OG Park City IMBA Epic

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Not Allowed

This is the original Park City IMBA Epic taking you from PCMR, up to the Wasatch Crest, over to Canyons, and returning to PCMR via Mid-Mountain.

The ride begins with a gentle leisurely climb through the poplars providing glimpses of Park City through the trees before turning up the heat with steeper climbs and more exposed sections of trails.

Both Armstrong and Pinecone offer great views of the surrounding mountains and down into Park City and the Snyderville Basin. Pinecone is arguably the best singletrack climb out of Park City, offering a nice steady climb through the trees and quiet solitude.

Overall, this is one of the best routes in the area and highly recommended as you'll ride on some of the most iconic terrain in the Park City area. I suggest starting early even before sunrise to ward off the heat of the day and avoid many of the Fred's that Park City is overrun with - watch out for moose!

Once on the trail, there is no place for provisions, so be prepared with enough food and water for the entire route. Also, be prepared for mechanicals and flats as the terrain is not only smooth and flowy but there are many rocky sections that can rip off derailleurs, give pinch flats, and put holes in your tires and sidewalls.

The ride starts at PCMR, beginning by climbing up Armstrong to Mid Mountain Trail where you hang a sharp left towards the start of Pinecone, which forks off towards the right after about 1.5 miles. Pinecone is a peaceful, long climb with minimal downhill traffic in the mornings, topping out at the top of Puke Hill.

After climbing up Pinecone, you now have access to one of the most iconic shuttle runs in the SLC, Park City area, the Wasatch Crest Trail. This trail is fast and flowy on mostly rollers with some technical sections and great views.

Heading down the Wasatch Crest Trail, you'll be overwhelmed with fast rolling off-camber sections, small sections of rock, a short climb or two, amazing views of Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Park City valley, and it all ends with a nice technical rocky section known as the Spine!

At this point, to loop back to PCMR, you take a right at the fork at the bottom of the Spine just above Desolation Lake and continue to stay right at the various forks in the trail until you arrive at Upper Apex Ridge in Canyon's Resort. Next, follow the short, fast, and flowy trail down until it hooks up with Mid Mountain Trail and head right following Mid-Mtn all the way across the mountain range back towards PCMR. Nearing PCMR, you'll recognize Armstrong, the trail you climbed up originally, where you'll continue up Mid-Mtn as Armstrong is uphill-only until you arrive at Spiro Trail.

Take Spiro Trail all the way back down to the parking lot enjoying the many switchback sections of hard breaking bumps that'll rattle your bones all the way back to the car. Once at the car, throw back a cold one and congratulate yourself for an awesome day on the bike!