[Wasatch Walt]

Is anyone an "expert" on Brian Head area trails, and knows these things?

Best places to camp (cheap, water / showers available)?

Best maps to buy that have the trails on them?

Best guidebook?

Best web resources?

Stuff like that.

I'm planning a trip there around Labor Day, and we want to ride almost everything they have in the area!!! I want to go in there "researched to the hilt" and hit it with big days in the saddle.

Thanks!!!!

 

[slcdawg]

You can stop in any of the bike shops in Brianhead to get a free guide to all the local trails. (At least its been free the past 5 years or so). Most of the shops offer a shuttle services for the higher elevation trails(Dark Hollow, Bunker Cr, etc.) All of those trails have excellent technical descents.

Definitely check out Thunder Mtn, its one of the most beautiful rides I've ever done in S. UT. If you're in to XC, check out the Virgin Rim trail...you can ride it as a shuttle or different sections as a loop. You can also find trail descriptions and directions at www.utahmountainbiking.com.

Sorry, I don't have a lot of info on camping...but most of the rides are in the national forest, so there *should be* lots of sites. Brianhead rocks...you're going to enjoy the trip!

 

[Bob the Wheelbuilder]

Here's another link with maps and ride descriptions.

http://www.brianhead.com/sumtrailsandmaps.html

I don't know much about camping, either, but there should be plenty of areas to camp dry. Ask at the bike shops about Bear Flat or the Sidney Valley area. Do bring plenty of water. Parowan or Pangutich may have KOA type camping if that's what you're looking for.

My favorite rides are Bunker Creek (I usually ride right fork), Dark Hollow, Lowder Ponds, Scout Camp, Thunder Mountain and the eastern two thirds of the Virgin River Rim trail.

Gooseberry isn't too far away, but summer isn't the best time to ride there. If you wanted, you could still ride it comfortably in the early am, then make it back to Brian Head for an evening ride.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Wasatch Walt]

bike shops

You can stop in any of the bike shops in Brianhead to get a free guide to all the local trails. (At least its been free the past 5 years or so). Most of the shops offer a shuttle services for the higher elevation trails(Dark Hollow, Bunker Cr, etc.) All of those trails have excellent technical descents.

Definitely check out Thunder Mtn, its one of the most beautiful rides I've ever done in S. UT. If you're in to XC, check out the Virgin Rim trail...you can ride it as a shuttle or different sections as a loop. You can also find trail descriptions and directions at www.utahmountainbiking.com.

Sorry, I don't have a lot of info on camping...but most of the rides are in the national forest, so there *should be* lots of sites. Brianhead rocks...you're going to enjoy the trip!

do you have a "list" of names for the LBS in the area??

thanks

 

[slcdawg]

Sorry, I don't remember the names of the shops...but they're really easy to find in Brianhead. There's just one road that goes by the Mtn....with a couple of shops right there and another across the street.

 

[kAZ]

Just type "Panguitch Lake Camping" into Google. Lots of options.

This is the Nat Forest campground, http://www.reserveusa.com/jsp/commonpage.jsp?goto=/nrrs/ut/pang/newindex.html

 

[Shannon-UT]

The Cedar District of the Dixie Nationa Forest has a few campgrounds, in case Panguitch Lake is full.

http://www.fs.fed.us/dxnf/recreation/campgrounds/mapindex.html (Dixie NF overview)
http://www.fs.fed.us/dxnf/recreation/campgrounds/indexce.html (for Cedar District)

There is free camping within the NF too if you don't use a campground. If you're coming from Panguitch, there's a road just before you enter Red Canyon on the left hand side that has some good spots. Just practice Leave No Trace techniques!

 

[CrashTheDOG]

WWalt,

For web based trail resource I'd recommed Utah Mountain Biking.com. My wife and I are spending four days camping & riding up in Brianhead the weekend prior to Labor Day, and I'll post with a report when we get back.

Till then,
Crash

 

[Wasatch Walt]

cool

WWalt,

For web based trail resource I'd recommed Utah Mountain Biking.com. My wife and I are spending four days camping & riding up in Brianhead the weekend prior to Labor Day, and I'll post with a report when we get back.

Till then,
Crash

Cool!

that would be great!

 

[CrashTheDOG]

Walt,

Meantime, here's a couple of useful links...

The Offical Website of Brian Head Resort, this site should answer most of your questions regarding shops, shuttles, rentals, trails, maps, dining, camping, ect.

Panguitch Lake.com and Panguitch Lake.net. Panguitch Lake is at the end of the Bunker Creek trail and only a 30 min. drive from Brianhead. We plan on camping in this general area due to the fact that the weather is a little more temporate at this lower elevation, and there are a few streams and creeks where I can wet my fly. Google "Panguitch Lake Campgrounds" and you'll get a slug of options for campgrounds.

 

[trevor_2k]

For shops- in Brianhead, Georg's is a great shop with a knowledgable staff. In Cedar City, (just down the mountain) I'd highly recommend Brian over at Cedar Cycle. He is a great guy and willing to help out with anything.

Camping options are open, if you want to camp in a designated campground, you can go to Duck Creek, however over the Holiday it is 100% packed with Vegas folks and their campers, kids, and everything else. Actually, a lot of the designated campgrounds up on the mountain will be full, Cedar Mountain is like the designated Labor Day vacation spot for the state of Nevada. There is camping at Cedar Breaks, but I've never looked at their facilities. An option might be, depending on if you get up here before Friday, is a brand new campground up Parowan Canyon at Yankee Meadows. Most campgrounds up here don't offer showers, only water faucets every few campsites, and some bathrooms (open pit or regular).

In case you don't know, there are 2 main ways up to Brianhead. You can travel up Hwy 14 from Cedar City to the Cedar Breaks turnoff, and up and over to Brianhead. Or, go 20 minutes north of Cedar City to Parowan, and head up Parowan Canyon. Up Parowan canyon there are 2 main turnoffs - 1st left and 2nd left. They actually connect at the Yankee Meadows resovoir so it is basically a loop. However, if you turn up 1st left, there are 2 campgrounds. One is only a mile or so up, BUT I don't know if it is open yet. The other is about 3-5 miles up, and is a much better location. Both are accessible with cars. The second campground is only like 1/2 - 1 mile after the pavement ends.

Overall, best bet for camping up on the mountain is to get here before Friday, and you should be able to find a spot.

www.brianhead.com - www.brianheadtown.com/georgs - www.cedarcycle.com

 

[racer99]

Recently spent a week riding in the BH area- you won't go wrong on just about any trail- read the reviews to find what you like. The VRRT is an epic 33 miles that has a lot of climbing and great views, the shuttle rides (Bunker, Dark Hollow) from the top of the mountain are great, Blowhard mountain is a technical challenge,.... Just go and ride.