Utah Biking May 2022
La Grande/Boise || Richfield and Cedar City || St George and the Mesas || Escalante Hiking || Grand Junction and Navajo Rocks
Once finished riding the Mesa’s we went to one of our favorate areas to ride in Utah. Red Canyon. This is the gateway to Bryce Canyon, it has some of the oldest rock formations of the Colorado Plateau and the views are just mind boggling. We love it here. For our drive from the Mesa’s to Thunder mountain we took AZ-389 and CO Rd 43 by Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park for different scenery. Nice drive.
For our ride on Thunder Mountain we camped at the Red Canyon Campground. This campsite closes Oct 1st, also has no Interwebz, has water. There is dispersed camping up Hwy 12 at 7777ft/2370m, opposite the turnoff to Coyote Hollow and Thunder Mt, here this is Interwebz. In Panguitch Henrie’s Drive in has good burgers and Milk Shakes. Food is also good in Tropic at the Route 12 Grill. It’s a gas station so you can also stock up on ice and snacks.
This area is popular with Horses. If you see them get off the trail, downslope and let them pass. Also don’t pass them fast if their standing in a group. Their animals, you hopefully are not.
From the campground there is a real cool short or long hike, Buckhorn Trail, you decide. Same views as Thunder Mt ride.
The loop from the campsite starts on a paved bike path, which goes all the way to Bryce, you turn off at Coyote Hollow to the trailhead. The trail itself is only 12.4km, with a 230m climb, 531m descent. You top out just over 2500m. Not recommended to ride if wet. Death Goo.
The next day we did a short ride on Cassidy Canyon. Shorter not as nice views, can be sandy but worth it for a shorter ride.
See our Trailforks Ridelog for Thunder Mt HERE. For Cassidy Canyon HERE, Our Buckhorn Hike HERE
Overview map
Red Canyon Campground
Buckhorn Trail Hike
End of Coytoe Hollow rd, start of Thunder Mt.
Climb Ugh.
Lots of horses on the trail today! Get off! Stand down trail from them.
Thor’s Hammer!
This guy came all the way from Montana to ride here with his friend from San Diego!
2009 vs 2022!
Burgers at Henry’s in Panguitch
Cassidy Loop
More Horses
Flowers were going off!
Lunch at Route12 in Tropic, the gas station!
Now we’re off to Escalante for a hike to Hamblin Arch.