In case you haven’t noticed over the past few years, Utah’s Wasatch Back trail system is flourishing. As more and more folks migrate to the corners and valleys beyond Summit County, the demand to create a flow state for hikers and bikers has grown exponentially.
This summer, the trails crafters’ trifecta — Mountain Trails Foundation (MTF), Wasatch Trails Foundation (WTF) and South Summit Trails Foundation (SSTF) — are planning a trail glow-up so epic, it’s practically begging for its own reality show. The impressive collaboration among the foundations, local government (such at Park City Municipal Corporation Trails and Open Space Department) and other trails nonprofits to build, maintain and protect trails is a gold-star example for nonmotorized recreation.
“This summer, Mountain Trails Foundation in partnership with South Summit Trails Foundation will begin maintaining the Slate Creek bike trail system on U.S. Forest Service land,” says Lora Anthony, executive director of MTF. “Caring for this trail system with a professional trail crew, paid for by a nonprofit, will set a standard across the nation and hopefully be a model for existing and future trail systems on U.S. Forest Service land.”
Over in Wasatch County, the first trail connection to the Deer Valley East Village trail system will officially open this summer. That makes two new trails connecting Summit and Wasatch counties: one to Bonanza Loop Trail from WOW Trail and the other to the Deer Valley East system from WOW Trail. “It’s been great working with everyone,” says WTF Executive Director Mia Yue. “Mountain Trails has laid such a nice path for the smaller trail foundations, and Lora has been such a great mentor to me.”
With input from the U.S. Forest Service’s Division of Outdoor Recreation and the Utah Department of Transportation, these three foundations will stitch Summit, Wasatch and Salt Lake counties into a quilt of singletrack tapestry. The stats are wild: Wasatch County boasts 350 miles of trails (plus 70 backcountry miles in Heber) and MTF’s interactive map covers hundreds of miles, with Round Valley alone spanning more than 50 miles of trails, many singletrack. Add in Deer Valley East Village’s 60-plus miles of new singletrack coming online plus staples like Mid Mountain, Wasatch Crest and dozens of connectors, and we’re looking at a mind-blowing spiderweb of recreation. “It gives more options for longer rides and loops and easier access between counties to whomever wants it,” says Yue.
Deer Valley East Village’s trail development is spearheaded by the developer, EX Utah Development LLC, making it one of the most robust trail projects currently underway in this neck of the woods. “EX Utah sees the benefit of trails to the development, its future customers and to the community, so they’re going all out,” says Anthony. “The developer gifted 3,120 acres, the Forty-Fifth Star Preserve, as a conservation area to Utah Open Lands.”
Also look for some new stars of the Wasatch Back to highlight this dirt circus, like the Bonanza Flat to Wasatch Over Wasatch (WOW) connection, which is a MTF and WTF partnership that drops this summer and links three counties faster than you can say, “Where’s my bike?” Picture yourself ripping from Heber Valley through Deer Valley, hitting the Wasatch Crest Trail and looping back via Park City Mountain.
“This kind of connectivity expands route options almost infinitely, thereby spreading out trail congestion,” says Anthony. “Driving to busy trailheads becomes less necessary.”
Infinite route options and less trailhead gridlock sounds appealing, but there are other reasons to explore the Wasatch Back. “I’m spending more time riding beyond Summit [County] because it’s a different aspect of our mountains,” says longtime Parkite Ryan Freitas. “It’s something I haven’t seen before. Plus, there’s rarely a soul out there.”
But with every mile costing $1,000 to $5,000 in upkeep, the struggle for support is real. For the first time ever, MTF did not win a state grant for 2025. But Anthony says because the Wasatch Back is becoming one, they see it as coordination not competition as to how they will fund and maintain this 1,000-mile trail system.
Don’t dismay, however, there are still funds for Summit County’s trails. Restoration work continues on the Kings Crown area trails this summer, Lower CMG will get a facelift, and Loose Moose will get retrofitted to become adaptive equipment friendly. Coming soon is a hike-only trail between Mid Mountain, near the Montage, and the IO Trail that leads up to the Jupiter Peak area.
MTF secured a $200,000 Summit County RAP Recreation Tax Grant to repair, restore and resurface double-track trails starting near Quinn’s Junction trailhead through Round Valley and out to the Highland trailhead. This will provide an active transportation pathway between Trailside and Quinn’s Junction. “One of MTF’s great services to the community is locating, coordinating, accessing, using and reporting on grant funding for the benefit of public trails,” says Anthony.
Let’s not forget the private donors that make MTF great. “Since 2021, CynCity, Mother Urban and Change Reaction trails were all built with funding provided to MTF by amazingly generous donors,” says Anthony. “This year, funding for a piece of trail that will connect the bottom of Silver Queen (where it currently ends at Mid Mountain Trail) to the top of Loose Moose Trail will be paid for through the generosity of donors.”
MTF, WTF and SSTF aren’t just teaming up with all these entities for bragging rights. They have the hikers, bikers and trail users who live near and visit the Wasatch to help plan, build and maintain a trail network that turns congestion into freedom. These interconnected trails beckon all to explore fresh corners of the mountains. Whether you’re pedaling or hoofing, the Wasatch Back is calling to hit the dirt and come out and play.
Lend a Hand
How to help area Wasatch trails flourish
Mountain Trails Foundation (MTF) is always looking for volunteers to help maintain trails, and South Summit Trails Foundation, a small, volunteer-run nonprofit, can use all hands on deck to help improve Slate Creek, Weber River corridor trails and Oakley Bike Park. Also, the new hike-only trail to the Jupiter Peak area will need a huge amount of volunteer power.
If you missed it this year, make sure you stop in for the All-Things Trails open house next spring. Trails and open space organizations from all over the region meet annually with the public in Park City and provide information on projects, missions, funding and more.
National Trails Day takes place on the first Saturday in June and is always a big one for the Wasatch. The day is part of the American Hiking Society’s nationwide push to get folks to give back to the paths they shred by rerouting trails, clearing overgrowth and fixing erosion from the spring melt. It’s a crash course in why the local trail system is world-class, so make sure you put it on your calendar for next year.
When you are ready to get your hands dirty, check the schedule for Community Dig Days on mountaintrails.org.
The 41st annual Tour des Suds fundraiser not only celebrates the end of the summer biking season, but is one of the zaniest ways to support MTF. It begins with a 2,700-foot vertical climb from City Park to the top of Guardsman Pass and ends with beer, of course.
Finally, the easiest and best way to get involved is to pick up the phone, call your closest trails foundation and ask how you can help.
TRAILS UPON TRAILS
If you’re ready to let your feet do the walking (or pedaling) along the Wasatch Back, here are a few top trails to explore that are managed or supported by the South Summit Trails Foundation, Wasatch Trails Foundation and Mountain Trails Foundation.
Wasatch Over Wasatch (WOW) Trail
Type: Mountain biking, hiking, e-bikes allowed
Distance: 10.1 miles (one-way)
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
Difficulty: Intermediate+ (biking), moderate (hiking)
Description: Mountain bikers love this iconic point-to-point that starts near Pine Creek Campground in Wasatch Mountain State Park and stretches to the southern end near Deer Creek Reservoir. You’ll need a shuttle for this one.
Dutch Hollow Trail and Dutchman Way Loop
Type: Mountain biking, hiking, e-bikes allowed
Distance: 4.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 500-700 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: These two are part of the larger Dutch Hollow trail network that spans over 20 miles of singletrack in Wasatch State Park (parking fee required) near Midway. The network ranges in difficulty and length so grab a map at the park before heading out. Connecting Dutchman Way from River Road to Dutch Hollow Trail creates an ideal 4.1 loop with some stellar views.
Heber Valley Overlook
Type: Mountain biking, hiking, e-bikes allowed
Distance: 2.3-mile loop
Elevation Gain: 229 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Description: Also part of the Dutch Hollow network, this short, family-friendly hike starts near the visitor center at Wasatch Mountain State Park.
The Crest Trail
Type: Mountain biking, hiking, no e-bikes allowed
Distance: 25 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,661 feet
Difficulty: Hard. There’s a section called Puke Hill if that gives you any idea.
Description: This International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) Epic-designated ride takes more than three hours and is a high-altitude gem with epic views of the Wasatch Mountains. The trail starts in the main parking lot of Park City Mountain Resort and is accessed via Lowell Avenue. The ride ends in Kimball Junction below Utah Olympic Park. It’s smart to leave a car here at the beginning and ride the bus into Park City so you’ll have your car waiting for you at the end. If you’re feeling queasy, there are several bailout points.
Mid Mountain Trail
Type: Mountain biking, hiking, no e-bikes allowed
Distance: 18 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet
Difficulty: Intermediate
Description: A Park City classic, the Mid Mountain starts at either Silver Lake Lodge or Snow Park Lodge at Deer Valley. You’ll pass chairlifts, historic mining structures, aspens and more as you cross over through Park City Mountain to Canyons Resort. You can head to Canyons Village for a wrap or continue on to Kimball Junction.
Yellow Pine Trail
Type: hiking, mountain biking not recommended after the first 3 miles
Distance: 9.3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,700 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: Yellow Pine is one of the first trailheads you’ll come to as you
enter Uinta National Forest. The trail climbs through pine forests and meadows and eventually splits toward the upper and lower Yellow Pine Lake or Castle Peak.
Oakley Trail Park
Type: Mountain biking, hiking
Distance: 3 to 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 300 to 500 feet
Difficulty: Easy to intermediate
Description: A small but fun network of 15 hiking and biking trails near Oakley. These are predominately beginner and intermediate tracks accessed from the Oakley Rodeo Grounds.
