Grapevine Crossing Trailhead/Bracken's Loop in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve

The Grapevine Crossing trailhead is NOW OPEN!! There is now a large parking lot for horse trailers, bathrooms, and hitching post. Please clean up after your horses in the parking area.

About the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve: At the merging of three great ecosystems, the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau, the reserve is biologically rich with an array of animals and plants rarely seen in one place. The reserve contains the most northern populations of the desert tortoise, Gila monster, sidewinder rattlesnake, and chuckwalla - reptiles typically associated with hotter and more southerly deserts, like the Mojave. A significant portion of the shrubs in this area, such as blackbrush, are more commonly associated with the cooler Great Basin Desert. The conditions in the region are such that several endemic species, those which occur no where else in the world, are found here.

***Note*** The trailhead is currently under construction with designated trailer parking, water, bathrooms and hitching post.

Bracken's Loop Trail: This 8.3 miles loop trail is in the beautiful Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, you MUST remain on the trails, and dogs are not permitted off leash. The trailhead is located at Exit 13 off of I-15, the trailhead is under construction but there is still limited parking available on the north side of the road, west of I-15 where the GRAPEVIVE TRAILHEAD is designated. Ride north up the dirt road from the paved road where there is a step over gate to negotiate. The first part of the trail (Grapevine Trail) is an old service road, at one mile the service road veers left and will take you north towards Pine Valley Mountain, (Prospector Trail continues east). Travel on the service road for approximately 1/2 mile watching for a sign on your right that says Bracken’s Loop. This takes you down to a small wash with you’ll continue to ride in and out of. This is a well used trail and easy to follow. Eventually it bends right as you hug the lava cliffs. Just before the trail veers south for the return loop, there is an overlook with tie rings for your horses in the red rock wall on the west side. You’ll also see a plaque in the wall. Follow the trail southeast as it loops back around to the trailhead.

For an Alternate Route and additional 5 miles you can add Elephant Arch. Take the Bracken's Loop Trail counter-clockwise, nearing the end of the loop, turn west off the Grapevine Trail/service road onto Sand Hill which will connect you to the Elephant Arch Trail. After the arch stay on the Elephant Arch road, over the step over and loop back east near the Dino Cliffs Trail. Bracken's Loop with Elephant Arch = 13.5 miles, 4-5 hours