Vertical fins of rock create rockin rollin technical riding as the singletrack w...
Vertical fins of rock create rockin' rollin' technical riding as the singletrack winds through the area. Photos by Bruce Argyle, July 23, 2001. Updated in 2010, 2016, and 2022.
Razorback
(Red Mountain Trail)

The Razorback trail consists of singletrack and ATV track just outside of Cedar City. Because it's lower in altitude (6000 feet) than most trails in the area, it's free of snow from May to November. The climb in Razorback wash is intermediate in tech requirement, while the bandland "fin" area is expert level.

It's a short loop with some advanced technical riding. Although only 3 miles in length, this isn't a cushy ride. Top to bottom altitude change is only 200 feet, but there are countless quick ups and downs, plus a relatively strenuous half-mile grunt in each direction.
Weve just climbed out of the wash and are looking back south. A highly technical...
We've just climbed out of the wash and are looking back south. A highly technical alternate downhill route is via the fin on the right. It starts pleasant, but gets hairy at the end.
Bruce climbs up Razorback Wash.
Bruce climbs up Razorback Wash.
There are four major entry points to the trail system. Two are from city streets. The recommended starting points are the ATV entry from the road to Thunderbird Garden trailhead and the trailhead of Highway 14 just after you enter the canyon. My ride description starts with the climb in Razorback Wash from Highway 14.
From Highway 14, the trail gradually climbs as it winds around in Razorback Wash. Near the top, it exits the wash on the left. (This exit point can be hard to spot when there have been rains. If you reach boulder piles that seem non-rideable, you've gone too far up the wash and need to backtrack.)
Most of the wash is fairly smooth riding with a gradual incline, but thunderstor...
Most of the wash is fairly smooth riding with a gradual incline, but thunderstorms can cause severe erosion. Conditions can change dramatically from year to year.
Heading north on the main route. The fin here is broad and non-threatening.
Heading north on the main route. The fin here is broad and non-threatening.
The trail then reaches a ridgeline. The ATV trail is the first option on the right, then a fairly steep DH line. The main trail stays flat on the ridge, then cuts along the north slope of the hill to the west of the ridge. From there, the trail follows sharp fins of dirt and rock. The turns are quick and constant; the sudden (but brief) uphills are often brutal stand-on-the-pedals-and-grunt; and the downhills have a definite thrill-factor. This trail is a good workout, and it's a riot to ride.
Since my original ride over 20 years ago, ATVs, motos, and DHers have created many alternate lines. Navigation isn't so easy now. If you can't follow my GPS track to the golf course, plan to explore a few dead ends. Most riders just putter around; the classic loop ride (as described below) is done less often now.
While the washbottom climb is easy to follow, the northern end of the trail has ...
While the washbottom climb is easy to follow, the northern end of the trail has competing paths that can be confusing.
View from the loop fork. Northbound, youll go west (left) of this little razorba...
View from the loop fork. Northbound, you'll go west (left) of this little razorback mountain. Southbound, you'll come back along the little valley at mid-right in the photo.
When the trail reaches a ridgeline and turns to the left, go to the next mountain and find trail traversing the hill. (The first ATV track was your return route.) Just remember that, in general, you're heading north.
As you enter the little valley south of the golf course, work to the east (right). ATV track will take you up a wash to the Thunderbird Gardens road. Turn right. Look for another ATV route southbound across from the flood-control pond. Follow this south back to the ridgeline, where you'll pick up your uphill track. You're going around that sharp little mountain in the photo above.
In the middle of the ride, the trail rises to its highest point on this fin, bef...
In the middle of the ride, the trail rises to its highest point on this fin, before descending sharply. Looking north, we see the farming areas north of Cedar City.
Rolling down a fin of red dirt.
Rolling down a fin of red dirt.
The "badlands" over which this trail passes are sedimentary deposits from the Triassic Period -- the age of reptiles, mammal-like reptiles, and the first bipedal dinosaurs. The steep tilt of the sediment planes was caused by "dragging" of blocks of rock by the Hurricane Fault, a southern version of the Wasatch Fault that separates the Great Basin from the mountains of eastern Utah.

This dirt erodes readily, rearranging the terrain. Add ATVs and motorcycles. So if my ride description makes no sense, it's because things have changed. Fortunately, civilization isn't far away, so if you get hopelessly lost, just head downhill.

In the summer, you'll want to hit this trail early in the morning. 8 a.m. temperatures often are in the low 60's, yet by 10 a.m. are climbing into the 80s. Because you'll be working hard, the cool temperature is very comfortable.
As we near the northernmost end of the ride, were going to head up this wash to ...
As we near the northernmost end of the ride, we're going to head up this wash to Thunderbird Gardens road, then catch southbound track by the catch-basin reservoir.
View on the eastern limb of the loop. Rolling ATV track. On the clockwise ride, ...
View on the eastern limb of the loop. Rolling ATV track. On the clockwise ride, there are a couple of steepish plunges that would be push-a-bikes in the other direction.
You may be a bit timid the first run around the loop. That's OK. Scout the territory, then "tear it up" on the second loop. I guarantee, two loops will make you feel like you've had a ride.
Once you've finished a loop or two around the hill, you can plummet down the wash back to Highway 14 (assuming you started there). This is great fun, and worth doing more than once. Watch out for upbound traffic on the turns!
A typical trail segment, as the trail plummets and twists down the wash southbou...
A typical trail segment, as the trail plummets and twists down the wash southbound. Note the vertical orientation of the rock strata.
Looking north down a fin from a spot where it isnt so deadly. Yes, the trail goe...
Looking north down a fin from a spot where it isn't so deadly. Yes, the trail goes right along the tip top.
You may have noticed some singletrack trails forking off to the west. These "social trails" head for the sharp fins of rock at the top of the ridges. I'm NOT going to help you navigate to them. You can quickly find yourself way over your head. Actually, you may find your bike over your head and broken limbs under your body. For example, there's one route with 100 yards of one-foot wide tech ribbon atop a sharp fin -- you can't stop, so you keep going or you get hurt. I'm not saying I rode this probably-illegal trail, but I swear I'll never ever do it again.

 A ride on Razorback in 2022...

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Riding notes, clockwise loop:
0.0 start up doubletrack in wash, find ST in bottom of wash
      follow main path up wash (don't take any side routes -- they're DH)
0.6 trail forks at top of ridge, turn left N37 40.799 W113 02.721
      keep R at next intersections N37 40.730 W113 02.788
0.8 onto razorback ridges, avoid drop-off routes 
1.2 descending off ridge, stay northbound
      watch for sharp right turn onto dirt road N37 41.222 W113 03.142

1.4 work east as you approach the golf course
1.5 right onto gravel road N37 41.371 W113 02.991
1.7 Go right on DT at the flood reservoir
      Southbound to ridge
2.0 Back at fork on pass, descend into wash vs R to razorback
2.4 back at fork on top of ridge, go left and descend into wash
3.0 back at trailhead
Map of the Razorback area
Map of the Razorback area
Getting there, SR 14 Trailhead: On Cedar City's Main Street, turn east (towards the mountains) on Center Street, Highway 14. Travel 0.9 mile from the turn. Note the dirt doubletrack on the left. Find a place to park (most bikers use the truck-turnaround 100 yards up the road on the right). Trailhead GPS is N 37° 40.441' W 113° 02.735'. Note: the larger parking area further uphill (just past The Red Hill) is the Red Hollow trailhead.
Northern trailhead: As you drive east from Main Street on SR 14, turn left on Highland Drive about 0.1 miles after crossing Coal Creek. Continue to the "T" intersection south of the golf coarse and turn right. As the road dead-ends by Dirt Foothills Drive, park. Start the ride northbound on DT, keeping right of the flood basin. The path will veer right around the base of the hill. The ATV path dropping through the wash southbound (to your right) is the Red Mountain Trail.
Alternate, Rainbow Canyon: On SR 14, drive east. After crossing Coal Creek, turn left on Highland Drive. Turn right at Rainbow Canyon. Continue straight onto dirt road at Dirt Foothills Drive. Park in the elevated area about 100 yards from pavement. Start the ride in the washbottom. Veer left to join Red Mountain (the right fork takes you into a dead-end valley or up onto terrifying high fins).

No water, camping, or bathrooms at any trailhead.

Riding resources:
One-page trail guide

GPS track file (right-click and "Save as..."):
    Red Mountain track point-to-point only
    Red Mountain Loop ride
    Multi-track area GPX file
Area H-Res topo for printing:  View
Lodging, camping, shops:  Links to Cedar City area resources

Last updated 2022