Gooseberry Mesa & Zion Backcountry Weekend

Our two smartly nuanced itineraries maximize not only the best trails, but also the greatest variety of riding conditions here in no less than fat tire nirvana.

A summertime descent into Zion from the high country means biking Brianhead’s beautiful mountain singletrack. Approaching Zion from the south, the fabled Gooseberry Mesa’s fantastic slickrock riding is perfect in the Spring and Fall.

A quick 15-minute drive from Hurricane, a sweet little Southwest Utah hamlet, brings us to Gooseberry Mesa, (elevation 5418-ft.). Built by the twin Harris brothers, 13-mile long Gooseberry Mesa is popular the world over. As such, it’s likely you’ll meet and ride alongside Danes, Belgians, Germans, Dutch, Aussies, maybe a mad dog and an Englishman. One of the best loops anywhere, Gooseberry rates intermediate and up. Though the adjoining South Rim Trail comes with a harder designation for its higher level of challenging terrain. From the white dots that point you over the adjoining slickrock, you can expect nothing but singletrack on Gooseberry Mesa, the Big Loop: swept along beautiful cliffs, past low stands of Juniper and Pinon, only to skillfully wend and contort yourself through gigantic boulder stacks. Yes; here it is, your moment of Zen.