Although we had a great snow event in October, and a major pounding with “Winter Storm Brutus” early in November, the snow in the Wasatch has been scarce since. Rather than dealing with rocky traverses we decided to spend Thanksgiving this year down in Southern Utah. My folks visiting from central NY, two wee ones, short days and cold nights inspired us to do something we have never done before: rent a house instead of camp in the desert near Gooseberry Mesa.
Sidenote: We found Gooseberry Mesa Loge in Apple Valley on VRBO. If you’re looking for a rental in that area we highly recommend staying there…especially if you have young kids!
We have done our share of pedaling in Southern Utah in the autumn, but never this late in the year. The low sun angles and temps made for a pleasant and unique riding experience (for us, anyway). During the 4th week in November the prime hours during the day for pedaling Gooseberry trails were from 10am-2pm. Before 10am it was quite chilly, and after 2pm the sun was real low and the chill was returning.
Both days (rode South Rim and JEM/Rim Trail) temps hit in the upper 50s and perhaps even 60. Pretty darn ideal. I made a short edit with the YouTube video editor. Be sure to watch the whole 2:10, or at least the last 45 seconds 🙂
Here is another short edit from the same trip. This is the first section of JEM trail from highway 59 just outside of Hurricane, UT.