Slickrock Swamp Trail

Rockville Bench
(Slickrock Swamp Trail)

The Rockville Bench Trail, also known as Slickrock Swamp, 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.

Mike cruises along the edge of the cliffs on the loop portion of Slickrock Swamp.

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This trail is similar to the better-known Gooseberry Mesa Trail (same sandstone formation, same ecosystem, although a little warmer and lower altitude). You'll see plenty of lizards, prickly pear, and barrel cactus as you ride among the junipers and pinions. The riding is a little rougher than Gooseberry -- expect to spend much of the ride off of your seat. You'll find many open slickrock areas where you can practice your stunts.

Cactus blossoms - photos by Bruce.

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.

This is the national park border. At a small coral right here, a singletrack heads west at a right angle from the doubletrack you've been climbing. Here Chad cruises back towards town (you're looking north).

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 it's easy to ride UP the left fork -- the wrong way -- on the way back. The trail climbs out of the wash on your right just before the road crosses above 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!)

See the black arrow on the rock behind Chad? Watch for this on the right as you head down the wash -- this is where you climb out of the wash. (Unless you want to stay and play!)

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).

Here Mike takes some air.

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.

This is Gary, cruising past the water pocket in the rock that gives the Slickrock Swamp its name.

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.

Matt takes a ledge.

Getting there: From I-15's La Verkin exit, take Highway 9 through Rockville. Just as you're going left around a turn to enter Springdale, spot a small paved road heading steep uphill, with a sign "Anasazi Plateau Subdivision." Turn left up the Anasazi Plateau Subdivision road. As the road turns sharply left 0.1 mile later, there's a steep drop on your right into the "Chinle Trail" parking area. GPS 37° 09.673 N 113° 01.169 W.

Riding resources for this trail:
One-page printable riding guide
GPS track files (right-click and "Save as..."):
Garmin National Geographic Google Earth GPX

For lodging in the St. George area, as well as travel guides and information on other activities, may we suggest:
Things to do, lodging links: http://www.utah.com/stgeorge/ http://www.go-utah.com/St-George
Snow Canyon: http://www.utah.com/stateparks/snow_canyon.htm
Red Cliffs Recreation Area - Camping: http://www.ut.blm.gov/stgeorge_fo/sgfored_cliffs.html
Quail Creek State Park: http://www.utah.com/stateparks/quail_creek.htm
St. George BLM info: http://www.ut.blm.gov/stgeorge_fo/
Zion National Park: http://www.nps.gov/zion/ http://www.zion.national-park.com/ http://www.zioncanyon.com/
Utah National Forest Camping and Picnic sites: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/maps/brochures/camp_picnick_utah.pdf

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.
The latest wrinkle is: the area of this trail is being studied for addition to Zion National Park, which would close it permanently to mountain biking. We suggest you look at this trail. Then, if you want to keep it open, send a letter of comment to:
          Superintendent
          Zion National Park
          Springdale, UT 84767