Grove Creek Trail
The Grove Creek Trail falls from the upper shoulder of Mount Timpanogos down Grove Creek Canyon to Pleasant Grove. It's usually ridden as a shuttled downhill -- because the climb up this canyon is a bear. But it can be done. The trail is 4 miles in length, with a bit over 2200 feet of elevation change. As either a downhill or out-and-back, the trail should be considered for advanced riders only. DH, you can short-circuit the first mile by grabbing a connector trail westbound just above Indian Springs. The official start of the trail is found by following the Timpooneke Road until you reach doubletrack forking hard-right in a big meadow. There may (or may not) be a sign indicating that the DT is the Battle Creek Trail, and the singletrack that forks right off it about 300 feet later is the Grove Creek Trail.
Riding notes, downhill:
0.0   R onto Battle Creek DT
N 40° 23.226 W 111° 41.069
0.1   R onto narrow ST in meadow
0.7   Indian Camp / Springs
fork L downhill
N 40° 23.690 W 111° 41.174
1.8   Bridge, cross creek
N 40° 23.414 W 111° 41.734
Hairy stuff begins...
3.2   Keep straight at fork,
then trail turns L going
up-canyon but downhill
N 40° 22.751 W 111° 42.575
3.7   Trail turns R toward valley
4.1   Arrive parking lot
N 40° 22.483 W 111° 42.721

Stowing the shuttle vehicle: Get off I-15 at the Pleasant Grove exit, and head east toward the mountains. As the street curves north, you'll reach State Street at the light. Turn right. As State begins to curve southward past a big shopping complex, turn left at the traffic light to Main Street. Go through the 4-way stop at Center, then turn left at the light on 100 East (Canyon Highway). Proceed north to 500 North and turn right. 500 North becomes Grove Creek Drive. Follow it up to the paved parking area.
Getting to the trailhead: Backtrack to 100 East in Pleasant Grove. Turn right (north) and follow the Canyon Highway to the mouth of American Fork Canyon. Keep right and head up the canyon. Pay your $6 fee (as of 2009) there. Five miles later at the fork in the road, go along the south fork of the river. About 4 miles up, there's a T in the road. Turn right into the Timpooneke Campground road. Keep going until it turns to gravel, and go another 5 miles. Watch for the Grove Creek Trail sign on your right for the short trailhead; go another 1/2 mile for the full ride.

Copyright 2006 Mad Scientist Software Inc
Trail conditions change, and the layout of a trail may change without notice. Use this trail guide at your own risk.