Ten years ago we made our first trip to Hurricane (“Her-ah-kun” by the locals) and actually not much has drastically changed since. Same fun trails, same accessible camping, same awesome bike shop, same amazing bakery/pizza place. Basically Hurricane stands the test of time and doesn’t need all the fancy additions that other mountain bike towns offer these days. In this destination guide we’ll cover mountain biking in Hurricane Utah and everything you need to ride, eat, sleep, and explore.
What to Know
The Weather
This is typical desert riding so be prepared for hot, dry and no shade. If you happen to be here when it rains be careful where you ride, camp and drive because Hurricane area is almost all clay. Wet clay makes for a nasty mountain bike experience.
The Exposure
Drill down far enough on Trailforks and you’ll see that most trails have some type of exposure. Honestly the trails are build so well that you’re never dangerous close but you need to understand just how close you are to ride it safely.
Where to Ride
Hurricane trails are spread out across six different areas. We’ll cover a recommend route from each of these areas. Listed here are the trail systems from easy to hard.
- Hurricane Cliffs (aka the JEM Trails)
- Wire Mesa
- Gooseberry Mesa
- Guacamole
- Little Creek Mountain
- Grafton Mesa
Hurricane Cliffs (aka the JEM Trails): Hurricane Cliffs is off Sheep Bridge road. It’s the closest to town and is a great place to start your mountain biking trip in Hurricane. The views are also amazing. The trails are ideal for beginner/intermediate riders, but also have side jumps, drops and rocks to keep it fun for everyone.
»Kid Friendly: Yes, this is a great area to take kids especially if you’re camped out on Sheep Bridge Road. You can use a tow rope if needed to get your younger ones up JEM or shuttle them to up towards HWY 59. We like to drive Lars up to the Gould South Parking lot, ride More Cowbell clockwise, down JEM to Dead Ringer back to JEM. There is a significant black section in there but it can be walked if needed.
»Go Big: Climb Dead Ringer, do a lap around More Cowbell, JEM back down.
When you’ve mastered JEM (or get bored) head over to Wire Mesa. The trail offers more challenge than JEM but it’s still good for beginner and intermediates. It’s one of our favorite rides in Hurricane because it has it all in one 8 mile loop. You can do the ride in either direction, but we have only gone clockwise and love that way.
»Kid Friendly: Yes. Younger kids might be challenged with the rock climbs and exposure. When Lars was 5 I took him clockwise and then bailed on a Jeep road that comes back to the parking lot. I towed him back.
»Go Big: Lap it twice! There are also a few black alt lines so keep an eye out for those.
Gooseberry Mesa is the original and well-known area in Hurricane. It’s got a number of loop options and lots of slickrock with (more) amazing views. There is exposure in some places and putting in miles here takes more time than you’d think.
»Kid Friendly: The Practice Loop is a great way to test their skills. You can also connect to trails via the dirt road.
»Go Big: Ride the South Rim and enjoy the views from Gooseberry Point.
Guacamole trails are worth checking out. They can be hard to follow but that’s part of the adventure. The views and backcountry feel of these trails makes them extra special. Don’t miss Salt on the Rim for a spicy extension that’s worth the detour.
»Kid Friendly: Lars at 8 really enjoyed riding out Margarita to the Guac loop and back through Salt on the Rim. It was challenging but kept him very engaged. We stopped to check out cool rock features and caves along the way.
»Go Big: Holy Guacamole and Salt on the Rim.
Little Creek: This loop covers most of the trails around Little Creek. Little Creek is off the beaten path and away from the crowds. Probably best to save this one for last as it’s not marked, rugged and challenging.
Ride the loop clockwise and then connect into North Loop, also clockwise. The descent down the Waterfall connector is fun and challenging. Then it’s mostly slickrock back to the parking area.
»Kid Friendly: Not for beginners.
Grafton Mesa. If you came to Hurricane for tech riding than this is your place. If you want to ease into this area ride the Money Trails. They are technical and challenging, but a little less gnar than Grafton Mesa to the bottom. Ride Show Me The Money and More Money and then it’s a climb back up on a dirt road.
»Kid Friendly: Not for beginners but some kids will certainly enjoy it.
Where to Sleep
Camping
There’s a lot of camping option around Hurricane but the easiest and most convenient can be found along Sheep Bridge Road (aka Hurricane Cliffs). We like to come in from HWY 9 but you can also access from HWY 59. If you have a small RV and/or 4×4 Gooseberry Mesa is also a good option. It’s a bit harder to access and you’ll be on bumpy road for miles.
We’ve never stayed in an RV park around Hurricane but they are building at least 3 new ones that look fancy. I might be swayed to check one out next time.
Hotels and Glamping
Hotels more your style? We checked out some cool places on our last visit. Definitely consider one of these:
Zion Wildflower: Luxury tents that are close to the JEM trails, Guacamole and the old Rampage site.
Under Canvas Zion: Up Kolab Terrace Road are more luxury tents within the Zion Park boundary. These are a little farther drive to MTB trails but a cool glamping experience.
Open Sky Zion: On Dalton Wash road within riding distance to the Guacamole trails is this beautiful oasis. It truly looks like a mirage. Definitely splurge worthy!
La Quinta: This La Quinta is really inviting and modern and comes with a pool! I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here for a step above budget accommodations. They are also building an RV resort next store and River Rock Roasting has a coffee hut location next store.
Where to Eat and Drink
Here are a few culinary gems around Hurricane which is nice after a long day biking. Note: the closest state liquor store is on the outskirts of town and they close at 7pm. So bring what you need.
River Rock Roasting Company: Located in La Verkin this is great stop for breakfast or lunch. Their cinnamon rolls are delish and so are the sandwiches and pizza. Sit on the deck for great views down the canyon into the Virgin river.
»Kid Friendly: Yep, they have sodas and pizza!
Dixie Pizza Wagon – We discovered this roadside pizza truck back in 2016 and it’s still there. It’s also one of the most popular places to eat in Hurricane. They serve wood-fired pizza and it’s top notch yummy. They’re open Wednesday – Saturday ONLY!
»Kid Friendly: It’s pizza!
The Cactus Room: We’ve never made it in here but it get rave reviews on Yelp. It’s also very close to the Hurricane Cliffs camping spots. Apparently they have really good Buffalo burgers, homemade fries and deserts. If you’ve been let me know how you liked it.
»Kid Friendly: I’m sure since it’s burgers and fries.
Bike Shop in Hurricane
Over the Edge: Over the Edge Hurricane never disappoints. They are friendly, knowledgeable and always have what we need. They rent bikes and keep up to date trail conditions on their website.
Have you ridden around Hurricane? What did you think? What are your favorite trails and post-ride hangouts? Leave a comment!
[…] For other lodging check out our Complete Guide to Mountain Biking in Hurricane. […]