Roundabout and Scenic Byway

Bruce heads east on Roundabout. Note the pyramid in the distance.

Roundabout and Scenic Byway
Beginner Trails at Pyramid Ridge campground

Roundabout and Scenic Byway are very easy trails located just outside the Pyramid Ridge campground south of Cedar City. They are suitable for kids and true beginners, and are reached via the Turnpike trail. The trails are new in 2024. The elevation is around 6100 feet, with a riding season of May through November.

Roundabout is the closest to the campground (0.1 miles) and is the easiest. It's a one-mile lariat loop ride on pure dirt. Much of the loop is in sage meadow and is sun-exposed.

Scenic Byway can be considered an alternative pathway for riders on Turnpike, or a destination ride for beginners. It meanders through juniper forest for 0.9 miles before rejoining Turnpike. Scenic Byway has optional rock rollover challenges at trailside, but the main trail is very easy riding.

Northbound on Scenic Byway.

Trailhead and Connections

Pyramid Ridge (Shurtz Canyon) trailhead at the southern end of the Turnpike trail.

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 northeast side of the fence.

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.

A campsite, as seen from the Turnpike trail as we pass through the campground.

Heading out on the paved Southview trail. Turnpike is about 50 feet past the bridge.

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.

Turnpike Trail

Bruce rolls southbound on Turnpike.

The Turnpike Trail's southern end lies within the Pyramid Ridge campground, and will be your route to Roundabout or Scenic Byway. The Turnpike trail exits the fenced Pyramid Ridge trailhead heading north, passing between campgrounds then crossing the campground loop road. The roll-over cattle extruder is the border of the campground.

Turnpike is a 4.4-mile trail along the hillside south of Cedar City, running at around 6000 feet elevation. It's early-intermediate or strong-beginner in technical requirement. On the northern end, Turnpike reaches the Southview trailhead. See the Turnpike trail page for details and other rides reached via Turnpike.

Roundabout Trail

The Roundabout trail forks away to the left, jsut 0.1 miles from the parking lot.

Roundabout is a one-mile, very easy loop ride reached via Turnpike. The stem of the loop lies just outside the Pyramid Ridge campground, to your left on Turnpike just after you cross the cattleguard. It's 0.1 miles from the trailhead parking lot to the trail fork for Roundabout.

After forking away form Turnpike, you'll ride 400 feet on the stem of the loop before the trail splits. Turn to the right here. The trail is signed as two-way, but I understand the preferred direction for bikes is counterclockwise.

The stem reaches the loop.

Westbound as Roundabout circles a broad sage flat.

There's very little elevation change on Roundabout. Small humps in the trail will add up to around 50 feet of climbing over the one-mile lariat ride. The trail surface is 100% dirt, with no rocks or technical challenges.

The trail meanders back and forth through the sage brush, with frequent gentle turns to hold interest. There will be views across the valley to the west.

At mile 0.5, Roundabout passes a short connector bridge to Scenic Byway, on your right. Keep left to continue around the loop.

At mile 0.9, you're back at the stem of the lariat, and at mile 1.0 you rejoin Turnpike. A kiddie-ride from the campground and around Roundabout is 1.2 miles total.

The riding is easy.

Scenic Byway Trail

At the southern end of Scenic Byway, approaching from the campground on Turnpike.

The Scenic Byway trail is a very easy beginner-level ride, but with some optional rock roll-overs at trailside to hold the interest of more advanced bikers. The trail forks to the left off Turnpike at mile 0.5 from the Pyramid Ridge trailhead, directly across from the end of Black Ops. Scenic Byway is a two-way trail, with both of its ends on Turnpike.

Scenic Byway is 0.9 miles long. It's longer but easier than the 0.7-mile section of Turnpike it bypasses. It can be done as an alternative to Turnpike, or as an easy out-and-back or a loop with southern Turnpike.

At mile 0.4 of Scenic Byway, there's a connecting bridge across a wash. The connector links to the mid-point of the Roundabout loop.

Connector between Scenic Byway and Roundabout.

Smooth dirt, but plenty of basalt boulders to build rock rollovers.

Scenic Byway is a very smooth trail in red dirt, running at a lower elevation than Turnpike. The riding surface is very easy for new riders and kids. The trail is surrounded by a forest of cedar, juniper, and pinion pine.

There are multiple rock roll-overs built into the sides of the trail. Many are easy; some are challenging.

There are no steep sections as the trail meanders through the forest. The overall climbing is less than 100 vertical feet over the course of the trail. An out-and-back ride from Pyramid Ridge will be 3.8 miles.

An easier rock rollover. But it's obvious where most riders are going!

Looking south from Turnpike at the northern end of Scenic Byway.

Bottom Line!
Either (or both) of these trails are an excellent choice for true beginners and kids, with the Roundabout ride being the easiest.

A quick loop on Roundabout

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Closeup map of campground area trails.

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 (with the alternate spelling "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, and is actually surrounded by the campground. The Turnpike trail begins at the break in the northeast side of the fence.

Both trailheads have water, toilet, and bike tools.