Descending south. This highly banked turn is typical for Breaks. The mountain peak in the upper mid-photo is the pyramid. Review by Bruce on May 21, 2025.
Descending south. This highly banked turn is typical for Breaks. The mountain peak in the upper mid-photo is the pyramid. Review by Bruce on May 21, 2025.
Breaks Trail at Iron Hills

The Breaks Trail is a 3.4 mile intermediate route on the far southern side of the Iron Hills riding area. It's a two-way trail, although if you decide to climb Breaks it will become obvious that it's engineered as a DH trail. At the top, Breaks begins at the end of Tombstone (a two-way expert-level trail). At the bottom, Breaks ends on Turnpike just north of the Pyramid trailhead.

The Breaks trail can be done as an up-and-back, but most riders will want to do it downhill after climbing Elevate then Tombstone. This makes a nice loop!

There's 950 vertical feet of elevation change on Breaks, with a starting elevation at the top of just over 7000 feet. The expected riding season will be mid-May through October.

Taking a row of rocks alongside the trail.
Taking a row of rocks alongside the trail.
This aerial view shows the relationship of Boneyard and Breaks to the "breaks."
This aerial view shows the relationship of Boneyard and Breaks to the "breaks."
The slopes close to the breaks tend to be clay. This will stick to your tires during early-season riding or after a soaking rainstorm. Not a good trail to ride when it's wet!

The trail is named after the "breaks" -- the exposed colorful cliff-like slope you can see to the northeast from the trailhead area. But Breaks doesn't actually run through the breaks. Instead it starts on a ridge above, where there's a nice view, then drops down the slopes to the east and then south of the cliffs.

Looking uphill from the trail. The upper end of Breaks is above the top cliff-line.
Looking uphill from the trail. The upper end of Breaks is above the top cliff-line.
Rolling around a turn.
Rolling around a turn.

The trail is mostly highly engineered dirt ribbon. Turns are highly banked and seem obviously built for the downhill direction. But with a bit of leg, you can climb up and around.

Occasional trailside rock rollovers offer options for more aggressive riders.

Trailhead and Connections
Pyramid Ridge (Shurtz Canyon) trailhead.
Pyramid Ridge (Shurtz Canyon) trailhead.
Pyramid Ridge Trailhead
The Pyramid Ridge trailhead is just off the gravel Shurtz Canyon Road south of Cedar City, surrounded by the Pyramid Ridge campground. From the southern Cedar City exit, head south on Old Highway 91 just east of I-15. At 2.4 miles, turn left on Tipple Road. After 0.6 miles, turn left on Shurtz Canyon Road (mislabeled "Shirts" on the road sign). Go 0.7 miles and turn left into the trailhead. Veer left from the campground road into a large fenced parking area signed Pyramid Ridge Trailhead.
The trailhead is improved with gravel parking, toilet, and bike-repair tool stand.

The Pyramid Ridge campground is administered by the BLM. Reservations are required and should be done on-line. Campsites are improved with gravel parking and tent site, picnic tables, and fire pits.

The Turnpike trail begins eastbound at the break in the northeast side of the fence. Cross the ride-over at the border of the campground, then pass the Roundabout trail on your left. To climb Breaks, turn right at mile 0.2 from the trailhead parking. 

Here's the lower end of Breaks on Turnpike, just 1/4 mile from the trailhead.
Here's the lower end of Breaks on Turnpike, just 1/4 mile from the trailhead.
Heading out on the paved Southview trail.
Heading out on the paved Southview trail.
Southview Trailhead
At the southern I-15 Cedar City exit (Exit 57 to Cross Hollow Road and Highway 130), turn east onto Highway 130. Immediately turn right (south) from 130 onto Old Highway 91. Drive 0.3 miles. Watch for the sign for Southview Trailhead and turn left on Shurtz Canyon Drive and continue to the trailhead at the end of the road.

There's a bathroom with running water, a bike repair stand, a privacy-screen for changing clothes, and ample parking. On the paved Southview trail, go 100 yards until you cross the bridge. Now turn to the right at the first singletrack after you cross the bridge, which is Turnpike. It will take you south to the trails that connect with Breaks.

Breaks Trail notes
The extension of Tombstone to the viewpoint is now part of the Breaks trail. Here my bike is at the top of Bone Yard.
The extension of Tombstone to the viewpoint is now part of the Breaks trail. Here my bike is at the top of Bone Yard.
Breaks is 3.4 miles long. It starts at a viewpoint at the end of Tombstoneat the drop-in to Boneyard. You'll descend 900 vertical feet from the at mile 0.2 viewpoint down to Turnpike just outside the Pyramid campground.

From the top of Tombstone, Breaks actually climbs a bit for a quarter mile. You're on the ridgeline just above the cliffs of the breaks.

Stop at the viewpoint to look over the "breaks" from above, then hop back on the trail to begin a blazing downhill.

Bruce rolls above the cliff-line on the first part of Breaks.
Bruce rolls above the cliff-line on the first part of Breaks.
My Instinct sits at the viewpoint above the breaks.
My Instinct sits at the viewpoint above the breaks.
Stop at the viewpoint to look over the "breaks" from above. This spot is 0.2 miles from the top of Tombstone. Opposite the viewpoint, the trail turns to the left to drop off the mountain through a series of turns. Once you've taken in the view, begin a blazing downhill.

The trail wiggles back and forth and up and down, then the direction changes at a broad highly-banked turn.

The terrain is clay soil with pinion pine and juniper. There's almost no under-story vegetation.

Typical banked turn. Generous radius, sometimes steep if you're trying to climb it, and butter smooth.
Typical banked turn. Generous radius, sometimes steep if you're trying to climb it, and butter smooth.
Pinion pine, and a lone juniper, surround the trail.
Pinion pine, and a lone juniper, surround the trail.
There are no obligatory drops or stunts. The riding is solid intermediate when done with speed. While it's not an appropriate trail for a true beginner, less-experienced riders can do this trail, assuming they have the skill and power to pedal up to the top.
The flow is usually butter-smooth. For tech lovers, there are occasional trailside opportunities such as small rock drops, roll-overs, or rumble strips. These are mostly quite easy, although a couple of roll-overs are placed where it takes an aggressive move to steer into them.
The trail is pretty easy to ride technically. The only challenge will be the slope on the turns when climbing
The trail is pretty easy to ride technically. The only challenge will be the slope on the turns when climbing
After a swooping left turn, this rock rollover is further to the left as you exit the turn, requiring an abrupt move once you spot it. Note the handlebar angle as I move off the main riding line.
After a swooping left turn, this rock rollover is further to the left as you exit the turn, requiring an abrupt move once you spot it. Note the handlebar angle as I move off the main riding line.
In the middle of the descent, there's a shallow valley to cross, with a gentle bit of climbing before the down-slope resumes.

The final quarter mile before Breaks ends on Turnpike is also pretty flat. But it twists around, and there are quite a few rocks to dodge during this stretch.

Descending Breaks

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A swoop, then a high-speed turn!
A swoop, then a high-speed turn!
Bottom Line!

This is a very nice trail that adds significant value to the Iron Hills system. It's obviously best in the downhill direction. The only downside -- for most riders -- is the lack of an easy climbing route to the top.

Getting there:

Pyramid Ridge Trailhead
The Pyramid Ridge trailhead is just off the gravel Shurtz Canyon Road south of Cedar City, surrounded by the Pyramid Ridge campground. From the southern Cedar City exit, head south on Old Highway 91 just east of I-15. At 2.4 miles, turn left on Tipple Road. After 0.6 miles, turn left on Shurtz Canyon Road (mislabeled "Shirts" on the road sign). Go 0.7 miles and turn left into the trailhead. This trailhead has a bathroom and large fenced parking area within the campground. The Turnpike trail begins eastbound at the break in the north east side of the fence.

Southview Trailhead
At the southern I-15 Cedar City exit (Exit 57 to Cross Hollow Road and Highway 130), turn east onto Highway 130. Immediately turn right (south) from 130 onto Old Highway 91. Drive 0.3 miles. Watch for the sign for Southview Trailhead and turn left on Shurtz Canyon Drive and continue to the trailhead at the end of the road. Pedal 3.2 miles south on Turnpike to reach the northern end of Scenic Byway, 4.3 to Roundabout.

Both trailheads have water, toilet, and bike tools.

Map of the Iron Hills riding area
Map of the Iron Hills riding area