BLM to host ribbon cutting ceremony for Cedar City’s Turnpike Trail
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CEDAR CITY, Utah – The BLM invites the public to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Turnpike Trail on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. to celebrate world-class outdoor recreation and tourism in Iron County, Utah. The ceremony for the 4.3-mile Turnpike Trail will take place at the Southview Trailhead. The grand opening event will include a short mountain bike ride between Southview and the Shurtz Canyon Trailhead. The Turnpike Trail is a green/easy trail that all riding abilities can enjoy.
This trail was built as a cross-country style trail that connects the two trailheads and got its name from a machine operator who felt that this trail would be like a highway between the two trailheads. The American Conservation Experience trail crew completed the bulk of the trail throughout the wet spring and early summer. A large portion of the finish work was completed by the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative trail crew, volunteer labor by four Eagle Scouts and the Dixie Mountain Biking Association.
The trail will become part of the 20 miles of the Iron Hills Trail System that provides options for all skill levels of hiking, running, and mountain bike riding. Trail construction was funded through the Iron County restaurant tax project funding program, Utah Division of State Parks, and BLM recreation fees.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.