Black Brush Trail (Santa Clara River Preserve)
This trail starts at the Barrel Roll trailhead. It's marked for horses and foot traffic ( not for bikes ). Use it as a running trail -- as a break from biking. The Black Brush trail is 4.2 miles in length, with a lariat configuration. The loop at the end has fairly steep (and sometimes sloppy) grades, more horse-friendly than foot-friendly. Total climbing will be about 900 feet, even though the ride's high point is only 200 feet higher than the trailhead. The small loop at the end has 400 feet of climbing (and 400 feet of descending).
The trail starts at 3100 feet altitude and rolls up and down for the first mile. When you reach the loop 1 mile from the start, you'll swear you've climbed a lot, but you'll actually be about 150 feet lower than you started. Clockwise around the loop, you'll climb 350 feet to 3300. The last 0.3 mile is an 11% grade. After reaching the top at mile 1.9, you'll descend at about that same grade for 1/2 mile. At mile 2.7, the ride reaches its lowest point at 2900 feet as you flirt with the cliffs over the gorge. Now it's time to close the loop. The climbing gets steeper as you approach the junction. If the surface is loose here, watch your step.

Clockwise lariat loop:
0.0  Start up Black Brush trail
1.0  At fence, fork L uphill
1.9  Crest of hill
Start switchback descent
2.7  Views over Santa Clara river
3.2  Back at loop
4.2  Parking

Copyright 2008 Mad Scientist Software Inc
Trail conditions change. Use this trail guide at your own risk.

Getting there: In St. George, head north on Bluff Street and turn left on Sunset Blvd. Drive 3 miles west on Sunset through Santa Clara. As you're reaching the end of Santa Clara, look for a road crossing the river on your left. It's about 200 feet before the Jacob Hamblin Home (which will be on your right if you pass the turn). Turn and cross the river and follow the road as it turns right. About 0.4 miles from Hwy 191, turn left onto the dirt Stucki Springs road. At mile 0.7, turn right at the sign "Santa Clara Preserve" or "Cove Wash Trailhead." Pass the water tank, and at mile 1.3, turn right again through the fence. This road will veer left to a log-fence parking area at mile 1.5, N37 07.253 W113 40.508.