Gooseberry Mesa
Region: Zion & Southwest Utah | Land Manager: BLM (St. George Field Office) | Cost: Free
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Red rock terrain representative of the Gooseberry Mesa area. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Gooseberry Mesa is best known among mountain bikers for its slickrock singletrack, but the free BLM camping scattered near the trailhead makes it just as good a base for anyone chasing views over Zion's west side and the Grand Staircase without paying for a site.
Quick Facts
| Distance from Hurricane | About 30-40 minutes via Highway 59 and Gooseberry Mesa Road |
| Road & Clearance | Graded dirt road up the mesa; high clearance recommended, especially after rain |
| Rig Suitability | Tents and vans at most pull-offs; scout ahead in a larger RV |
| Amenities | None |
| Cell Signal | Limited |
| Best Season | Spring and fall; summer is hot with little shade |
| Stay Limit | 14 days within a 28-day period |
Map
Getting There
From Hurricane, take Highway 59 toward Grafton/Apple Valley and turn onto Gooseberry Mesa Road, following signs for the mesa and trailhead. Dispersed pull-offs appear near the top, close to the main trail system.
What to Expect
Open slickrock and pinyon-juniper terrain on top of the mesa, with long views toward Zion National Park and the Vermilion Cliffs. It's popular with mountain bikers, so expect trailhead traffic on weekends, though camping itself is spread out enough to find a quiet pull-off.
Good to Know
The access road can turn slick and difficult when wet; avoid it after significant rain. There's no shade or water up here, so come prepared for exposed desert camping even though the elevation keeps it a bit cooler than the valley floor below.
Slickrock camping means full sun most of the day, a solar setup built for it keeps your fridge and batteries topped off without a generator. See what an off-grid power system looks like