South Smile
Climb the Dead Horse singletrack out of the south lot, loop the far end, then all of 3 Mile Smile home.
Your timesno timed runs yet
Ride mode times every run on its own: the clock starts when you roll out of the start and stops at the finish, with splits at each marked spot. Leave Ride mode on between laps and it re-arms when you're back at the start. Times stay on this phone.
Right now at the trailhead
Get the GPS file
Scan with a friend's phone, or tap below. Then open it in your ride app.
- iPhone: tap Download, open it from the Downloads bar, then Share → Trailforks, Strava or Garmin.
- Android: tap Download, then open the file and pick your app.
- Garmin: or drag it into Garmin Connect → Courses → Import on a computer.
https://bsqrd-designs.com/dirt/south-smile/
Getting there
Park at Cottonwood Valley Trailhead (south)
South side of NV-160, about 5.9 mi west of the NV-159 junction. Turn left onto dirt Cottonwood Valley Rd, lot is about 200 yd in. Vault toilet, no fee. Fast traffic on the left turn.
- Start and finish are the same spot. Follow the cue sheet and the arrows on the map.
Cue sheet
| 0.0 | Dirt roaddirt road | 0.6 mi |
| 0.6 | Singletrack connectorsingletrack via Dead Horse climb | 2.0 mi |
| 2.5 | Dirt roaddirt road | 0.6 mi |
| 3.2 | Cottonwood Pass Roaddirt road | 1.3 mi |
| 4.5 | Cottonwood Pass West Roaddirt road | 0.3 mi |
| 4.8 | Dead Horse Loop Southwestsingletrack | 1.1 mi |
| 5.9 | Singletrack connectorsingletrack | 0.3 mi |
| 6.2 | Dead Horse Loop Southwestsingletrack | 0.3 mi |
| 6.5 | Overlooksingletrack | 0.2 mi |
| 6.7 | Dead Horse Loopsingletrack via Top of 3 Mile Smile | 1.7 mi |
| 8.4 | 3 Mile Smilesingletrack | 2.5 mi |
| 10.9 | Cottonwood Pass Roaddirt road | 0.6 mi |
| 11.5 | Back at Cottonwood Valley Trailhead (south) |
Know before you go
- The Dead Horse climb is long and mostly gradual but rated harder than the north side: loose steep wash crossings and embedded rock. About a fifth of the ride is that kind of tread.
- This line skips Satan's Escalator (steep, rocky switchbacks) by taking Cottonwood Pass Road for about a mile. Ride Satan's instead if you want the classic Dead Horse.
- 3 Mile Smile is downhill-primary. Ride it northbound only. It overlaps the end of Full Grin; the climb and the southern loop are what make this one different.
- Legal basis: Cottonwood Valley South is part of the BLM Cottonwood Valley system; the checker shows no wilderness on the route.
Ride smart
- Water: plan on about 1.5 L for this ride. There's none on the trail.
- Signal is spotty. Tell someone your route and your time back.
- Emergency: call 911 and say "South Smile ride, parked at Cottonwood Valley Trailhead (south), Blue Diamond / Cottonwood Valley", plus the coordinates from Locate me.
- Wildlife: give horses, burros and anything with horns room, and never feed them.
- Stay on trail. Desert crust and mountain soil take decades to heal.
Report a problem or share a photo
Washout, closure, new fence or a missing sign? Got a great shot of a junction? Send it. It goes straight to Ryan; photos he approves show up on this page with your credit.
Trail photos
End ride?
Turn calls, the timer and your recording stop when the ride ends.