Snakepit
The Snakepit Trail joins the eastern and western sides of the Stucki Spring trail. On the eastern end, it forks off Stucki Spring about 1/3 mile from the beginning of Stucki Spring at Clavicle Hill. It joins Stucki Spring as it heads along the western side of the Bearclaw Poppy preserve, about halfway between Stucki Springs itself and the Cottonwood Wash overlook. The Snakepit Trail itself is only 2.3 miles long. But it must be combined with other trails in order to reach it. This ride is 17 miles. For a shorter ride, see the Bloomington Figure 8 version. |
Snakepit Pretzel Ride from Bearclaw: 0.0 From upper Bearclaw TH , uphill N37 05.337 W113 38.431 0.4 L across stepover gate N37 05.171 W113 38.829 1.1 L on Stucki Cutoff connector N37 04.788 W113 39.054 1.4 Two trails join on L, stay R westbound N37 04.770 W113 39.362 2.8 Keep R at three forks over 0.2 mi N37 05.534 W113 40.241 3.5 At Stucki Spring , L and southwest N37 05.985 W113 40.561 4.0 L on Snakepit N37 05.661 W113 40.933 4.6 Keep R on Snakepit N37 05.185 W113 40.833 (L = Snakepit Rim) 6.4 Join Stucki , keep L N37 04.272 W113 39.590 6.6 4-way, go L on Stucki N37 04.157 W113 39.391 | 6.7 Below Clavicle Hill, fork L N37 04.212 W113 39.313 On Snakepit Rim 6.8 Keep L N37 04.278 W113 39.326 7.1 Keep straight N37 04.361 W113 39.509 8.9 Keep straight, join Snakepit N37 05.185 W113 40.833 9.6 L on Stucki N37 05.661 W113 40.933 11.2 Cottonwood Wash view, go L N37 05.232 W113 42.140 13.9 Keep R on Stucki N37 04.621 W113 40.244 14.9 Keep R as Snakepit joins N37 04.272 W113 39.590 15.1 4-way again, go L N37 04.157 W113 39.391 15.2 Climb to top of Clavicle Hill, go N N37 04.222 W113 39.304 Head back on Bearclaw 16.0 Back at first fork N37 04.788 W113 39.054 17.1 Back at parking |
Getting there, Bearclaw trailhead:
Take the Bluff Street I-15 exit in St.
George and turn west. Immediately turn south (left). Go over the hill and
turn right on Dixie Drive. Keep straight past the golf
course and some businesses. Turn left at the sign for Green Valley
Spa. (If you reach a "Green Valley Market" with gas pumps, you
just passed it. Turn around and backtrack to the second road on your
right.) Drive past the spa and park at the end of the road to start your
ride, or drive down into the valley to park at the official Bearclaw Poppy
trailhead. From the top of the mesa, head down into the broad valley.
Climb the wide dirt road on the north (right) side of the little sandstone
canyon. About 1/2 mile up the road, keep going through the gate at the
parking area. Trail conditions and alignments change. Use at your own risk. Dec 2011 |