The mountain biking trails in Salt Lake’s Mill Creek Canyon are very popular, including the trails to Dog Lake and the Great Western Trail which sees a lot of downhill traffic from bikers descending the Wasatch Crest Trail. However, it’s also a fun ride to go up the Great Western Trail and experience the Wasatch Crest going the other way.
The ride begins as if you are going to Dog Lake on the Big Water Trail. Climb the trail for one-and-a-half miles to where the trail splits. Follow the sign for the Great Western Trail and continue up. You’ll ride on smooth singletrack through pines and glades that are usually filled with flowers and grasses. In the fall, the aspen trees are like a sheet of yellow, quivering over mountain streams that crisscross the trail.
The ride rarely ever gets very steep in the lower elevations, but as it begins to climb toward the crest, those flat spots are a good warm up for the short bursts of energy needed to climb some steep and rocky sections. After almost five miles, the trail tops out on the crest where it continues up over views of The Canyons on the Park City side of the range. Always remember that you’re going up the Wasatch Crest Trail, so look out for riders bombing down, especially around trees and curves.
After 6.5 miles of climbing over 2,300 vertical feet, the sight of Desolation Lake in the valley below is welcome. The lake overlook is the typical turn-around point for most riders. Tree-trunk thighs with giant lungs can keep going up for a grind over “The Spine” to continue ascending the Wasatch Crest. Another challenging route would be a descent to Desolation Lake for a masochistic climb back up to Dog Lake that only the best climbers with incredible traction can hope to pedal up without dismounting. Most sane people go back the way they came for a super-fast, super-fun descent down the Great Western Trail.
When riding the Wasatch Crest Trail into Mill Creek Canyon, the illusion is that the trail would not be a fun ride up. But in fact, the Great Western Trail is an enjoyable, fairly mellow (but long) ride that any beginner or intermediate biker in good shape can accomplish.
To get to the trailhead, drive up Mill Creek Canyon Road to the top of the canyon. Park at the Big Water Trailhead. When riding any trail in upper Mill Creek Canyon, remember that bikes are only allowed on even numbered days of the month. The upper road in Mill Creek is open from July 1 through November 1. There is a $3 charge per car to enter the canyon.
1 thought on “Mountain biking to Desolation Lake via Great Western Trail”