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Riding out of the Beaver Dam Wash

Lynn Blamires

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Ken and Chris Britton at the Three Corners Monument

Lynn Blamires

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Riding through the Joshua tree forest

Lynn Blamires

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Riding through the Joshua tree forest

Lynn Blamires

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I heard about the Three Corners Trail when I was looking for a warm winter ride and it seemed to fit the bill. The trailhead is located on old Highway 91 that used to be the only road between St. George and Mesquite before Interstate 15 was cut through the Virgin River Gorge.

It is easy to find because there is a large pullout on the east side as you go uphill north from Beaver Dam in Arizona. It is marked by an old abandoned stone house on the west side with parking against a rock wall and cliff on the right side of the road. It also features some rock cisterns higher up on the cliff used in earlier days to catch water.

As we were unloading, I counted 16 riders on 10 machines. I noticed we were in the shade and there was a cold breeze, but once we got onto the trail, the warmth of the sun was nice.

The trail headed west from the lower end of the parking area on the west side of the highway. Things got interesting as we entered the Joshua tree forest.

The Joshua tree is a member of the yucca family also known as the palm tree yucca. I might call them palm tree yucky except I think they are intriguing and even a little eerie. The plant got its name from a group of Mormon pioneers. The tree reminded them of the biblical Joshua as he raised his arms to heaven in prayer. They are referred to as trees, but you would be hard pressed to find one with enough shade for a picnic

Our trail wound through the Joshua trees and followed overhead power lines along a ridge that finally dipped down into Beaver Dam Wash. The wash is several hundred yards wide and it has seen a fair amount of water, but it was dry for our passing.

We stopped on the other side for a bathroom break where some foliage provided privacy. Not having any comfort stations, we sent women to the left and men to the right. It was a little risky because the greenery turned out to be of the spiny desert kind and we had to walk carefully to avoid a painful experience.

Following a fenceline, we came to a spur that took off to the left a short distance. We could see a marker with flags in the distance and decided to investigate. We found a sandstone monument that marked the spot where the corners of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada come together. It was a good place for a break and a Kodak moment.

The American Flag, Utah’s state flag, and some military flags waving colorfully in the breeze also marked this spot. I learned that another monument located on a nearby butte claimed the same fame, but this one looked official because it had the geographic marker set into the top of the stone.

After our break, we went back to our junction and turned east. The trail soon dropped into a narrow, twisty sand wash and things really got fun. We swished through the tight turns in the sand like a bunch of kids playing follow the leader.

The wash soon broke out into the Beaver Dam Wash. It is so wide that the track was a little difficult to follow. We passed Mormon Well and we were just about to Welcome Creek when we found our track turning gradually north. We made a course correction and headed out of the wash. That turn took us back to the point where we closed the loop and headed back to the staging area.

I liked this trail because the Joshua trees contribute to a very interesting landscape and we could move at a pretty good clip. Our route was 38 miles long and we dropped in elevation over 1,760 feet before climbing back out. This trail makes for a great winter ride. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down, and don’t waste your time looking for shade in a Joshua tree forest.