FATMAP by Strava

Wasatch Crest -> Kimball Junction

Brighton and Solitude

Park City and Deer Valley

Salt Lake City

Wasatch Crest to Kimball Junction, via UOP.

Mountain Biking Difficult

Distance
28 km
Ascent
407 m
Descent
1.4 km
Duration
1-2 hrs
Low Point
2 km
High Point
3 km
Gradient
Wasatch Crest -> Kimball Junction Map

Flowy ridge top singletrack with jaw-dropping views of Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Park City region make the Wasatch Crest trail the most memorable mountain bike trail in Park City. With such a short shuttle up Guardsman's Pass, it's hard to wrap your head around how quickly you end up in the middle of absolutely nowhere—but soon you're surrounded by nothing besides jagged mountain peaks.

Description

The red dirt and rocks along these mountain tops provide an interesting accent to the high-speed riding, as it's very different than the dark black dirt in Park City proper.

Overall this trail is flowy, but the flow doesn't last—an extremely technical, rocky descent along the ridge known as "The Spine" is absolutely brutal, but can be walked by intermediate riders. Again the singletrack switches back to flow.

Instead of descending through the Canyons Resort as the most popular Park City route does, this version climbs a bit from the Canyons to the top of Utah Olympic Park (UOP). After a short climb, the ride finishes by dropping through tightly-switchbacked singletrack in the Utah Olympic Park, all the way down to Kimball Junction. UOP is home to some of the freshest singletrack in Park City, offering up a well-built singletrack descent swooping all the way down to the valley floor.

Note that the Wasatch Crest has multiple options for the final descent. Several trails drop toward Park City, but one of the most popular descents actually drops down the other side of the mountain, all the way to Salt Lake City. If you're riding the Wasatch Crest, make doubly sure that you're descending down the correct side so you successfully end up back at your car and don't get stranded.

Difficulty

Difficult

Mostly stable trail tread with some variability featuring larger and more unavoidable obstacles that may include, but not be limited to: bigger stones, roots, steps, and narrow curves. Compared to lower intermediate, technical difficulty is more advanced and grades of slopes are steeper. Ideal for upper intermediate riders.

Medium Exposure

2 out of 4

The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury.

Remoteness

3 out of 4

Little chance of being seen or helped in case of an accident.

Best time to visit

between July and September

Features

  • Flow
  • Technical
  • Shuttle-run
  • Singletrack
  • Roots
  • Rock Gardens

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area