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Barrel and Zen Double Loop (Zen Trail, Green Valley, Barrel Trail)

Mountain Biking Trail

Hard
10.69 mi
1,776 ft
The Barrel/Zen route combines two popular loops to give technically-oriented riders a full smorgasbord of rocky, stunt-laden fun.

Just off the southwest corner of St. George, Utah, lies a massive conglomeration of trail networks where riders of all levels and styles can find multiple options to their liking. The area includes well-known trails from buttery-smooth to totally-gnarly, and a confusing myriad of connecting trails, doubletracks, and old dirt roads, making for quite a spaghetti plate of options. This route brings together two fairly straightforward loops, both of which can be ridden from the same trailhead, or even from town. These are the two most technical loops in the area, each about six miles in length, so it's possible to ride just one or the other which, despite the low mileage, may be enough for many riders given the challenges presented. The route as described begins with a loop up part of the Green Valley racecourse and descending on the longtime St. George favorite, the Barrel Trail, so named for the many barrel cactus that line it. Most of the climb is relatively non-technical and of moderate grade, making it a fairly easy way to gain some elevation for the return trip. Once on top, there is a large open rock area which is fun to ride, but will require a sharp eye for cairns in some places to stay on the route. When the loop turns back down, that's where the fun (or mayhem) begins. You'll encounter all manner of stunts, some natural, incorporating the many rocks along the way, and some man-made, including ramps onto or off of rocks. There are also a few gap jumps, some times long enough to require serious speed. There are ride arounds (or hike arounds) for all the most challenging features, so a solid intermediate and a pro freerider can hit this one together and still have a great time. The second loop is on the Zen Trail, which was cut much later than the Barrel Trail, and makes maximum use of the more frequent rock features on its part of the great escarpment. The climb for this one is longer and more taxing, but the more continuous natural technical features make it worth the effort. If you think you may only be up for one loop and you prefer natural features, then skip the Barrel Trail and just do Zen. If you're not sure, do Zen first and then go to Barrel. The upper part of Zen is an absolute rock crawler's delight, with all manner of rock moves including wide open and narrow, step ups, rollers, drops, real thread-the-needle grooves, and even a low overhang which requires the rider to really duck to clear. These trails are all completely exposed to the harsh desert sun. The good news is that they're generally ridable year round, but if riding in the summer months, start early to beat the heat and always bring plenty of water. Bring your camera as well, as there are lots of great shots both of the mountain and desert backdrops, as well as action shots of the many features. -Written by John Fisch Written by FATMAP Official
Created By
Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
grind baby grind0.21 mi92 ft8.2%
BARREL UP (Cactus to Fork)0.65 mi151 ft4.1%
Barrel trail up!1.03 mi384 ft7.0%
Feel the burn0.70 mi282 ft7.5%
the steeps0.32 mi184 ft10.6%
Cardiac crisis0.44 mi240 ft10.1%
Upper Barrel ED0.54 mi-223 ft-7.8%
Barrel Trail 1st Descent0.46 mi-210 ft-8.6%
Barrel Water or Fall0.13 mi-85 ft-12.2%
Jerry Sprinter0.34 mi-164 ft-9.0%
Barrel - Waterfall to the Top0.57 mi161 ft2.9%
BARREL ROCK CLIMB0.30 mi154 ft9.5%
Barrel/Playground - Race Course Descent1.40 mi-466 ft-6.3%
Batman and Robin?1.23 mi-472 ft-7.2%
huck the gaps yo0.81 mi-292 ft-6.8%
Batman and Roger!!!1.31 mi-459 ft-6.6%
steep tea bag0.22 mi-210 ft-17.3%
slys secret line0.46 mi-167 ft-6.8%
BARREL FLATS0.35 mi-56 ft-3.0%
Zen climb 1st mile1.00 mi335 ft6.3%
Zen counter clockwise (4.5miles)4.78 mi696 ft0.3%
Zen 1st half mile climb0.51 mi161 ft5.9%
Zen loop w/New single track climb5.74 mi-705 ft-0.0%
whole zen climb...DO stop for lunch at top cliff2.37 mi643 ft5.1%
True Full Zen Climb (Past Ridge DH & Billy Goat Climb)2.96 mi666 ft3.8%
Zen Climb and Descent3.72 mi663 ft0.7%
Taste the Zen0.94 mi322 ft6.4%
Zen climb 1.51.54 mi548 ft6.7%
Lower Zen Climb0.65 mi236 ft6.8%
Zen Climb0.99 mi279 ft5.3%
Techy Zen Cliff 0.20 mi62 ft4.7%
Final zen up0.37 mi164 ft8.4%
Zen Test Piece1.76 mi-597 ft-6.3%
Zen Super-D1.35 mi-476 ft-6.6%
Zen ridge descent0.31 mi-121 ft-6.9%
zen ridge descent (proper finish)0.27 mi-102 ft-7.1%
Zen Some Descent1.40 mi-558 ft-7.5%
Zen Superdooper Descent3.16 mi-722 ft-4.3%
Viewpoint to Viewpoint 0.32 mi-105 ft-3.2%
Zenalicious DH1.51 mi-528 ft-6.5%
Zen Descent1.09 mi-469 ft-8.1%
zen dh super D1.48 mi-528 ft-6.2%
Zen Downhill (first half)0.48 mi-217 ft-8.5%
Zen Descent (Buffered Ends)0.97 mi-472 ft-9.1%
suck it grant1.01 mi-472 ft-8.8%
NoZENber Descent1.30 mi-535 ft-7.8%
ZenTacular0.47 mi-230 ft-9.2%
Upside Down Super Daisy0.45 mi-220 ft-9.2%
Triple cardiac climb0.42 mi115 ft5.2%
fast and rocky0.21 mi-85 ft-7.5%