Chad , Mike
, and Gary pause on traverse ridge, with Lone
Peak (left) and Box Elder peak in the background.
January 8, 2000
| Hog Hollow Trail |
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The Hog Hollow Road begins at the northwest corner of Alpine (Utah Valley,
just south of Salt Lake). It climbs to Traverse Ridge, where you can look north over the
Salt Lake Valley, and south over Utah Valley. Chad , Mike
, and Gary pause on traverse ridge, with Lone
Peak (left) and Box Elder peak in the background. |
| It's a nice 3- or 4-mile climb (depending on whether you intercept the trail on the paved Hog Hollow Road, or start from Westfield Road). It's 1000 vertical feet of climbing. We recommend this road for advanced off-season biking. |
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UtahMountainBiking.com for bike trail info, repair instructions, feature articles, first aid, fitness, and goodies. |
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In winter and early spring, Hog Hollow is HEAVEN! While other trails are buried in the snow, Hog Hollow just gets better. It's a different ride every day: one day it's an easy cruise on hard-pack snow; the next it's a gooey mud slop-fest. One day it's a slush-digging fishtailing corn-snow ride; the next day it's a raging torrent of muddy water over hard ice ledges. On the lower trail, there are a couple of very large puddles. Roll around the rim. Or hit it full throttle. Photo at the Frozen Hog race, Feb 1, 2003. Hog Hollow was the former site of the "Frozen Hog" winter mountain bike race. See our video download section for live action. |
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Intermediate riders do best to ride up early morning after a clear night,
while the surface is still frozen. Have a picnic, then ooze your way down after the sun
melts the surface. While within the athletic ability of a well-seasoned intermediate biker, winter riding can be frustrating for beginners. Winter on the Hog Hollow road is great fun, and easier than you think, but it's not for newcomers to the sport. Mike rolls down from the
summit. |
At the top of the ridge, you can admire the view over the Salt Lake Valley to the north. Or you can turn your attention to a football-field size mudbath in the flat area at the summit (GPS N 40° 29.197' W 111° 49.294'). From the summit, you can drop into Draper's Corner Canyon if you like, or connect to one of several singletrack options (see below). From Traverse Ridge looking north into Corner Canyon towards the Salt Lake Valley. Doc Argyle with "Banana Thunder." January 8, 2000 by Mike Engberson |
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On mud days, be sure you have plenty of brake pad left. On the downhill, the mud wears your brakes down VERY fast. Don't feel guilty about "hurting the dirt." This road is used by ATVs and 4-diggers (although it's illegal to do so), so your puny bike tracks don't make any difference. Photo: Hog Hollow was the former site of the Frozen Hog winter mountain bike race. A frigid festival for the fanatic. Photo February 6, 2004. |
For a longer ride, catch a trail going east from the summit and pick your way over the mountains. This route is the Alpine Perimeter (Alpine Days Race) Trail. Heading west lets you connect to the Suncrest Loop Trail. Or drop down into Draper via Corner Canyon. About 1/4 mile from the top is Clarks Trail, an awesome singletrack. About 2 miles down the canyon, find the trailhead for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail either northbound or westbound. Hog Hollow is a nice climbing route on summer mornings. Some riders even use this route as a commute to work and back on their bike. |
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| Hog Hollow riding notes, from Burgess
Park: 0.0 Parking in Burgess Park Head back (south) to Canyon Crest 0.1 R on Canyon Crest 0.4 L on Long Drive 0.6 R on Ranch Drive 0.9 Cross Westfield Road onto DT N40 26.924 W111 47.706 1.1 Fork R N40 27.017 W111 47.839 |
1.8 Straight then veer L uphill N40 27.616 W111 47.8662.2 Rejoin old HH Road, straight N40 27.904 W111 48.241 4.1 R across creek N40 28.992 W111 49.300 Alt = L to Suncrest Loop 4.3 Top of mountain |
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Getting there, church "trailhead": Drive into Alpine from the south. At the stop sign at 200 North, turn left (west) and drive 1/2 mile. Turn right up the hill. When you see the big church, look for "Hog Hollow Road" on your left just before the church. That's where you'll be going. Park near the church, then head downhill and right onto Hog Hollow Road and ride 1/2 mile to the end of the pavement. Climb the dirt, and veer slightly right onto a DT heading northwest. (Note: this route may close with further subdivision development. Let us know!) Once on the Hog Hollow Road, ignore smaller diverging roads, unless you want to play on them. |
| Burgess Park (Alpine): Head to main street in Alpine. At the
traffic circle, turn left on Canyon Crest Road. When you see the park on
your right, turn and find a parking spot. On your bike, head back to
Canyon Crest, turn left on Long Drive, then right onto the paved bike lane
in front of the homes on Ranch Drive. At the top of Ranch Drive where it
ends on Westfield Road, the trail is just across the street.From Corner Canyon: The Corner Canyon end is found
by taking Draper Blvd (123rd South) to 13th East, turning right down the hill, then
east (left)
at the traffic roundabout onto Pioneer Road. Go towards the mountains to 20th East, then turn
right. After 1/4 mile, turn left into the trailhead parking area and begin riding uphill
on the gravel road that was immediately on your right as you entered the
parking lot. (GPS N 40°
31.281' W 111° 50.081').
There are picnic tables and a toilet where the Bonneville Shoreline Trail crosses the Corner Canyon Road, and at the upper Ghost Falls trailhead (where Ghost Falls meets the Corner Canyon road and continues uphill as Jacob's Ladder). Water is available only at the Equestrian Center. A trailhead with full facilities is planned for the top of Clark's Trail, near the summit. |
| Riding Resources: Single-page riding guide GPS incl. Suncrest trails (Right-click and "Save as..."): Garmin GPX Large-format topo map: View map Lodging, camping, shops: Links to north Utah County resources |
[Go to UtahMountainBiking.com's Trails Options Page] Original
review 2002, updated 2008. |
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Page views since 2/15/07: |
