- Southern Utah to gain 60 miles of new mountain bike trails, funded by $1M.
- The Cliffrose Trail System, spanning 40 miles, caters to all skill levels.
- Proposed Utah Senate bill threatens to eliminate the entire Cliffrose trail system.
ST. GEORGE — Southern Utah is projected to get over 60 miles of new trails for public use, with the help of local and government funding to the tune of over $1 million. With the first two phases completed and the third on deck, local mountain bikers like Kevin Christopherson said this has been a long time coming.
"It comes down to a lot of patience," said Christopherson, who is also the president of the Trail Alliance of Southern Utah. "We're going on seven years of putting this system together — and this year, we're finally riding on it."
The Cliffrose Trail System, as it is now known, encompasses over 40 miles of single-track mountain bike trails in the Pine Valley District and the National Forest near St. George. Christopherson said that a project of this magnitude on public lands is "rare," adding that when planning the system like this, considering public input was crucial.
"These trails are purpose-built," Christopherson said. "In 2018, we asked the community what they wanted as far as a trail system goes, and they said that they wanted more beginner rides and loops, a race course, downhill trails and cooler temps."
With a rather tall order that encompasses a lot of wants, Christopherson and his team, which now includes professional mountain bike trail builders, have set out to build what the people have asked for.
"Right now we have the full range of trail difficulty," said Shane Wilson, project manager at Trail Solutions, a company hired to build the second and third phases. "Some of the terrain is very gentle, so we selected that terrain to put in trails that were more compatible with novice riders and families. We also built steeper and more exposed or rugged terrain that would be compatible with youth cycling competitions. Then the steeper, rougher, more rugged rocky terrain is there for the more advanced riders."
As for the cooler temperatures, taking the trails to higher elevations was the key to fulfilling that order. The trail system begins north of St. George at an elevation of 4,900 feet and climbs to 7,200 feet. Christopherson said that the rise in elevation will extend the mountain bike season into the hot summer months that St. George typically experiences.
It wasn't just the court of public opinion that was the driving force behind this project, but the mere numbers spoke for themselves. According to Christopherson, the number of people accessing public lands has significantly increased over the past several years, making investing in trail systems like Cliffrose good for the economy.
"I don't know if that was ever made public in a formal way, but in 2018, the BLM put out shell counters on public land, and they counted around 90,000 bikes on trails that year," Christopherson said. "They did it again in 2022, and there was a pandemic effect for sure, and the count was 450,000 bikes, which was almost a 500% increase. Now, that was the pandemic, but things have not really gone down much since then. People sort of discovered outdoor recreation, and officials have taken note that there is an economic value in investing in public lands."
Christopherson spoke candidly about his hope for the future of this project, while also expressing concern that it may be all for naught.
A recent bill proposed to the Utah Senate could potentially eliminate the entire Cliffrose trail system.
"There's an overlay (map) showing where they laid the lands in the bill over the top of southern Utah, including Iron and Washington counties, and almost every single bike trail would be impacted," Christopherson said. "Some would be completely eliminated if those plans were sold.
"It's a big deal," he continued. "It'd be like telling people in Salt Lake City that they're going to demolish the Delta Center, right? And they wouldn't be happy about it because they like going to Jazz games. It's the same kind of thing. People forget that the quality of life is really important, and the reason Utah's growing and prospering is because of the quality of life we're getting. Selling these lands, you're basically selling the goose that laid the golden egg."
For now, the Cliffrose trail system is still pushing forward with Phase 3 set to be started this fall, adding the final 20 miles.
"I think it's important to recognize that the real horsepower behind this project has come through the efforts of the Pine Valley Ranger District; the significant funding from Washington County; and the incredible financial stability provided by the state ... and the grants that they provide to allow these kinds of trail projects to be built all over the state of Utah," Shane Wilson added.
For more information on the Cliffrose project go to tasutah.org.
