Above: 165-degree west panoramic view from the top. Left: Bruce climbs uphill aw...
Above: 165-degree west panoramic view from the top. Left: Bruce climbs uphill away from the Riverview Trail on the Coyote Loop counterclockwise. Photos and ride description by Bruce on June 1, 2013. Latest update June 2022.
Coyote Canyon Trail
The Coyote Canyon Loop lies northeast of Heber. It's a big ride that's best reserved for conditioned riders. Much of the trail is easier-intermediate technical, but there are many tight turns and a few rock gardens that will challenge skilled riders.
The last section of this loop was finished and the UVU trailhead to the Riverside (Sorensen) Trail was opened in June 2013. This loop is destined to be a classic ride that will draw riders from around the state. I'm adding it to the Must-Ride list. Kudos go to the Wasatch Trails Alliance , with thanks to UVU and the Sorensen family for providing access to private lands.
UVU trailhead with equestrian-scraper. Its 1.5 miles uphill from here to the loo...
UVU trailhead with equestrian-scraper. It's 1.5 miles uphill from here to the loop.
Northbound on the Riverview (Sorensen) trail.
Northbound on the Riverview (Sorensen) trail.
The shortest version of this ride, starting from the Highway 32 (Riverview) trailhead, is 20.2 miles. A longer version from the UVU campus and including the lower portion of Coyote is 24.2 miles. (GPS tracks are provided below for both of these rides.) Conditioned riders should allow at least 4 hours.

The loop can be ridden in either direction. Locals seem to like the counter-clockwise direction. Variations on the loop can include combinations of the Lower Riverview trails.

Starting altitude at the UVU campus is 5800 feet. (The Creekview trailhead is slightly higher at 6000.) Depending on the version of the loop you select, climbing will be between 2700 and 2900 vertical feet. Top altitude is 7550 feet on the ridgeline above Coyote Canyon.
Looking southwest over the Heber Valley as we start climbing up and away from Ri...
Looking southwest over the Heber Valley as we start climbing up and away from Riverview. That's Cascade Mountain on the left; Timpanogos on the right.
Heading uphill and northeast. Sage with frequent small stands of gambel oak.
Heading uphill and northeast. Sage with frequent small stands of gambel oak.
Climbs are prolonged but at a fun and reasonable grade. Despite the steepness of the slopes, the gentle grade is possible because of the multiple switchbacks, climbing turns, and hairpins. As of June 2013, some of the tighter switchbacks on the upper mountain don't have good lines yet. Expect to wash out the front tire occasionally.
The terrain is mounded and occasionally steep mountainside. Open areas of sage provide plenty of spots to appreciate the views. On the western and southern exposures, small groves of gambel oak punctuate the trail.
Looking back as we leave the Heber Valley.
Looking back as we leave the Heber Valley.
Were beginning to see parts of Jordanelle to the north as we descend from the fi...
We're beginning to see parts of Jordanelle to the north as we descend from the first ridgeline toward the sheep camp.
On the northern exposures and the top of the mountain, deep groves of maple and aspen provide cool shady riding. These areas will stay damp until late May. Early-season riders should stick to the exposed slopes of the Riverview trail and the "bookend" parts of Coyote at the north and south ends of Riverview.
On the western and southern sides, outcrops of conglomerate and granite put a little rock under the tires and make the views interesting. At the top you'll find a few rock gardens made of rounded granite boulders.
Fresh trail meandering through groves of aspen on the north end of the mountain....
Fresh trail meandering through groves of aspen on the north end of the mountain.
Looking back at US 40 and Jordanelle as we climb higher on the mountain.
Looking back at US 40 and Jordanelle as we climb higher on the mountain.
Over most of the ride, you'll be able to see great views to the west over the Heber Valley and Deer Creek Reservoir. Cascade Mountain and Mount Timpanogos crowd the little notch that is Provo Canyon.
You'll also have great views of ewes and their lambs. This is private land grazed by herds of sheep. Spooking them is bad form.
On the north side, you'll watch the Jordanelle Reservoir along US 40 retreat as you climb higher. On the south end of the ridge are the best views of the ride, with the peaks of the Uintahs to the northeast and the Heber Valley and mountains of the Wasatch Front to the west.
Temperatures are cooler here, with chokecherry and currant dominating the open s...
Temperatures are cooler here, with chokecherry and currant dominating the open spaces.
Near the top, long stretches of aspen forest with occasional maples.
Near the top, long stretches of aspen forest with occasional maples.
There are four access points to the loop:
(1) Coyote Trailhead. Located at the south end on Coyote Lane, this is used frequently by locals, but is harder for outsiders to navigate. See the Lower Riverview page for details on the lower mountain southern trails.
(2) UVU Wasatch Campus Trailhead. At the uppermost level of parking behind the UVU buildings, look for the duck-under and kiosk. A singletrack trail climbs 1.5 miles to the Riverview Trail.
(3) Riverview Trailhead. Park along Highway 32, one mile uphill from US-40. 1/4 mile up the Riverview trail is the fork that starts the loop.
(4) 32 Trail. As of 2013, there's no formal trailhead here. You can park along the road and clamber over the fence near the (locked) gate. Ride uphill on doubletrack and find the singletrack on your left about 100 yards uphill. You'll reach the fork that starts the loop 1/2 mile from the highway.
Sample ride: Clockwise from the Highway 32 (Riverview) trailhead

Park on the right side of Highway 32 at the Riverview trailhead. Head uphill and ride 1/4 mile to the trail fork. Stay left and keep climbing. After crossing the ridge on the north end, you'll descend slightly to a sheep camp. Cross the dirt road at mile 4.5. About 100 yards later, fork right and start climbing uphill. (The left fork takes you down to Highway 32.)

Looking toward the Jordanelle Reservoir as we head north.
Looking toward the Jordanelle Reservoir as we head north.
View west from the top ridgeline.
View west from the top ridgeline.
You'll now begin two miles of sustained climbing through groves of maple and aspen. You'll gain about 1500 feet. There will be some views here. Around mile 6.5, the trail heads south through aspen forest with an imperceptible uphill grade.
Around mile 9.5, you reach the ride's highest point at 7550 feet. As you descend into a sage-covered saddle, there are views in every direction.
The peaks of Big and Little Cottonwood are to the northwest; the Uintahs are to the northeast; and Timpanogos is to your west. Stop here and take in the sights.
Immediately after the view, you'll begin dropping off the southern end of the mountain. There will be a few rock gardens along the ridge before you begin dropping down the steep side-slope.
View west at the very top of the mountain.
View west at the very top of the mountain.
Nothing special, just a typical hairpin turn on the descent of the south side.
Nothing special, just a typical hairpin turn on the descent of the south side.
The mountain gets steep here, although the trail is not. Prepare for seemingly endless switchbacks. The hairpin turns seem a bit more hairy here. Many of these turns "go flat" quickly with no run-out. Good handling skills are required.
As you near the less-steep slopes of the lower mountain, you'll reach a trail fork at mile 14.9. Go right to take the Riverview Trail northbound. (Left drops you another mile down to Coyote Lane near the trailhead, and you'll have to climb 1/2 mile up the steep gravel road to get back.)
Getting a little lower, with a temporary reprieve from the many switchbacks.
Getting a little lower, with a temporary reprieve from the many switchbacks.
Looking northeast. The trail passes under the outcrop in the middle of the photo...
Looking northeast. The trail passes under the outcrop in the middle of the photo.
At the gravel road at mile 15.1, jog downhill 40 feet and turn right onto singletrack. You're now on the home stretch. Climb gently uphill on the Riverside (Sorensen) trail. At mile 16.9, keep straight (right) as connector from the UVU campus joins from downhill.
At mile 18.7, keep right. The short trail on the left goes to a viewpoint. At mile 20.0, you're back at the first trail fork. Turn left and descend to parking.

Bottom Line
This is an epic loop with great riding and great views. You'll want to do this ride.

Almost done. Looking west.
Almost done. Looking west.

24.2-mile Coyote Loop from the UVU trailhead...

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Handlebar view on Chop'd Coyote.
Handlebar view on Chop'd Coyote.
About Chop'd Coyote...

Chop'd Coyote , also known as Coyote Middle, cuts across the Coyote Loop, connecting the middle of Riverview near UVU to the east side of the loop (see map). Using this trail cuts Coyote into two smaller loops, which you can ride either direction. The top end of Coyote Middle is very hard to find if you haven't already ridden up from below. So if you're going for the first time, find the downhill side 0.4 miles south of the UVU connector fork on Riverview. (There's no trail sign as of June 2015.) See the Chop'd Coyote trail page for photos that will orient you to the upper trail navigation. The upper part of Chop'd Coyote has been cut off by construction (2023). I'm told it will be re-connected to the far side of Coyote.

About Looney Tunes...

At the northeast corner of the Coyote Loop, you can take Looney Tunes to bypass part of the loop. This section you'll skip goes down to the Highway 32 trailhead and climbs back out, so you save a couple of miles (3.6 vs 1.7) and a bit over 250 vertical feet of climbing.

Looney Tunes is 1.7 miles long. The bottom is 1.1 miles from the junction of the trailhead connector with the Coyote Loop, and the top is 2.5 miles uphill from that loop fork. The elevation change on Looney Tunes is 400 feet, with a top elevation of 7330 at the Coyote Loop. Upper Looney Tunes has been closed due to construction (2023). I'm told it will be hooked back up.
Heading downhill on Looney Tunes.
Heading downhill on Looney Tunes.
Riding guide, clockwise from Riverview TH:
0.0   Trail at downhill end of parking
        N40 34.404 W111 25.215
        Take stairs over fence
0.2   Keep L (R = return)
        N40 34.430 W111 25.062
4      First ridgeline
4.5   Cross DT N40 35.353 W111 23.617
4.55 Fork R (L = to highway 32)
        N40 35.329 W111 23.601
7.6   Unmarked ( R to Chop'd Coyote via DT)
        N40 34.366 W111 23.772
9.5   Highest point
14.9 R to Riverview Tr
        N40 32.361 W111 23.402
        L = descend for longer ride
15.1 Downhill 50 feet on road
        N40 32.544 W111 23.380
        R on ST N40 32.539 W111 23.397
16.5 Keep L (R = Chop'd Coyote)
        N40 33.053 W111 24.030
16.9 Stay R uphill (L = to UVU TH)
        N40 33.210 W111 24.242
18.7 Fork R (L = view)
        N40 33.705 W111 25.007
20.0 Fork L (finish loop)
        N40 34.430 W111 25.062
20.2 Back at parking
Getting there, Riverview Trailhead:
From Salt Lake, take I-80 eastbound to Silver Creek Junction (just past Park City). Go south on US-40, past the Jordanelle reservoir and descend past the dam. At the traffic light at mile 14.2 from I-80, turn left on 32 and climb 1.1 miles. When you see the second entry into Riverview on your left, note the gravel parking area on your right N40 34.403 W111 25.214. That's your spot.
From Utah County, drive up Provo Canyon to Heber. At the traffic light on US-189/US-40, turn left and drive north through Heber. 4.7 miles from the intersection, turn right on Highway 32 and climb 1.1 miles to the parking area as above.

UVU Wasatch Campus Trailhead:
One mile south of the junction of Highway 40 and 32 (a couple of miles north of Heber), turn east (toward the mountain) at the UVU campus. Go to the uppermost level of parking behind the UVU buildings. Look for the duck-under and kiosk N40 32.798 W111 24.735. A singletrack trail climbs 1.5 miles to the Riverview Trail.

Coyote Trailhead:
Two miles south of the junction of Highway 40 and 32, turn east (toward the mountain) on Coyote Lane. Just after the road crosses a canal, turn left into the parking lot. The singletrack starts at the northeast corner at the step-over, where you'll also find a repair stand and a kiosk with a trail map. The Coyote singletrack takes you uphill. After merging with the gravel road to cross the bridge, veer left onto singletrack then keep generally right and uphill at the trail forks.

Cutthroat (Highway 32) Trailhead:
Drive up Highway 32 four miles. Look for a gravel road on the right side N40 35.430 W111 23.389. You can park along the road and clamber over the fence near the (locked) gate. Find the singletrack on your left and ride uphill, keeping to the right at the Wile E Canyon fork about 100 yards uphill. You'll reach the fork that starts the Coyote loop 0.4 miles from the highway.

Canal DT trailhead:
Just uphill from the light on highway 32, watch for the canal crossing. Park along the road. Start riding south on the doubletrack just uphill from the canal.

Riding resources:
Single-page, printable trail guide
GPS track files (right-click and "Save as..."):
    Short loop from Riverview (20 mi)
    Longer loop from UVU (24 mi)
    Multi-track GPX area master file
    Sorenson only GPX
    Riverview to 32     32 to Coyote TH
    WB50 track
Maps for printing:   Above map in new window
Lodging, camping, shops:   Links to area resources

Trail pages:  Riverview Trail page     Lower Riverview page          Chop'd Coyote page     Isengard/Mordor page          Cutthroat (Wile E Coyote and Looney Tunes) page
Bathrooms: No public restrooms nearby.
Water: Gas stations in Heber, campgrounds.
Camping: Hailstone campground at Jordanelle on US-40, about 6 miles away.
Bike services: Slim and Knobby's bike shop, Heber Latest update June 2022.