WITH GOLD LEVEL RIDE CENTER™ STATUS

If you ask locals about their favorite mountain biking trail, you might be surprised by how many different answers you will get.

A premier mountain biking destination, Park City was the first to receive Gold Level Ride Center™ status by the leading authority for the sport, the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA). This designation is based on a comprehensive list of criteria including a thorough review of the trail system. Of the 37 Ride Center™ destinations worldwide ranked as Gold, Silver or Bronze, only six have Gold Level status.

Park City’s trails stand out for a number of reasons. With an extensive network of over 400 miles of public access trails accessible from the heart of town, there’s something for every level of rider – from no experience necessary to white-knuckle technical. The town itself offers numerous options for accommodations and dining, and with only a thirty-minute drive from the airport – it’s incredibly easy to get here and get pedaling.

The Park City community is strongly committed to mountain biking, and it takes a village to build, maintain, protect and expand such a vast system of trails. Leading the charge is the Mountain Trails Foundation, a non-profit advocacy group that (in collaboration with other city and county entities) has a goal to provide a singletrack trail within a half mile of every home in the area. Mountain Trails Foundation is an excellent resource for locals as well as tourists; their website (www.mountaintrails.org) has everything you need to plan a ride including interactive maps, updated trail conditions and event information.

With so many options, perhaps planning your mountain biking adventure feels a bit intimidating. Here are six trails with varying levels of difficulty and a bike park for everyone to get you started:

ROUND VALLEY LOOP
This roughly eight-mile, beginner-to-intermediate trail system boasts gorgeous views, and a variety of uphill climbs, downhill cruises and some technical bits along the way. With multiple access points and lots of twisty turns, you can’t go wrong in Round Valley.

GLENWILD AND FLYING DOG
You can go for hours on this 25-mile, mostly-intermediate trail system that includes both rolling and steep terrain, with some difficult sections.

SPIRO TRAIL
Spiro Trail is a great, 6.2-mile out-and-back ride with an incredible 1,400-foot vertical ascent over 3.1 miles. If the climb wears you out, the thrill of the descent will surely recharge your batteries! Spiro is also the gateway to many other trails, making it perfect to jump on anytime.

ARMSTRONG TRAIL
Sharing a trailhead with Spiro, Armstrong is a one-way, uphill-only climb to the Mid Mountain Trail with a new connection to Dawn’s Trail Loop. Suitable for strong, advanced-beginners or conditioned intermediates, the climb is sustained but not steep ˆ you probably won’t even need the granny gear.

MID MOUNTAIN LOOP ˜IMBA EPIC TRAIL°
For the intermediate-to-expert rider, the 28-mile, high-altitude Mid Mountain Trail (much of it at 8,000 feet) o° ers big climbs, stunning vistas and multiple access points. Single-track dominates through aspen groves and meadows. Be sure to acclimate to the altitude before attempting this one.

ROAD TO ARCYLON, GORGOZA TRAIL, UP TRAIL Road to Arcylon (NO LYCRA spelled backwards) is an exciting downhill trail with expert level, man-made features. It’s found near Gorgoza Park ˆ the supporting trails Gorgoza and Up Trail are used to access this downhill. (Note: ˜ e connections to neighborhood trails to the south and east are private trails for residents only.)

TRAILSIDE BIKE PARK
Trailside Bike Park is for all: from Five-year-olds just mastering two wheels to expert technical riders with years of experience.
For beginners, there’s a fun pump track, FOLLow trail and skills trail. Intermediate riders can take advantage of the slopestyle/jump trail, while advanced riders won’t want to miss the more technical, all-mountain trail and the advanced freeride trail.

FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS – Parkites love their dogs as much as their mountain bikes, so be aware that Fido might be running alongside his owner — proceed with caution on fast downhills with blind turns.

Previous articleRenowned Food and Wine Classic Returns
Next articleFour Awesome Adventures – River Rafting