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Slickrock Swamp Trail The Slickrock Swamp Trail starts in the town of Springdale (just outside of Zion National Park) and climbs onto the mesa above Rockville. This an advanced technical singletrack that features some great sandstone rock. The trail is a lariat loop, 10.5 miles in length, with a 400-vertical foot climb to the loop section of the trail. Peak altitude is 4080 feet. The trail starts at the Chinle Trail parking area in the Anasazi Plateau Subdivision in Springdale. There's an initial loose steep singletrack climb, which you can avoid by heading up the paved road, catching the trail where it crosses the road at the next switchback. |
| The trail drops into a wash, and climbs uphill. After crossing the paved
road, it follows doubletrack to the border of Zion National Park. This initial
section is about 1.25 miles, depending on whether you took road or singletrack.
At the park border, a singletrack turns 90 degrees left. After a short ride on dirt singletrack through a sea of sage brush, the trail veers left and drops into a wash. The small wash you're riding will be joined by a larger wash from the left side. (Notice this larger wash, because (1) it's easy to ride UP the left fork -- the wrong way -- on the way back, and (2) a short distance beyond this point is the spot where the trail climbs out of the wash.) Exactly 1/4 mile after leaving the park border, look for an arrow on the right wall of the wash. At this spot, the trail turns 150 degrees to climb out of the wash. (If you reach mud and boulders -- or a road overpass -- you've gone too far!) As you reach slickrock, follow the black dots on the rock. 1.7 miles after leaving the wash, you'll find yourself dropping into a gulley, then climbing up a steep chute. (This is a challenge to ride clean!) About a hundred feet later, you'll reach the junction with the return loop -- keep straight (left). At mile 3.75, you'll cruise past the swamp in the slickrock. From here, the trail heads southeast, then back west. At mile 5.75, the trail splits. The left fork is the continuation of the loop. The right trail is a quick bailout route that takes you back home. As the trail turns back and heads east, you'll be on an easy dirt singletrack, which dumps you back onto the return trail at mile 7.25. Retrace your path along the mesa top, up the wash (when the wash forks, keep right), and over the open sage to the doubletrack. |
| There is disagreement on the legality of this trail. While it is still ridden by dozens of bikers daily, the BLM declared it closed. This is under appeal. The local biking community considers the closure invalid, saying it was based on fraudulent information. As of the time of this publication, no biker has been ticketed for riding here. But ride at your own risk. |
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Getting there: From I-15's La Verkin exit, take
Highway 9 into Springdale. Watch for a bike shop on the left hand side of the road. Stop for a detailed
map and discussion of current riding conditions. Now head back west (the
way you came) for 1.8 miles and turn right up the Anasazi Plateau
Subdivision road. At the second turn in the road, a gravel road dumps you
down into the parking area at GPS 37° 09.673 N 113° 01.169 W.
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