The Mid Mountain Trail in Park City is a classic, alpine mountain bike trail that gives riders everything they would expect: buff singletrack, trails stretching through tunnels of pine and aspen trees, some technical sections, some fast and easy sections, and a whole lot of scenery and views. Stretching from Deer Valley to The Canyons Resort, the Mid Mountain Trail (also known as the 8,000 Foot Trail,) is huge, epic, and a sweet ride from end to end.
The Mid Mountain Trail is nicknamed after the fact that it follows the 8,000-foot elevation line above Park City where incredible single track rolls up, down, and around the peaks and pine-filled drainages of the Wasatch.
There are several ways to access and ride the Mid Mountain Trail. Although most people access it from Deer Valley or by cranking up the Spiro Trail, I’ve been having fun biking on the Cresent Grade Trail to reach Mid Mountain. In this version, drive to the Park City Mountain Resort parking lot and ride your bike up the jeep road past the top of the Three Kings Lift. Drop a short bit beyond that and climb some more on the road until you reach the Cresent Mine Grade Trail. Go right and follow the path as it traverses west along the mountainside. Eventually, it reaches the Mid Mountain Trail where you switchback left (east) toward Deer Valley. From there, you can choose from the myriad descents and loops that branch off the Mid Mountain Trail.
The “official” and very popular way is to start with the Spiro Trail at Park City Mountain Resort. Riders usually leave a shuttle vehicle at the lower lot of The Canyons, then drive to the base of the Spiro Trail. From there, a long, steep, switchbacking ascent meets up with the Mid Mountain Trail where legs can finally relax a bit for the long, but somewhat level traverse to The Canyons. A fast descent down a lift road leads back to the resort base and the shuttle car.
Another fun variation is to start at Deer Valley’s Silver Lake Lodge. Although Deer Valley is known as a downhiller mecca with its lift-served biking, there are several trails to explore off the Mid Mountain Trail. John’s 99, Empire Link, and Tour des Suds are just a few ways to create loops and go on exploratory missions. Or, simply ride the trail all the way to its end at The Canyons, then turn around and reverse the flow for an easy out-and-back.
For a really epic day, the Mid Mountain Trail can also be linked with the Wasatch Crest Trail. From the Big Cottonwood Canyon side, the turn-off can be found not long after “The Spine.” A short downhill section and traverse leads bikers into The Canyons, where signs for the Mid-Mountain Trail lead the way. At the end, a bombing run down the Spiro Trail caps off an already fun ride. From the Park City side, change directions by going up Spiro Trail, then ride through The Canyons to the Wasatch Crest Trail. Continue on into Mill Creek Canyon, down Little Water Trail and then rack up the miles on the Pipeline Trail.
Either way you choose to ride the Mid Mountain Trail, it will not disappoint. Over the years, the single track has been buffed down to perfection. The scenery is spectacular with views overlooking The Canyons and Park City. Old-growth forests offer shelter from the sun, and wildflowers covering ski runs and meadows turn the ride into a slide show of Utah’s northern landscape. For all these reasons and more, the Mid Mountain Trail is one of those rides that becomes a yearly pilgrimage for every Utah mountain biker.
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