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Cedar City Paved Trails
When this web site was first founded, paved bike trails were rare. Now
many new subdivisions have a trail system. So I review paved trails only
if they're of interest to those outside the area, by being a nice scenic
ride or by providing access to riding areas.
The Cedar City paved trails will link the northern and southern
mountain bike trail systems. (A few trails are complete in 2016, but the
system is a work in progress.) It will also connect to the planned bike
park on the southeast edge of the city.
Bridge crossing Coal Creek to the
paved trail from Highway 14 just west of the nature center. Photos and
tracks by Bruce on April 2, 2016.
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| East Bench Trail
The East Bench trail forks off the Coal Creek paved trail in East
Canyon Park. On the west side of Coal Creek (the creek splits the park in
two), a rather sidewalk-looking fork heads south. Once you approach the
street (one of only two paved street crossings in the trail system) you'll
see the wooden bridge that crosses Squaw Creek straight ahead. That's your
target for the southbound ride.
Looking northeast as we approach the
north end of the East Bench Trail.
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On the south end, the East Bench Trail ends on Old Highway
191, just south of Cross Hollow Road at the I-15 south Cedar City exit.
It's just south of the big motel. There's no dedicated trail parking at
this end yet. The Iron Hills (southern system)
trailhead is about 1/2 mile south of this spot.
There's another important spot where the trail meets the road, at 820
South 300 East (right by a water tank). There's roadside parking here.
Important landmark: The C Trail crosses the
paved trail to a dirt parking area about 100 yards south of this spot.
(The C Trail access road is a southbound dirt continuation of 300 East.)
Looking south, near the area of the
future bike park. |
| The best parking for riders from outside the area is at East
Canyon Park. When eastbound on SR 14 from Main Street, turn right into the
parking area just after crossing the creek. To reach East Bench, pedal up
to the trail on the south side of the road and cross the trail bridge
westbound. You're on Coal Creek. Turn left with the trail, then watch for
the (unmarked) fork of East Bench about 100 yards later on your right.
The trail climbs to a switchback turn
just north of the C Trail parking.
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There's one mildly steepish pitch as the northbound trail
climbs from the water tank at 300 East up through a switchback higher on
the mountain. This may give non-shifting kids some trouble, but it's short
enough to be a tolerable walk.
There's about 100 feet of elevation gain north-to-south, with total
climbing on an out-and-back trip 170 feet. The trail is 2.6 miles long.
View north as we climb gently through
cedar and pinion. |
| Coal Creek Trail
The Coal Creek Trail runs from Cedar Boulevard near I-15 in
northern Cedar City to a (hopefully temporary) dead end in the canyon
along Coal Creek. The northernmost access point with parking would be the
Exit 59 Skateboard Park and baseball diamonds off 1045 North.
Looking east at the mouth of the
canyon as the trail veers away from civilization.
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For out-of-towners, the most practical access is at East
Canyon Park. From here, the trail passes under Highway 14 northbound. To
go eastbound, follow the broad curving cement path up to the
"sidewalk" along Highway 14, cross the creek on the trail's
bridge, then immediately turn left.
Here's the layout from East Canyon
Park. The trail loops around on the grass. To go eastbound into the
canyon, go to the right -- up and across the creek. To go northwest
through the city, drop under the road.
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| In the canyon along Highway 14, there are two parking areas
with bridges that connects across Coal Creek to the trail. One is at the
nature center (across the road from the Red
Hollow trailhead) and the other a bit further up-canyon. The first bridge is your tie-in to the northern bike
trail system including Thor's Hideout.
From the park, there's 180 vertical feet of climbing to the trail's end
in the canyon 1.5 miles uphill. (Whereas for the 1.9 miles of trail north
from the park, the pitch of the trail is barely
perceptible.) Overall, the trail is 3.4 miles long.
About a mile uphill, heading east.
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North of Coal Creek, the trail spends about half of its time
running alongside two very large park complexes. Each park has a couple of
spurs from the trail. Stay to the left, right along the creek, as you go
northbound. There's parking near the trail at these parks, and there will
also be bike bridges across the creek from nearby streets.
Looking northeast from the Veteran's
Memorial, where a bridge connects to the trail from city streets. Note the
baseball diamonds. The parks tend to buffer you from the city.
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| On the Coal Creek Trail, there are no street crossings. The
trail descends to underpasses along the creek. The slopes are easily
managed by children.
Typical dip underneath a street, as
the trail heads northwest along Coal Creek.
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Southview Trail The Southview trail is a
work in progress as of 2019. The paved portion is 0.6 miles,
beginning at the Southview trailhead (home of Lichen It, etc) and heading
north. It can be combined with a bit of ATV track and street to reach the
bottom of the East Bench trail on old 191. There are a
couple of nice wide bridges. |
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The Southview trailhead has plenty of parking, a bathroom
with running water and flush toilets, and a bicycle repair stand. There's
no trail parking at the north end of the trail.
Because the paved portion is short, the primary use for
this trail now (2019) is as a connector between the bottom of the C Trail
and Southview trailhead.
Looking southwest from the trail at the trailhead
area.
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There's a bit of climbing as you head northbound. Although
it's not too steep, it might be too much for a youngster with a fixed-gear
bike. The trail passes through juniper and pinion pine on the lower
foothill slope. Heading northbound. |
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At the northern end, a wide gravel ATV road heads
northwest. When you arrive at city streets, turn left downhill. As you
reach old 191, go to the right to connect to the East Bench trail.
From the C Trail, take East Bench southbound. When it hits
old 191, turn left and as the pavement ends, cut through the unfinished
trail segment to the paved road and turn left uphill. When you hit the ATV
track, go right uphill until you reached the paved trail.
Looking south as we head toward Southview.
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Getting there, East Canyon Park:
On Main Street in Cedar City, turn east (towards the mountains) on Center
Street. This will become Highway 14. Just 0.4 miles later, the road will
cross Coal Creek. The pathway covered with fencing material to the south
(right) side of the road's bridge is the paved trail. Immediately after
the bridge, turn right into the parking area. Ride toward the bridge to
find the trail.
Download GPS Tracks (two-tracks
in file)
Water: Parks from East Canyon north (none on East
Bench or in canyon)
Bathrooms: East Canyon and baseball parks on north Coal Creek
Camping: none near trail
Bike services: Cedar Cycle
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