Top Rides: Park City, UT
Park City, UT is one of our most popular summer destinations and also happens to be an IMBA Ride Center… essentially meaning that it has a wide variety of riding that spans the range of technical and beginner trails, from smooth singletrack to lift-served DH at Deer Valley.
From standout beginner-to-intermediate trails like the Round Valley Loop and Lost Prospector to technical challenge and expert-only terrain on Dead Tree Trail and Sweeney’s Switchbacks, the options are expansive. You’ll also find lift-served downhill runs and top-shelf bike parks. The best way to experience the expansive beauty of the area, and cover a good amount of ground, is to ride the Park City IMBA Epic.
Of course, Park City offers all the lodging and dining options you’d expect from a world-class resort. At the heart of it all, the IMBA-affiliated Mountain Trails Foundation pulls riders into a true mountain bike community and keeps them energized with new projects. It all works together at Park City and that’s what’s pushed them to the gold standard.
Once again, we’ll rely on our partners at MTB Project to tell our customers about the top three rides in the area, based on its user-sourced ratings:
Park City IMBA Epic
Starting at the Spiro access and kiosk, begin climbing up a two track for 500 feet. Take a hard right onto Armstrong and settle in for 10 miles of climbing to the high point of the ride. Armstrong is steady up but a fairly easy pedal while Pine Cone will test you a bit. The punchiest parts come right before topping out on the Wasatch Crest.
Bask in the awesome views to west from the Crest. Ride north along a generally descending route with a few little climbs here and there. These are in the form of a series of red dirt bluffs called the Fakies. After the technical rock ridge, keep descending to the Dog Lake intersection. Stay right for a short easy climb.
After this climb, continue to stay left at the intersections that lead to view points on the ridge until arriving at a big meadow. Here a Y intersection will take users back to Park City or into Salt Lake City. Staying right into Park City is the only way to go. There is a big brown sign on the left hand trail saying No Bikes Allowed.
From the meadow intersection, the trail continues to descend with a short climb on the Crest Connector trail to the Mid Mountain Trail intersection. Bear left here and continue down to Ambush. Follow Ambush to the end and bear left to ride out to Hwy 224, pedaling back to the beginning of the ride.
Mid Mountain IMBA Loop
The Mid Mountain Trail feature classic Wasatch singletrack with lots of climbing, descending and ridge-top riding through aspen and pine forests. Be sure to give yourself a bit of time to acclimate before this ride, as the trail sits around 8,000 feet above sea level.
You can start the ride from many different locations on the Mid Mountain loop. The trail starts at Deer Valley Resort, which would be a fine starting point. Another particularly nice place to begin the ride is from Park City Mountain Resort, climbing up the uphill-only Armstrong trail. This is how it’s mapped here. You’ll encounter truly extraordinary views of the area as you make your way around the Mid Mountain loop.
You’ll climb the Armonstrong Trail and ascend some moderate rocky sections. At the top of the climb, you’ll join with the Mid Mountain Trail. Both intermediate and advanced riders will find this trail challenging and exciting. It offers amazing views and lots of high-altitude climbing. Summer brings beautiful wildflowers and fall displays aspens in brilliant color. Bottom line: this ride is spectacular.
Round Valley Loop
Beginning at the Park City Ice Arena, turn right and head straight up Rambler. This section of trail rolls easily along the hillside as bench cut singletrack. Bypass Ramble On, for now, and follow the trail to the left as it ascends one of the steeper hills on the ride. Luckily this well-built trail has multiple switchbacks, lessening the climb’s grade.
At the top and its associated 4-way intersection, turn right onto Rusty Shovel. This is a super fun downhill with multiple switchbacks that allow for some great flow. At the bottom, turn left onto Ramble On. Added in 2012, this trail is a fun bench cut trail that contours (and climbs, slightly) to an intersection with Rambler.
Turn right onto Rambler which rolls past Round Valley Express and Rademan Ridge. At the secondRademan Ridge intersection, turn left and join this trail for a short stint. At the next intersection, bear right on La Dee Duh. This trail features tight winding singletrack littered with sandstone slabs – off camber, mini problems. It’s a fun and challenging connector without much vertical gain or loss.
From La Dee Duh turn left onto Round Valley Express for a very short period, then turn right ontoBackslide. This section switchbacks up, then contours around a small knob. From the knob continue east as you wind your way down these smooth turns. Ride straight across Matt’s Flat and Valderoadto Nowhere Elks, which is a great climb almost gaining the main ridge in Round Valley. Finally, you’ve earned the last descent of this ride, nice work.
Turn right onto Somewhere Elks drops for almost a mile as flowing, semi-technical singletrack. Regardless of ability level, Somewhere Elks will have you grinning ear-to-ear as its swooping turns usher you down the hill. At the end of this trail, ride across to Practice Loops to Ability Way, which will take you back to the Ice Arena!
