Luke

Luke's Trail

Luke's Trail is a fun twisting singletrack that starts on the edge of Price. As an out-and-back, it's a relatively fast nine miles. Overall altitude change is 650 vertical feet, but the only really steep part is the first short dirt-road climb as you leave Price. The trail is intermediate overall in technical requirement. Beginning riders will enjoy this trail, but will likely need to step the bike over some obstacles and walk through some of the wash crossings. For beginners, I'd recommend you drive the first 1.3 miles (parking near the storage tank) and start with the singletrack.

View north towards the Book Cliffs from the mesa edge. We're 2.8 miles into the ride. Photos by Bruce, June 30, 2005.

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The trail has rapid, tight turns around trees. There are thread-the-needle chokepoints and bike-handling challenges. So expert riders will find themselves tested by this trail as they roll downhill on the return trip. Many turns are so tight that speed-demon larger riders will find their body in the middle of a tree as the bike tilts to take the corner. (Don't cuss -- the tight turns keep ATVs and motorcycles from using this trail and ruining it.)

View to the west, early in the ride. That's the Helper area, with the mountains of the Skyline ridge in the background.

You're riding on soft dirt and sandstone from the Cretaceous period. If you drift off-trail, the dirt will suck your tire down into the depths. Stay on the trail.

Most of the time, you're riding in Juniper forest, with minimal low scrub here and there. There are a couple of sage meadows. Early in the ride, prickly pear cactus is waiting for you to drift off-trail. Flowers and cactus will be blooming in May.

View up the trail, showing the typical dirt-and-rock terrain among the junipers.

At the top of the trail, you can loop around to return back to Price (go counter-clockwise around the small loop), or continue up to the Kenilworth road to link to other rides.

At Kenilworth road, here's the view north towards the Book Cliffs.

Ride description, Luke's Trail:
0.0   Northwest corner of park, go west (towards water tank)
        N 39° 36.476 W 110° 48.548 alt=5640
0.15 Keep straight on dirt (R dead-ends)
0.18 R on dirt road (goes up hill between C's)
        N 39° 36.458 W 110° 48.738
0.45 Keep straight at all intersections, top of hill
        N 39° 36.660 W 110° 48.797 alt=5890
1.1   Veer L towards pump, fenced tank on your R
        N 39° 37.205 W 110° 48.760
1.35 Turn L across clearing
        N 39° 37.360 W 110° 48.780
1.4   Begin singletrack
        N 39° 37.373 W 110° 48.824
        Cross doubletrack at 1.5, 2.0, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6

2.8   At canyon rim, view
        N 39° 38.248 W 110° 49.165 alt=6140
3.7   Pass under power line ("White Trash Point")
        N 39° 38.656 W 110° 48.660
4.1   Fence then powerline
        N 39° 38.826 W 110° 48.497
4.15 Fork, keep R (L=one-way return)
        N 39° 38.847 W 110° 48.460 alt=6210
        Climb up, veer left
4.32 Fork (L downhill = return loop to m4.15)
        N 39° 38.879 W 110° 48.333 alt=6240
        [Return to town for 8.6 mile ride]
4.55 Trail ends on Kenilworth Road
        N 39° 39.033 W 110° 48.257 alt=6300
        [Return, or continue to Mead's trailhead for other options]

Option: Continuing the ride
1. Loop via Mead's Rim
2. Bomberella to Upper Wildbunch

To Meads from Luke's top on Kenilworth Road:
0.0   Turn L uphill on DT
0.5   Keep R on smaller road (don't go to pump station)
0.8   Just after road splits around junipers,
        spot opening in fence, with DT on R

Getting there: Eastbound on US 6, take the first Price exit. Turn left and enter town on 100 North. About a mile after leaving the freeway, turn left (north) onto 100 East. Go four city blocks to the far end of Pioneer Park, turn right onto 500 North and find a parking place. The ride starts at the corner of 100 East 500 North. You'll be riding west (towards the water tank).

Trail-help Goodies:

Topographical
Map

One-page riding guide to this trail.
GPS track files (right-click link, then save as a file):
       Topofusion Lukes.gpx
       Google Earth Luke-Meads.kmz
       Garmin Luke-Meads.mps
       National Geographic Lukes-Meads.tpo

Large-format map of all Price-Area trails
courtesy of Price Area Singletrack Society (PASS)

[Go to UtahMountainBiking.com's Trails Options Page]
Copyright 2005 Mad Scientist Software Inc

For additional information, including nearby lodging, rentals, camping, and current conditions, may we suggest:
Comprehensive info on Price/San Rafael area: http://www.castlecountry.com/     http://www.utah.com/price/
http://www.go-utah.com/San-Rafael-Swell
Goblin Valley: http://www.outdoorsinutah.com/goblinvalley-camping.htm   http://www.utah.com/stateparks/goblin_valley.htm
Capital Reef National Park: http://www.nps.gov/care/    http://www.capitol.reef.national-park.com/
BLM site (overview): http://www.blm.gov/utah/price/9mile.htm
BLM Green River info: http://www.blm.gov/utah/price/labyrinth.htm