Ride down the road to mile 0.8, where the road splits, with the left fork going up a steep hill, and the right turning into a gated fence. Go right, through the fence and start heading southwest. The road becomes narrow and rough as it dips in and out of a small wash. Sometimes the trail is the road, sometimes it's the bottom of the wash. (When in doubt about whether you should ride the wash or the road, stick with the road.) The riding surface is occasionally soft, requiring application of a little "sand surfing" technique.

At around mile 2.5, the doubletrack trail climbs away from the wash onto a low mesa covered with volcanic rock. You're continuing roughly south-southwest.

After another mile, a signpost indicates the trail leaves the larger road to the right. After 150 yards, it will dump into a wash. Most bikers ignore this first trail, heading down the doubletrack until it reaches the wash, then turning right into the wash.

If your plan is to ride the short (official) loop, it's easy to miss the exit from the wash. It's about 1/2 mile up the wash and exits at the apex of a left turn, heading sharply up and over a rise. If you're taking straighter (singletrack) line shortcutting the wash bend, you'll cruise right past it and miss the carsonite sign. The official loop climbs up and across a hill, flirts briefly with another washbottom, then joins the long loop as it goes through a hole in the fence at around mile 5.

If you're taking the long loop, you'll roll in and out of the wash, mostly staying in the bottom, for another couple of miles. You'll gradually gain elevation. Around mile 5.6, the wash virtually disappears in a braod flat area. You'll climb a small gentle hill, then turn to the west, dropping into a second wash that's heading downhill. This second wash will curve to the north.

The bluffs are formed from shales of the Moenkopi and Chinle Formations, dating to the Triassic Period (around 220 million years ago). Color varies with the amount of iron within the shale and mudstone. The appearance and depth of these strata can change greatly over several miles' distance.

If you're staying on the road, continue northwest as the road joins the big power line. At the next intersection, turn right on BLM road 1034, ignoring the two smaller roads on the left. Continue on the main road, generally downhill and northward, until you drop out into the flat valley where you started.

Getting there: Head south on River Road in St. George. (River Road is reached by turning left at the St. George Blvd exit from I-15, then right at the light. From the Bluff Street exit, turn left and drive about 1/2 mile on Riverside Dr, turning right at the light where it intersects River Road.) Immediately after crossing the Virgin River, at 1450 South on River Road, turn left (east). About 2 miles later, the road turns 90 degrees right and becomes 3000 East. Turn left again immediately (there should be a "Warner Valley" sign here, but it's missing - summer 2001) on 3650 South. Head east almost to the hills. Turn right on KD-JO Lane (830 E). After 1/2 mile the road will turn left, then right again to head south. At mile 5.4 from River Road, keep straight past the gravel Warner Valley Road (on your left). The road will turn to gravel at a cattleguard. Around mile 9, follow the main road as it veers left (east). At 9.4, the road forks. Turn right, cross the cattleguard, and go through Fort Pearce Wash. At mile 9.6, the trailhead parking is on the left side of the road, just past the Arizona border. Start the ride by heading back up the road the way you came.