Gooseberry Mesa Singletrack - 5 Day Guided Mountain Bike Trip

DAY 1

After our meeting in St. George, we will load into the van for a short shuttle to the goods. Who would think such a quick drive would take you out of the city and onto some of the best desert singletrack around? We are headed for the Santa Clara River Reserve—an incredibly fun network of trails. This area was set aside to preserve open space and protect prehistoric cultural resources, riparian areas and incredible scenic vistas. After lunch we have some rolling terrain and a few short climbs and then begin our fun ride back to the trailhead. A quick shuttle will take us to our camp where will have great views of the surrounding geology. TOTAL MILEAGE: 12 - 17 miles

DAY 2

We will have a hearty breakfast and shuttle out of camp to our ride for the day, the JEM trail. Named after John (known to us as Johnny Concrete, per his formal occupation vs. his love of trail building), Ellen and Mike, this trail offers high speed desert cruising and a cliffside ride along the Virgin River. We will pedal our way along the edge of the Virgin River Canyon and head toward the colorful bluff of Gooseberry Mesa. The climbing continues up a wash and onto some technical singletrack before we top out to have a lunch stop towering over the Virgin River drainage. We climb a couple miles on dirt road to be rewarded by more rolling singletrack and then the fun really begins! Swooping through the desert on unbelievable singletrack, you might just laugh out loud carving eight miles all the way back to the start. All smiles, we will load up and shuttle to our camp on Gooseberry Mesa. TOTAL MILEAGE: 24 miles

DAY 3

This morning we will begin with a shuttle to Little Creek Mesa, a trail system that has been a long time coming. Although trails existed here for numerous years, it was discovered that they traveled right over, around and through Ancient Puebloan routes, so it was closed to mountain biking. The BLM, along with IMBA, has worked tirelessly to reroute the trails and our patience has paid off! Riding these trails is a technicolor experience as the rock colors change every time you look down. This is our first day of riding on rock, and a good introduction for the days to come on Gooseberry Mesa. We will shuttle back to our camp on the mesa. TOTAL MILEAGE: 12 - 18 miles

DAY 4

We will awaken to sunlight pouring across the mesa top before enjoying our hot coffee and freshly prepared breakfast. The mesa top is a hard layer of Shinarump Conglomerate which forms a cap over the underlying red and white striped Moenkopi Formation. Moenkopi is a mudstone so it is deeply eroded along flanks of the mesa. The Shinarump is a prime surface for a tight technical mountain bike trail. The smooth slickrock sections are intermingled with clusters of junipers to dodge and little rock canyons to squeeze through. There is barely a 30 foot section of the trail where you can see exactly where your bike needs to go next. Couple the fun riding with the incredible views off the edge into Zion Canyon and you have the recipe for a memorable day on the bike. We will return to the same camp for the night. TOTAL MILEAGE: 10 - 15 miles

DAY 5

We will head out this morning to pedal more of the trails that the mesa has to offer. This time the loop is a little more technical, with steep short climbs onto slickrock knobs and tight switchbacks down the other side. A little off camber riding adds to the fun and some singletrack through the firm sand lets you relax a little! There is so much to ride on the mesa, we never seem to run out of options. Plus the rides are so amazing you will want to ride some of them again! When it is time, we will head back to St. George. TOTAL MILEAGE: 8 - 10 big miles

Be sure to bring everything on this list. We have carefully developed this list to ensure your comfort on the tour regardless of the weather. If you are prepared for extreme weather, it is an adventure. If you are not prepared it can be a serious problem.We recommend the layering system, including a wicking or long underwear layer, an insulating layer and a weather barrier for wind and rain. This list reflects that philosophy. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed!

HOW TO PACK: The bulk of your gear and clothing will ride in the Western Spirit support vehicle (preferably in a large duffle bag) and will not be accessible during the day.

For this trip, you will need a riding pack and optional day bag:

•  Your riding pack may be a hydration pack, but needs to carry 2-3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing, and food for the day. You may be away from camp and the support vehicle all day and need to be self-sufficient.
• A small day bag is optional and may be used to store things you’d rather not ride with, but would like to have access to during the day. This day-pack will remain with the support vehicle and may not be accessible, depending on the day.

WHAT WE PROVIDE: ✓ meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks, non-alcoholic drinks ✓ camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware ✓ 1 cycling water bottle ✓ camp chairs ✓ solar showers ✓ sunscreen & bug spray ✓ bike stand and lube ✓ guides bring their own tools ✓ first aid kit with basic medications

BRINGING OR RENTING

• bike (Our rentals come with flat pedals. You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.)
• helmet (gratis w/rental bike)
• tent
• sleeping bag
• sleeping pad

CYCLING CLOTHING

• cycling shoes
• 3 - 5 pair cycling shorts
• 3 - 5 cycling shirts
• long sleeve cycling shirt
• long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
• cycling socks
• windbreaker
• tights or leg warmers
• 2 pair cycling gloves (1 pair full length for warmth)
• rain jacket (Gore-Tex or similar)
• rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
• warm layer (lightweight synthetic puffy jacket or long sleeve fleece shirt)
• sunglasses or other eye protection

CAMP CLOTHING

• camp shorts
• shirts
• warm socks
• long underwear, top and bottom (wicking layer, not cotton)
• 2 pairs warm long pants
• long-sleeved fleece or sweater
• Pile or down jacket (insulating layer)
• warm gloves and hat
• brimmed hat or visor
• bathing suit (for solar showers on the trip and at the hotel before/after your trip)
• hiking shoes
• sandals
• rain gear to wear in camp

PERSONAL

• toiletries
• medication (daily and emergency)
• towel
• biodegradable soap
• wet-wipes
• flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries)
• sunglasses
• optional day bag
• stuff sacks or reusable grocery bags (or separate compartments for your dry bag)
• cash for tipping guides: your guides work as a team and share all of their gratuities. A tip of 10-20% of the price of your trip given to either one of your guides when you return to civilization is a great way to say thanks for a job well done.

OPTIONAL

• camera, extra batteries
• binoculars
• alcoholic or any of your favorite beverages (your guides will pack these)
• books or maps
• we encourage you to turn your devices off, but if you cannot, please bring a way to charge them. We recommend a portable USB charger with 1-2 charges. Also, putting your phone on airplane mode to save power is recommended.

Driving St. George is located 120 miles north of Las Vegas on Interstate 15. If you need to leave a car behind while you are on your trip, there is parking available at the hotel where we will be meeting.

Flying into St. George Airport Code: SGU The airport is far from town. Be sure to book your taxi ahead of time.

Flying into Las Vegas, NV Airport Code: LAS There are two options for getting from Las Vegas to St. George:

1. Take a shuttle with Salt Lake Express. When you reserve, it is very important that you tell them the following things:
2. Select the Door to Door option with the 84790 zip code and provide them with the hotel address where you will be staying.
3. If you are flying with your bike, you will need to reserve a spot on the shuttle for your bike, which will need to be boxed up. There is a surcharge each way.

Shuttles depart from the Las Vegas Airport and St. George eight times daily. Keep in mind that St. George is one hour ahead of Las Vegas. Call 208-656-8824 or visit www.saltlakeexpress.com for times and to make a reservation.

1. Rent a car in Las Vegas and park it at the hotel.

Flying into Salt Lake City, UT Airport Code: SLC There are two options for getting from Salt Lake City to St. George:

1. Take a shuttle with Salt Lake Express; shuttle time is about 5 hours. When you reserve, it is very important that you tell them the following things:
2. Select the Door to Door option with the 84790 zip code and provide them with the hotel address where you will be staying.
3. If you are flying with your bike, you will need to reserve a spot on the shuttle for your bike, which will need to be boxed up. There is a surcharge each way.

Call 208-656-8824 or visit www.saltlakeexpress.com for times and to make a reservation.

1. Rent a car in Salt Lake; it is a 5 hour drive.

• Holiday Inn St. George Convention Center - 435-628-8007 Book your room at the Holiday Inn using this special booking link to enjoy a discounted rate.
• Tru by Hilton St. George - 435-634-7768
• Fairfield Inn St. George - 435-673-6066
• Hilton Garden Inn St. George - 435-634-4100

We love biking and traveling as much as you do! For over 30 years, we’ve been in the business of bike guiding and we’ve honed every little detail to give you the highest quality bike trip on the market. We’ve cherry-picked the best mountain bike trails and road rides so you can immerse yourself in the stunning landscape of the American West. We go the extra mile to make sure you have the most fun on your bike!

At Western Spirit, our staff is the heart of our company. Our guides love what they do, and are dedicated to providing you with a memorable vacation. Each of them has received extensive training in backcountry travel, cooking, natural history, and first aid, not to mention their cycling and mechanical skills. They are committed to helping people experience the outdoors and have a wealth of knowledge to share. Their attention to every detail leaves you free to enjoy the riding.

It’s our philosophy that everyone in our busy world needs to get outside more. We know it’s tough to squeeze it all in, but with Western Spirit we’re here to make it as easy as possible. Our friendly office staff is just a call away to help you find the perfect trip for you. We believe in getting away from it all, spending rejuvenating time in nature, and most of all, having a lot of fun!

The trip price includes food and drinks for the trip, guides, support vehicle, campsites, permits, and any entry fees into national parks and public lands.

Not included are: rental fees (bikes and camping gear), alcoholic beverages, gratuities for your guides, and applicable sales tax. If you would like to bring alcoholic beverages we will store them for you at the appropriate temperature.

Your total tour cost will include your trip fee, appropriate rental fees and applicable sales tax

We provide water, coffee, teas, electrolyte drinks, and assorted soft drinks. We cannot provide alcohol. You are welcome to bring your favorite alcoholic beverages and our guides will store them at the appropriate temperature. We’ll keep the beer cold while you’re out riding!

Yes! From lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, we’ve got healthy and delicious food to fuel your fun. Food is one thing we take pretty seriously and we get rave reviews from our guests.

Our guides are amazing backcountry chefs and will prepare all your meals. All snacks are included. We’re sponsored by Clif Bar, and provide you with plentiful bars, snacks and electrolyte drinks. If you have specific favorite riding snacks, however, please bring them with you.

Yes, no problem! We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions, and we do it frequently. Our guides are masters at making sure everyone is satisfied. Please let us know when you fill out your forms so our guides can accommodate you and your needs. It is good to be specific (e.g., vegetarian but prefer tempeh over tofu) to help the guides with meal planning.

We wish we could tell you exactly, but Mother Nature is quite unpredictable as you may know. Our trips are designed with the best weather in mind, and follow the seasons—desert trips in spring and fall, and mountain trips in the summer. By sticking to our packing list that we’ve designed for you, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes our way (bringing rain gear almost assures it won’t rain, right?).

Most of our permits allow us to take 13 guests and 2 guides, although many trips are smaller than our maximum allowed. Our Maze permit in Canyonlands National Park is more limited with only 7 guests and 2 guides to maintain the remote wilderness experience.

For mountain bikes, we use the Specialized Stumpjumper ST 29ers. For road bikes, we use the Specialized Diverge E5 Elite. All our rental bikes come with flat pedals, a helmet, and one water bottle cage. We provide the water bottle and all the bike repair gear.

If you’re renting a bike from us, you do not need to show up early. Please meet at the scheduled time and we will fit you to your rented bike then.

All Western Spirit rental bikes come with flat pedals. If you have clipless pedals (e.g., SPD, Crank Brothers, etc.), you’re welcome to bring them along with your shoes. We swap out pedals all the time!

The packing list will tell you how to pack, since it depends on which trip you are on. Overall, we use a 3-bag system:

Camping gear and personal items for camp (gets packed away in the morning and is inaccessible throughout the day), Small daypack (stays in vehicle and is accessible throughout the day, e.g., extra layers, prescription medications, extra snacks, etc.), Hydration pack you wear (all things you readily need, right there on your back). We recommend a 2-liter hydration system (e.g., Camelbak) to carry the things needed during the day (water, snacks, lunch, rain gear, extra layer, sunscreen, camera, etc.), and to easily hydrate without stopping.

Nope! We provide spare tubes (for 26”, 27.5” and 29” wheels), lube, tool kits, and pumps.

Certainly! If you bring camping gear, please bring a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. We’ll provide everything else you need. Don’t worry about the camp chairs—we bring those too!

Please make sure all your gear is in excellent, working condition before you head out on your trip. If you’re bringing your own bike, please make sure it has been tuned up and is in excellent riding condition before the trip.

Yes! We rent tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. Sleeping bags are thoroughly washed between trips. The following prices are for the whole trip:

2-person tent – $40 Sleeping bag – $35 Sleeping pad – $15 Total $90

We offer solar showers which are a nice way to rinse off and refresh yourself, but it is not enough water to take a full-fledge shower. The showers are not private, so please bring a swimsuit and your own towel. Showers are dependent on water resources, which may be restricted if it’s a hot desert trip. Some campsites have streams and lakes available for swimming. We also recommend wet-wipes to refresh after a fun day on the bike.

It’s not a glamorous topic, and we know this can be a subject of concern and embarrassment for some. We make it as easy and sanitary as possible! If we’re camping in designated campsites, we use the pit toilets available in the campgrounds. If we’re camping in the backcountry, we obey by the pack-it-in-pack-it-out rule. We set up a portable toilet lovingly called “the groover,” and put it in a private location with a stunning view. We provide a hand wash system for clean up.

Please join us! We get solo travelers all the time and going on a bike trip is a great way to meet like-minded people. Many of our guests end up as lifelong friends after a Western Spirit trip.