After the 'rest' yesterday, I was itching to get out and ride Gooseberry Mesa this morning. There has been considerable hype about the mesa, and some have claimed it the next Slick Rock...or a hidden MTB gem to others.
Getting to the trails was no easy feat as the rains last night had seriously rutted the road. After navigating the dirt roads to get there, I had the whole place to myself! Can't complain about having 25 or so miles of dedicated bike trails to explore, can you?
Gooseberry Mesa is a nice mix between slick rock and ponderosa pine/forest riding. The trails are well marked, and all you have to do is follow the white dots as you go. I was prepared for some seriously extreme riding or perhaps even HAB as the trails I rode were marked single and double black diamond. Over the course of the 18 miles of single track that I rode, there wasn't anything I would consider advanced. However, if you watch the video, I believe they marked the trails as such because you ride within a foot or two of the mesa edge. The drops of which are around 50 to 400 feet. A wrong move or a nice gust of wind, and that would be one hell of a ghost ride.
I explored nearly all the trails sans the jeep/easy trails, and didn't encounter any strenuous climbing or technical challenges that were beyond [what I would consider] an intermediate level. Given that there wasn't lots of climbing, you can ride nearly non-stop and have an incredible time out there. The trails are a blast to ride, and the scenery is as good as anything that I experienced in Colorado.
If I had a choice to ride in Moab or Hurricane, I would still choose Moab in a second. Hurricane and the surrounding area are building more trails and IMBA race loops, and expect that this place will have tons to offer by the end of the year. Perhaps another visit once all the new trails are done to see if this might become a destination spot. If you happen to be in Vegas, St George, Zion or Bryce Canyon, with nothing to do, I would suggest taking a trip up to the mesa.
Enjoy the video!
Gooseberry Mesa is a nice mix between slick rock and ponderosa pine/forest riding. The trails are well marked, and all you have to do is follow the white dots as you go. I was prepared for some seriously extreme riding or perhaps even HAB as the trails I rode were marked single and double black diamond. Over the course of the 18 miles of single track that I rode, there wasn't anything I would consider advanced. However, if you watch the video, I believe they marked the trails as such because you ride within a foot or two of the mesa edge. The drops of which are around 50 to 400 feet. A wrong move or a nice gust of wind, and that would be one hell of a ghost ride.
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