Routes
Trail Report – Barracks Trail with St George Jeepers
Colorado City, AZ: ~25 miles of sand, 21 river crossings, and incredible scenery
Last Tuesday we linked up with the St. George Jeepers for a full-day run of the Barracks Trail just outside Colorado City, AZ. If you haven’t done this trail yet, put it on the list. It’s one of the best rides within a couple hours of St. George, and it did not disappoint.
This was also another solid trail test for the AAL 4XE build, which is currently running 74Weld Portal Axles on 38″ Nitto Trail Grapplers wrapped around Raceline Forged Beadlock Wheels. More on that below.
About the Barracks Trail
The Barracks Trail is roughly a 25-mile point-to-point route that runs through BLM land just east of Zion National Park, near the Coral Pink Sand Dunes area. The trail follows the East Fork of the Virgin River through a gorgeous canyon lined with ponderosa pines, sandstone walls, and some of the best scenery southern Utah has to offer.
You’ll cross the river over 21 times throughout the run. The terrain is a mix of sand, loose rock, dirt, and a few slickrock sections. A stock 4WD vehicle with decent tires can make most of this trail, though there are a couple of spots that will test your rig. The infamous Sand Hill near the end of the trail is the big one. If your rig has the power and traction, send it. If not, there’s a bypass, or in our case for this trip, you can go from Colorado City to Mt Carmel which sends you down the hill, not up.
Almost at the finish, you’ll pass the Belly of the Dragon, a short tunnel carved through a massive rock formation that’s worth a quick stop to check out on foot.
For detailed GPS maps, photos, and trail conditions, check out these resources:
Important Note
The Barracks Trail sits on BLM land, not inside Zion National Park, so no NPS permits are required for the 4×4 route. That said, there have been ongoing discussions about land access and potential closures in the Parunuweap Canyon Wilderness Study Area. If you care about keeping trails like this open, stay informed and get involved. This trail has been here for decades and it’s worth protecting.
How the Ride Went
The St. George Jeepers put together a great group for this one. The weather was perfect for early March, and river levels were manageable. Some of the crossings had decent ruts that required picking a good line, but nothing that stopped anyone in the group. That’s one of the things we appreciate about riding with the St. George Jeepers. Good people, solid rigs, and everyone looks out for each other on the trail.
Once you drop into the canyon, driving down the big sand hill, is when things become very scenic. The scenery through the canyon section is hard to beat. Tall sandstone walls, clear water, and enough shade from the pines to keep things comfortable even during the hotter summer days.
The AAL 4XE Build on the Trail
Every trail run is a chance for us to put our products through real-world testing, and this trip was no exception. Here’s what was on the 4XE for this run:
Exterior & Protection
- AAL Modular Front Bumper
- AAL A-Pillar Light Brackets
- AAL Prototype Rear Bumper
Cargo & Storage (M.A.S.S. System)
- M.A.S.S. Cargo Platform
- Front Overhead MOLLE Shelf
- Rear Cargo Shelf
- Rear Side MOLLE Panels
- Door MOLLE Pockets
- Ultra Light Drawers (Prototype)
- Flip-In Slide Drawer
- Spare Tire Platform
- VersaTable Tailgate Table
Electrical
- Rear Cargo ARB Compressor Mount
- Rear Auxiliary Battery
- REDARC Integration Throughout (BCDC Alpha 50R, RedVision, TVMS ROGUE)
Wheels, Tires & Axles
The portals from 74Weld continue to impress. The 22% gear reduction at the hubs, combined with the added ground clearance, makes the 38s feel right at home on the 4XE. River crossings, sand, loose rock… the combo handled everything the Barracks threw at it without breaking a sweat.
On the cargo side, the M.A.S.S. system kept everything locked down and organized for the full day out. The Ultralight prototype drawer system got some more early trail testing and we’re excited about where that product is headed. Stay tuned for more on that.
Watch the Ride
We captured video from the trail that’s now up on our Instagram. Check it out for river crossings, trail scenery, and the 4XE doing its thing on the Barracks.
Barracks Trail Quick Info
- Location: Near Kanab, UT / Coral Pink Sand Dunes area
- Length: ~25 miles point-to-point
- Difficulty: Moderate (4WD required, aggressive tires recommended)
- Terrain: Sand, loose rock, dirt, slickrock, 20+ river crossings
- Best Season: Late spring through fall (August-October ideal)
- Access: Highway 89 from Kanab or via Cane Beds Road from Highway 59/389
- Permits: None required (BLM land)
- Key Obstacles: River crossings, Sand Hill climb
- Highlights: Canyon scenery, Belly of the Dragon, views of Zion and Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Hit the Trail
Big thanks to the St. George Jeepers for another great ride. If you’re in the southern Utah area and looking for a solid group to run trails with, look them up.
If you’re building out your Jeep, truck, or SUV for trail days like this, check out the full M.A.S.S. cargo system lineup and the rest of our made-in-USA adventure accessories. Everything we sell, we run on our own rigs first.
See you on the trail.
