East Fork Loop

East Fork Loop
(Wheeler Creek, Middle Fork, East Fork Trails)

The East Fork Loop is a fast ride on broad, well-groomed singletrack. The loop is 5.8 miles in length, with 800 vertical feet of climbing, to a peak altitude of 6200. The surface is easy-intermediate technical. Riders who want more of a workout can start from the Wheeler trailhead near Pineview dam, for a 9.3 mile 1300-vertical ride that's still pretty easy overall.

Photo agove: View uphill from the Wheeler Creek Trail, the first section of this ride when done counter-clockwise. Photos and original ride description October 22, 2003 by Bruce.

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The loop can be ridden either direction. Most riders seem to go clockwise, taking the East Fork trail up to Middle Fork, then heading downhill to end on Wheeler Creek.

A typical section of trail: broad, smooth, lined on each side by a mix of aspen and maple.

The ride alternates forest of maple and aspen (and an occasional fir) with grassy meadows. There aren't a lot of view opportunities on this loop. If you want to see more of Mount Ogden, try the Maples Loop, which starts from the same trailhead.

Bruce breaks out into the open. We're looking north. Just over the nearest ridge is Pineview Reservoir.

The trail is very buffed, with smooth wooden bridges over every little gulch or trickling brook. The climbing never gets beyond middle-chainring steep for the typical biker.

Some sections of East Fork and Wheeler Creek pass through meadows of clay. These areas get very ugly when wet. I recommend against early-season, late-season and rainy-day riding on this loop.

A bridge on the East Fork trail.

Riding Notes, Counter-clockwise Loop:
Add 1.8 to mileage if starting from Pineview Trailhead
0.0 Art Nord Trailhead (Wheeler Creek trail)
       West downhill on ST near back of parking area
       N 41° 14.017' W 111° 49.224' Alt=5430
1.4 Fork L for Middle Fork trail
       N 41° 13.707' W 111° 50.307' Alt=5640
1.9 Cross road to Middle Fork trail
       N 41° 13.350' W 111° 50.270' Alt=5720
3.3 Fork L on East Fork trail
       (R goes 0.3 to road and Green Pond trailhead)
       N 41° 12.453' W 111° 49.995' Alt=6220
5.8 Back at Art Nord Trailhead

Great ride for a crisp fall day!

Getting there: From Ogden, head up the canyon on U-39. For the Wheeler trailhead, turn R on doubletrack just before Pineview dam (Trailhead GPS N 41° 15.168' W 111° 50.511'). For Art Nord (recommended, bathrooms), keep straight (R) at the dam, then 2.7 miles later, turn R on U-226. Go another 3.6 miles and turn R into the Art Nord trailhead parking N 41° 14.017' W 111° 49.224'.

From the south, leave I-15 for US-89 in Farmington. Turn right (east) to take I-84 up Weber Canyon. Take the Huntsville/Pineview exit and turn left under the freeway, then right to continue up the canyon. About a mile later, follow the signs to turn left towards Huntsville on U-167. 6.8 miles after leaving I-84, turn left on U-226 towards Snowbasin. The Green Pond trailhead is at a parking turnout 1.3 miles from the turn. The Middle Fork trailhead is 4.7, and Art Nord is 6.0.

Riding resources:
Single-page riding guide for printing
Lodging, camping, shops:
Links to Ogden area resources