Gould's Rim Wanderings

Trail Overview

Gould's Rim on the east side of Hurricane is a mesa from which you can access Smith Mesa, Little Creek Mesa, Flying Monkey, and Rattlesnake Gulch to Toquerville Falls. You can go to Virgin or Toquerville for lunch, mostly on dirt, by using this path up and over Gould's Rim. Once on top of Gould's Rim, we exited the Antelope/Honeymoon Trail (North) and wandered around on trails near the edge of the rim overlooking Hurricane and Sand Hollow State Park. The views from up here are simply amazing. To the east, you have the fantastic Zion National Park and Smith Mesa, and Little Creek Mesa. To the west, the valley around Hurricane, UT, including Sand Hollow State Park. This 8-mile track connects you to Mollie's Nipple, Yucca Way, and Canyon Overlook Trails. As you move south, you get a view of East Mesa. The trails are really endless up here, so bring extra fuel and lots of water and snacks so you can spend the day. During the winter, after a recent storm, this mesa may have snow on it. It won't last too long, though, and the trails will be available again soon. During the spring, summer, and fall months, be sure to watch for rattlesnakes in this area. You will go through a couple of gates up here, but they have nice Forest Service-type closures, so they're easy to open and close. There are cattle on this mesa at least during the winter months. This trail is primarily a dirt trail and an easy ride. The steep climb up Antelope/Honeymoon Trail is the hardest part, and it's only rated as a 2. Loose rocks, a steep drop-off on the right (the trail is wide enough in all places), and a steep incline. After that, the trail is super easy and the views are spectacular. This is a great place to be in the summertime because the heat in Sand Hollow gets hot in the summer. Escaping to the top of these mesas is a better option when the valley is over 110 degrees. Don't forget your camera. There are lots of views to capture on film. Watching the sunrise or the sunset up here is really special. Starting Feb 2023, Utah is going to begin enforcement of their new law, which requires an online course for all off-roaders. The free course will be available online as of Jan 1, 2023. The state says the online course will take 15-30 minutes, and it's required for all off-roaders, Jeeps, SXSs, dirt bikes, and ATVs. You will have to print out something to carry with you which shows you took the course. I have a photo below with this information.

Photos of Gould's Rim Wanderings

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Difficulty

This is an easy trail unless it's muddy or snowy. Primarily dirt trails on mostly flat ground. The only steep incline is at the beginning.

History

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, a primitive wagon road was the principal travel route between the Mormon settlements in northeastern Arizona and southern Utah. In the late 1870s, Mormon colonists had been sent by church leaders to pioneer new settlements along Arizona's Little Colorado River. As the new settlements were remote and isolated, many goods and services could only be obtained from the established Mormon communities of southern Utah. After 1877, the Arizona Mormon settlers also traveled to St. George, Utah to conduct church business and have their marriage vows solemnized in the newly-completed St. George Temple. So many newlyweds traveled the wagon road that it came to be known as "the Honeymoon Trail".

Technical Rating