Easy–Moderate · 1.5–2 hours
Gooseberry Mesa — White Trail
The gateway ride. Painted white dots across a 5,200-ft slickrock mesa to a 360° view of Zion.
On Two Wheels
J.E.M. Trail
The 'fast and fun' desert cruiser — flowing singletrack along the Virgin River cliffs ending in the JEM Drop, an optional 100-ft rocky downhill.
Photo: BLM Utah / Leslie Kehmeier · Public Domain
- Difficulty
- Easy–Moderate
- Duration
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- From the lodge
- ~25 min
- Type
- MTB · desert flow
JEM is the trail every mountain biker rides on a Hurricane visit. 6.7 miles of flowing singletrack along the Virgin River cliffs, mostly easy-to-moderate technical with one optional spicy section (the JEM Drop, a 100-foot rocky descent at the south end). It's the ride you do with friends who don't mountain bike often, the ride you do as a warmup before Gooseberry, the ride you do solo at sunset because you can't help yourself.
The trail flows. There are no big climbs, no exposure issues, no wayfinding challenges. Just smooth desert singletrack with occasional sandstone benches, a few playful rolls, and a constant dramatic backdrop of the Virgin River canyon and Pine Valley peaks across the valley. Ride it as an out-and-back from the Sheep Bridge trailhead, or shuttle one direction with Over The Edge for a downhill-biased run.
The JEM Drop is optional — you can roll around it on a bypass trail. But if you're feeling it: enter slow, weight-forward, pick a clean line through the loose chunder, and ride out grinning. Pair JEM with a stop at River Rock Roasting in La Verkin on the drive back for coffee and a wood-fired pizza on the canyon-edge patio.
Before you go
- Multi-use trail — yield to hikers and equestrians
- JEM Drop is loose and chunky; bypass available if you're not feeling it
- Limited shade — start early in summer and bring 2L+ water
- Sheep Bridge trailhead has limited parking on weekends — go early or shuttle
Pair it with
← Back to all experiences 
Easy–Moderate · 1.5–2.5 hours
Wire Mesa Loop
7.4 miles of panoramic slickrock with Zion across the valley. The closest trail to your front door.
Hard · 3–4 hours
Hurricane Rim Loop (IMBA Epic)
16+ miles stringing JEM, Goulds, and Hurricane Rim into an IMBA Epic with relentless Zion views.
Ready for your j.e.m. trail day?
Book your cabin and discover the area at your own pace. The trails start at the door.