The Mueller Park Trail, located in the mountains above Bountiful, is a classic ride that mountain bikers go back to again and again. The well maintained singletrack that goes from low elevation shrubs to high altitude pines and is rideable most of the year is a mainstay of Northern Utah’s urban mountain biking scene, and can be enjoyed by mountain bikers of all levels, from beginner to expert.
The trailhead is located at Mill Creek Canyon in Bountiful (not to be confused with Mill Creek Canyon in Salt Lake City.) The ride begins at the parking lot right before the canyon’s entry shack. Park here, and ride across the wood bridge over Mill Creek and begin pedaling up through lush pine forests. After a few switchbacks on perfectly smooth signletrack, the route opens up, providing views of the Great Salt Lake and the city of Bountiful nestled in the Wasatch foothills. The riding soon levels out as it winds through small side-canyons and drainages that provide shade on hot days.
Overall, the beginning of the ride is pretty easy and great for beginners as the dirt track is buffed out to a fine, level smoothness from thousands of bike tires rolling through over the years. For newbies or anyone looking for a short, seven-mile ride, Big Rock (known by some locals as Elephant Rock) is a popular turnaround point. There is a bench located above the rock formation where one can take a breather before descending or continuing on up the mountain.
From Big Rock, the Mueller Park Trail becomes more technical, but not overly difficult. Steeper sections on loose rock and roots may challenge intermediates, but it’s nothing to write home about. The climb goes for another six miles before terminating at Rudy’s Flat. From here, a loop can be ridden by going down North Canyon, but most bikers turn around and bomb down the trail the way they came.
The downhill is pretty spectacular as that buffed out singletrack on the up becomes a speedy track on the down. Plant growth on the trail sides will make you wish for metal gloves as branches scrape by, and vigilance is necessary when dropping over rocks and crossing narrow bridges. There are also a lot of other bikers and hikers with dogs on the trail, so slow down on those blind, hairpin turns.
The Mueller Park Trail is almost 2,000 vertical feet over 12 miles with a long season from April to November and is just minutes from the Wasatch Front’s metro area. It’s no wonder that the ride remains among the most well-known in Utah’s mountain biking community.