Utah Valley Cyclist
Utah has contributed 5 routes spanning 103 miles of routes in Utah.
Member since June 3, 2020.
0 total upvotes
2 total comments
28 mi
other
Vernon Little Red Pine Canyon LoopOther route from Sharp Rd to Benmore Rd, Vernon, Tooele County, Utah "This is a combination of gravel, dirt, doubletrack, and pavement. Suggest counterclockwise direction. The beginning section through the Vernon area is a mixture of REALLY crappy pavement and annoying washboard gravel. Once you get to the Pony Express trail things smooth out to nice graded gravel over the first climb and descent. The western leg going south is fairly decent dirt doubletrack. The southern part of the loop (second ascent) gets quite technical and sketchy at times for a gravel bike and there are a couple of climbs that are steep enough to walk-a-bike for most of us. If you can pedal up them without spinning out or "bouncing out"... you rock. It's also very rocky in spots in this area, but doable on a gravel bike with wider tires and low gearing. The downhill once you reach the pass is also rocky at times, but not horrible. Once you get to the flats, there are some areas of pretty annoying soft dust and sandy soil. I assume a few days after a rainstorm, that should be firmed up. Also, even though that southern flat section is on National Forest land, there is some nearby posted private land, and you'll come to two or three barbed wire gates. I was a bit nervous about continuing in this area, but it IS on forest service land, so I assume it is safe and not private if you follow the GPX file. But if you get off, you could be trespassing. The gates I opened (and closed) did not have no trespassing signs and the route on the GPX file is on named/numbered forest service roads. It's the bordering land you have to watch for. Overall, if you like the desert this is an okay route (much more interesting and enjoyable in the northern area of the loop). Truthfully, though, it may be more enjoyable on an XC MTB. I did it on my gravel bike and at times wished I'd brought the MTB. Still... on a gravel bike, it's not horrible if you are an experienced rider, but it will rattle your teeth and get your heart rate up at times. Carry plenty of water; it's super dry out there. " |
1 mi
singletrack
Maple Canyon Skills TrailSingletrack route from Maple Canyon Rd to FR 061, Springville, Utah County, Utah "This is a short intermediate mountain bike trail, but also a great trail to practice your technical gravel bike skills. There are a couple of very short, very steep spots to practice your climbing/descending skills. The rest is mostly a pleasant trail through the woods. There is a patch of rocky trail, but it's mostly dirt. There is a very small stream crossing and a couple of small bridges to cross. Trail begins at the parking lot at the mouth of the canyon and ends at a camp area." |
23 mi
gravel
Vernon Reservoir LoopGravel route on Benmore Rd, Vernon, Tooele County, Utah "This is graded gravel at a very slight incline on the north section (nice fast descent if you have a south tailwind on the way back!), and dirt (sometimes rocky) on the southern loop portion, which has a couple fairly steep climbs. All in all this is a good gravel bike ride with some variety of terrain--flat vs hills, gravel vs dirt/rock. Passes by Vernon Reservoir where there are campsites and outhouses. Northern section is barren flatland and southern loop is juniper/pinion pine in the canyon and sparse juniper on the upper portion hills. Wider off road gravel tires recommended. Taking the loop counterclockwise recommended. Overall, there is nothing technical, although the road does get pretty rough in spots." |
23 mi
gravel
Red Hollow to Forest Trail 115 to Right Fork hobble Creek to Diamond Fork CanyonGravel route on Forest Rd 029, Springville, Utah County, Utah "I'd suggest low gearing and knobby tires -- my bike has 700x38c and 30/36 for lowest gear (46/30 rings and 11/36 cassette). Trail starts at Red Hollow locked gate across highway from Monk's Hollow parking lot (that's where you will want to park). Initial climb is fairly steep with short sections steeper (my climb was mostly in gear 30 ring/32 cassette, sometimes 36). Trail is initially a decent dirt double track, mildly rocky in spots. If you reach a concrete foundation in a big meadow, switchbacks on trail, and a cattle watering trough at about mile 3.25 to 2.5, you are on the right trail. Continue up the switchbacks, resist the temptation at about mile 4.95 to turn left and back at a crossroads (both trails look traveled. Just keep going straight. Near mile 5.25, you'll reach a summit saddle (if you are not up for a more extreme adventure, you can out-and-back from here). Around the right side of the tree is the trail that starts descending pretty steeply. The farther you go down this leg of the trail, the more primitive, overgrown, rocky in spots, and sometimes almost indistinguishable the trail becomes--generally, just stay on the ridge line if you see other choices. You'll be bushwhacking tall grass and navigating chunky rocks through this section. If you finally come to a place where the trail gets almost un-rideable and almost un-seeable, you're in the right spot. Soon, things get worse. Unfortunately, the forest service has "cratered" the trail to discourage motorized vehicles on the trail. At a certain point, you won't be able to ride this section at all (too bad, it would have been a very nice trail through this section) and will have to walk the bike about an eighth of a mile over a bunch of annoying mounds and holes and weeds and rocks and sticks. Once you get to a large wood pole fence (at about 7.4 or 7.5 miles), this trail meets another (forest trail 115) and is much better maintained on the other side. From here, go around the bent to the north. Your big climb is over. You'll go over some ups and downs (a few steep, short climbs) through some pretty forested terrain over a good, maintained dirt 4WD trail. The highest point of the trail is at about 9 miles. At about 10.7 miles, you should meet the gravel/graded Right Fork Hobble Creek Rd (058). If you don't, you've wandered down one of the sometimes confusing side trails. From this junction, turn right and enjoy the LONG descent down the smooth (but loose at times) gravel road. Around mile 15.1, the road turns to asphalt. It's a long, fast coast back to Monk's Hollow parking lot. Watch the traffic through here. It's bad on the weekends at times. Enjoy!" 2 |
28 mi
gravel
Starvation Road to Skyline Drive LoopGravel route from Starvation Rd to US-6, Spanish Fork, Utah County, Utah "Combination gravel, smooth dirt, rocky 4WD trails, with a few ugly spots. Suggested to ride in clockwise direction, starting up Starvation Canyon Road. Gradual, pleasant mostly smooth gravel incline first 7 miles. After patch of soft sandy dirt, trail steepens and becomes more rocky in spots. At crossroad near 10.75 miles, turn right onto Trail 0008. The next two or three miles are the hardest climbs on rocky road with occasional baby heads, loose gravel, and soft dirt. Once reaching the summit area, it's up and down a bit, and fairly pleasant. Beautiful area with wonderful views. At about mile 18, turn right on Skyline Drive for a long (mostly) descent on a combination of rutted double track, hard pack, smooth and rough gravel, smooth and rough dirt, and the last few miles on nicely graded gravel. This is a fairly taxing ride if you are reasonably in shape. If you are not in good riding shape, I wouldn't do this one. There are some steep climbs at times and I would suggest low gearing on your gravel bike. For me 1 to 1 is a no-go. I need lower gearing at times for this route. I wouldn't call the trails technical, although they do get a bit sketchy and quite rough at times, getting a bit into the XC mountain biking realm. The worst are a couple patches of energy-soaking deep, soft, sandy soil and two or three steep, rocky climbs. Overall, it's a really nice ride with several, "Do I really want to go on?" out-of-breath moments. " |