Horse Flat Loop
| Horse Flat Trail Horse Flat Loop |
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The Horse Flat Trail begins at the Alpine Loop Summit parking lot. The trail climbs up the saddle between the North Fork of Provo Canyon and the South Fork of American Fork Canyon, to a grassy area called Horse Flat. This ride is an out-and-back. The Horse Flat Loop starts on the Horse Flat trail for 1/2 mile, then descends in a narrow twisting downhill to join the Great Western. After an initial climb, the trail's slope is gradual. That's Timpanogos peeking over the ridge as we ride toward Horse Flat. Photo Sept. 30, 1999. |
| Horse Flat out-and-back
The Horse Flat trail climbs through fir forest and aspen groves, with occasional flat meadows. In the meadows, you have views of surrounding peaks such as Timpanogos, Box Elder Peak, and Pfeiferhorn. Most of the trail is hardpack dirt with the occasional root or rock. The round trip is 2.5 miles, and you'll climb 400 vertical feet over the 1.25 miles from the Summit parking area to Horse Flat. We're looking northwest. That's Box Elder that's the highest. Pfeiferhorn and Chipman Peak are partially obscured by trees. |
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At Horse Flat, there are some trails you might be tempted to
explore. Go ahead, but they really don't go anywhere. Once you reach the
big meadow with the "Horse Flat" sign (see photo), you're there.
N 40° 25.194 W 111° 37.278. Have a picnic in the meadow, then head back.
Or, visit Horse Flat then double back to ride the loop below.
Left: Banana Thunder rests Right: Jackie waits for the |
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Horse Flat Loop
First, the Horse Flat Loop does NOT go through Horse Flat. Start uphill on the Horse Flat trail. At 0.5 miles, notice a smaller trail forking right. The fork will be just before a big meadow, where there's a pond in early summer (June). If you make a brutal rough switchback climb through fir trees, you passed the fork. There are several ways to make a loop out of the Horse Flat downhill. The route I describe here is the quickest. This loop is 3.4 miles, but isn't a particular fast ride. I'd rate it upper-intermediate to advanced, because the descent is narrow and twisting with a lot of log-hops, and the climb up Summit is pretty stiff. Getting started up the Horse Flat trail. Aspen groves alternate with meadows. Mount Timpanogos is peeking over the aspens. Photo June 7, 2006. |
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After a half mile of climbing with 150 feet vertical, you'll
fork onto a narrow twisting descent. Good log-hopping skills help here.
There are countless small logs across the trail.
Left: View downhill through the aspens. The trail is narrow and twisting. Right: Sample logs. Pop up the handlebars to get the front wheel over, then throw your weight forward so the rear wheel doesn't pinch-flat as it bounces over the log. |
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The trail reaches the Alpine Loop road just uphill from
where the GWT crosses the road. Go straight across (past the metal gate),
and the trail will join the GWT. From here, loop options include (1) climbing
Pine Hollow to Ridge 157 then turning right (southbound) versus heading
left (north) on Ridge 157 and dropping
down South Fork before climbing back to the summit, (2) climbing the
Salamander Flat trail then turning right on Ridge 157, or (3) climbing up the Summit Trail.
We're climbing the Summit Trail to complete the loop. |
| Riding notes, clockwise loop, return via
Summit Trail: 0.0 At summit parking, go to west side to find trail N 40° 25.838 W 111° 36.869 Immediately fork L uphill on Horse Flat trail 0.5 Fork R and begin descent N 40° 25.687 W 111° 37.105 1.6 Cross paved road, go around metal gate N 40° 26.110 W 111° 37.754 Join GWT 100 yards later 2.0 Keep straight (R = Salamander Flat) 2.1 4-way, go straight across R = camping, L = Pine Hollow GWT N 40° 26.485 W 111° 37.710 2.3 Keep straight on Summit (L = Salamader) 2.6 Cross road, veer R over stream onto ST N 40° 26.361 W 111° 37.334 3.4 At parking. View of Mount Timpanogos rising up above the Summit Trail on the return voyage. |
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Getting
there: Loop Trailhead: From I-15, take the Alpine-Highland exit and drive 7 miles to the mouth of American Fork Canyon. Pay your $3 fee there. Five miles later at the fork in the road, go right along the south fork of the river and climb to the summit. There's a parking lot on your right just before the top of the ridge. From parking, find the trail on the west side of the loop (the side that overlooks AF Canyon). Go about 10 feet down this trail, then turn left and begin climbing uphill (south). Springs/GWT at bottom of loop: Drive up the South Fork of American Fork Canyon as above. When you reach the "T" intersection for the Timpanooke Campground, go left. About 1/2 mile later, watch for a small parking area on the right side of the road, with a "trail crossing" sign. You can start on the GWT, or go 150 feet up the road to find where the downhill trail crosses the road. N 40° 26.110 W 111° 37.754 |
| Riding Resources for Horse Flat: Large-format Topo map: Download Single-page riding guide for printing. |
GPS track files (right-click and "Save as..."): Garmin National Geographic Google Earth GPX Horse Flat GPX Horse Flat Loop |
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For lodging in the American Fork Canyon
area, as well as travel guides and information on other activities, may we
suggest: |
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