Guacamole Trail

Located on a mesa near the border of Zion National Park, this trail offers spectacular views and an abundance of challenging, slickrock terrain. The Guacamole Trail is most popular with mountain bikers looking for an upper intermediate technical challenge.

Like many trails on slickrock, there are plenty of opportunities to make the trail more or less challenging depending on the route you take through the ledges and drops. This trail has no signs or markers other than rock cairns, making navigation an added challenge. This trail is also open to hiking and is suitable for hikers of all ages and skill levels.

The Guacamole Trail begins on the Dalton Wash Road. To reach the trailhead from the junction with Highway 9 in LaVerkin, UT:

1. Drive east on Highway 9 for 7.5 miles to the signed junction with Dalton Wash Road.
2. Turn left (north) onto Dalton Wash Road and continue 1.9 miles to a ‘Y’ junction in the road.
3. Bear left at the ‘Y’ and continue another 1.7 miles to a parking area near the start of a steep hill in the road (37.22554,-113.12439).

If the road is dry most vehicles will have no trouble driving up the steep hill ahead to reach the main trailhead. If the road is wet or if there is a chance of rain, park at the lower trailhead as the steep road can become extremely unsafe and impassable when wet.

Whether you ride or drive, continue up the hill for 0.7 miles to the top and follow the road south to the main trailhead (37.22622,-113.11448). There are no signs for the trailhead or the trail so a GPS and map can be very useful to confirm your location.

From the upper parking area, begin riding or hiking east on the slickrock, following the rock cairns. For hikers, the trail is fairly easy and straightforward; just follow the cairns. For mountain bikers things are more challenging due to the many natural ledges, drops, and step-ups. This creates an opportunity to challenge your technical skills at every turn but may leave you feeling like you logged more miles than you actually did.

After the first rocky section, a relatively smooth dirt section is encountered. Keep following the trail as it meanders closer to the rim of the plateau. Bikers should take advantage of this short break from technical challenges to prepare for the more strenuous terrain ahead.

After approximately 2.0 miles, the trail reaches the start of the loop section. Take special note of the junction that is marked by rock cairns leading in two directions. A GPS may be helpful here as the junction is easy to miss. From the junction, begin riding in either direction to complete the loop. The terrain remains rocky and difficult throughout most of the 2.2 mile loop. Keep riding until you circle back around to your starting point at the loop junction. Once you’ve completed the loop, you can take another lap, or turn north back onto the main trail to return to the trailhead.

• Stay on designated trails.
• Clean up after pets.
• Pack out all trash.

Mountain biking can be a dangerous activity. Ensure your equipment is properly maintained and appropriate for the terrain. Be sure to wear appropriate safety gear including a helmet.

This trail guide is provided by Backcountry Post.