Regardless of how the decision was made, this ~25-mile loop anchored by the Hurricane Rim Trail still reigns as the region's IMBA Epic ride, and it fits the bill as a challenging, long-distance cross-country mountain bike route.

When you look at the stats, 25 miles and 2,300 feet of climbing doesn't necessarily sound too challenging... but these numbers belie the punchiness of the climbs along Hurricane Rim. Along the Rim, the trail grunts straight up a series of short, steep climbs, followed by blazing fast descents down into the next gullies.

Thankfully, the incredible views will help distract you from the pain. The Hurricane Rim trail follows the edge of Hurricane Fault, which is one of the longest earthquake faults in the world. It runs 250km in a north-south direction. (Source) Through this section, the fault consists of jagged upthrust cliffs rising above a narrow valley hundreds of feet below, through which flows the stunning Virgin River. Take your time to enjoy the many vistas along the way, as these views are out of this world!

The singletrack along the rim alternates between flowy, mostly smooth trail, and a rough track filled with blocky square-edged rocks. These boulders also make forward progress feel like a challenge, with the abrupt edges threatening to leap out and flat your tire.

After pedaling along the incredible rim for about 7.5 miles, you'll cross the highway and then begin the longest climb of the ride. On the other side of the highway, you'll grind up the mesa on a combination of old doubletrack and singletrack, including the Goulds Rim trail. You'll then connect to the Gould trail and re-cross the highway to rejoin the Jem Trails. This climbing segment covers about 8 miles and 1,150 vertical feet.

Finally, all of your work will pay off! You've reached the high point of the loop, and it's time to descend back to the trailhead. The descent follows the iconic Jem Trail all the way back. This smooth, mellow singletrack trail is fast, flowy, and fun! Some low berms keep riders flowing quickly through the singletrack, and small jumps provide opportunities for air. Some portions of the Jem Trail are chunky and technical, but those stretches of rock are all short-lived. This flowy descent is a worthy reward for all the work you put in!