A Mountain Biker’s Guide to Hurricane, Utah: A Slickrock Party!
Many mountain bikers are drawn to the iconic red slickrock of Moab or the dusty trails of Sedona, but fewer know about the hidden gem in the southwest corner of Utah: Hurricane. Just a few hours from these well-known destinations, Hurricane offers an equally awesome mountain biking experience that should be on every rider’s radar.
With jaw-dropping vistas out over Zion National Park, sprawling slickrock slabs, a variety of trail networks, and terrain that caters to every skill level, Hurricane is a must-visit for mountain bikers seeking adventure. Whether you’re into flowy singletrack, technical descents, or epic climbs, this small town delivers it all. Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw from where the legendary Red Bull Rampage takes place, cementing its reputation as a top-tier riding destination.
Having ridden here several times, I can confidently say Hurricane is one of my favorite places to ride. In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to plan an unforgettable mountain biking trip to Hurricane, Utah—whether you’re coming for a quick day ride or an extended getaway.
Highlights of mountain biking in Hurricane
✨ Photo Gallery
Hurricane Trail Map
Most of the trails in Hurricane are located up on the bluffs and plateaus east of town. It is a drive to get up to them, so you will need a car. Better yet, plan on camping up there – there are some great spots! (More on camping in my downloadable guide 👇).
Want to sound like a local? It’s pronounced “Her-ah-kun” not “Her-ah-cane”.
4-Day Hurricane Mountain Biking Itinerary
Looking for the best trails and route recommendations for mountain biking in Hurricane, Utah? Download my 4-day itinerary packed with tips, links, and local secrets including the best trails to ride and route recommendations. Grab it now and start planning your trip to Slickrock country!
Plan your rides
1. Get warmed up at Hurricane Cliffs (Aka the Jem trails)
Hurricane Cliffs is the trail network located closest to town and it’s a great place to warm up the legs before getting into the more challenging terrain up in Gooseberry or Little Creek. The views out over Zion are also amazing!
Most of the trails are suited for beginner/intermediate mountain bikers, but many of them also have fun and engaging features that will entertain even the most experienced riders.
If you’re looking for a big day, there is an IMBA Epic here: Hurricane Rim. I’ve done the whole loop once and personally I wouldn’t do it again. There’s so much more better riding elsewhere, but if you like big cross-country days, you might dig it.
2. Short and Sweet: Wire Mesa
Wire Mesa is a bit of a step up from Hurricane Cliffs, but still suitable for beginner/intermediate riders. It’s also one of my favorite loops in Hurricane thanks to its fun and engaging routing (think mix of slickrock, technical rock gardens, and flowy singletrack) and amazing views.
There’s really only one 7-mile loop at Wire Mesa, so it’s not a huge ride. You can do the loop in either direction, but my preferred route is clockwise (or double the fun by riding it both ways!).
Want to do more? The Wire Mesa Loop is a relatively quick pedal and there aren’t a ton of other trails in the area to make it a longer ride. If you do want to keep pedaling, you can head over to Grafton Mesa and The Money Trails. These trails are very technical and not sanctioned, so be sure you’re up for it! They can be overgrown in places, hard to follow, and have high stakes features and exposure. This is the loop I do when I ride there. The Grafton Mesa Loop is also a classic, but be prepared for a lot of climbing and a very technical descent down Grafton Mesa with some scary exposure.
3. Everyone’s favorite: Gooseberry Mesa!
The shining star of Hurricane is Gooseberry Mesa. This trail network is the reason why many riders head to Hurricane to ride. What makes it so great? It’s basically a slickrock playground with epic views, some really cool features, and hair raising exposure.
Gooseberry is also, surprisingly, a good place for all levels. The Practice Loop is a good place for kids or beginners and South Rim will test the skills of even the most experienced of riders. The riding here feels a bit akin to a lower leg bootcamp thanks to all the punchy ups, so don’t underestimate your miles here.
Pedaling (or walking) out to Gooseberry Point is also a must.
A note about the exposure. The exposure on some of the trails in Hurricane (and Gooseberry in particular) is no joke in some places. Mountain bikers have died. In fact, a mountain biker died on Gooseberry Mesa just a few days before my last visit. He was trying to pedal out to Gooseberry Point and crashed and fell 200ft. The exposure is real and there are many places where you do not want to fall. Know your limitations – physically and mentally – and don’t try to impress others. Gooseberry, Little Creek, and Wire Mesa have the most exposure while Guacamole and Jem are a little less scary (but not exposure-free). If reading this makes you nervous, know that if you get off your bike and walk sections, you’ll be totally fine.
4. Little Creek: The Red-Headed Stepchild of Hurricane
Little Creek is a lot like Gooseberry Mesa, but a little rougher and a lot less popular. It’s also not as well marked, so definitely have the TrailForks app downloaded to your phone. Like Gooseberry, there are a lot of slickrock rollers, some exposure, and several cool features like a dry waterfall line (the hardest feature here) and narrow rock bridges.
I really like Little Creek for all these reasons, but people either love or hate it. I’d say give it a go if you’ve explored all the other trail networks in Hurricane or you’re looking for something a little unique!
Note that Little Creek isn’t a good place for beginners and it’s a bit of a haul to get out there.
5. My Favorite: Guacamole
Guacamole is my personal favorite network out of all of the mountain biking in Hurricane (but that may be controversial :). It’s located outside of La Verkin (instead of Hurricane) and offers different views and slightly different terrain compared to the other trail networks.
I like it because it has more of a backcountry, remote feel with less manicured riding and fewer people on the trails. The area was burned by a fire a few years ago, which – in my opinion – also adds to its beauty and intrigue. The outer loop of Holy Guacamole is also scattered with petrified wood artifacts, which are super cool! (Please leave them where they are so other people can enjoy them).
One thing to note about mountain biking at Guacamole is that the trails are definitely not marked or maintained as well as Gooseberry or other Hurricane networks. You’ll be swiveling your head constantly to search for the next cairn and it’s easy to get off track. Be sure to bring a phone with the TrailForks app downloaded.
Other Trail Networks
The above are the main trail networks around the Hurricane and La Verkin area. Nearby St. George also has a lot of decent trails as well, but I wouldn’t say they’re as good as the ones up on the mesa. I’ve ridden St. George a few times now and always love Santa Clara River Reserve (this loop is fun). I haven’t explored much outside of that, though. I’ll do a St. George write up after I spend a bit more time riding there!
FAQs & Planning Tips
Before planning a mountain bike trip to Hurricane, Utah out there, here are a few things to consider:
Need gear recommendations?
Here are a few recommendations specific to Hurricane mountain biking:
Have you mountain biked in Hurricane, Utah? What are your favorite trails and loops? How does it compare to Moab or Sedona? Leave a comment below!
Read next
Want even more planning tips? Download my Hurricane Mountain Biking Guide
I’m heading to Santa Fe this next week, was looking at stopping in both Caliente and Hurricane on the way down. Gooseberrry Mesa is top on my list at the moment to ride.
Was looking at going thru Moab on the way home, riding in Horsethief and Navajo Rocks areas. But now… I may change up, add a day to Ely and Caliente each, and then a few days at Hurricane on the way back. Hmmm… so many options, not enough time.
Gooseberry Mesa is definitely a must-ride. Caliente is cool, but it’s off-the-beaten path and not ‘epic’ like other popular destinations. That’s part of the appeal for me, though. Same with Ely. If you like more old-school stuff you’ll like them, but if you’re looking for the greatest hits, Moab and Hurricane are the way to go. Have a great trip!
Gooseberry Mesa is a great trail. It is not my favorite, and I have ridden a lot of trails, but you owe it to yourself to do it at least once. I don’t think you can travel on the trail for more than 6 feet without turning, or going up or down. Maybe it is because I have ridden so long, but I don’t find this place scary at all. There are no monsters there. Just like any trail, if you find a section that exceeds your ability level, get off and push your bike. You would really have to be a moron to fall off a cliff here and die. That is a choice to be that irresponsible. Lastly, you do no need a 4 wheel drive or off road vehicle. We have a cool Sprinter van now, but we used to go out and camp out of our Prius. Yes, I said Prius. The last time we went out, the dirt road to the trail was groomed like pavement. But,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,head the warning about rain. When you get off the pavement onto the dirt roads, which is at least 10 miles of driving, the mud from the rain is no fun. I mean really not fun. Additionally, the main road can be in washboard condition for miles. Go ride this trail!
Thanks for your tips! Agreed, Gooseberry is awesome and a must-ride. The exposure is definitely there, but I’ve never felt unsafe either. You can always get off and walk, though. Enjoy your adventures!
Hi,
We are looking for a place to base ourself for a week and really curious about this place, but we are a bit worried that the whole place is a but « flattish « and doesn’t have enough technical riding compared to Sedona or Moab. It’s hard to get a feeling just watching videos. There is the Red Bull stuff, but we need to come back alive:).
Thanks for your feedback,
Éric
I think you’ll find plenty of tech in Hurricane 🙂 Maybe not quite as much as Sedona or Moab, but it has its own array of challenging trails and it’s definitely not flat. For sure do South Rim on Gooseberry Mesa. If you’ve never been to Hurricane I highly recommend going – it’s a cool experience and one of my favorite places to ride.
There’s also St. George nearby, which I haven’t ridden a ton, but I have done Barrel Roll/Sidewinder/Suicidal Tendencies which is a pretty fun loop.
If you have more questions, feel free to shoot me an email!
Becky, fabulous site. Thank you! Even more excited for upcoming trip to Hurricane. Deb
Thanks Deb! Have an awesome time in Hurricane, the riding there is a blast 🙂