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Bearclaw Poppy Trail (historic Green Valley Trail) |
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The Bearclaw Poppy Trail lies southwest of St. George. It
joins Green Valley to the west side of Bloomington, curving scenically
around Bloomington Hill. You can ride it from either end as an
out-and-back (11 miles round trip), or grab a few city streets to make an
11.5-mile loop.
You can also use this trail as a piece of a much larger ride including Stucki Springs, or throw in the one-way westbound Bloomington Trail for variety on an out-and-back. Picture: Gary and Brian Argyle stop to admire the scenery. Original review by Bruce August 1, 1998. Trail page last updated December 8, 2011. |
| This trail is a
blast to ride. Highlights include a not-too-tough one-mile hill climb, a run down a desert wash, a series of short "scary but not too
hairy" drop-offs, and a roller coaster hard-pack. It's the
most popular trail in St. George.
View from the hill after you come up past the Green Valley Spa. Follow the dirt road down, to the left, then uphill to reach the parking for Bearclaw Poppy. Many bikers park right here to begin their ride. See the Zen and Racetrack pages. Photo December 2011. |
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You can ride this trail year-round. At an elevation of 2700 feet near
the Arizona border, this trail never sees snow. However, during wet weather
the clay can become saturated. Never ever
ride or hike this trail after rainstorms! You'll damage the trail. And
during the winter months, check with a local shop for current conditions.
The parking area is just to the right of the metal gate and trail kiosk. Keep heading uphill. |
| The Bearclaw Poppy lies in a special preserve area. The
preserve protects the endangered Bearclaw Poppy. Absolutely DO NOT EVER
ride off-trail. Don't follow other riders' illegal cheater tracks -- stay
on the main path. If cyclists don't respect the preserve, we may find
ourselves locked out. Really.
Bearclaw Poppy. Seriously, don't be a jerk. Stay on the trail, and don't ride when the ground is wet. |
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I'd rate the trail moderate aerobic and
intermediate technical overall. If you don't stop to play, it's very quick ride --
one you can easily hammer in the morning before work or golf. If you start
from the Bloomington end and turn around at Clavicle Hill -- which is my
recommendation for kids -- it's easy aerobic and easy-beginner technical.
Dominic Bria reaches the top of the hill, nearing the water tank. The singletrack stepover gate will be to his left. Photo 2000. |
| From the Green Valley end, the trail starts with a modest one-mile
warm-up climb along the side of a sandstone
canyon. (That's if you ride to the trail from town. If you
drive to the new parking area, you'll have only a short jaunt uphill. The
step-over gate marks the border of the preserve, and the start of the
singletrack.) Hilltop GPS N 37° 05.162' W
113° 38.831'.
Bruce's Superfly 100 leans against the border of the preserve on December 8, 2011. Just downhill are the Three Fingers of Death! Let the fun begin. |
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The trail descends into a roller-coaster
BMX course in red, white, and orange desert dirt. Right away, the
singletrack drops downhill over a couple of little ledges. Beginners,
remember to let the bike roll as you hit the scary stuff, then carefully
brake after you're back on smooth trail.
Gary descends from the bluff towards the "Lion's Paw" or "Three Fingers of Death." After the Three Fingers of Death, the trail winds along the a wash (the dark streak at center right). Picture August 1, 1998 |
| First the red stuff: the "Three Fingers of Death." Plunge down to
the valley floor. Of the options here, the left "finger" is easier. To
the right, the options get more scary. People get hurt here, so chose
wisely based on your ability.
Or, hold to the right after the initial descent and find the singletrack "Flatline Trail" that winds around at a more leisurely pace. It will be on your right just before you reach the Three Fingers, and crosses the path down the Fingers. (This singletrack will be your uphill route if you're doing the ride as an out-and-back.) Plan your route. Photo December 2011. |
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Next comes orange dirt:
"the wash." Rock and roll across the desert on the firm wash
bottom. Hit the sidewalls to add to the tech factor.
If you find wet dirt while in the wash, GO BACK. The clay that lies ahead will not heal if you damage it by riding while it's wet. Winter's view down the Wash, heading southbound. |
| From the wash, the trail rolls over some more orange dirt
before reaching the white clay of the "Acid Drops." You'll
notice a couple of side routes. Keep heading straight south-southwest. The
first one on the left rejoins at the Acid Drops. The three routes heading
right (north) join to form the Stucki Springs cutoff route. A side route
on the right with multiple interconnectors and drops into a wash that
parallels the Acid Drops.
View from the top of the first Acid Drop. |
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The Acid Drops are pretty easy for intermediate riders. If
you're a beginner, well, here's the secret. Get off the bike seat. Put all
your weight on the pedals so your butt comes away from the seat. Let the
bike tip down, while your trunk stays balanced upright. If you MUST brake,
use only a tiny bit of rear brake. Ideally, just let the bike roll. After
you absorb the "wump" at the bottom with your flexed legs, sit
down and begin applying the brakes.
Looking north uphill from the bottom of a three-drop series. To the right is a climbing route (or an easier descending path). |
| The last of the Acid Drops is the dreaded Clavicle Hill!
Yes, it's named after the body part that it breaks. (GPS N 37° 04.209' W
113° 39.299') Experts, go ahead and take some air off the rock ledge at the
top.
Intermediates, pick the rock-free line and let it roll. Don't over-brake, or you'll pitch over the handlebars. Dominic rolls Clavicle Hill in 2000. |
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Beginners, there are two cheater routes around the hill. As you approached Clavicle Hill, there was one on your left about 150 feet back from the edge. (This is the path that most riders will take when riding from the Bloomington end or when returning on an out-and-back. It IS possible to ride straight up Clavicle Hill. But I've never succeeded at it.) Darren Harris heads up Clavicle Hill in this January 2010 photo. The Acid Drop section offers some challenges when ridden south-to-north.
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| As you come to the bottom of Clavicle Hill, turn left toward
the mountain and pick up the continuing Bearclaw Poppy Trail. There's
another drop just below Clavicle Hill, also with a trail turning left to
Bearclaw at the bottom. Straight ahead would take you to the Stucki
Springs trail and the Bloomington Microloop.
(There are also trails heading to the right, which can take you to
Snakepit Rim or the Stucki cutoff.)
The trail will curve closely around the Moenkopi skirts of the mesa, Bloomington Hill. If you find yourself away from the mesa in rolling desert at this point, you probably missed your turn. (Note: some riders become confused by the carsonite trail markers, which say "Bearclaw Poppy" on the top, even if those markers are located on the Stucki Springs or Bloomington Microloop trails. The whole area is the Bearclaw Poppy preserve.) Kristen leads cousin Savannah westbound on Bearclaw Poppy in 1999. |
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Now it's on to the rolling white clay south of Bloomington Hill
-- the "Roller Coaster." The trail rock 'n rolls through hard-packed desert dirt. Awesome! Keep on the main
trail at all times. Resist the temptation to "explore" --
whether on foot or bike -- because you're in the desert preserve. Go only
on MARKED alternates.
Authorized alternate routes are designated with carsonite markers. |
| In the winter, the temperature is usually nice for a couple
of hours in the afternoon. I ride this trail in
shirt-sleeves in January. During the summer, it's best to go early in the morning. If you
start your ride by 7 a.m., you'll enjoy pleasant temperatures.
If you have younger children, I suggest you take them to the Bloomington trailhead, where they can ride the tamer stretches of white clay trail on the Bloomington end. Savannah (white helmet, Dominic's daughter) and Kristen (right, Bruce's daughter) enjoy the rolling clay trail on a warm late-winter's day. March 5, 1999. |
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The valley floor is shale of the Chinle formation of the late Triassic.
During that time (about 220 million years ago), this corner of Utah was covered
by shallow sea. The sea gave way to red mud-flat and flood deposits of the
Moenave formation. The bluffs are capped with lava flowing from volcanoes of the
late Cenozoic. The volcanoes in this area are an extension of the northern
Arizona volcanic field, and were very active around 8 million years ago.
Kristen (age 10) rides along the edge of a wash below the cliffs of Bloomington Hill. March 1999. |
As the trail reaches Bloomington, you can turn around and do it all backwards, or take the city streets six miles back to the trail head. Be sure to catch the petroglyphs just past the end of the trail in west Bloomington. Picture: Brian poses in front of ancient rock carvings. August 1, 1998
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| Riding notes, from Green Valley: From end of pavement N37 05.516 W113 37.673 0.0 Go R 100 yards, turn L downhill N37 05.568 W113 37.709 0.1 At bottom, veer L 100 yards, then R to cross valley 0.3 Pass Zen trailhead, keep straight and climb N37 05.433 W113 37.893 0.5 Parking From parking lot on hill: 0.0 Around gate, uphill on DT N37 05.338 W113 38.432 0.4 Pass Barrell ST on L, veer R Step over gate to Bearclaw ST N37 05.173 W113 38.826 0.5 Flat area, descend Three Fingers of Death N37 05.119 W113 38.856 0.6 Straight and drop into Wash N37 05.051 W113 38.781 1.1 Keep straight (R = to Stucki cutoff) N37 04.790 W113 39.054 1.3 Keep R (L = alternate, rejoins) N37 04.598 W113 39.130 |
1.4 Keep straight (full R = to Stucki
cutoff) N37 04.543 W113 39.175 (soft R = alternate line, rejoins vs down wash) 1.5-1.6 Various alternate lines, keep straight (to Stucki cutoff at N37 04.369 W113 39.238) 1.7 Straight (R = to Stucki cutoff) N37 04.290 W113 39.273 1.8 Clavicle Hill, straight off N37 04.220 W113 39.297 1.8 Left at bottom, head southwest N37 04.214 W113 39.291 Straight = to Stucki Springs or B.Microloop R = to Snakepit Rim vs Stucki cutoff 1.85 Keep straight N37 04.208 W113 39.258 (L = back to top) 2.9 Alternate lines, select (R = easier) N37 03.648 W113 38.392 3.3 Alternate lines N37 03.463 W113 38.058 3.5 Alternate lines N37 03.403 W113 37.898 3.9 Straight (B.Microloop joins on R) N37 03.224 W113 37.507 4.0 Veer R to parking N37 03.204 W113 37.373 4.1 Stepover gate for Bloomington parking N37 03.130 W113 37.355 |
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Getting there, Green Valley: Take the Bluff Street I-15 exit in St. George and turn west. Immediately turn south (left) at the first light. Go over the hill and at the T intersection at the bottom of the hill turn right. Head northwest about two miles on Dixie Drive. Turn left at Canyon View Road, heading uphill toward the Green Valley Spa. (If you reach a "Green Valley Market" with gas pumps, you just passed it. Turn around and backtrack to the second road on your right.) Drive past the spa onto dirt at the end of the road. Turn right at the top of the mesa, then immediately left to drive down into the deep valley. You can park here and ride to the road that climbs the RIGHT side of the little sandstone canyon. Or, you can stay in your car and turn right on dirt, then drop left down into the valley 100 yards later. Follow the improved gravel road up to the parking area about 3/4 mile later. Trailhead N 37° 05.509' W 113° 37.689' |
| Bloomington: Go to the west end of Navajo Drive in Bloomington. Go across the cattle guard. See the low rail on the fence 100 feet to your right? That's the trailhead, at N 37° 03.116' W 113° 37.362'. I recommend that youngsters go to the Bloomington end of the trail! |
| Riding resources for the Bearclaw
Poppy Trail: Printable, one-page riding guide Larger detail maps for printing: Bearclaw Plus Stucki Springs Area map, including connections to Barrel Roll area St.George southwest, interactive map: Load Track files (to download, right-click and select "Save target as..."): Area GPX tracks (includes side routes) Major trails (Bearclaw, Stucki, B.Micro, SnakePit) Specific rides, course file: Bearclaw track only Bearclaw-Stucki Loop from Green Valley Bearclaw-Stucki-Snakepit Loop from GV CoveWash-Stucki-Bearclaw big loop ride from Canyon View Drive Bloomington-Snakepit-SouthStucki-Bearclaw figure 8 from Bloomington Bloomington-Bearclaw little loop from Bloomington Other tracks: Bloomington Microloop only Stucki only, from Bearclaw Lodging, camping, shops: Links to St. George area resources |
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Original review 1998.
Copyright 2000 UtahMountainBiking.com, a division of Mad Scientist Software Inc
Latest update 2011.
