It has become, after only one time riding it, my favorite trail on Gooseberry Mesa. Remote, strenuous in parts, lots of power moves needed, and an absolute joy when considering the trail builders and their wicked sense of humor when laying it out, or at least I thought so, all of it mixing together like oil and water, with a can or two of condensed milk tossed into the mix, making for an old-skooool kind of trail/ride experience.
Plus, the many-layered long views from the eastern side of the rim provide a perspective not possible from other trails. Be sure to stop and smell the MTB satisfaction emanating from your sweaty brows.
If you’re an app user, it’s on Trail Forks but not on MTB Project. From South Rim trail, if you’re coming “down” from the point, you’ll come to what feels like an intersection right about where you think Secret Trail should be, if you studied the map. Stay “straight/to the right.” It’s sandy in parts (only for a little stretch or so) and hugs the south rim. Follow rock cairns and white dots on rocks when they are visible/present. “Feel” the trail for where/how it bends and turns, dips and climbs.
If you want to access it from the other side of South Rim, you might notice/catch that white dots merge together and go off in different ways, like a chevron of geese flying in the sky. Take the dots that go off to the left to ride Secret.
Better yet, look for the blue dot on your phone to be sure you have it pinpointed.
When you’re done, hopefully back at camp or at one of Kenny’s yurts, and sitting by the campfire, crack open a beer you brought from outside of Utah, as all but one that I had while there were nothing to get excited about, not with my San Diego beer snobbery!
Note: if you go to Gooseberry and you want to buy beer above 5% ABV for hanging out at camp, you can get it at state liquor stores. If you plan to buy beer at a grocery store, it won’t be above 5%.
Which beer was the best one?
Not these … among others …
This one, though, was “worthy” … From Salt Lake City and a gift from Kenny …
Cheers!
