Experience E-Biking in Southern Utah

by Martha Jevsevar, Director of Outdoor Recreation

When was the last time you did something for the first time?  

Southwest Utah has long been known as a utopia for outdoor enthusiasts to come and play. Traditional ways to enjoy the great outdoors include hiking, cycling, and golfing are all readily available and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.  

Cycling is a massive umbrella of activities, and one of the fastest-growing trends is e-biking. A small electric motor can assist you if needed, making more terrain available to everyone. There are both road and mountain versions of e-bikes available. 

“The beauty of southern Utah is that it is a cycling paradise with an almost infinite range of rides and trails suitable for any rider,” says Craig Shanklin, president of the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance. 

For those who desire gently rolling along, there are more than 60 miles of paved bike paths to enjoy with more trails planned. These paved paths offer a variety of desert scenery, eclectic eateries, and city parks for water and restroom breaks.  

Thrill-seekers can tackle world-class singletrack mountain biking in locations such as Gooseberry Mesa and the Zen Trail, the setting for many extreme sports competitions including the X Games in 2015. St. George is also home to Snake Hollow Mountain Bike Park, an 80-acre outdoor playground with skill areas and jumps for the entire family. And now all of this is more accessible with e-bikes.  

E-bikes allow you to cycle more, and the more you do, the more you’re able to do – after all, nothing succeeds like success. Particularly for someone looking to change their fitness habits and start exercising more or recover from injuries, the help that an electric bike provides makes the transition easier. You’re still getting fresh air and exercise, but the barriers to entry are far fewer. E-bikes allow more people to take up or continue cycling into much later life, which is a huge factor in maintaining physical health into old age.

Whether human-powered or battery-assisted, cycling is a great way to control or reduce weight combined with a healthy eating plan, as it raises your metabolic rate, builds muscle, and burns body fat. Biking is a comfortable form of exercise and you can change the time and intensity – it can be built up slowly and varied to suit your needs.

Biking offers a unique sense of empowerment and freedom and is one of the most satisfying ways to enjoy the geological diversity of our area. Towering sandstone cliffs, endless forested dirt roads, and starkly beautiful desert trails in the southwest corner of Utah provide the perfect riding spot for just about everyone.

As we enter into a new decade, why not try a new adventure? Rent a bike or hire a guide and allow technology to build your confidence, expand your pathways, and encourage further exploration. Double the impact and invite a friend or colleague along for the ride. Sharing adventures with another person always amplifies the experience!

Red Mountain Resort offers guided e-bike rides each week through scenic Snow Canyon State Park and historic downtown Santa Clara. Both of these group activities include a basic lesson and primarily use designated bike paths. Private guided excursions, including singletrack rides, can be arranged through our adventure concierge. Learn more.

About Martha Jevsevar

Martha Jevsevar joined the Red Mountain team in August 2014 as an adventure guide before assuming the role of Director of Outdoor Recreation. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her passion for travel and the outdoors developed during backpacking trips through the Tetons and Allegheny Mountains, and she quickly fell in love with southern Utah’s dramatic landscapes. Her professional experience includes business management, accounting, and serving on community advisory boards.