Mountain Biking - St. George area or Sedona?

Trying to plan a March trip. Option 1: St. George and most of southern Utah is about 5-6 hours from us. I have not explored that area much, just driven by it.

Option 2: Sedona is probably 9-10 hours from us, never been there. The other couple really wants to go to Sedona. We will be camping, biking (us) and hiking (them) for around 6 days.

Does anyone know if I'm getting pretty much the same scenery/experience in southern Utah as Sedona? They both seem to have the same March temps, red rock formations, plenty of land/trail options.

Can anyone point out the big differences and why you like one over the other? I'm not necessarily asking for specific trails, because I can look those up. Just the feel for the landscape. I read Sedona has fees for land use? Basically they look pretty much the to me same based on small internet photos, maybe Sedona has more trees?

I'd much rather drive the shorter distance, obviously. But having never been to either, I'm having trouble comparing.

I'd go with St. George just as a trial run, and then you won't feel bad if Sedona sucks.

Go check out www.utahmountainbiking.com for trail reviews and guides, they've got a bunch in the St. George area. I've been considering driving down there tomorrow to do some riding...

Both!




But seriously.. Sedona is one of the places I will ride before I die. I've been in the vicinity but didn't have a chance to do anything but hike a few trails. I've never seen any place as beautiful as Sedona.. absolutely amazing. I want to go back.

Sedona is amazing. I just spent a week with my wife riding there. TONS of riding.
Yes, you must buy a pass to park on the state parks land, but you can ride to alot of the best stuff from town.

a definite top ten list destination. Beautiful and very different than St. George.
Flaggstaff is an amazing place to ride as well.

here:http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288491795

St George riding is amazing, Brian Head is better, but March is to early in the season for BH riding.

If you have not yet been to Sedona, I would plan on that. You can hit St George any other weekend. Sedona is an amazing place to ride. I spent two days riding in and around Oak Creek Canyon a 5 or 6 years ago, I loved the place.

http://www.arizona-leisure.com/gfx/helmut-kuhn-photo-lg-1.jpg

Trying to plan a March trip. Option 1: St. George and most of southern Utah is about 5-6 hours from us. I have not explored that area much, just driven by it.

Option 2: Sedona is probably 9-10 hours from us, never been there. The other couple really wants to go to Sedona. We will be camping, biking (us) and hiking (them) for around 6 days.

Does anyone know if I'm getting pretty much the same scenery/experience in southern Utah as Sedona? They both seem to have the same March temps, red rock formations, plenty of land/trail options.

For the hikers I would have to pick St. George due to its proximity to Zion.

The riding in the St. George area can be much more technical than Sedona if you know where to ride though.

The downside of St. George is that it is a cultural wasteland with horrible restaurants.

Sedona has fanatastic riding, good hiking, some great restaurants, some wacky Newage culture and is farther South so you're less likely to run into weather problems at that time of year.

And Sedona has real beer as opposed to that fizzy brown water that passes for beer behind the Zion curtain.


http://www.petefagerlin.com/images/104/qrpano.jpg

Looks like it's time for me to do some Sedona research!

Thanks everyone, St. George can be for any other weekend.