Park City Mountain Biking

I had read a lot of good things about Park City mountain biking. As we pulled out of the Cedar City Super 8 parking lot I was anxious to see the setting for the town and the trails. Only a 4 1/2 hour drive separated us from our new home-away-from-home.

We passed two large reservoirs right before we got to Park City. We passed Deer Creek Reservoir right before arriving to the town of Heber City, and later passed Jordanelle Reservoir just prior to getting to Park City. There were a few boaters on each lake. We don't see too many large bodies of fresh water living in San Diego. I couldn't help but think ... if these lakes were in San Diego, there would be hundreds of people recreating.

Park City is a town on the eastern side of the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Utah. The city is 32 miles (51 km) southeast of downtown Salt Lake City. Miners started settling in the Park City area around 1860 and the town was incorporated in 1884. Many of the old buildings still exist on the south end of town. The population of Park City was 7,558 at the 2010 census, although most the time the visitors out number the local residents.

Park City Mountain Resort is the third in a line of resorts. From south to north they are Deer Valley, Park City, and The Canyons. Just north of The Canyons lies the Utah Olympic Park, the site of the 2002 Olympic ski jumping and bobsled events. The Utah Olympic Park has ski jumps which empty into a giant swimming pool ... for training our Olympic aerial competitors. Just as the jumper starts down the ramp the water begins to boil (as bubbles emerge from the bottom of the pool) to make the landing softer. After doing their stunt and being swallowed by the frothy brew, the bubbles stop and the jumper swims to the poolside ... awkwardly dragging his legs and skis behind. Although these jumps are used for training our Olympic jumpers, they are also open to the public on certain days.

The same is true for the bobsled run. The Utah Olympic Park also houses a very interesting museum. Deer Valley and Park City were the venues for many of the other alpine Olympic events.

We had little trouble finding our condo, which lay on the northeastern side of Park City. We could see some ski runs to the south as we unloaded our stuff in the condo parking lot. Unlike the condos in Brian Head, the Park City condos had very reasonable summer rates. Our condo had a full kitchen, comfortable living and bed rooms, a pool, and Jacuzzi.

Cindy's main concern upon arriving was to find a grocery store to get some food to prepare for dinner. My main goal was to find a bike shop to find out the best trails. Cindy went on the internet and found a Smith's Grocery in the nearby town of Snyderville, just 5.6 miles down Park Avenue (which is also called Highway 224).

After getting the grub we drove over to a bike shop we'd spotted just down the block. When I enter bike shops in foreign areas I always say something like this, "I am going to be in your area 3 days, and I want to ride the best Park City mountain bike trails. Which do you recommend?" At this shop the boy said the blacktop trail alongside the highway was pretty good, and he knew a nice trail in Salt Lake City. I inquired, "Aren't there supposed to be some great mountain trails right here in Park City?" At that point he told me I should go to the two main bike shops (Jan's and Cole Sports) near the base of the lifts in Park City (and near our condo). I thanked him and headed back to the car.

Driving up Park Avenue we easily spotted Cole Sports and Jan's on opposite sides of the street. Since Cole Sports was on our side I pulled into their driveway. I went straight to the counter and Cindy went to look around.

I asked the worker my standard question about Park City mountain biking. He conferred with the guy next to him and they came to agree on three trails: The Mid-Mountain Trail (which I could access from Spiro Trail, which began less than a mile from their shop), the Flying Dog Trail (on the north side of the freeway in Kimball Junction), and the Wasatch Crest Trail, which was the trail the old hiker in Brian Head had told me about.

When asked where the Wasatch Crest Trail began the worker said I could either drive to Guardsman Pass or access it from the Spiro Trail. He recommended starting in town on the Spiro. "Would starting in town require a lot more climbing?" I inquired. He said there would be little difference. He pointed out the trail did end in Salt Lake City ... so I would have to arrange a shuttle. He then gave me a trail map and asked me to make a $5 donation toward the cost of map production. I gladly contributed.

I figured I would ride the 20+ mile Mid-Mountain Trail on Wednesday, the 15+ mile Flying Dog Trail on Thursday, and Friday ... the 30+ mile Wasatch Crest Ride (which starts on the Spiro Trail). Three full days devoted to Park City mountain biking. I could hardly wait!

On Saturday we would drive to Saint George (and rest up). I would awake early to ride the Church Rocks Trail early Sunday morning (to beat the summer heat) ... drive to Las Vegas Sunday afternoon (to spend the night) ... and then travel back to San Diego on Monday. Sounded like a perfect 6 days ... starting with some great Park City mountain biking!

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Have you ridden any trails in Park City?

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