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Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 108 Google reviews · Running trail in Hurricane, Utah · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail
“The mesa loop is cool, great views out over the surrounding countryside, with beautiful mountains in the background.”
Absolutely beautiful area! You can see views of Zion National Park that you can't possibly see from within the park itself! Camping, hiking, mountain biking, photography, 4x4 cruising around, and a great place to clear your head! And, they have Yurts up there.
Such a fun place to ride. Take the practice loop first to test your skills on slickrock (who needs moab?!), and go from there. North rim trail is stunning! The White trail is easy & fun and has a fantastic view at the end and along the way.
One of my favorite trails in the world, a true classic. Getting to this central trailhead can be challenging if there’s been any recent rain or freeze / thaw cycle, safer to park at first trailhead with low clearance vehicle.
Lovely peace and quiet up here with a breathtaking view overlooking Zion with the sunrise! Primitive camping is sparse, but you can find spots along the road. There is a bathroom at the Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail, but there was no TP so bring your own!
Trail conditions & character
“The mesa loop is cool, great views out over the surrounding countryside, with beautiful mountains in the background.”
“Getting to this central trailhead can be challenging if there’s been any recent rain or freeze / thaw cycle, safer to park at first trailhead with low clearance vehicle.”
“Mostly technical riding on top of the mesa, but the Hurricane Rim area back up the highway has a bunch of flowing singletrack to mix it up.”
“My favorite loop is to leave from this trailhead, head out on south rim all the way to hidden canyon, north rim to yellow, then to point and back on southrim.”
“There is a bathroom at the Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail, but there was no TP so bring your own!”
Plan your run at Gooseberry Mesa National Recreation Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websiteblm.gov
- Phone+1 435-688-3200
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Hurricane
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Sheep Bridge Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 51 reviews
Family-friendly trailhead featuring a network of routes for biking, hiking and camping.
Hurricane Hill Trailhead
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Scenery-rich trail for hiking and biking/running that also features views.
Confluence Park -- Laverkin South Entrance
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Scenic river-ravine park offering hiking trails, plus views of the river.