[rideit]

I sure hope they have some Uber Tech-Gnar planned!

New mountain bike trail opens, offering 'magnificent views' outside Zion's east side

The first portion of a large-scale attempt to turn Zion National Park's east entrance into a recreation spot is now open.

www.ksl.com

 

[mightybrick]

Yeah, I've ridden the first 6 miles they had built. There was a flow line, a flow line with drops, and a technical line. Pretty fun. I'm excited to see what more they build out.

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[Sparticus]

Looks like an ebiker has been on the new trails... there's an ebike in the linked story's cover photo.
Cool that they've got 34+ miles of bike trails built or planned. Best of all, according to the article it's already 100% funded.
=sParty

 

[raisingarizona]

Yeah, I've ridden the first 6 miles they had built. There was a flow line, a flow line with drops, and a technical line. Pretty fun. I'm excited to see what more they build out.

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Hey, thanks man! I’m stoked you enjoyed the work we’ve done so far.

Did you ride both sides of north fork road? There’s a completed area on the east side and the west side. The east side has a xc loop with flow sections, a bermy fast intermediate trail with some steepish sections and a short trail with more advanced features. The west side has a bidirectional trail to get up and back, a short connector for hot laps, a tech trail traversing back to two return dh trails, a flow line and a steeper more freeriding sort of trail with rock work and some small/medium sized jump features.

I haven’t walked or scoped any of phase 2 yet but I’m hoping there’s plenty of room to get jiggy with it over there. I’m going to do everything I can to make it fun and interesting.

 

[mightybrick]

I rode everything on the west side that was built as of mid-July. It was fun. We ran out of time and didn't get to ride anything on the east side of North Fork road.

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[raisingarizona]

I rode everything on the west side that was built as of mid-July. It was fun. We ran out of time and didn't get to ride anything on the east side of North Fork road.

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Sweet! The west side is more challenging than the east side for sure but the short free ride trail named Radio Flyer is pretty darn fun too. The tech line to the steeper free ride trail on the west side is all going to be grouped as one trail called Bison Escape last I was told. It’s the highlight trail so far imho and has a little of everything.

 

[Padlz]

Heading down that way in the next couple of weeks. Would love to get some beta on where these trails are, best route to take to hit everything. Sounds like about 10 miles of trail completed, so would love to check all of it out and maybe double up on whatever turns out to be the favorites. I'm looking at Trailforks, and guessing these are not on the map yet? I see some trails in the area (Big Toe, Jolly's, Equestrian DH), but doesn't look like these are primarily for MTB. Thanks in advance!

 

[rockman]

Heading down that way in the next couple of weeks. Would love to get some beta on where these trails are, best route to take to hit everything. Sounds like about 10 miles of trail completed, so would love to check all of it out and maybe double up on whatever turns out to be the favorites. I'm looking at Trailforks, and guessing these are not on the map yet? I see some trails in the area (Big Toe, Jolly's, Equestrian DH), but doesn't look like these are primarily for MTB. Thanks in advance!

The guy posting in this thread that's actually building the trails got banned for calling a troll in this forum a d-bag so unfortunately won't get any answers from him.

The trailhead is about a quarter mile off North Fork Country Road, which is the last road before heading to the east entrance of Zion National Park on State Route 9 or the first exit off the road, depending on where from come on.

Maybe a better map exists but here's one. You may just have to go exploring but everything that is open is apparently signed.

 

[Padlz]

Thanks for the info and the heads up about raisingarizona. Was hoping to get some direct beta from him, that's a bummer. If the signage is up that will help a ton with exploring around. I'll also keep my fingers crossed that someone will load tracks up to Trailforks before I get down there.

 

[rockman]

This might help a little. East Zion MTB Trails

 

[rideit]

Thanks for the info and the heads up about raisingarizona. Was hoping to get some direct beta from him, that's a bummer. If the signage is up that will help a ton with exploring around.

you can find him over at Teton Gravity Research, it is REALLY hard to get banned over there.

East Zion Park TrailsAnyone Have Beta?

Will be keeping an eye on this. Hope there is some tech-gnar in the works! https://www.ksl.com/article/50270983/new-mountain-bike-trail-opens-offering-magnificent-views-outside-zions-east-side

www.tetongravity.com

 

[Padlz]

In case it's helpful to anyone else, this write up was the most extensive I could find. It's from July, so I'm guessing there's more ready for tires now. I'll head over to TGR in a bit. Thanks!

Upper Zion Mountain Bike Trail System

 

[evdog]

I rode these trails a couple days ago. They're fun but I wouldnt go out of my way to ride them until more is built. The Bison Chute dh trail is legit with some fun features, as is the tech trail. Hopefully the rest of the network once built has some good views into the park. Not a lot of vert to work with on what's been built so far.

 

[Silentfoe]

Rode them today. I swear it feels like they were designed by a hiker and not a mountain biker. The grades are all wrong. It's really too bad. There are some fun and challenging sections. The problem is less than 5% of mountain bikers could probably ride them. They've billed this place as one of the answers to spread out the crowding in Zion. A couple issues with that. Mountain bikers have never been IN Zion. These are definitely mountain bike only trails, signs say so. That means it won't pull any hikers out of the park. As I mentioned, the grades are wrong on a significant section of built trail and these are the sections that most bikers will try to ride. I think they'll be a bit bummed and not come back. As of now, there's about 8ish miles of finished trail. I live about as close to these trails as anyone could. I drove 44 miles and it took me an hour and ten minutes. I had to go through Zion so I was definitely part of today's traffic in the park. With such an investment in time to travel, the poor design and lack of mileage...it'll be a long time before I go back.

With all of that said, yay for new trails!

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[rockman]

Rode them today. I swear it feels like they were designed by a hiker and not a mountain biker. The grades are all wrong. It's really too bad. There are some fun and challenging sections. The problem is less than 5% of mountain bikers could probably ride them. They've billed this place as one of the answers to spread out the crowding in Zion. A couple issues with that. Mountain bikers have never been IN Zion. These are definitely mountain bike only trails, signs say so. That means it won't pull any hikers out of the park. As I mentioned, the grades are wrong on a significant section of built trail and these are the sections that most bikers will try to ride. I think they'll be a bit bummed and not come back. As of now, there's about 8ish miles of finished trail. I live about as close to these trails as anyone could. I drove 44 miles and it took me an hour and ten minutes. I had to go through Zion so I was definitely part of today's traffic in the park. With such an investment in time to travel, the poor design and lack of mileage...it'll be a long time before I go back.

With all of that said, yay for new trails!

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Poor design? Interesting, I haven't ridden them yet but geez it's a professional trail designer/builder with plenty of experience. They are currently working in Caliente.

Did you actually check out the hiking trails? They are (or will be) on the other side of the park entrance road.

 

[Silentfoe]

Poor design? Interesting, I haven't ridden them yet but geez it's a professional trail designer/builder with plenty of experience. They are currently working in Caliente.

Did you actually check out the hiking trails? They are (or will be) on the other side of the park entrance road.

No. I had no reason to. There were many grades over 15%. Then it would go back down and back up over 15%. There are also 2 switchbacks (1 on either side of the road) that are horrible. Especially considering these are machine built and they could have really made them work.

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[rockman]

No. I had no reason to. There were many grades over 15%. Then it would go back down and back up over 15%. There are also 2 switchbacks (1 on either side of the road) that are horrible. Especially considering these are machine built and they could have really made them work.

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Is it possible you went up the down trails? I thought they were directional so none of that makes sense especially considering they were machine built. Anyhow, maybe it will be better when they get the upper areas built. Once thing for sure SW Utah has it going on right now.

 

[Silentfoe]

Is it possible you went up the down trails? I thought they were directional so none of that makes sense especially considering they were machine built. Anyhow, maybe it will be better when they get the upper areas built. Once thing for sure SW Utah has it going on right now.

Definitely not. I do agree we're getting a lot of new stuff and that's perfect

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[Wheelbender]

Rode them today. I swear it feels like they were designed by a hiker and not a mountain biker. The grades are all wrong. It's really too bad. There are some fun and challenging sections. The problem is less than 5% of mountain bikers could probably ride them. They've billed this place as one of the answers to spread out the crowding in Zion. A couple issues with that. Mountain bikers have never been IN Zion. These are definitely mountain bike only trails, signs say so. That means it won't pull any hikers out of the park. As I mentioned, the grades are wrong on a significant section of built trail and these are the sections that most bikers will try to ride. I think they'll be a bit bummed and not come back. As of now, there's about 8ish miles of finished trail. I live about as close to these trails as anyone could. I drove 44 miles and it took me an hour and ten minutes. I had to go through Zion so I was definitely part of today's traffic in the park. With such an investment in time to travel, the poor design and lack of mileage...it'll be a long time before I go back.

With all of that said, yay for new trails!

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I've seen photos, video and talked to those who have ridden the trails. Only one complaint, lack of parking. Flowy, banked turns, jumps, drops, skinny features. And more miles to come. All reports are positive. And thanks to land owners who donated land and access. Also $$$ donations. Just like the Cedar City trails it all must begin somewhere. This will make a great addition to our Navajo Lake, Thunder Mountain, Brian Head, camping/biking trips when it's time to escape the heat. As with all new recreation opportunities, don't let a couple Negative Nancy's cast shade on a great outdoor experience.

 

[rockman]

I rode what is being called the Applecross Mountain trail network earlier this week. It reminded me of a backcountry bike park with short returns to enable sessioning a feature and progressing one's skills. Bison Chute is a legit downhill trail with a surprisingly diverse suite of features packed into a short descent. This lower system will be an awesome complement to the upper phase II currently being built.

Radio Flyer has a really fun table jump (more of a tabletop that a double). There's a drop that feeds into it that acts as a filter. If you don't send the drop and stay off the brakes you won't hit the landing.

Lunar Ride is fast and flowy with a berm sequence and rollers for some fun air time.

Raisingarizona on a B-Line rock roller on the Bison Escape Trail. This traversing technical trail contours along a small cliff band on a very steep slope.

Bison Chute starts off with some cliff side riding and views before things get spicy.

There's two skinny's that lead-in to the steep descent on Bison Chute.

Two steep rock roll downs start the DH fun on Bison Chute and then things get rowdy. Gotta stay off the brakes and build some speed dropping down the roll down which then feeds into a berm followed by a large committing rock drop.

Thanks for the tour raisingarizona! I'll be back!