Gooseberry Mesa 5-Day Slickrock Tour
RIDING TYPE
Advanced
DURATION
5 Days
SEASON
March - April / October
Gooseberry Mesa 5-Day Slickrock Tour
Conquer Gooseberry Mesa: Utah’s Premier Slickrock
Embark on an unforgettable 5-day Gooseberry Mesa mountain biking adventure with Western Spirit Cycling, exploring the renowned technical singletrack just south of Zion National Park. This advanced-rated trip immerses you in a world-class trail system meticulously crafted by the BLM and local organizations. Prepare for exhilarating sections of slickrock trails seamlessly intermixed with twisty, turny singletrack winding through fragrant juniper and pinyon forests. As you conquer ‘The Goose,’ you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the majestic Kolob Canyons and the colossal walls of Zion National Park, making this one of Utah’s premier guided bike tours.
Our decades of proven experience and unwavering reliability mean you can focus solely on mastering Utah’s legendary slickrock with confidence.
Advanced Slickrock, Zion Panoramas & Technical Flow
This Guided Gooseberry Mesa Bike Trip is tailored for Advanced riders who possess a high level of cycling skill, featuring:
Iconic Slickrock Trails: Ride the famous Gooseberry Mesa itself, along with other celebrated Utah singletrack experiences like JEM Trail and Little Creek Mesa.
Technical & Flowy: Conquer a diverse mix of terrain, from tight, technical singletrack and challenging climbs on slickrock knobs to flowing desert trails. This is truly technical singletrack Utah mountain biking at its best.
Breathtaking Views: Experience stunning panoramic vistas of Zion National Park’s Kolob Canyons and colossal walls.
Fully Supported: All logistics are expertly handled, allowing you to focus on mastering the challenging slickrock without worry.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
Your Utah singletrack adventure begins as we meet in St. George, UT.
We’ll head to the Santa Clara River Reserve, diving into flowing desert singletrack that winds through fascinating landscapes.
This day serves as a perfect introduction to Southern Utah’s unique riding and sets the stage for the technical singletrack to come.
Today features the exhilarating JEM Trail, renowned for its high-speed desert cruising.
The trail carves a fantastic line along a cliffside overlooking the Virgin River, providing thrilling descents and breathtaking views over the river drainage.
This combination of speed and scenery makes for an unforgettable experience on this St. George area bike tour.
Prepare for a unique technicolor rock experience on Little Creek Mesa.
This ride provides an excellent introduction to true rock riding, with trails meticulously rerouted by the BLM and IMBA for optimal flow and challenge.
You’ll navigate a diverse landscape of smooth slickrock sections interspersed with technical challenges, honing your skills on some of the best slickrock biking Utah has to offer.
Today is the highlight for many riders – a full day conquering the famed Gooseberry Mesa.
This tight, technical mountain bike trail is a true test of skill, featuring intricate slickrock lines and dropping into thrilling rock canyons.
You’ll be rewarded with unparalleled, expansive views of Zion Canyon, making every challenging maneuver worthwhile during this iconic day.
Conclude your Utah singletrack adventure with more epic riding on Gooseberry Mesa.
We’ll explore additional technical loops, tackling steep climbs, intricate slickrock knobs, and tight switchbacks.
The ride features challenging off-camber sections and firm sand, ensuring a grand finale that utilizes all your newly honed skills.
After this exhilarating finish, we’ll shuttle back to St. George, celebrating an unforgettable guided Gooseberry Mesa bike trip.
-TRIP NOTES
The fine print
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.
Road Surface
Primarily slickrock, singletrack trails, and some dirt roads.
Overall Rating
Strong Intermediate with some more difficult sections. Expect tight slickrock singletrack, loose and rocky dirt sections, and technical maneuvers. Advanced
Technical Difficulty
Advanced (demands precise bike handling, navigating numerous obstacles).
Physical Difficulty
Moderate (sustained riding, some climbs, multi-day endurance).
Altitude
3,000 - 5,700 feet.
Biking Mileage
8-24 miles per day
Hiking Mileage
8-24 miles per day
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
St. George, UT. Begins 7:30 AM MST at Holiday Inn St. George Convention Center, 1808 Crosby Way.
Getting There
120 mi north of Las Vegas on I-15. Flying into SGU, LAS (Salt Lake Express), or SLC (~5hrs).
Taxi Service
Quality Cab 435-656-5222; Taxi USA 435-656-1500.
Lodging Before Your Trip
Best Western Plus Abbey Inn
Tru by Hilton St. George
Fairfield Inn St. George
Hilton Garden Inn St. George
Quality Cab: 435-656-5222
Taxi USA: 435-656-1500
PACKING
Standard western spirit packing list
- Meals/camp gear provided
- Bring/rent bike & helmet, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cycling & camp clothing, personal items, tipping cash (10-20%)
Bring or rent
Bringing or renting
- Bike (rentals come with flat pedals)
- Helmet (gratis w
- Rental bike)
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Cycling clothing
- Cycling shoes
- 3-5 pair cycling shorts
- 3-5 cycling shirts
- Long sleeve cycling shirt
- Long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
- Cycling socks
- Windbreaker
- Tights or leg warmers
- 2 pair cycling gloves
- Rain jacket & rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Warm layer
- Sunglasses
Camp clothing
- Camp shorts/shirts
- Warm socks
- Long underwear
- 2 pair warm long pants
- Fleece/sweater
- Pile or down jacket
- Warm gloves and hat
- Brimmed hat
- Bathing suit
- Hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rain gear
Personal
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Towel
- Biodegradable soap
- Wet-wipes
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Sunglasses
- Optional day bag
- Stuff sacks
- Cash for tipping (10-20% of trip price)
Optional
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Favorite beverages
- Books
- Maps
- Portable USB charger
Need more information about our bike trips?
Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732.
Need more information about our bike trips? Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732
Gallery
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