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Wasatch Crest Trail The Wasatch Crest Trail runs along the ridge between Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Park City area, then descends towards the Salt Lake valley via Mill Creek Canyon. This is a popular, well-maintained, and well-travelled trail. Most riders begin at Guardsman Pass and ride towards Salt Lake, using a shuttle car to return to Guardsman Pass. Hardbodies will climb from Mill Creek Canyon's Big Water trail, then turn around at the radio shacks where the single-track ends and run back for a 20-mile out-and-back. The trail clears of snow in late June to early July. Riding notes: Starting just below Guardsman's Pass, the trail climbs two miles up a dirt road through pines and aspens to reach the Crest. After the first mile, turn hard left at the intersection of doubletracks, and begin climbing. This brutal climb is called "Puke Hill," and is the only prolonged climb. Altitude at the top is 9900 feet. |
| After the second transmission shack, the
trail converts to
single track for several exquisite miles. The sharp fin of rock above Desolation Lake is a challenge for the very best
riders. Most riders will walk it. Immediately after this rock ridge, keep right
at the fork (N 40° 39.508' W 111° 35.756') towards Mill Creek. (Left
descends to the Mill D North Fork Trail.) The trail turns north towards Mill Creek Canyon and runs along the ridge overlooking the ski lifts of The Canyons (formerly Wolf Mountain, formerly Park West) ski area. After a brief doubletrack descent, fork left on singletrack and descend Mill Creek. After the trail drops into Mill Creek Canyon, you'll follow the trail signs along the Big Water Trail. The entire trip from Guardsman Pass to the Big Water Trail parking area is around 13 miles. |
| Getting there, Guardsman Pass trailhead: Get to Big Cottonwood Canyon (Wasatch Blvd and 72nd South) and drive up past Solitude Resort (about 15 miles). Just before you reach Brighton, the road to Guardsman Pass turns off on your left. At 0.8 miles, you'll see a red metal gate. Exactly one mile later (1.8 miles from the fork in the road), you'll see a dirt road on the left. GPS N 40° 36.817' W 111° 33.532'. Park along the hairpin turn and bike up the road. (There's a second -- closed -- gate about 100 yards up the road. Just pack your bike around the gate and continue.) |
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Mill Creek trailhead: Get to Foothill Blvd on the east
bench of Salt Lake City via I-215. Exit at 39th South. Take 3800 South eastbound into the
Canyon. Drive all the way to the top of the canyon. The trail begins on the south end of
the Big Water Trailhead parking area GPS N 40° 40.922' W 111° 34.199'. (Note: the gate
to upper Mill Creek Canyon is open to cars July 1 to November 1. Mountain bikes are only
allowed on upper Mill Creek trails on EVEN numbered days!)
[Go to
UtahMountainBiking.com's Trails Options Page] |