Park City is already an IMBA Gold Level mountain bike destination, and the Wasatch Back is about to get even better as the Mountain Trails Foundation and the Wasatch Trails Alliance are teaming up to build WOW, a new, non-motorized trail in Wasatch Mountain State Park.
WOW, which stands for “Wasatch Over Wasatch,” will go from the park’s Pine Creek Campground to the far north end, down Dutch Canyon to the Dutch Canyon Trailhead, and then back to Pine Canyon. In all, it will open another 21.5 miles of trail to hikers, bikers and horseback riders. The route will also complete a leg of the Perimeter Trail for Wasatch County, and it will also link Wasatch and Summit counties and connect to seven other trails and communities in the area.
According to Wasatch State park assistant park manager Tracy See, the WOW trail will be the largest, Non-motorized project outside the Wasatch Front. “What’s more, the WOW trail is finally fulfilling a master plan that dates as far back as the 1960s, which set aside Pine Canyon for non-motorized activities over the summer,” See said, adding, “the trail is going to offer such exceptional access to nature. We really should be very excited and honored to receive this opportunity.”
Wasatch Mountain State Park has partnered with the Mountain Trails Foundation, the Wasatch Trails Alliance, and Friends of Wasatch for the project, which will cost $215,800. It is being supported by donations and a matching grant of up to $100,000 through the Recreational Trails Program, which is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the Utah Division of State Parks. The WOW Trail beat-out stiff-competition for the grant through an intense, six-month application process.
“I am so pleased that the Utah State Parks’ trails grant program made the decision to support the important Wasatch Over Wasatch Trail project,” said Kraig Powell, who represents Summit and Wasatch counties in the Utah State Legislature and helped secure the grant money. “I know that a large part of the decision was based on the enormous volunteer effort and community support that the Wasatch Trails Alliance was able to demonstrate in its application. Through an enviable combination of public and private funding, and lots and lots of hard work by dedicated volunteers, I am confident that the breathtaking WOW Trail will prove to be among the most worthy grant recipients in the history of the program.”
Once completed, the WOW Trail will become part of nearly 400 miles of trail in and around Park City that the Mountain Trails Foundation has help to advocate and maintain. The trail system is the only network to be named a “Gold Ride Center” by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. It’s been made possible by donations and volunteers from local and private groups, and sponsorships and entrance-fees for the popular Mountain Trails race series.
“We could not have launched Wasatch Over Wasatch without the help of our community, or without the support from both the Wasatch Trails Alliance and Utah State Parks — a big ‘thank-you’ to them all,” Mountain Trails Foundation executive director Charlie Sturgis said. “We can’t wait to build and share this trail with our neighbors and the greater Utah community.”
Leaders of the Wasatch Trails Alliance, which has built more than 30 miles of non-motorized trails in Wasatch County, were also enthusiastic.
Don Taylor, the group’s president, firmly agreed. “This trail will be one of the best ways to take full advantage of our world-famous Wasatch Mountains spring, summer or fall,” he said. “Taking in the mountains and hillsides and amazing views of Park City and Heber Valley, you really will say, ‘Wow,’ as you bike this trail.”
For more information on how to get involved, or to learn more about the Wasatch Over Wasatch trail, the Mountain Trails Foundation, or the Wasatch Trails Alliance, contact Christa Graff, of Graff Public Relations, by calling 435-640-7921 or emailing christa@graffpr.com.
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