Wasatch Dirt Thread

[Dantheman]

Pavement first or last is still a bit of a bummer considering you used to be able to lap Honey/Silver without really touching pavement, which I find highly preferable even if the trail options to avoid the road were fairly mediocre.

Oh for sure, didn't mean to imply otherwise, was mostly just giving you shit. Also, FTR, I've always thought Queen Bess was a nice climb.

I'm just salty cause I've been off the bike for weeks while the dirt is moist and dark and buddies are sending me pics of my stuff looking better than I've ever ridden it myself...

I can certainly relate to that.

[bthomson22]

If I could ride I'd shit myself in rage over this. As if these twats were working past 5 pm...
Milly road works but it's even more unpleasant, and you have to drive to Brighton or finish your ride with a shitty road slog.
Resorts: why we can't have nice things.

I'm hopeful it will be like the honeycomb situation this year - where they put a sign up saying it's closed but then don't actually enforce it. all in the name of liability and CYA. i'm still gonna try to pedal, will report back.

[sfotex]

Went down to Richfield to check out my son's high school race course. Did a quick lap of that, and then caught the shuttle for Spinal Tap. Rained yesterday, we wound up with hero dirt and overcast conditions all day..

[Canada1]

It really is amazing. I’m descending stuff that is usually blown out a month after the snow melts, and they are as good as I have ever seen them. I could get used to wet winter / wet summer cycles!’

[GoSlowGoFar]

I'm hopeful it will be like the honeycomb situation this year - where they put a sign up saying it's closed but then don't actually enforce it. all in the name of liability and CYA. i'm still gonna try to pedal, will report back.

Is that the current situation with Honeycomb? I was contemplating checking it out but didn’t want to piss off any land managers.

[alewi11]

I've been up there twice in the last week in the evenings. Both times came across Solitude people in side by sides on the road. Fully expected them to give me shit both times. All I got was a pleasant wave.

[Benneke10]

Looking to do some adventure riding in the next couple weeks since the weather and conditions have been excellent, wanted to ask for some beta on a couple spots:

Santaquin Peak, looks like bikes are allowed and the terrain isn't too rugged, anyone ridden it?

Right fork Hobble Creek, looking at Kirkman Hollow, Sawmill Hollow and Dry Canyon, anyone been there in the last year or two?

I'll also share some beta from recent exploring:

The north ridge of Butterfield Peak is stunningly beautiful and genuinely good riding for most of it, with some annoying loose parts. I took my ebike up Butterfield Peaks road but I would imagine riding up the trails west of the peak would make for a good loop as well. I intend to try that later this fall.

Logan Canyon/Spring Hollow/Syncline North/Dry Canyon loop - I was told by a friend in Logan that this is one of their best loops, and I was up there for an errand and rode it after. I would say this is definitely not worth making a special trip from SLC but a great option if you are in the area. Fun tech climbing with HAB sections, and Dry canyon descent was fun. I was really looking forward to Syncline North which had almost 5 stars on Trailforks but felt like the trail was tedious and not that fun, even in hero dirt. Its a Moto trail so its eroded, and its got constant ups and downs with difficult accelerations and no flow.

North Ogden Divide to Willard Peak out and back. Didn't have much expectations but this is a world-class ride and probably the most scenic bike trail in the Wasatch. The riding itself is fine, some eroded parts since its a popular Moto trail (saw 20+ Moto riders and no other cyclists on our outing), but the views are stunning and the riding on the most scenic parts is generally quite good which makes the annoying parts very much worth it. I would like to come back with more time for a full loop going up Perry Canyon to Grizzly Peak, south along the Skyline and back on the BST. I'd also like to ride the Eden Epic someday which includes these trails. Never really thought of the Ogden area as a riding destination but its phenomenal. Scrambled up Willard Peak and would love to come back and ski the east couloir, and ideally link it up with the south face of Ben Lomond. Very cool terrain up there.

[beaterdit]

Thats a nice list!

I’ve done Santaquin peak with Springsproject. It was awesome, I’d do it again. That said, most of the climb once you get above the valley trails is hike a bike. Not bike carry at least but there ya go. Still good, great long descent.

Springs made this super cool self shot edit of a solo ride up there.

https://www.pinkbike.com/video/279323/

We’ve done Ben Lomond from Perry a few times, that remains one of my favorite rides around. We’ll leave a car at the bottom of the NOD and shuttle up to the bottom of the Grizzly Peak trail at Perry. Up that, across Willard basin and Willard Peak, then across the ridge to Ben Lomond. Sounds like you did it in the other direction, that ridge is one of the most spectacular sections of trail I’ve ever ridden. From the top of BL it’s a 12 mile/5000 vert. ft. downhill to the bottom of NOD.

This ride as described is 25 miles/6300 vert. ft. of climbing. Adding on the BST back to Perry is around another 10 miles/2000 vert IIRC. I’d prolly do that first to get it out of the way and finish with that huge DH. Springsproject has done it that way a couple times. Also last time I was up there the Grizzly Peak trail was a bit overgrown in spots, that was five years ago.

Im not in shape for those big rides anymore, and still in Switzerland for another couple weeks, pity me, hahaha! Last time I went for BL I wrecked on loose baby heads on doubletrack at the top of the 5000 climb up the Grizzly Peak trail before we even hit Willard basin. Broke my clavicle, scapula, and six ribs. What a fiasco. Don’t do that hahaha!

Instead of a sweet 5000 ft single track descent, my partner got to ride out the Willard Peak road dodging ATVs and choking on dust for over an hour.

[aBradAbroad]

JHMR bike park is closed for the season, but my kids are still stoked on riding. Thinking about heading down for PC and DV bike parks this weekend to try them out. Looks like some rain in the forecast for Th/Fr, anyone have intel on how quickly those trails dry out? Thanks.

[Canada1]

JHMR bike park is closed for the season, but my kids are still stoked on riding. Thinking about heading down for PC and DV bike parks this weekend to try them out. Looks like some rain in the forecast for Th/Fr, anyone have intel on how quickly those trails dry out? Thanks.

Pretty quickly unless it is a major. The lifties will close the lifts if there is any lightning near by, which can be more of a hinderance than mud typically would be. I'd go deer valley first. Park City lift access is not what most people who have experience would expect. Deer valley has more.

[aBradAbroad]

Awesome. Thanks

[muted reborn]

Park City is essentially lift served cross country and I've ridden the lifts with some confused tourists looking for their park.

[Benneke10]

Thats a nice list!

I’ve done Santaquin peak with Springsproject. It was awesome, I’d do it again. That said, most of the climb once you get above the valley trails is hike a bike. Not bike carry at least but there ya go. Still good, great long descent.

Springs made this super cool self shot edit of a solo ride up there.

https://www.pinkbike.com/video/279323/

Thanks for sharing!! Stoked to check it out soon. Skied Santaquin last winter but conditions were awful so I'm excited for some redemption.

[aBradAbroad]

Park City is essentially lift served cross country and I've ridden the lifts with some confused tourists looking for their park.

This info would please the wife to hear, alas it will not be shared with her. DV it is.

[Dantheman]

Looking to do some adventure riding in the next couple weeks since the weather and conditions have been excellent, wanted to ask for some beta on a couple spots:

Santaquin Peak, looks like bikes are allowed and the terrain isn't too rugged, anyone ridden it?

Right fork Hobble Creek, looking at Kirkman Hollow, Sawmill Hollow and Dry Canyon, anyone been there in the last year or two?

I'll also share some beta from recent exploring:

The north ridge of Butterfield Peak is stunningly beautiful and genuinely good riding for most of it, with some annoying loose parts. I took my ebike up Butterfield Peaks road but I would imagine riding up the trails west of the peak would make for a good loop as well. I intend to try that later this fall.

Logan Canyon/Spring Hollow/Syncline North/Dry Canyon loop - I was told by a friend in Logan that this is one of their best loops, and I was up there for an errand and rode it after. I would say this is definitely not worth making a special trip from SLC but a great option if you are in the area. Fun tech climbing with HAB sections, and Dry canyon descent was fun. I was really looking forward to Syncline North which had almost 5 stars on Trailforks but felt like the trail was tedious and not that fun, even in hero dirt. Its a Moto trail so its eroded, and its got constant ups and downs with difficult accelerations and no flow.

North Ogden Divide to Willard Peak out and back. Didn't have much expectations but this is a world-class ride and probably the most scenic bike trail in the Wasatch. The riding itself is fine, some eroded parts since its a popular Moto trail (saw 20+ Moto riders and no other cyclists on our outing), but the views are stunning and the riding on the most scenic parts is generally quite good which makes the annoying parts very much worth it. I would like to come back with more time for a full loop going up Perry Canyon to Grizzly Peak, south along the Skyline and back on the BST. I'd also like to ride the Eden Epic someday which includes these trails. Never really thought of the Ogden area as a riding destination but its phenomenal. Scrambled up Willard Peak and would love to come back and ski the east couloir, and ideally link it up with the south face of Ben Lomond. Very cool terrain up there.

Santaquin Peak is worth doing. Mostly HAB going up but I remember the descent being solid (it's been a lot of years now). I pedaled up the road from the Grotto TH so I could tack Bennie Creek onto the descent and that was well worth it at the time, but I haven't ridden Bennie since the fire and I'm not sure what it's like now.

Packcard Canyon to Kirkman Alt was a solid loop. I rode most of Dry Canyon as an OAB and it was very meh, not recommended. I haven't ridden Sawmill except a short section connecting Packard to Kirkman, but it seems like tedious moto trail and just like everything you didn't like about Syncline North. Like all the other moto-legal open-range trails in Utah County the motos and cows absolutely hammer the trails. The dust can get insane, 4-6+ inches deep. Best to squeak in a ride down there right after the snow melts and then leave it until next year.

I did Logan Dry Canyon as an OAB last year and agree with your assessment. Not worth driving up just for that but a fun ride if you're up that way already.

Perry Canyon/Grizzly Peak is the way to do Ben Lomond/Northern Skyline. I usually loop it by pedaling 89 from North Ogden to Perry. Nice easy road spin that usually has minimal traffic early in the morning. BST adds a ton of climbing. If you insist on going that way do it as the first leg. Finishing with BST would suck balls IMO. I last did Perry in 2021 and it was in pretty good shape at the time. There's about a 2-mile section above the White Rock junction that is always overgrown but worth suffering through. I usually don't see a soul until I hit the Willard road.

[Dantheman]

Speaking of adventure riding, I went up Cherry Canyon to Lone Peak yesterday (on foot) and passed 3 guys on the summit shoulder who had ridden their mopeds all the way to the meadow above the cabin and hiked from there. I asked them how it was getting through the copious deadfall between the Ennis Peak junction and the cabin and even they admitted that the mopeds (full power 50 lb bikes, not SLs) may not have been faster than regular bikes or just hiking. I was tempted to chastise them for poaching Wilderness on motorized vehicles, but after taking stock of their pace (they started from the same TH I did over an hour earlier than me and were still on the wrong side of the summit), what they had been through already, and what they still had in store I decided it wasn't necessary to pile on. There isn't a chance in hell they'll be doing that again. I hope they managed to finish before dark.

[Benneke10]

Packcard Canyon to Kirkman Alt was a solid loop. I rode most of Dry Canyon as an OAB and it was very meh, not recommended. I haven't ridden Sawmill except a short section connecting Packard to Kirkman, but it seems like tedious moto trail and just like everything you didn't like about Syncline North. Like all the other moto-legal open-range trails in Utah County the motos and cows absolutely hammer the trails. The dust can get insane, 4-6+ inches deep. Best to squeak in a ride down there right after the snow melts and then leave it until next year.

Thanks Dan! This is super helpful. Is Kirkman Alt the best way down vs regular Kirkman? Luckily the moon dust isn't too much of an issue this year but I'll make sure to time that ride with good conditions.

What does OAB stand for?

[Benneke10]

Speaking of adventure riding, I went up Cherry Canyon to Lone Peak yesterday (on foot) and passed 3 guys on the summit shoulder who had ridden their mopeds all the way to the meadow above the cabin and hiked from there.

I believe the meadow may be outside of wilderness? The green line is the Wilderness boundary. You probably know better than me because you were just there but I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt haha

[Dantheman]

Thanks Dan! This is super helpful. Is Kirkman Alt the best way down vs regular Kirkman? Luckily the moon dust isn't too much of an issue this year but I'll make sure to time that ride with good conditions.

What does OAB stand for?

out-and-back

I went for Kirkman Alt since it seemed like the better descent based on the Trailforks comments and elevation profile. Haven't ridden regular Kirkman.

I believe the meadow may be outside of wilderness? The green line is the Wilderness boundary. You probably know better than me because you were just there but I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt haha

Huh, maybe it is, I honestly thought the boundary was much farther west. There's no sign anywhere like there is on a lot of Wilderness trails. Regardless, those guys did some proper Type 3 adventure riding and got way more than they bargained for.

[Benneke10]

Huh, maybe it is, I honestly thought the boundary was much farther west. There's no sign anywhere like there is on a lot of Wilderness trails. Regardless, those guys did some proper Type 3 adventure riding and got way more than they bargained for.

You can semi-legally ride up cherry over ennis peak and down jacobs ladder from the top, you cross like 50 feet of wilderness where you could easily walk. I'm not badass enough to do it on a bike but it would be cool.

[Marshal Olson]

You can semi-legally ride up cherry over ennis peak and down jacobs ladder from the top, you cross like 50 feet of wilderness where you could easily walk. I'm not badass enough to do it on a bike but it would be cool.

My buddy Jared did it once. Based on his assessment, I haven't bothered myself, lol

[Dantheman]

My buddy Jared did it once. Based on his assessment, I haven't bothered myself, lol

I consider myself a connoisseur of hateful HABing and even I don't think it sounds remotely worth it. Also, technically all of upper Jacobs is now off-limits to bikes. That was the deal with the devil Draper City made with the USFS to make main Jacobs a DH-only bike trail last year.

[Benneke10]

technically all of upper Jacobs is now off-limits to bikes. That was the deal with the devil Draper City made with the USFS to make main Jacobs a DH-only bike trail last year.

Ah man I forgot about that. Hikers are not an issue weekday evenings, couldn't tell you how I know that though....

[Marshal Olson]

you can come down the "upper upper jacobs trail from picture rock" that links into the turn on secret trail and avoid the now-closed upper jacobs bit. at least in theory.

I can personally guarantee that the picture rock trail isn't really worth riding, and definitely isn't worth doing as an OAB

[beaterdit]

You can semi-legally ride up cherry over ennis peak and down jacobs ladder from the top, you cross like 50 feet of wilderness where you could easily walk. I'm not badass enough to do it on a bike but it would be cool.

Interesting, thought Cherry was off limits to bikes.

I consider myself a connoisseur of hateful HABing and even I don't think it sounds remotely worth it. Also, technically all of upper Jacobs is now off-limits to bikes. That was the deal with the devil Draper City made with the USFS to make main Jacobs a DH-only bike trail last year.

So gentleman, I’ve been a bit intrigued by Cherry Creek but never been on it. Do y’all think it would make a decent descent? Even doable?