The Little Creek Mountain Double Loop offers 14 miles of mixed singletrack and slickrock with classic Southwest Utah scenery.

Statistics

1 - 2

hrs

328

m

328

m

3

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Severe

Description

Little Creek Mountain is another of Southwest Utah's mesa playgrounds for bikes.

The mesa is home to two main loops full of absolutely top-notch cranking for the adventurous or technically-oriented rider.

Like its sister mesa to the north, the more famous Gooseberry Mesa, Little Creek Mountain offers plenty of slickrock of all types to play on.

However, the proportion of slickrock is less and there is more singletrack, all of which is very high quality, and most riders take great joy in flowing back and forth between open rock and ducking around pinions in the mostly hardpacked singletrack. Of the two main loops, the West Loop is the most commonly ridden and will provide a full nine miles of exciting, scenic, and occasionally technically-demanding riding.

Elevation change is minimal, so exertion comes primarily in the form of picking a route over or around the many rock stunts to be had (or avoided).

Adding in the North Loop cranks up the mileage to around 15 miles and offers an extension that is both more technically and physically demanding.

There are slickrock sections that many riders will want to session, trying different lines, angles for hucking, grippy climbing and significant step ups, and just plain-old playing around.

The West loop can be ridden in an hour to an hour and a half, and the full double loop in two to two and a half hours, but you'll probably take quite a bit more with picture and play time, and it'll all be worth every frivolous moment.

Along the way, there are plenty of photo ops to be had, so be sure to bring a camera and capture memories of the unique Southwestern Utah geography.

The mesa top has enough elevation under it that it does get snow in the winter and while the riding season generally begins in March, be sure to check trail conditions before heading out (Over the Edge Bikes in Hurricane always has the current scoop).

Little Creek Mesa is an environmentally sensitive area and access is at the discretion of the Bureau of Land Management, so users need to be respectful and practice leave no trace bike ethics. The access road to the start has some rough spots and may be a bit much for a two-wheel drive/low clearance vehicle, and it's a complete no go after precipitation.

But once up on top, an isolated, scarcely (if at all) populated, playground awaits.

Bring plenty of water, keep track of the sun, especially in summer, and enjoy a fantastic, unique, Moab-quality cranking session without the Moab (or even the St.

George/Hurricane) crowds! -Written by John Fisch