Historic Babylon Trail
Recommended Trail Users: Mountain Bikers, Hikers, Equestrians
Type: Singletrack/Two-track
Length: 2.2 miles
Sub-Area: Babylon
Zone: Upland
Property Management: BLM
Access: Historic Babylon Trailhead – From I-15 north take Exit 22 and continue straight on Main Street through downtown Leeds and travel 2.2 miles to Babylon Road (900 N). From 1-15 south take Exit 23 and turn left on Silver Reef Road and then immediately turn left on Main Street and continue .7 miles to Babylon Road.
Turn right onto Babylon Road (900 N). This road requires a high clearance vehicle and may require 4x4 wheel drive past the Toquerville Mine Trailhead (depending on sand and mud conditions). Continue 2 miles to the Toquerville Mine Trailhead (horse trailers should park here). Continue another 2 miles to the Historic Babylon Trailhead. The trailhead has two parking spaces. If full, do not park on the side of the narrow road, but return to the Sand Cove Trailhead (1 mile back) and hike/bike/ride in.
Description: For a 5.7 mile loop, head out .2 miles on the Historic Babylon Trail until it intersects with the East Reef Trail. Turn right and continue on the Historic Babylon Trail for another 2.6 miles. The Historic Babylon Trail intersects (actually turns into) the
Little Purgatory Trail. Follow the Little Purgatory Trail up the mountain and back down the other side for 2.7 miles until it again intersects with the Historic Babylon Trail. Turn right on the Historic Babylon Trail and travel a little over .1 miles to return to original intersection of East Reef Trail and Historic Babylon Trail. Return on the Historic Babylon Trail for .2 miles to the Historic Babylon Trailhead.
Historic Babylon Trail is a combination of single- and two-track. The two-track section is a remnant of Pioneer mining days. It was a road used by miners to haul silver ore from the Silver Reef area to the north to the Babylon Mill along the Virgin River (now gone except for a few ruins). Sections of the historic road were completely wiped away from previous flooding of Grapevine Wash, but look for stone embankments used in the construction of the road through the deeply divided terrain. The trail offers great views of the colorful Triassic/Jurassic landscape.
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