Sidewinder Trail Guide

Sidewinder Trail - Santa Clara River Preserve, includes Precipice Trail
The Sidewinder Trail is a short but fun upper-intermediate singletrack in the Santa Clara River Preserve. It forks off the Barrel Roll trail. The Precipice Trail is a short (0.8) mile connector between the Cove Wash trailhead and the beginning of the Sidewinder. The trail is shaped like a lariat, with a small loop at the summit. The name Sidewinder comes from the trail's shape -- it has a zigzag shape like a snake's body, with the small loop forming the head. Out-and-back, the trail is 3.0 miles. Connecting via the shortest route from the trailhead, the total ride will be 4.8 miles.

Riding notes, out-and-back Sidewinder:
0.0 Start on Barrel Roll Tr
N37 07.250 W113 40.503
Take L fork of Barrel Roll loop
- or -
Fork L to Precipice (if finished)
0.9 Fork L for Sidewinder if on Barrel Roll
N37 07.404 W113 41.157
0.95 Pass Precipice if coming from Barrel Roll
(Keep R if already on Sidewinder)

If on Precipice, fork L on Sidewinder
N37 07.384 W113 41.154
2.4   At loop, pick a direction
N37 07.336 W113 41.787
2.7   Finish loop, descend
4.0   If Precipice is finished, fork R
N37 07.384 W113 41.154
If not, ride 60 ft, R on Barrel Roll
4.8   Back at parking

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.

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