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Tombstone and Bone Yard
Tombstone and Bone Yard (together with a piece of Lava
Link) form an expert-level loop on the slopes of Square Mountain above
Shurtz Canyon near Cedar City. Only strong, skilled and confident riders should do this
loop.
View to the north from the Tombstone viewpoint.
Photos and ride review by Bruce on July
27, 2021.
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| Tombstone is a two-direction trail that climbs from Lava
Link to an overlook. Bone Yard is a
DH-only trail that starts on upper Tombstone just before the viewpoint.
Tombstone can be done as a four-mile out-and-back (plus whatever riding
you did to get to Tombstone), or used
as the climbing route to Bone Yard for the loop ride.
Trailhead at Shurtz Canyon, where most riders will
start. The trailhead is currently being remodeled as a BLM campground is
under construction. |
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The trails lie between 6400 and 7000 feet elevation, with an
expected riding season of late May through October. Both of these trails
deserve their expert rating.
Climbing up Elevate to get
to Tombstone. |
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Tombstone starts at 6550 feet elevation on the Lava
Link trail. It reaches a top elevation of 7000 feet. Tombstone ends at
a viewpoint with 270 degrees of valley views.
Entry to the Tombstone trail from Lava Link. |
| Tombstone is 2.0 miles long, with 450 vertical feet of
elevation change. There are frequent rock challenges that make this trail
an expert-level climb.
The first 100 yards of Tombstone will let you know
what you're in for. But it's not ALL like that.
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Coming from the Shurtz Canyon trailhead, you'll pedal 0.9
miles on Turnpike, 1.4 on Elevate,
then 0.6 miles on Lava Link to reach the
bottom of Tombstone. Your climbing just to reach the Tombstone trail will
be 500 vertical feet.
The trail heads straight for a big rock. Because, why
not? |
| To reach Tombstone from Southview, take Lichen It to
Lava Flow, then pedal on Lava Link for 1.5 miles to reach Tombstone.
(The Spare Rib trail offers a shortcut. See the Lava
Link page.)
Proof that not every foot of the Tombstone trail is a
rock garden...
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At mile 1.8 from the bottom of Tombstone, the Bone Yard trail forks away downhill to the
right. Tombstone continues on another 0.2 miles to an overlook (well worth
the trip even if your destination is Bone Yard). The highest point of
Tombstone is at 7000 feet, just past the Bone Yard turn-off.
Climbing uphill. Like rocks? |
| Tombstone is a two-way trail. It will be considerably easier
to descend than it was to climb. An out-and-back on Tombstone from Shurtz
Canyon will be 950 vertical feet of climbing and 8.6 miles round trip.
I couldn't clean this stretch of trail uphill. You do
see the trail, right?
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| Looking north. The Bone Yard trail runs
down that ridge. |
Looking southeast from the viewpoint. |
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Bone Yard drops 500 vertical feet in 0.8 mile. It is a
double-black high-expert trail. Bone Yard follows a ridgeline west from
Tombstone, ending at a four-way intersection at the top of Elevate.
(The other trails are the
south end of Lava Link, and the top of Black Ops.)
Bone Yard leaves Tombstone on your right, 0.2 miles
from the viewpoint. |
| Bone Yard has a lot of engineered jumps. Many are designed
as doubles. There are tight high-banked turns. And a few stretches of
stair-step rocks.
Sampling of the stuff you'll hit: a few bumps...
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| And a bunch of jumps... |
And tight twisty turns! |
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There's one rock drop with a gap that requires some speed to
clear. It's about 1/2 mile downhill. A rockwork ramp takes you up to the top of a long rock,
then a second rock fin. You'll need to build some speed for the gap that's coming. I suggest a
scouting trip on either side of the gap for your first run.
View west over the valley as we head down. |
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| A ramp leads us to the top of this big
rock. 2nd rock coming up! |
Here's what's waiting in the shade at the
end of the second rock! |
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Getting there:
Shurtz Canyon Trailhead. Exit I-15 and head south on Old Highway 91
as above. At 2.4 miles, turn left on Tipple Road. After 0.6 miles, turn
left on Shurtz Canyon Road (mislabeled "Shirts" on the road
sign). Go 0.7 miles and turn left into the trailhead. The Turnpike trail is on the
east side of the parking area. Pedal through the campground and go 0.9
miles to Elevate, then climb Elevate to Lava Link. Drop down Spare Rib to
Tombstone.
Southview Trailhead. At the southern I-15 Cedar City exit (Exit 57 to Cross Hollow Road
and Highway 130), turn east onto Highway 130. Immediately turn right
(south) from 130 onto Old Highway 91. Drive 0.3 miles. Watch for the sign
for Southview Trailhead and turn left on
Shurtz Canyon Drive. Now stay on Shurtz Canyon Drive to the trailhead and
find a spot to park. Start out on the paved Southview trail. After the
bridge, go past the Turnpike trail and the one-way return trails from Lava
Flow and Iron Giant. Turn right onto Lichen It and climb to Lava Flow to
connect to Lava Link. Pedal uphill on Lava Link to Tombstone.
Bathrooms: Southview and Shurtz trailheads
Repair stand at Southview trailhead
Water: Southview only, at sink in bathroom
Camping: Campground under construction at Shurtz Canyon (recommend Three
Peaks for now)
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