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Albion Basin
Albion Basin is part of the Alta ski area, at the top of Salt Lake's Little Cottonwood Canyon. The ride is a broad, smooth dirt road that climbs up to a camping area below Cecret Lake. This out-and-back is 3 miles each way, with 820 feet of altitude gain. The smooth surface is perfect for beginners, "date rides," and family biking picnics. View south up the road, looking towards the Devil's Castle. Photos June 13, 2002 by Bruce. |
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The ride starts at 8800 feet elevation, above Alta's Albion Basin ski lift, where the paved Little Cottonwood Canyon road turns to the gravel Albion Basin road. The gate is usually closed until July, but hikers and bikers can go up anytime. (Expect snowdrifts in the pines until July.) This is a popular bike route, and may be a bit crowded on summer weekends. Buttercups emerge as the melting snow exposes bare ground. |
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There's no singletrack here. You are asked to stay on the
roads. If the Albion Basin road is just too tame for you, you can catch
the connection to Germania Pass. (See the map.) Albion Basin is a nice ride with
beautiful scenery. Enjoy it for that.
Dogs aren't allowed in Little Cottonwood, except for residents with Alta city dog licenses. The family pooch stays home! Using the camera's self-timer, lonely biker Brucie catches himself rolling in front of the rough granite of Sugarloaf. |
| The road climbs through two switchbacks, then continues
south to the top of the Albion lift at mile 2.25. Continue straight as the
road heads slightly downhill. (Right takes you to the Germania Pass road,
straight past the lodge building. Left goes to the lift and a cabin.) At
the fork in the road at mile 2.75, the track loops through a campground.
Go right. On
the west end of the loop, you'll find the Cecret Lake trail. (No bikes!)
Lock up your steed and hike 1/2 mile to the lake.
Looking back over the town of Alta. |
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After riding around the loop, you can backtrack on the road,
head left for Germania, or drop down the steeper route that forks
right a tiny distance down the Germania road. I advise against sending children down this more direct path. It gets steep and loose.
Heading back, the sedimentary rock of the north canyon wall is seen in front of our rider. In this rock, ores were mined during Alta's big day as a boom town. The intrusive igneous rock of the southern side of the canyon brought the metal ions that deposited in the limestone. |
| Bottom line: This is an easy ride, although the
altitude may tax the lungs of those who aren't in shape or acclimatized.
In summer there are beautiful wildflowers. And the mountains are gorgeous
anytime. It's a great family ride, especially when combined with the
nature trail at Cecret Lake.
View of the Albion Basin area from the parking lot near the gate.
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Getting there: From I-15, take the 90th South
exit and drive east towards the mountains. This will take you directly to
Little Cottonwood. When you arrive at the stop sign in the canyon, with
the giant illuminated Little Cottonwood conditions sign on your right,
turn right uphill and drive 8 miles to Alta. Keep straight until the end
of the road. Park on the right side of the road just before the
information booth (between the lanes of the road just before it turns to
gravel).
Copyright 2002 Mad Scientist Software Inc |
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For additional information, including
nearby lodging, rentals, camping, and current conditions, may we suggest: |
