Broken Mesa

Broken Mesa

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	Broken Mesa
Location:	Utah
Nearest Town:	St. George
Directions to Trailhead:	From I-15 south take the St. George Blvd. exit and go right. Go right on 1000 east and take the next right and then left on to Industrial Road. follow it for a bit tell you come to Red Rock road and go left. Follow it up the hill and stay on it (the road is not a very good road). You will come to a water tower.(if you are doing the trail as a loop this is where you park. Ride from here fellow the same directions as shuttle). If you are doing as a shuttle keep going. The road will turn into crappy dirt road. Stay on that road and you will come to a Y in the road, go left. The road will go up a fairly rough climb, at the top the road Straightens out with a slight incline with a few rollers. you will go undernether some power lines when you do that be looking to you left for 2 signs. One says "Red Cliffs Desert Reserve No dumping" and the one behind it says "Broken Mesa Rim trail" Turn left on that road it is a little dirt road fellow it tell you see a dirt parking area with a water trof at the end of it. This is where you park for the shuttle. If you are doing it the loop way this is where the trail really begins. Near the water trof you will see a trail marker and the a peice of single track. That is where you start. The Drive to the trail sucks but the trail is worth the drive.
Trail Description:	From the parking area you will go up the climb it is fairly steap and technical. It switch backs up to a narly dirt road with a pipe line nest to the road. Go right on the road for like 50 ft you will see a peice of single track and a stack of rocks over the pipe line. You will be about half way up the climb here. The climd is about 10% of the whole trail. You will come to a technical move at the top of the climb called Kevin's Gate. I dig the section of the trail it is a fun, hard, tight, rocky setion with a few little leges to climb up. From here it is basicly flat of down hill. I would recomend to really keep your eyes open for the rest of trail, stuff comes up quick and it would really hurt to go down. The trail will winde down the mesa with some rad veiws the trail will start to get rougher and rougher as you get farther down the mesa so be careful. You will come to a cut on the edge of the mesa. This an old wagon trail for the pinoneers if is a bit steep and but fun. When you get to the bottom of the that you will come to a dirt road. It is called the power line trail. If you are doing a loop go right, it will take you to the water tank where you parked. If you are doing the shuttle go left. When you get to a power line pole turn right(you will see the bike tracks) follow it and you will come to a fence. Hop over that and fellow it for a ways, you will go by a trutle fence after that there will be a fork go right. Fellow that for a bit it will have some soft sandy sections in it. You will come thought a fence on to another road go left here. You will see a Golf course on your right. Stay on that same road you will cross over a golf cart path and by a little building then on to a paved road. Take the next left you will ride though a neihbor hood. You will be on this road tell you come to a stop sign and go left you come to middle drive. Go right on middleton drive, it is a frontage road the paralels I-15. From here I think that you can figure out where to go.
Trail Length:	Not sure, if you do a shuttle from Red Rock it is like 2 1/2 hours if you go fast.
Trail Type:	Singletrack & Fire Roads
Skill Level:	Advanced
Submitted By:	Zac

Dan Talbot from Centerville,UT Date: April 17, 2003 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: This trail is easily accessible from St. George Blvd. It's just off the freeway. Basically you turn off the Boulevard onto Industrial Road and follow it for a few miles until you get to a large water tank. I seriously recommend having two cars-one to park at the tank and another to park at the actual trailhead. If you only have one car, you have to park at the tank and ride a neverending dirt road to the trailhead. It's approximately 4-5 miles, but drains a lot of energy. I would recommend this trail to more experienced riders. Beginners may come home crying and will spread bad rumors about this trail. It's a new trail out there so come and help break it in! Other recommended trails in the same area: I highly recommend Gooseberry Mesa. It scores a 5 for technicality and is just an amazing trail. Be ready for any kind of emergency there though. I've ridden it 4 times and so far have snapped a chain and flatted out at the lookout point.
Review: Starts with a nice single track climb, but it's only about 10% of the whole ride. From there, you ride the mesa all the way down. It flies by, but you better be careful, cause a crash would be a painful experience. It's swift, but has a few technical parts to it also. The last part of the downhill is rocky as hell--you'll know when you get to it. From there turn right and head back to the tank. It's a few miles and it really tests your 2nd wind strength.	Overall Rating:

Fat Back from Utah Date: April 10, 2003 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Same as described Other recommended trails in the same area: The I-15 trail north or south, Just keep going.
Review: "Pure"or rather "Puke" is a idiot! Hey moron your supposed to ride the whole 16 mile loop in order to find the sand and double track. Maybe you'd better stick with having your mom drop you off at the top of the Green Valley loop trail and picking you up over in Bloomington. As far as broken Mesa goes, it's a great trail for a killer work out. The down hill's a blast. Then comes the sandy double track leading up to the worst kept dirt road in the west.	Overall Rating:

Pure from Local Date: April 1, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: As said below Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: What trail are you riding hernandez and dean. There is NO double track on this entire trail, it's all singletrack, and no sand since it is only about a year old. Hernandez is obviously an ignorant local since he dosen't know the where abouts of his own trails. Twin Peaks is Ice House, not Broken Mesa. If you think this trail needs work, then get off your lazy ass and help out. Trails aren't given to you, you have to earn them. Dean, the people who like this trail aren't BLM Employees, we are people who actually know how to use trail directions to get on the right trail. It's not a poor excuse for a trail, it is a trail, if you can't cut it, stay on your Illegal Rockville Bench, which has been shut down and we can't get it back up because redneck's like you won't stay off long enough to let us fix it.	Overall Rating:

hernandez from local for along time Date: March 27, 2003 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: the whole TWIN PEAKS loop Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: As a local for alot longer than most of the young kids and their wives this is TWIN PEAKS. and not to challenging at that. hey Zac this review site is to not attack other reviews read the rule book. oh and the mtn bike ethics book cause rumor is you think you own the local trails	Overall Rating:

Zac from St. George, UT Date: March 26, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: If you like a bit of suffering do it as a loop. If you want to shuttle that works also. Other recommended trails in the same area: Gooseberry, JEM/Hurricane Rim/they are working on the rest,
Review: If you are a winey baby that dosen't like awsome technical single track don't ride this trail. It is fairly remote and you have to ride or shuttle a crappy dirt road. But the trail it so worth it. Again the trail is not for the roadies on dirt that only like perfectly groomed single track that dosn't require skill. The people the reviewed this trail most resently are wimps with no skill!!! If you like really moutain bike trails ride this trail if your a wimp DON'T!	Overall Rating:

Terry from Cedar Hills, UT Date: March 25, 2003 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Do NOT ride this as a loop! You will spend 2/3 of your time on the dirt road climbing to the trailhead or slogging your way along the sandy doubletrack back to the water tower. If you want a long workout, and don't care about enjoying all parts of the ride, then the loop option might be acceptable. Other recommended trails in the same area: Gooseberry Mesa!!!
Review: If you start at the trailhead, there is a stiff technical climb followed by a long fairly technical and really fun downhill. The downhill gets steep and nasty near the end as the trail drops off the mesa. This would be much more manageable if all the loose rocks were cleared off. As it was, it was pretty hairy. (NOTE: If you ride this as a loop from the water tank, then you are in for about an hour's climb just to get to the trailhead. It starts out on pavement, quickly becomes a well maintained gravel road and eventually deteriorates into a rough, rocky, dirt road). Once you are off the mesa, the ride back to the car (at the water tank) is miserable. Its mostly uphill, in deep sand with a couple of steep rocky climbs thrown in for good measure. If I were to rate the trail as a loop, I would score it about a 2.5. I am going to give it the benefit of the doubt though and rate just the section from the trailhead until you drop off the mesa.	Overall Rating:

Dean from Point of the Mountain Date: March 16, 2003 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: I cannot recommend this trail at all! Other recommended trails in the same area: Rockville Bench
Review: Start on the sandy powerline road which leads to a boring dusty dirt road. Climb up to the trailhead where you enter an akward section of trail that can best be described as unpleasant, followed by old doubletrack before dropping steeply off the mesa back into a sandtrap. If this trail sounds like fun to you then you deserve it. It is worth noting that most of the previous reviews are by the BLM personnel or employees who attempting to promote this poor excuse for a trail.	Overall Rating:

Chacon from St George Date: January 23, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Broken mesa is not twin peaks. Ice house is twin peaks. And the trail head you mention in the forest still exists and is a part of the RCDR system. The trail was officailly named Ice House because pioneers built the original route to collect Ice in the forest. The route ( trace) eventually narrowed to single track and has seen many uses over the years. Because of the nature of the soil and terrain, as well as the steep slope, this trail is prone to falling lava rocks and heavy erosion. Many local riders have spent time to " making it ridable" over the years. And it needs it again. Volunteers will be working this years to clear debris from the route. This will provide another loop opportunity for riders to Park at the IceHouse Trail head, then link to Broken Mesa Rim Trail and do it up hill to the pipe line. The a narrow jeep route will loop you back to your car. If anyone is interested in volunteering to " sweep" this trail contact BLM or Red Rock Bicycle. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: The Broken Mesa loop is a great ride. It has diversity and challenge. By having the option to do a shuttle or loop you can better suit your own style. Every time I ride it I have a blast and greatly improve my technical skills. Just try riding faster.	Overall Rating:

Scott F from Alpine Date: January 20, 2003 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: We did this as a loop via the water tower. Other recommended trails in the same area: Gooseberry Mesa, Little Creek Mesa, Green Valley Loop (aka Bear Claw Poppy)
Review: Is this a good trail? Yes. But if you read the previous reviews, and look at its perfect five star rating you might think its worth buying a condo nearby so you can ride it every day. Since the previous reviewers have been so complimentary perhaps I can mention the trail's weaknesses to provide a balanced view. The way we rode the trail, as a loop, nearly 2/3 of the distance is on boring dirt road. There is a fun technical downhill section, but it is short. The trail has a lot more non-technical downhill that is fun. But much of this is marred by sections of loose, sandy soil, and in other places by stutter bumps. Many riders will enjoy the challenging technical uphill at the beginning, but this is also marred by loose and sandy conditions. Good, yes. But skip the condo, and if you travel a long ways to ride this trail make sure you also have directions to nearby Green Valley Loop, Church Rocks, Gooseberry Mesa, and Little Creek Mesa.	Overall Rating:

brandon from boulder co Date: November 14, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: well i would drive up to the top of the road to the trail head the do a shuttel park your car some where in town and have a guided ride go to red rock bycycle Other recommended trails in the same area: goosbery mesa
Review: well it is one of the best trails i have ever been on im just sortof stating and im only 15 but its arealy good trail i used to live in st.george and still visit my family. and everytime i go i always have to do that trail but the first time you go u should be carfull cuz stuff will just pop out an then. well	Overall Rating:

Rich from Salt Lake City Date: September 19, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Would recommend doing this as a loop, parking at the water tank and riding the dirt road up and finishing on the powerline road/trail Other recommended trails in the same area: Gooseberry, Rockville Bench Trail
Review: Headed down to Gooseberry Mesa and it was raining like crazy, so headed over to St George and did this ride--definitely the best thing we did!! By doing this as a loop you do about 2,000 vertical ft of climbing over the whole loop--but you definitely earn the singletrack, downhill romp. This is a beautifully constructed trail in a beautiful area. There was a desert tortoise in the middle of the trail during our ride!! If you want to cut off over 1,000 ft of climbing do this as a shuttle. The powerline road/trail is a bit sandy, even after some recent rains, but still mostly ridable. Thanks Bryce for the hard work, hope you build some more trails in the same area.	Overall Rating:

Ryan from St. George Date: September 8, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: As Said Above, I like to Park a car at the water tower, and jump into another, up the dirt road to the trail head. At the bottom of the trail, go right to the powerline road, to the water tower, and go pick up the other car. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Bad Ass Trail!	Overall Rating:

Fronk from Mammoth Lakes CA Date: September 4, 2002 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: I guess the trail has been re-named and the direction to the trail head has changed. Follow the recommended route above. In the past we used to ride past the "Red Desert Reserve" sign and continue to the Dixie Forest Border Sign. A little ways past the sign there is a dirt road that takes you to the trail head. Steve and Linda from St. George put most of the time and effort into making this trail rideable. Other recommended trails in the same area: Gooseberry, JEM, Stucki Springs, The Loop, Church Rocks, Any race courses and the best of all, LaVerkin Over Look Trail. Try and ride down the cliff without a dab.
Review: I think all of the people that reviewed this trial would agree that it is awesome. I used to ride it as a loop from my house behing Red Cliffs Mall. My best time was 2 hrs. flat. It's long and hot but it has some of the best single track in the area. Lava rocks sticking up through clay and red sand. Lots of high speed downhill. I've ridden it on a hard tail and full suspension and I have to say humping the full sespension up the road is worth it. We used to call this trail Twin Peaks.	Overall Rating:

Joe from St. George Date: July 29, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: If your like to suffer a bit riding the road from Red Rock Bicycle is how I ride it. If you don't like long stupid dirt roads do it as a shuttle. Other recommended trails in the same area: Go to Red Rock and ask the mechanics where to go. Like Lucas said give Bryce promps for building a rad trail.
Review: I dig this trail because it's not a race course. It's for true moutain bikers. Not those roadies on dirt that wine if there is a bump in the trail. I ride it on my hard tail, but I recomened and full suspention bike with a fatter sized tire. Oh, I do ask if you ride this trail please don't slid the corners. Thanks	Overall Rating:

lukas from st. george Date: July 24, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: zac knows what he's talking about, but if you're a downhiller shuttle it. Other recommended trails in the same area: Stop in at Red Rock Bicycle Co. and ask they'll point you in the right direction.
Review: This trail is awesome. If you like narrow singletrack and fast bomb sections, this is the trail for you in st. george. If you're a roady on dirt stay away, it'll rattle your teeth out and give you more scars than you really want. If you do ride this trail make sure to stop in at Red Rock Bicycle Co. and give Bryce Pratt props for building such a rad trail.	Overall Rating: