Park City is home to many classic mountain bike trails, but there aren’t many as popular as the Glenwild Loop. Located just north of Interstate 80 at the Kimball Junction exit, Glenwild offers a fun ride on moderate terrain with many different options, while crossing lots of different terrain from lowland sagebrush to old growth pines.
The ride begins in the sagebrush flats in the Glenwild neighborhood, but soon ascends into marshy expanses followed by a mountain environment. Because it is relatively flat for most of the ride, the single track is suitable for beginner mountain bikers looking for a trail to practice their technical skills.
Glenwild’s benign terrain is certainly mellow at first (after a set of easy switchbacks,) as it winds through fields of brush and wildflowers. But this less-technical section conceals a big climb to the ridgeline that even riders in good shape struggle to grind up without stopping. The breath-stealing uphill is well worth the pain, however, as the views overlooking Park City, Kimball Junction and Jeremy Ranch signal the start of a super-fun and fast downhill.
Excellently maintained single track with wide turns and the occasional whoop-de-do is the combination that makes descending Glenwild such fun. A few options exist to make the ride longer, including links to the Stealth and 24-7 rides, as well as a somewhat new downhill park with wood jumps and ladders that make things interesting. Anyone wishing to avoid man-made obstacles can stick to the main trail for smooth sailing all the way back to the trail head.
The Glenwild Loop can be ridden both clockwise and counterclockwise, and its eight-and-a-half miles can be completed quickly as a before, or after work escape. Because of its low elevation, it has one of the longest seasons in the Park City area, making the ride especially popular in the spring or fall when snow covers the higher trails. Although many other trails intersect with the Glenwild Loop, signs at the crossroads are self explanatory and easy to follow.
To get to the Glenwild Loop, drive on I-80 to Park City and exit at Kimball Junction. Go left (north) then turn right on the frontage road. At the second street, turn left into a neighborhood where the parking lot and trail head come into view. The trail begins right off the road by the bridge.