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A popular loop that combines three fun trails with easy climbs, fast descending, and great vistas.


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Map Key

20.8

Miles

33.5

KM

90%

Singletrack

4,318' 1,316 m

High

3,484' 1,062 m

Low

1,326' 404 m

Up

1,329' 405 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

16%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Unknown

This route has been edited to use the Sheep Bridge TH (Spring '23), cutting out the northeastern section of the JEM Trail.

Overview

One of the best link-ups in Southern Utah. This loop includes the Hurricane Rim Trail, Goulds Rim, and JEM Trail for 20+ miles on mostly singletrack.

This loop is a roller coaster ride with great vistas, easy climbing, fast flowing descending, and some technical sections. It combines many of the trails in this network.

Need to Know

There are bike tools and a pump at the kiosk.

Description

Because it combines three different trails you can start from any one of the trailheads, with this route using the Sheep Bridge TH, passing the Jem TH off Hwy 59 around mile 16 and access to the Hurricane Cliffs TH around mile 18.

The Sheep Bridge trailhead can be a little tricky to find, but the MTB Project mobile app should lead you right to it. Turn south off of State Road 9 onto Sheep Bridge Road just outside Virgin, Utah. Cross the Virgin River and continue across the cattle guard. Follow the dirt road past the Hurricane Cliffs BLM Rec Area to the parking area (this is the trailhead).

The Cryptobionic trail starts as you leave the parking lot heading north. Look for the brown trail sign to get onto the singletrack.

Within a hundred yards, you'll come to the JEM Trail junction - turn right onto the JEM Trail. Continue northeast until the Hurricane Ridge Trail, turn left (west), and you're on your way.

Follow this fun, rocky trail along the rim above the river to the Hurricane Rim trailhead. From the Hurricane Rim trailhead around mile 7.3, go down the highway about 1,000 feet. (Be careful on the highway because the shoulder is very narrow.) Turn onto the doubletrack on your left and climb for about two miles and then, as you reach the top of the hill, watch for the singletrack branching off to the left.

Follow the Goulds Rim trail flowing climb until you cross a well maintained gravel road and look for corrals across this road. Head toward the corrals and follow the dirt road passing the corrals on the south (right). You'll see another brown sign marking the singletrack just past the corrals.

Follow the trail until it crosses State Road 59 again (this time heading north). After crossing the highway, take the short dirt road south to the upper JEM parking lot.

Ride through the parking lot and look for the singletrack on your right (east) immediately after crossing the fence on a small bike cattle guard. Get ready for one of the best xc descents anywhere. Simply follow the JEM Trail singletrack back to the Sheep Bridge TH parking area (and your car).

Contacts

Shared By:

Kevin Christopherson with improvements by Evan Springer

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 117 votes

#130

Overall
  4.1 from 117 votes
5 Star
39%
4 Star
40%
3 Star
12%
2 Star
5%
1 Star
3%
Recommended Route Rankings

#15

in Utah

#130

Overall
283 Views Last Month
64,779 Since Sep 12, 2013
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
3%
45%
17%
34%
1%

Photos

This is the part where JEM really gets rockin'
Apr 2, 2015 near Hurricane, UT
Here comes a storm...
May 3, 2016 near LaVerkin, UT
Riding between canyon sections on Goulds Rim.
Apr 2, 2015 near Hurricane, UT
Teena bombing it down the JEM trail back to the Sheep Bridge trailhead.  You can see the town of Virgin, and Zion National Park in the background.
Aug 11, 2013 near LaVerkin, UT
Mother Nature in all her red-rock majesty!
Dec 18, 2015 near Hurricane, UT
Shredding a little Ridge on Jem, Guided mountain bike trips @ https://www.wildmesamtb.com/.
Jul 21, 2022 near Hurricane, UT
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Current Trail Conditions

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