Looking down at the Virgin River on the climb up the basalt cliffs. Photos and trail review by Bruce on February 13, 2022.
Confluence Park
La Verkin's Confluence Park lies where La Verkin Creek joins the Virgin River. While primarily a hiking destination, the main trail is used by local riders. There would be little reason for a hard-core biker from outside the area to ride this trail. Maybe if you're staying close by, and it's a recovery day, and your younger kids want to pedal to a spot where they can play in the Virgin River.
La Verkin's Confluence Park lies where La Verkin Creek joins the Virgin River. While primarily a hiking destination, the main trail is used by local riders. There would be little reason for a hard-core biker from outside the area to ride this trail. Maybe if you're staying close by, and it's a recovery day, and your younger kids want to pedal to a spot where they can play in the Virgin River.
Confluence Trail, south
The primary trail is a broad doubletrack that has been graded and improved for much of its length. It's 1.7 miles long. This is the southern Confluence tail. I found it fairly heavily trafficked by strolling couples, runners, and families.
The primary trail is a broad doubletrack that has been graded and improved for much of its length. It's 1.7 miles long. This is the southern Confluence tail. I found it fairly heavily trafficked by strolling couples, runners, and families.
Getting started down the graded broad main trail. Plenty of bike tracks, so people DO ride this.
Rope swing (there are several) over a deep hole in the Virgin River.
The only bike riders I saw were kids who pedaled their cheap department store bikes to their
favorite spot to play in the river. There were a couple of spots that
looked like a lot of
fun.
The trail exits the southwest corner of the parking loop. For the first 1.5 miles, the trail
is almost flat, with a rise of only 25 feet.
Getting to the cliff area. The massive basalt cliffs are impressive!
Entry to the Cactus Cliff trail from Confluence.
At mile 0.8 there's a 4-way intersection. The trail along the Virgin River now has an alternate
path (also a cindered doubletrack) as a bridge is under construction going
across the river
from the old path. Keep left to stay out of the construction zone. The
paths will rejoin in
0.3 miles.
On the far left, a doubletrack called Cactus Cliff heads up to the top of the cliffs. It's 0.3 miles long, plus a bit of dirt road after the step-over gate. It rises 170 vertical feet to end in a subdivision. The cliff at the bottom of this trail is worth a look. Giant cactuses are growing out of the basalt rock face.
On the far left, a doubletrack called Cactus Cliff heads up to the top of the cliffs. It's 0.3 miles long, plus a bit of dirt road after the step-over gate. It rises 170 vertical feet to end in a subdivision. The cliff at the bottom of this trail is worth a look. Giant cactuses are growing out of the basalt rock face.
Around mile 1.2, you'll pass the old hydropower station, a historic landmark. It used water
in a pipeline from the top of the cliffs to drive generators to produce
electricity for the
town.
The old power building, viewed from uphill.
A little bit of real dirt.
A bit further along, the character of the trail changes temporarily, as you weave through a
grove of trees on dirt.
At mile 1.5, the trail begins climbing up the cliffs. Over the next 1/4 mile, it will gain
almost 200 vertical feet. With the loose cinders on the surface of the
doubletrack, that's
a pitch most bike riders can't handle. But there are nice views up there,
so do it.
Looking down-river (to the northwest) as we climb out.
View up the Virgin River.
At any of the higher spots (Confluence or upper Cactus Cliff), you'll be able to see the literal
confluence, where La Verkin Creek meets the Virgin River.
At the top, the Confluence trail exits between two motel buildings into a private parking lot. I'm not aware of any dedicated public parking at the top of the Confluence trail.
At the top, the Confluence trail exits between two motel buildings into a private parking lot. I'm not aware of any dedicated public parking at the top of the Confluence trail.
Confluence Trail, north.
At the northwest corner of the parking loop, a singletrack "Confluence Trail" heads north. This trail is 0.3 miles. It ends at a step-over gate on the gravel road into the parking area.When 150 feet of gravel road on the west side of the parking loop is added to the doubletrack main Confluence Trail and the singletrack northern Confluence Trail, the result is 2 miles of trail.
At the northwest corner of the parking loop, a singletrack "Confluence Trail" heads north. This trail is 0.3 miles. It ends at a step-over gate on the gravel road into the parking area.When 150 feet of gravel road on the west side of the parking loop is added to the doubletrack main Confluence Trail and the singletrack northern Confluence Trail, the result is 2 miles of trail.
On the northern singletrack version of Confluence.
Looking north on the La Verkin Creek trail.
La Verkin Creek trail
The La Verkin Creek singletrack allows bikes but doesn't see much traffic. It forks away to the right from the main Confluence Trail at mile 0.2 and rejoins at mile 0.6. The singletrack is 0.5 miles long with no significant elevation change. There are two downed trees to contend with: one is a step-over and the other is a duck-under. Parts of the trail will be soft during the summer.
The La Verkin Creek singletrack allows bikes but doesn't see much traffic. It forks away to the right from the main Confluence Trail at mile 0.2 and rejoins at mile 0.6. The singletrack is 0.5 miles long with no significant elevation change. There are two downed trees to contend with: one is a step-over and the other is a duck-under. Parts of the trail will be soft during the summer.
Map of the Confluence Park area
Getting there:
On Highway 9 at the northern end of La Verkin, turn onto 900 North. Keep straight, and the paved road will turn into the gravel trailhead road. At 0.8 miles from Highway 9, the gravel road will enter a one-way parking loop. Go right and find a place to park. To begin your ride, pedal around the loop in the same direction you entered and find the step-over gate for the main Confluence Trail at the southwest corner. (The entry to the northern singletrack Confluence trail is at the northwest corner of the loop near the exit road.)There is a bathroom at the trailhead but no water.
On Highway 9 at the northern end of La Verkin, turn onto 900 North. Keep straight, and the paved road will turn into the gravel trailhead road. At 0.8 miles from Highway 9, the gravel road will enter a one-way parking loop. Go right and find a place to park. To begin your ride, pedal around the loop in the same direction you entered and find the step-over gate for the main Confluence Trail at the southwest corner. (The entry to the northern singletrack Confluence trail is at the northwest corner of the loop near the exit road.)There is a bathroom at the trailhead but no water.
GPS track files (right-click and "Save as..."): Area multi-track file
Maps of trail system for printing: Aerial as at left
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to St. George area resources
