Valhalla Trail

Lots of up-and-down. Photos and review by Bruce on July 11, 2021. Update August 17, 2022.

Valhalla Trail
13th Hole to Thunderbird Trailhead

The Valhalla trail connects the Thunderbird Gardens trailhead to the middle of the 13th Hole loop. It lies in a beautiful red-rock area east of Cedar City. The ride would rank upper-intermediate in tech requirement. There are a lot of twists and turns and a few rock challenges to navigate.

At only 1.2 miles in length, Valhalla is a quick ride as an out-and-back. While it has an absolute elevation change of only 100 vertical feet, up-and-down riding adds up to around 300 feet of sometimes-tough climbing. Most riders add the 13th Hole loop to this trail.

Bruce rides past red rock outcrops in this drone shot.

Trailheads and Connections

Entering the Thunderbird Gardens trailhead. Bathroom to your left, trail entry to your right.

Thunderbird Gardens Trailhead

The Thunderbird Gardens trailhead is at the end of a gravel road that's the continuation of 900 North Street in Cedar City. To find the trail, go past the kiosk for Thor's Hideout at the eastern side of parking (opposite the toilet). Just outside the fence, veer 120 degrees left from Thor's to head north. Keep straight as you cross Lil Ratlr, and you're on your way.

Starting out from the paved 13th Hole trailhead.

13th Hole Trailhead

The 13th Hole trailhead on Knoll Street has a bathroom and running water. You'll need to pedal a bit of sidewalk to reach the trail. Climb up the 13th Hole loop in either direction. The Valhalla trail forks away from 13th Hole at a hairpin turn on the southern side of the loop, just before the highest elevation on the loop.

The Valhalla trail

The southern end of the trail is lower in elevation at 6000 feet, starting at the Thunderbird Gardens trailhead. The trail surface is a broad bench-cut that follows the wiggles in the terrain.

Bruce rides south past sandstone outcrops as he heads from 13th Hole to Thunderbird Gardens.

Starting uphill, just past the Lil Ratlr crossing. The disk golf course is ahead and to the left in this photo.

Overall the trail surface has firmed up nicely since its original construction. Some sections of trail can become a little loose where bike tires dig into hard turns. But there's no deep sand or bog-downs.

The trail has a lot of twists and turns and ups and downs. You may feel like it's "uphill both ways." From Thunderbird Gardens, after the initial elevation gain it will cross three ridgelines, with a bit of descending and climbing each time.

Looking down to a rough switchback.

Climbing west.

The area is dry and gets hot on summer afternoons. Cedar, juniper, pinion pine, and bitterbrush sprout from salmon-colored dirt. There are some scenic rock outcrops.

Several times, you'll think you're there. But there's more fun yet to go. The trail reaches 13th Hole at a hairpin turn. If you plan to use 13th Hole for a loop ride, pick a direction.

Made the first ridge. And in a minute, we'll cross the smooth part of the next ridge.

View from the trail just south of the junction with 13th Hole, looking west at Three Peaks and northern Cedar City.

Now let's talk about riding the other direction. If you started at the 13th Hole trailhead and are riding the loop counter-clockwise, at mile 1.4 you'll come to a hairpin turn. If you keep straight, you'll be on the way to Thunderbird Gardens. (180 degrees left keeps you on 13th Hole.)

When riding clockwise, the hairpin turn on 13th Hole comes at mile 2.0 from the trailhead, just 0.2 miles after the trail has turned west and started to descend.

Rolling through juniper forest.

Heading south downhill after leaving 13th Hole.

The descent from 13th Hole to Thunderbird is a really fun ride. But it's not blazing fast. There are constant wiggles and short climbs that check your speed. There are a couple of rock outcrops that are tough to clean in this direction.

Video of the Valhalla Trail downhill from the 13th Hole Loop...

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Bottom Line!

Very fun trail for experts and upper-intermediates. Can be managed by early-intermediates with a few walk-overs. Beautiful scenery. It's a short ride, best as an add-on ride to Thor's Hideout and Lightning Switch/Ghost Flats, or as an early-morning or late-afternoon quickie.

Coasting into the Thunderbird trailhead. The trail above me on the hillside is the loop trail.

Map of Valhalla Trail area.

Getting there:
Thunderbird Trailhead: When southbound on I-15, take the first Cedar City exit (the same one you'd use to head for Three Peaks) and turn left towards the mountains. The road will make a broad turn to the south to become Main Street in Cedar City. Turn left at 900 North (it will be just as you reach the cemetery on the right-hand side). When you reach the golf course buildings, the pavement ends. Keep straight ahead onto gravel road. Pass a couple of flood-control basins, driving 1.2 miles from Main Street. Park in the fenced white-gravel trailhead area and start your ride eastbound by the trail kiosk. After 150 feet, turn 150 degrees left uphill on singletrack. Keep straight as you cross Lil Ratlr.

Via 13th Hole Trail: Head south from I-15 on Main Street in Cedar City. After you drive past a knoll to your left, turn left at the light at 1045 North, which will become Knoll Street. (This is one street north of the Thunderbird Gardens trailhead road.) Follow the street uphill through the golf course to a roundabout. Exit the roundabout on Knoll Street, then immediately turn right into a trailhead parking area. The small sidewalk heading east toward the mountains -- and the broad sidewalk that follows -- is the trail. Follow the signs on the sidewalk until you reach the dirt trail. Follow the trail uphill (either side of the loop) until you reach Valhalla.

Bathrooms at Thunderbird and 13th Hole trailheads.
Water at 13th Hole trailhead.

GPS track files for this trail (right-click and "Save as..."):
Area GPX multi-track file
Lodging, camping, shops:
Links to Cedar City area resources