The Trails Alliance of Southern Utah (TASU, formerly Dixie MBTA) is hoping to start building 60-miles of new mountain bike trails soon. The proposed trails would sit above St. George, Utah in the Pine Valley Mountains.
According to The Spectrum, there would be two new systems, totaling about 60 miles of trail. The first proposed system, currently dubbed Spring Hollow, would hold 45 miles of trail. The second, called Grass Valley, would total about 15 miles. Both of the systems would be above 7,000 feet in elevation, helping St. George riders escape the desert heat for some place higher.
The projects are currently in the scoping period for public comment at the Dixie National Forests’ Pine Valley Ranger District. Utah-based bike brand Fezzari and the Greater Zion tourism office are said to be chipping in to help the trails come to fruition. According to the St. George News, the Spring Hollow network would help spread out tourism across Washington County, to an area that doesn’t get as much traffic.
The proposed Spring Hollow trails would include a cross-country course that meets NICA standards to host high school mountain bike races. The area would also feature a 1.8-mile jump trail – which local Red Bull Rampage athletes would help build. There would also be a 12-mile trail starting at the top of the Spring Hollow network descending toward St. George that would connect with the Ice House trail, making for a very long descent.
TASU wants to make the network very accessible for everyone via shuttle or by bike, and there would also be 23 miles of downhill directional trails for all skill levels.
Kevin Christopherson, the head of TASU, hopes the organization can start building by December. The comment period will remain open until September 18.
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