Park City is an IMBA Gold Ride Center. With over 450 miles of trail accessible from town, you can create a ride for any length or skill level that your mind can conjure up. One such ride is what I like to call the “Park City Super Epic Loop.”
This ride is not to be confused with the Park City IMBA Epic Loop. That 25.5-mile loop has riders go down the Ambush trail at Canyons then riding the highway back to Park City. This “super” version uses the Mid Mountain Trail and a descent down Spiro to return to Park City, which makes it a 32-mile ride. In total, the loop connects the Park City Resort base area to the Wasatch Crest, over to the Canyons side of the resort, and then back to Park City via the Mid Mountain Trail. The loop is a leg crusher with 4,250 feet of elevation gain, 32 total miles, and a whole lot of scenery to take in.
To begin, park at the Park City Resort main base area. Ride up the Silver Spur trail as it traverses west through a scrub brush forest to the start of Armstrong Trail. This the the beginning of the biggest climb of the day. Pedal up the “uphill only” Armstrong Trail for 1,400 feet until it intersects with the Mid Mountain Trail. Go left and climb a few switchbacks on MMT to the intersection with the Pine Cone Ridge trail. Go up Pine Cone for a long and consistently steep and punchy climb all the way to the top of “Puke Hill” on the Wasatch Crest.
Once on the Crest, take time to enjoy the view, then ride the super-fun, classic line northwest past the red-dirt climbs called the “Fakies”, down the “Spine,” and to the Mill B intersection above Lake Desolation. At this intersection, go right and continue on the Wasatch Crest trail until you come to the intersection with Mill Creek Canyon. Here, go right on the Crest Connector trail that takes you into the Canyons side of Park City Resort.
The Crest Connector is an awesome, flowing descent that ends at the Mid Mountain Trail. Go right and head back toward Park City. This section of the Mid Mountain Trail crosses the Canyons side of the ski resort past the Red Pine Lodge and into The Colony, a neighborhood of exclusive homes. In my opinion, this is the worst part of the ride as you are already beat from the miles you’ve put in, and now have to contend with a pedaly, rocky stretch of soul-sucking trail with little redeeming qualities as it traverses around Iron Mountain. But if you’re looking for an epic that gives your legs a good workout, then this is what you’ve signed up for.
Once you return to Park City Resort on the Mid Mountain Trail, keep going on it past the top of Armstrong and the start of Pine Cone Ridge until you reach the top of the Spiro Trail. This is your final descent. Ride the rollicking, fast Spiro down to the bottom of the mountain, then go right on Silver Spur back to the base parking area.
The Park City Super Epic is far from the longest or hardest ride in the area (just ask Park City Point to Point racers). But for us mere mortals looking for a challenge, this loop will give it to you. It combines the best uphill trails (Armstrong & Pine Cone Ridge) with the best scenic views (Wasatch Crest Trail) and one of the most sought-after, non-technical descents (Spiro). Overall, the ride is a perfect training ground for anyone preparing for an endurance race, or just wants to challenge oneself by moving through mountains on two wheels.