| Stucki Springs Trail |
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The Stucki Springs Trail lies within the Bearclaw Poppy preserve southwest of St. George. The trail itself is about 10 miles long. While it lies in barren desert, it's a popular and well-traveled trail. The trail is intermediate technical but suitable for experienced conditioned beginners -- as long as you don't take the "Classic Stucki" plunge from the Race Course (see the options below). There are many different riding options. You'll need to ride other trails to reach Stucki, so the typical ride will be 13 to 20 miles. I've tried to hold the options on this web page to 12-14 miles, within the range of the typical rider. Take more if you want to by adding other connecting trails. The year is 2000. Bruce's bike Banana Thunder looks west toward the Stucki Spring area from the viewpoint above Green Valley (top of the Huntsman World Senior Games hillclimb race course). The terrain you'll ride is rolling desert. |
| You can reach the Stucki Springs trail from Green Valley in
four different ways. You can arrive from Bloomington via two different
trails. You can even get there from
the Santa Clara River Preserve Barrel Roll trailhead. I'll cover the
various options. Where you start from will determine your ride. Take your
pick.
Stucki Springs lies just inside the fence of the Bearclaw Poppy preserve. From the trail, we're looking southwest. Photo December 8, 2011. |
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| The Trail |
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The Stucki Springs trail is hard-packed desert clay. At the
far north end, it's orange and red dirt. This part dries pretty quickly
after storms. The southern 2/3 of the trail is white clay. Never ride this
section when it's wet.
There are endless little dips. In some areas, it functions like a pump track. Especially on the section from the Cottonwood Wash overlook to Bearclaw, it's high-speed blazing fun. Typical trail on the southern side of the loop. We're looking east as the trail zips and dips. December 2011. |
| The mid-point of the trail is the Cottonwood Wash overlook.
North of this spot, the trail generally follows the edge of the preserve.
It continues northeast past Stucki Spring. At the north end, you can step
over a gate to continue north on the dirt Stucki Spring Road to the Rim
Rock or Barrel Roll trail systems.
View west from the trail, overlooking Cottonwood Wash. It's a bit desolate out here. |
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East from the Cottonwood Wash overlook, the trail snakes
along the edge of the wash, then drops into badlands as it approaches
Bloomington Hill. After meeting the Bloomington
Microloop, it turns to
Clavicle Hill and ends there on the Bearclaw Poppy trail.
Looking east at Bloomington Hill from the Stucki Springs trail. Below us in the wash is the Snakepit trail, while the Snakepit Rim trail can be seen as a white stripe just below the first band of orange. |
| You're riding on shale deposits of the Chinle and Moenkopi Formation, rich in fine
volcanic ash. This formation dates to the Triassic Period, around 220 million
years ago, just before the age of the dinosaurs. The mesas are formed by harder
layers of mudstone that resist erosion, or by volcanic caps from lava flows. To
the north, the Pine Valley Mountains are formed from an extinct giant volcano.
Randy zooms down from the viewpoint above Cottonwood Wash on a "fun ride" before the 2002 Senior Games. |
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| Bloomington Bearclaw Poppy Trailhead |
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From the Bloomington trailhead for the
Bearclaw Poppy trail,
you can take either Bearclaw or the Bloomington Microloop to the southern
end of the Stucki Springs trail. By either route, it's about 2.5 miles to
the junction. Once you reach the Stucki Springs trail, you can veer west
to go clockwise on Stucki, continue northwest on the Snakepit Trail to
reach the far side of Stucki, or turn north on Bearclaw Poppy and veer to
the left on one of the connectors to the Stucki Cutoff trail.
Just across the stepover gate on Bearclaw Poppy. |
| Bloomington: Bearclaw Poppy to Stucki out-and-back
Cottonwood Wash overlook. 13-mile out-and-back. Head west on Stucki Springs to the viewpoint overlooking Cottonwood Wash (where the trail turns 90 degrees), then double back. From Bloomington, Bearclaw slopes gently uphill. The trail twists and dips on hard-pack white clay as you head northwest under the slopes of Bloomington Hill. Bearclaw is a popular and highly traveled trail. Never ride this trail when it's wet -- the clay is easily rutted. Outbound on the rolling white clay of Bearclaw. |
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At the bottom of Clavicle Hill, fork left for the Stucki Springs trail. Follow Stucki to the ride's highest point at Cottonwood Wash. You'll know you're there when you reach a fence where the trail turns 90 degrees right (to the north). Now backtrack the way you came. (Alternate: ride north on Stucki to the Snakepit trail, and use it as your return!) Looking to the west from the viewpoint. |
| Bloomington: Westbound Bloomington Microloop to
Snakepit, Stucki to Bearclaw (Snakepit Figure 8) Shortly after starting out on Bearclaw, fork left on the narrower Bloomington Trail. This trail is a little more difficult than Bearclaw, but not as scenic. It will drop into a wash for much of the trip. It parallels Bearclaw as it heads northwest. Go outbound on the Bloomington Microloop. Keep straight onto Stucki. Fork right into the wash and take Snakepit to the far side of Stucki. Fork left and circle around on Stucki. As you hit the 4-way, fork left to Clavicle Hill, then turn right on Bearclaw for the return. View west from the Bloomington Microloop trail as we reach the Stucki Springs trail. |
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| Sample Bloomington ride, Snakepit
Figure-eight: 0.0 Bloomington TH, step over gate N37 03.125 W113 37.344 0.2 Fork L on Bloomington Microloop N37 03.224 W113 37.504 2.4 4-way, keep straight to Stucki Spring N37 04.160 W113 39.387 2.7 R and into wash for Snakepit N37 04.268 W113 39.584 2.8 R on edge of wash (in wash = alternate) N37 04.326 W113 39.699 3.1 Rejoin alternate from wash N37 04.399 W113 39.907 3.2 Stay in wash (L = up to Stucki) N37 04.482 W113 40.018 4.4 Snakepit Rim joins on R N37 05.180 W113 40.836 5.0 Hard L on Stucki Spring trail N37 05.659 W113 40.933 |
5.7 Alternates N37 05.387 W113 41.473 (straight = plunge, R = around) 5.2 Alternates rejoin N37 05.366 W113 41.568 6.7 Viewpoint, Cottonwood Wash, turn L N37 05.227 W113 42.143 9.3 Keep R (L = down to Snakepit) N37 04.619 W113 40.243 9.6 Keep R (L = to Snakepit) N37 04.470 W113 40.184 10.3 Keep R at original Snakepit fork N37 04.261 W113 39.620 10.6 At 4-way, turn L N37 04.160 W113 39.387 10.7 Bottom of Clavicle Hill, fork R N37 04.202 W113 39.313 East (R) on Bearclaw Poppy trail N37 04.209 W113 39.259 13.0 Back at Bloomington parking |
| Single-page guide to this ride: View to print GPX course file for this ride: Download |
| Santa Clara Preserve Trailhead |
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Santa Clara: Stucki Springs Road to Stucki
From the Preserve parking lot at the Barrel Roll trailhead, backtrack to the Stucki Springs road (or continue south and cross Cove Wash then veer left to join the road later). After the road dips through the wash and climbs over a hill, you'll spot the Stucki Springs trail to your left at a gate in the fence. Continue south on the trail. On the Stucki Springs road after passing through Cove Wash. |
| When starting from Santa Clara, most riders will do one of
two possible loops. Follow Stucki past the viewpoint. To loop back, you
fork onto Snakepit just before Stucki ends near Clavicle Hill. Or you can
continue north from the end of Stucki to reach a connector to the Stucki
Cutoff trail. (The Stucki Cutoff joins Bearclaw Poppy to the classic route
from Green Valley. You'll rejoin Stucki right at Stucki Spring.)
We've just crossed the fence and are heading southwest on Stucki Spring. |
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| Sample Santa Clara ride, counterclockwise
loop: 0.0 South on DT from Barrel Roll TH N37 07.255 W113 40.514 Descend into Cove Wash 0.2 Hard L in washbottom to climb out N37 07.184 W113 40.520 Rim Rock Connector 0.6 Fork L (R = to Rim Rock) N37 06.946 W113 40.252 1.0 R on Stucki Springs Road N37 06.829 W113 39.999 1.2 L across fence to Stucki ST N37 06.658 W113 40.171 1.25 Keep R (L = primitive trail) N37 06.630 W113 40.184 1.9 Keep straight (R = over fence to road) N37 06.100 W113 40.536 2.1 Veer L (R = over to springs and road) N37 05.999 W113 40.579 100 feet, then R on Stucki Springs trail N37 05.985 W113 40.561 2.6 Keep R (L = Snakepit trail) N37 05.660 W113 40.934 3.3 Alternates, straight = to plunge N37 05.387 W113 41.473 3.5 Alternates rejoin N37 05.365 W113 41.569 3.9 Cottonwood Wash viewpoint, L N37 05.229 W113 42.143 6.6 Keep R (L = to Snakepit) N37 04.620 W113 40.244 6.8 Keep R (L = to Snakepit) N37 04.470 W113 40.183 |
7.6 Keep R (L = Snakepit) N37 04.257 W113 39.611 7.8 4-way, fork L N37 04.158 W113 39.389 8.0 Below Clavicle Hill, fork L N37 04.201 W113 39.315 Snakepit Rim trail 8.1 Fork L N37 04.278 W113 39.321 8.2 Fork R on connector Stucki Cutoff (L = Snakepit Rim) N37 04.356 W113 39.425 8.4 Keep L (R = alternate) N37 04.492 W113 39.417 8.8 L on main Stucki Cutoff trail N37 04.789 W113 39.438 10.0 Fork R, steep up N37 05.524 W113 40.236 10.3 Fork R (L = alternate) N37 05.570 W113 40.111 Ride under edge of rock 10.4 Cross over (keep straight) N37 05.613 W113 40.061 10.5 L on Classic Stucki trail N37 05.734 W113 40.107 10.6, 10.7 Keep R 11.1 Straight, then R on Stucki singletrack N37 05.985 W113 40.561 (Begin retracing outgoing route) 12.0 Cross fence to Stucki road, northbound N37 06.658 W113 40.171 12.3 Fork L N37 06.829 W113 39.999 12.6 Keep R N37 06.946 W113 40.252 13.0 R and uphill N37 07.184 W113 40.520 13.2 Back at parking |
| Single-page guide to this ride: View to print GPX course file for this ride: Download |
| Green Valley Trailheads |
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Green Valley: Classic Stucki Springs via Raceway
This loop is 19 miles, strenuous aerobic, intermediate technical with a rare smattering of advanced technical. Start in the valley downhill from the official Bearclaw Poppy Trailhead (and north of the Zen trailhead). Cross the little wash and find the downhill section of the Green Valley race loop. Go up the downhill singletrack. Near the top, turn right at the fork, following the race loop backwards. Dominic cranks to clear the rocks while heading "up the down staircase" on the Green Valley race course. Photo 2000. |
| When you reach the road in the saddle, head for the little
dip on the edge of the cliffs. Lift your bike over the fence and find the
steep doubletrack heading downhill. Hang on -- it's going to be a plunge.
Follow the marked trail almost to the fence and the spring itself. Turn
left (southwest) on the main Stucki Springs trail.
From the top of the mesa, this is the view back towards Green Valley. The trail can barely be seen heading across the valley below -- that's where you're headed if you ride the classic loop via Green Valley. February 19, 2000. |
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Most riders who take this route will ride counterclockwise
to Clavicle Hill, then head north on Bearclaw Poppy. When you reach the
step-over gate at the north end of Bearclaw, cross the road to the Barrel
Trail. Keep generally to the right as it drops you back to the race loop
near the bottom of the hill.
Heading west after dropping the big plunge from the GV raceway. The classic route is still well-marked with carsonite posts, even though the fence at the mesa top scares away the out-of-towners. |
| Classic Stucki Loop updated,
counterclockwise: 0.0 Just N of road to Bearclaw TH, N37 05.511 W113 37.932 W on DT through wash and fence then NW 0.5 Join trail, keep L N37 05.620 W113 38.357 0.55 Fork R N37 05.597 W113 38.395 Cross rock wash, up steep hill 1.6 Fork R (L = to Barrel Trail and viewpoint) N37 05.519 W113 39.452 1.8 4-way with 3 DTs, go straight and down N37 05.618 W113 39.524 Cross fence, L (west) downhill in saddle N37 05.640 W113 39.544 Steep plunge 2.1 Keep R (L = alternate to Stucki Cutoff) N37 05.658 W113 39.900 2.2 Keep L (R = to remote trail along bluff) N37 05.679 W113 39.922 2.4 Keep R (connectors to Stucki Cutoff) N37 05.734 W113 40.108 2.5 Keep R N37 05.725 W113 40.197 2.6 Keep R N37 05.713 W113 40.314 3.0 Veer L, follow ST southwest N37 05.949 W113 40.541 3.5 Keep R (L = Snakepit trail) N37 05.660 W113 40.934 4.2 Alternates, straight = to plunge N37 05.387 W113 41.473 4.4 Alternates rejoin N37 05.365 W113 41.569 |
4.8 Cottonwood Wash viewpoint, L N37 05.229 W113 42.143 7.5 Keep R (L = to Snakepit) N37 04.620 W113 40.244 7.7 Keep R (L = to Snakepit) N37 04.470 W113 40.183 8.5 Keep R (L = Snakepit) N37 04.257 W113 39.611 8.7 4-way, fork L N37 04.158 W113 39.389 8.9 Arrive Clavicle Hill area N37 04.201 W113 39.315 Follow Bearclaw Poppy NNortheast (Alternate climbing routes on R and L) 9.5 End of acid drops, keep going NNE N37 04.563 W113 39.159 10.2 L out of wash, then fork R on ST Flatline Trail N37 05.056 W113 38.780 10.5 Join main Bearclaw, keep NNE up hill N37 05.131 W113 38.848 10.6 Step over gate, cross road to ST Barrel Trail N37 05.180 W113 38.823 10.7 Fork R N37 05.228 W113 38.801 11.0 Keep R and downhill N37 05.441 W113 38.617 11.3 Rejoin racetrack N37 05.597 W113 38.395 100 ft, then R N37 05.620 W113 38.357 11.8 Back at parking |
| Single-page guide to this ride: View to print GPX course file for this ride: Download GPX Classic to Bloomington P2P: Download |
| Bearclaw options
From the Bearclaw Poppy Trail parking area, head uphill to the
step-over gate then ride the trail south. Popular options are: The stepover gate marks the start of the Bearclaw Poppy preserve. Tread lightly! |
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Bearclaw to Stucki via Cutoff
After dropping the Three Fingers of Death, head south in the Wash on Bearclaw. Just after the trail pulls out of the wash, watch for a trail on your right. (There will be three more trails over the next half-mile, some of which are harder to spot. They all join into the same northwest-bound path.) This trail takes you to the classic route just below the bluff. Fork left. As you approach the fence, fork left and ride Stucki to Clavicle Hill. Backtrack on Bearclaw. We'll cruise right underneath the rock on the right. Follow the GPX track for this route. |
| Sample ride, Stucki cclockwise via
Bearclaw: 0.0 From upper Bearclaw TH, up DT N37 05.338 W113 38.431 0.4 R across stepover gate N37 05.170 W113 38.829 Drop Three Fingers of Death 0.6 Straight, drop into The Wash N37 05.056 W113 38.780 1.1 (Option: R to Stucki Cutoff) N37 04.788 W113 39.054 1.4 Fork R onto Stucki Cutoff N37 04.544 W113 39.175 1.7 Keep straight (L) as alternate joins N37 04.766 W113 39.371 1.8 Keep straight (R) as alternate joins N37 04.790 W113 39.439 3.1 Keep L N37 05.523 W113 40.236 3.2 Keep L N37 05.612 W113 40.259 3.3 Keep L N37 05.715 W113 40.315 3.8 (Option straight to visit Spring) Fork L on Stucki Springs ST N37 05.949 W113 40.541 4.3 Keep R (L = Snakepit trail) N37 05.660 W113 40.934 5.0 Alternates, straight = to plunge N37 05.387 W113 41.473 |
5.2 Alternates rejoin N37 05.365 W113 41.569 5.6 Cottonwood Wash viewpoint, L N37 05.229 W113 42.143 8.3 Keep R (L = to Snakepit) N37 04.620 W113 40.244 8.5 Keep R (L = to Snakepit) N37 04.470 W113 40.183 9.3 Keep R (L = Snakepit) N37 04.257 W113 39.611 9.5 4-way, fork L N37 04.158 W113 39.389 9.7 Arrive Clavicle Hill area N37 04.201 W113 39.315 Follow Bearclaw Poppy NNortheast (Alternate climbing routes on R and L) 10.3 End of acid drops, keep going NNE N37 04.563 W113 39.159 11.0 L out of wash, then fork R on ST Flatline Trail N37 05.056 W113 38.780 11.3 Join main Bearclaw, keep NNE up hill N37 05.131 W113 38.848 11.4 R on DT downhill N37 05.180 W113 38.823 11.8 Back at parking |
| Single-page guide to this ride: View to print GPX course file for this ride: Download |
| Bearclaw plus Out-and-back to Cottonwood Wash
Take Bearclaw to Clavicle Hill. Drop down, then drop another steep pitch to a trail heading south (Bearclaw turns left to the east here). As you reach a 4-way, turn right on Stucki Springs. Keep left to take Stucki Springs to the viewpoint above Cottonwood Wash (where the trail turns north). Backtrack. Mike Engberson descends the loose clay of Clavicle Hill on the way to the Stucki Spring trail in 2000. |
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Green Valley to Cove Wash to Stucki
Head north on the doubletrack as though you're starting the Desert Rampage race. Follow the race course. When you hit the last doubletrack before Keyhole Wash, turn right. Follow it north until it drops down into a wash. Follow the wash all the way to the Stucki Springs Road. Heading northwest in Cove Wash, December 8, 2011. |
| If there's water in the wash, you may want to fork to the
right on doubletrack that parallels the wash.
When you reach Stucki Springs Road, turn left and follow the road. Keep left at the road fork (right takes you to the Rim Rock trails). After dropping down a hill, you'll find the singletrack across the fence on your left. This area is water-carved slickrock. |
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Follow Stucki to the south (alternate: fork left when you
reach Snakepit). Follow Stucki counterclockwise to Clavicle Hill. Take
Bearclaw northbound. When you reach the stepover, take the road or the
Barrel Trail back to where you started.
View north of the Pine Valley Mountains as we climb away from the wash. |
| Sample ride Cove Wash to Stucki Loop: 0.0 From end of pavement above Green Valley N37 05.516 W113 37.673 North on DT 100 yards, then drop L to valley 0.2 Veer R onto start of GV raceloop, follow it N37 05.529 W113 37.832 1.0 L off DT onto ST N37 06.040 W113 38.353 1.3 Keep L at fork in wash At road, cross to DT N37 06.099 W113 38.582 1.6 R on DT (don't drop into Keyhole Wash) N37 06.272 W113 38.777 1.7 Option either way (rejoin at bottom) N37 06.379 W113 38.725 2.6 L in wash (DT on R = wet weather alternate) N37 06.724 W113 39.246 3.4 L on road up from wash N37 07.047 W113 39.721 3.8 Keep L (R = to Rim Rock TH) N37 06.833 W113 40.001 4.1 L across fence to Stucki ST N37 06.658 W113 40.171 4.15 Keep R (L = primitive trail) N37 06.630 W113 40.184 4.8 Keep straight (R = over fence to road) N37 06.100 W113 40.536 5.0 Veer L (R = over to springs and road) N37 05.999 W113 40.579 100 feet, then R on Stucki Springs trail N37 05.985 W113 40.561 5.5 Keep R (L = Snakepit trail) N37 05.660 W113 40.934 |
6.2 Alternates, straight = to
plunge N37 05.387 W113 41.473 6.4 Alternates rejoin N37 05.365 W113 41.569 6.8 Cottonwood Wash viewpoint, L N37 05.229 W113 42.143 9.5 Keep R (L = to Snakepit) N37 04.620 W113 40.244 9.7 Keep R (L = to Snakepit) N37 04.470 W113 40.183 10.5 Keep R (L = Snakepit) N37 04.257 W113 39.611 10.7 4-way, fork L N37 04.158 W113 39.389 10.9 Below Clavicle Hill, fork L N37 04.201 W113 39.315 10.9 Arrive Clavicle Hill area N37 04.201 W113 39.315 Follow Bearclaw Poppy NNortheast (Alternate climbing routes on R and L) 11.5 End of acid drops, keep going NNE N37 04.563 W113 39.159 12.2 L out of wash, then fork R on ST Flatline Trail N37 05.056 W113 38.780 12.5 Join main Bearclaw, keep NNE up hill N37 05.131 W113 38.848 12.6 Step over gate, cross road to ST Barrel Trail N37 05.180 W113 38.823 12.7 Fork R N37 05.228 W113 38.801 13.0 Keep R and downhill N37 05.441 W113 38.617 13.3 Rejoin racetrack N37 05.597 W113 38.395 100 ft, then R N37 05.620 W113 38.357 13.8 Cross valley, climb road back up 14.1 Back at upper parking at pavement |
| Single-page guide to this ride: View to print GPX course file for this ride: Download |
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| Snakepit option:
The Snakepit trail can substitute for a portion of the Stucki loop, either outgoing or returning. Go to the Snakepit page for a pretzel-shaped ride using Snakepit and Snakepit Rim with the southern limb of Stucki. View in The Snakepit on the new alternate route. (See GPX file.) Photo courtesy Shelby Meinkey 2010 |
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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). Go over the hill and turn right on Dixie Drive. Keep straight past the golf course and some businesses. Turn left at the sign for 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 and park at the end of the road. From the top of the mesa, ride down across the wash. Keep left until you're through the fence, then turn right as the Green Valley trail turns left up the hill. Find the singletrack on the left about 100 yards up, just before the doubletrack drops into a rock wash. |
| Santa Clara Trailhead: In St. George, head north on
Bluff Street and turn left on Sunset Blvd. Drive 3 miles west on Sunset
through Santa Clara. As you're reaching the end of Santa Clara, look for a
road crossing the river on your left. It's about 200 feet before the Jacob
Hamblin Home (which will be on your right if you pass the turn). Turn and
cross the river and follow the road as it turns right. About 0.4 miles
from Hwy 191, turn left onto the dirt Stucki Springs road as it climbs
steeply south. At mile 0.7, turn right at the sign "Santa Clara
Preserve" or "Cove Wash Trailhead." Pass the water tank,
and at mile 1.3, turn right again through the fence. This road will veer
left to a log-fence parking area at mile 1.5, N37 07.253 W113 40.508. Bloomington Trailhead: 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. N 37° 03.116' W 113° 37.362'. Start out on Bearclaw Poppy, and fork left on the mini-loop about 1/3 mile later. |
| Riding resources for the Stucki
Springs Trail: Maps for printing: StuckiLoop.gif Low-res (quick download) area map High-res area map (1.3 MB) - NICE! Track GPX files (to download, right-click and select "Save target as..."): Monster file of area tracks and alternates! Major trails only Bloomington Snakepit to Stucki Figure-8 Stucki Loop from Santa Clara TH Classic Stucki Loop via Race Course and Bearclaw Classic Stucki to Bloomington P2P Stucki Loop from Bearclaw TH Stucki-Snakepit Pretzel Ride from Bearclaw TH Stucki Big Loop through Cove Wash from Green Valley Stucki w Cutoff track Only Bearclaw Only Snakepit only Bloomington Microloop Only St.George southwest, interactive map: Load Quick on-trail guide: Single-page riding guide Lodging, camping, shops: Links to St. George area resources |
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Updated 2011
