Tour de N’Utah, Day 6, Zion National Park, 30 miles, 1,266 feet elevation | Gooseberry Mesa

Riding Stats

Accommodations

Just a 30 mile gravel ride today that started about an hour outside of the national park on and around Gooseberry Mesa.

We found the route on the Gravel Bike Race website that hosts an annual gravel race, downloaded the gpx file and just went with it. There was some technical riding on one end with open canyon country on the other and both were 🤙🏻

Ya never know what you’re going to get. The directions said turn left on Main Street but Main Street was nothing but a dirt road. 🤣

The ride did NOT disappoint and we had a little bit of everything as far as road surface; gravel, baby head rocks, small boulders, ruts, deep sand, lots of washboard and mucho cattle guards. As usual the afternoon thunderboomers kept us at the ready.

There were views of Zion National Park and Kolob Canyon and the second half took us through cowboy country and some of the best canyon scenery at 12 mph.

We rode south towards the Arizona border and then made our way back to the car.

For dinner it was back to Zion Canyon Brewery because I mean why end a good thing? The food has been tasty, service 💯 and we sit right by the Virgin River each night recapping our day, planning for the next and estimating how old the ancient Cottonwood trees are along the river.

We got a 20% “locals discount” since we’re basically regulars now this being our third night in a row.🫣

Tomorrow we head to Nevada for our 49th state with a bike cruise through Valley of Fire State Park and our first proper showers in a week!

Click on the image below to view more pics and vids:

Tour de N’Utah, Day 5 Zion National Park, 40 miles, 1,516 feet elevation | Hike AND Bike

Riding Stats

Accommodations

The title of this blog post Hike AND Bike is not to be confused with HAB (Hike A Bike) which we have experienced on Fleecer Ridge, Lava Mountain, et al on the Great Divide.

We started the day out in the rain but ended it in the sunshine and put in a 40 mile bike ride and a little under 6 miles of hiking.

Soon after the rain the skies gave way to sun and we were on our way to hike. Having our bikes with us means we don’t have to ride the shuttle. We just cycle to the trail head.

And meet Tina the tarantula. She’d just crossed the trail before us. About the size of my fist and cuddly as a golden doodle we decided to leave her be but not before snapping her pic.

The day ended at our fave place, the Zion Canyon Brewery for cheers and beers and deciding what the next day might bring.

Click on the image below to view more pics and vids: