Black Canyon Dam Canal Road

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

The concrete dam just above the trailhead was originally completed in 1924. It's 183 feet tall, and 1902 feet wide at its crest. As part of the project, the Black Canyon Dam Canal was created to route water to most of Gem County. For almost a century, locals have enjoyed walking, riding and driving the banks of the canal using the Black Canyon Canal Road while taking in the views of the valley as it sprawls out for miles and miles.

Like the Pearl Road trail, this offers excellent winter riding and early AM summer rides spanning from the Black Canyon Dam all the way to Sand Hollow. You'll be mesmerized by the engineering that went into the tunnels and siphons along the way. At one point the road climbs up over the hill as the water goes under, providing for a great little climb and some downhill. Not to worry, if you want to stay on the flat, you can take the access road out and around like most users do.

Although the traffic is usually light and slow moving, the road surface is well maintained and very smooth with only a few seasonal mud holes here and there. You can park at any one of the dozens of roads that intersect the trail or park right on the trail as the road is wide and has many parking areas along it.

The trail turns into Cassia at the end but only because it lined up with another Cassia road and was renamed for future connection in the next 200 years or so. It is included in this trail as it was historically part of this road.