canyons which the trail would soon drop down and through. The next 5 miles were an incredible experience! Tight turns and switchbacks followed by fast and twisty drops between towering hoodoo or along the crest of ridgelines that fell at a 70 degree pitch on either side. At times, I wasn't sure if I was totally frightened or completely in heaven. Thunder Mountain gives you no chance to think about either for long. Between trying to catch glimpses of fabulous views and finding the best line, it is a visceral ride of pleasure and challenge.
The last 2 miles were one delightful thread of fast downhill and swoopy turns and whoopdedoos that were a constant thrill. I don't think I turned the crank once!
At the bottom, I reached the car with 15.7miles on the odometer. Time was the only thing that kept me from doing a double on this trail.
And here it is in living color:
At the top and starting the descent:
And on the ridgeline:
The big descent:
Wrap-up:
