I've been wanting to go to south for a weekend bike trip for some time lately. I got to go to St. George over the weekend and it was marvelous. Did the Prospector and Church Rocks on the first day and Gooseberry Mesa on the 2nd day.
Both of my parents trotted along and they really enjoyed themselves especially being in the nice, warm weather. While I went riding on the Prospector and Church Rocks, they went to eat lunch. Prospector and Church Rocks is a good 2 hour ride and it was fast. Because it had not much long sustained climbs but had mostly rolling hills and fast moderate to flat singletrack. I loved it though and I also did the Church Rocks loop which was all slick rock and there were a few spots I had to get off and walk the bike.
The ride was pretty much 18 miles and the day was beautiful. I wasn't that spent but I was saving the leftover energy for the next ride on the next day. That was my first time on Prospector and Church Rocks. I'd do it again.
The next day we all went to Gooseberry Mesa. While I rode, my parents wanted to sit around and listen to audio book and they didn't mind at all because the view at the trailhead parking lot had very good views all around even Zion National Park to the north. They said that view took the cake because the weather was mainly nice because that's all what mattered to them.
I did the Gooseberry Classic Loop. It consists of South Rim, North Rim, and the Practice Loop. I did it all but I made it because these trails were very challenging. The South Rim was the hardest and it was very technical. It was awesome though, I did some walking up the hard stuff. The North Rim was my favorite part of Gooseberry Mesa because it was a little fast and not as hard as the South Rim but still have some challenging obstacles. The North Rim reminded me of the new trails I like in Moab, like the Mag 7 and Klondike Bluffs trail systems.
I remember doing Gooseberry Mesa for the first time like 7 years ago or so but this weekend was the 2nd time I did it and I forgot how fun it was and I can see how it is known as "world-class". It's pretty much like the best trail in the St. George area and it's a popular destination for mountain bikers. I don't know what my next bike weekend vacation is but we will see!
