The 6 Best Mountain Biking Trails In Park City Utah!
Photo from westgateresorts
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The Holy Roller
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Jenni’s Trail
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Wasatch Crest Trail
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Lost Prospector
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Tidal Wave/Flagstaff Loop
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Mid Mountain Trail
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Flying Dog
The 6 Best Mountain Biking Trails in Park City Utah!
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” – Edward Abbey
Getting ready to search the slopes for the best mountain biking trails Park City, Utah has to offer? Visitors to Park City, Utah, come here to see the amazing natural sights year-round. In cooler weather, this often brings in hardcore winter sports fans who take advantage of the area’s world-class resorts and legendary ski slopes. In the summer and fall, though, Park City provides great hiking and mountain biking trails for any skill level. That makes it the perfect destination for adventurous travelers who are on a tour as well as those looking to take a week and really get to know the area.
In fact, Park City currently boasts more than 450 miles of public trails and Singletracks.com recently ranked the mountain town as one of the “Top Mountain Bike Destinations in the USA.” In addition, the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has ranked Park City as a Gold-Level Ride Center for “the sheer miles of trails” that “function as a cohesive network, with signage and trail connections that create a model riding area.” According to Park City Magazine, “In terms of quality, quantity and variety, Park City mountain biking is bomber, sick, tight – in other words, the best you’ll find just about anywhere.”
No matter what skill level you feel comfortable riding at, you’ll find plenty of mountain biking options that give you great photo opportunities all over the area, including one epic mountain biking trail that is so much fun it’s getting a national reputation (see No. 6). Here are the 6 best mountain biking trails in Park City Utah:
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1 | The Holy Roller | Deer Valley Resort has been working hard to provide trails for all levels that cater to hikers and bikers, and the Holy Roller is one of the best additions since they started. With five miles of easy twists and turns through the aspens, inexperienced riders will get to see the kinds of views that cement the passion for this pastime, making it a great way to work on your endurance if you’re not quite ready to take on a big trip to the summit of one of the area’s taller mountains. This 1,300-foot descent over five miles provides just enough challenge to make a day fun, so even experienced riders enjoy it as a warm-up before hitting the more epic trails in the area. If you’ve never been, take the time to see this trail while you’re visiting the Deer Valley trail system.
WHERE: Deer Valley Resort, lift ticket required
2 | Jenni’s Trail | With two options for mountain biking fans, this easy trail allows beginners to take a lift trip and enjoy the descent down the back half of the trail if you choose to purchase one. Intermediate riders and those looking to skip the lift can get on at the base of the zip line at Park City Mountain Resort, just below the lower lift. It doubles the length of the trip and adds an exhilarating uphill ascent to the journey. According to Mountain Express Magazine, “Jenni’s offers gorgeous high mountain views, shady aspen groves, wide trails and smooth switchbacks.” Note that Jenni’s Trail is a multiuse trail popular with both mountain bikers and hikers.
WHERE: Park City Mountain Resort
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3 | Wasatch Crest Trail | This trail splits partway through, giving riders a few options for ending the trip after enjoying the spectacular, 360-degree views of the scenic Wasatch range (including Big Cottonwood Canyon) during their ascent. You can either opt to glide down to Mill Creek Canyon, where a shuttle provides you with an accessible lift back to town, or you can go through a high-intensity cardio session that delivers you into Park City Mountain Resort’s Canyons Village area. Either way, you’re going to have a ride you can’t forget, and groups with varying skill levels can easily split into finishing teams at the point where the trails diverge. Along the way, you’ll experience colorful features such as “The Spine” and “Puke Hill.” By the way, Visit Utah places the Wasatch Crest Trail (AKA “The Crest”) at No. 2 on its list of “Seven Must-Ride Biking Trails in Utah.” According to Outdoor Sports Guide magazine, the Wasatch Crest Trail is “the granddaddy of ‘em all. One of Utah’s best trails, period. At any time of year. But especially in fall. At its lung-burning top elevation of 9,000 feet, with views of Big Cottonwood Canyon and Park City, the Crest delivers sights and incredible ridge riding and singletrack.”
WHERE: Shuttle to Guardsman’s Pass and ride Scott’s Bypass to the Crest
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4 | Lost Prospector | An easy loop trail, Lost Prospector gives you up to 7.8 miles of pathway and the opportunity to access many parts of Park City. If you’re out for a day on your bike and planning on covering some serious mileage, you can use this as the conduit to different trail challenges and neighborhoods around the city, letting you blend your biking, shopping and dining experience into a seamless mountain bike adventure. According to Park City Magazine, Lost Prospector “is well maintained, with few rocks and roots along the way, offering mostly smooth surfaces and a gentle grade.”
WHERE: Park at White Pine Touring, take the Rail Trail to Skid Row and then turn right onto Lost Prospector
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5 | Tidal Wave/Flagstaff Loop | Another great trail at Deer Valley Resort, this intermediate ride is the more challenging big brother to the Holy Roller, and a single lift ticket gives you access to as many loops of either or both trails as you like. Great for families with multiple skill levels or as a challenge after the beginner’s course, it’s also incredibly rewarding on its own. The downhill-only Tidal Wave stretches for 2.7 miles, dropping 1,100 vertical feet from the top of the ski lifts on Bald Mountain all the way to Silver Lake Lodge, while the Flagstaff Loop is known for its spectacular views of the surrounding area.
WHERE: Deer Valley Resort, lift ticket required
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6 | Mid Mountain Trail | A rewarding intermediate ride, the Mid-Mountain Trail (AKA the “Eight Thousand Foot Trail”) stays right at about 8,000 feet in elevation throughout its run, making it a challenge that doesn’t overwhelm riders who are a little new to high elevation riding. With stunning views that earned it an Epic Ride designation by the IMBA, this destination trail is a must-see for anyone who is coming to the area for a bike-centered vacation getaway. For many, it’s the trail that brings them in, and the other five on this list fill out the week. You can also combine it with the Armstrong Hill uphill section to create a loop around the city that gives you a little more of a challenge if you’re up for the longer ride. According to Dirt Rag Magazine, “Mid Mountain Trail is beautiful, classic-Wasatch singletrack through a combination of deep forest, brief passes through open meadows and along a ridgeline … Enjoy periodic beautiful views out over Park City, wildflowers and aspen groves along the way.”
WHERE: Start at either the Summit Park neighborhood or Deer Valley Resort
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BONUS: | Flying Dog | Located just outside of Kimball Junction and about 15 minutes north of downtown Park City in the Glenwild area, Flying Dog offers some great mountain scenery combined with enough challenges to thrill both intermediate and expert mountain bikers (the shortest route is 10 miles with a 1,500 elevation change). According to the Statesman Journal, the Flying Dog covers “a mix of open slopes and aspen groves with equal parts sun and shade … It was more rocky than Foothills hard pack, but it had that magical word mountain bikers are uttering these days – flow.”
WHERE: Access via the Bad Apple Trailhead or Spring Creek Trailhead
Need A Map? Okay, We’ve Got One Of Those
If you need a handy map to these Park City biking trails, then we’ve got you’re number! Have a look at this handy layout below to trail heads and kick off points!
Epic Mountain Biking Trails Await in Park City!
Mike Brcic, founder of Sacred Rides Mountain Bike Adventures, once quipped, “A bad day on a mountain bike always beats a good day in the office.” And Park City is simply a mountain biker’s paradise! Ready for some serious shredding? Whether you are simply seeking a short, relaxing ride to take in some scenic mountain views or a thrilling adventure on downhill trails, you’ll find the ideal mountain biking trail in Park City to suit your needs. Just make sure as you embark on your Park City mountain biking adventure to always wear a helmet, test your equipment before each ride, stay hydrated, learn the trail system, know your trail etiquette and ride within your skill level (making sure you are in control at all times). And remember that at the end of every great trail day awaits some of the best places to eat in Park City, Utah!
Seeking the definitive guide to Park City hiking trails? Looking for up-to-date information on the best Park City hotel deals? You’ll find it all here on our travel blog! From the best Park City coffee shops to the greatest Park City distilleries, this is your source for the latest in Park City travel information. See ya on the trails!