Big Drop Brian Head Mountain Bike Trail (Parowan, Utah)
June 30, 2008 by Richard Martens
Filed under Uncategorized
Length: The descent of the big drop is about three miles. However the trail can be taken for almost twenty miles into the heart of Parowan Utah.
Difficulty: Moderate to expert. The initial descent is quite taxing and not recommended to anyone who is new to biking. However the valley trail is fairly easy riding.
Location: The big drop trail (one of the many names) starts at the northern edge of the Brian Head ski resort in the rocky mountains of Southern Utah. Brain Head is located about twenty miles south of Parowan Utah, a small farming town located off of I-15. The nearby city of Cedar City Utah offers many standard services as does the ski resort itself.
Time of year: The big drop is only accessible from late spring through fall until the first snow fall of the year.
Special considerations: Brian Head is located at a very high elevation. This means the drop can cause problems for people who are sensitive to oxygen levels.
The trail: The big drop begins at the southern edge of Brian Head and follows a level and smooth path for about 500 feet or so. At the end of this path is a sudden and very steep drop of about ten feet. It is recommended that during the drop you keep your body weight low and to the back of the bike until the trail levels out slightly. If the first drop is a bit more than you feel you can take, there are alternate paths to both the east and west of the path.
Once you have made the drop you will be spending the next three miles in an intense descent that will cover over three thousand vertical feet. During this drop will be several steep inclines that are ideal for gaining speed. However use caution as what appears to be a level trail can lead to another sudden drop. During the descent you will have several opportunities to engage in daring Ariel maneuvers such as high jumping and table topping. In fact there are a few areas that those of a very brave and robust nature can attempt jumps over a deep gorge. However do this only at your own risk as the Iron County search and rescue often can take a minute to get to you.
After the intense three thousand foot jump may people bail out onto the road and stow their bikes and gear and ride either back up to Brian Head for another run or a different trail. The honest truth though is that these early leavers are missing some of the most beautiful terrain crafted by the hand of nature. While the trail may no longer be as intense it offers a good ride with several hills and valleys through beautiful forest land. If you are going through during an early morning or late afternoon ride do not be surprised if you spy some of the local wildlife such as a deer or beaver as both are common to the area.
While this valley trail goes on for about twenty miles there are several ideal areas to leave the trail and get back on the road. However there are also many prime and open to the public camping areas. Those who either have the time or were looking to camp in the first place will find there is no shortage of wonderful camp sites. However, if you were only planning on a day trip that is fine as well. The valley trail ends at the edge of the town of Parowan near a small convenience store where you can buy a cool drink or meet with whoever you had plans with to drive you back to where ever you mean to go.
All in all the big drop is a great trail that leads through and astonishing array of trail types and scenery. If ever you have the chance to visit Southern Utah try to make it to Brian Head for this and many other fine trails.
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Richard Martens - who has written 16 posts on Mountain bike product reviews, bike builds, trail reviews, forum, and tips – MTOBikes.com.
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