Mountain Trails Foundation

We build, maintain and protect Park City, Utah's trails

Ian, Executive Assistant

Round Valley Express Success

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We are proud to announce the grand re-opening of Round Valley Express trail. This newly improved and aligned pathway provides a contiguous 3-mile connection between Quinn’s Junction trailhead and Highland Dr., traversing the center of Round Valley.

This project was aimed at enhancing usability, navigation, and long-term sustainability. The year-round benefits stem from an improved surface that can be used in a variety of weather conditions. The improvements allow passage for wider adaptive equipment and will help winter grooming by providing a consistent even surface that requires minimal snow coverage for grooming.

We know that Round Valley Express will quickly become a mainstay of the Round Valley experience, please join us as we thank those who made it possible. $250,000 in funding from the Summit Country RAP Recreation Tax Grant and MTF donors, collaboration from Park City Municipal Trails and Open Space Department and Summit Land Conservancy, Basin Recreation, and a herculean effort from our contractor Chase Smith of Race n Chase.

Mountain Trails Foundation is proud to have orchestrated this project and provide it to YOU, the public!

A little backstory….

Traveling from Quinn’s trailhead to Highland Drive through Round Valley utilizes a patchwork of historic ranch roads and trails that date back to the area’s use as a ranch. Significant portions of these roads and trails had deteriorated to the point where their viability, even as singletrack, was questionable in some spots, flat out dangerous in others, and often not conducive to high-quality winter grooming. Other sections were subject to seasonal flooding, which created deep ruts and hazards that required regular and costly rebuilding.

Mountain Trails Foundation, in coordination with landowner, Park City Municipal, developed a plan to improve the entire route. We connected and improved existing sections of the trail and rerouted unsustainable portions. By implementing appropriate drainage features, applying road-base material, and constructing a long-lasting surface, we’ve created something that can be enjoyed by a wide range of users year-round and for generations to come. Wayfinding is eased by naming the entire trail, start to finish, Round Valley Express.

Happy Trails!

Ian Hartley, Resource Manager

The Big Easy

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One of Park City’s newest and most popular trails is the Big Easy in Round Valley. Circumnavigating our beloved 2,200-acre open space the Big Easy trail provides more than 6 miles of year-round single-track, accessible from both Quinn’s and Highland trailheads. 

An instant classic, it’s hard to believe that it’s been around (in its entirety)  for less than 2 years. Born from community feedback and leveraging the success of PorcuClimb and Down Dog (AKA P-Dog Loop), the Big Easy was designed to accommodate and disperse the widest range of users. In providing a multi-use, easy-to-navigate, 6-mile loop with an adaptive forward approach we have created an experience that can be enjoyed by users 3 – 93, families, locals, and visitors alike. Additionally, the Big Easy enhances Nordic grooming by moving a large number of bikes and foot traffic onto the single track in the winter. 

Despite its name, there were many challenges during the planning and building of the Big Easy. Thankfully, each of these was met with the efforts of eager community supporters. The land was provided by Park City Municipal in conjunction with Summit Land Conservancy and Utah Open Lands. Mountain Trails Foundation coordinated funding from Park Park City Municipal, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation RTP grant, and donor support. Volunteer events with the National Ability Center, local mountain bike teams, and National Trails Day finished off the extensive machine work of our amazing crew. A special thanks goes to Mountain Trails Foundation Crew members Alec Johnson, Chase Smith, and Rick Fournier for their trail-building/machine operator skills.

We’re proud to say that it’s been a massive success, well worth the careful planning and tremendous effort. As we consider the future of trails we hope the Big Easy will stand as a tangible example of the joy that trails bring and what we are capable of when we work together.

Come out and play

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What does a perfect morning in Round Valley look like? Thanks to our friend and fellow trail lover, Ross Downard we have captured the essence of our beloved playground on a cold winter day.

Starting with shots of our trail crew and followed by the trail shenanigans, we hope this video is the motivation you need to get out and celebrate our good fortune to have Round Valley as our place to share.

These activities (and video) were made possible by the collaboration of a grateful community. Individuals, businesses, and organizations who take part in supporting trails and our access to them.

From all of us at Mountain Trails Foundation, THANK YOU! We look forward to seeing you out there and to many more mornings like these.

Bonanza Flat Whats the Mid-Winter Deal?

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We are getting questions on Bonanza Flat conditions and grooming status and hope to set the record straight. The short answer is that we are NOT grooming Bonanza Flat right now, read on to find out why.

First off: access. Getting to Bonanza Flat is incredibly challenging with the amount of snow we have. Transit to Trails is not running and the Mid Mountain Parking lot is very difficult for the City to maintain (check the webcam for conditions).

Even if there was safe and reliable access, we only have one Snowcat (Pantera Roja) which we use to keep conditions in Round Valley at their best. At lower elevations, grooming this year has been an “adventure” for our crew who have put gallons of blood, sweat, and tears into making your trails possible.

We LOVE Bonanza Flat and as soon as there’s enough early winter snow to groom it, we do! We are so grateful to have early-season trails that remind us how difficult Nordic skiing is 😊.

It is also our honor, as one organization on the list of diligent stakeholders, to provide free access to public lands with trails. 

If you wish to visit Bonanza Flat mid-winter you may still do so but we implore you to consider your safety very carefully. Avalanche conditions may exist, marked trails may not. There are no facilities available and cell coverage is unreliable. Do not expect to park at the Mid Mountain lot, use public transportation (purple bus route). Weather conditions are dynamic and can include high winds, extreme cold, and whiteout conditions. Navigation can be challenging and a long climb in and out is required.

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NEW: Recurring Membership Donation Plans

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Stream your favorite trails and support our mission to build, maintain and protect trails in Park City.

Choose the frequency and amount that works for your household and your membership will never lapse. As a small organization, your donations are essential to our operations, we use your support to match grant funding, maintain equipment and support our amazing crew.

Signing up for recurring donations is easy and means that you are committed to the legacy of trails and invested in their future. Plans can be canceled or adjusted at any time and donations are tax-deductible. For questions on the program please contact ian@mountaintrails.org. to sign-up please chose the recurring donation option on our donation page HERE.

Wishing you all the best in 2023,

Ian Hartley

Give The Gift Of Trails

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The holiday season is about joy and for many of our friends and family that means enjoying our world-class, year-round trail system. If you’re looking to give the gift that keeps on giving, consider donating.

You can choose a gift from our donation page to be mailed (free of charge) to any address in the US. Or, you can donate without a gift, and we’ll send a card to the recipient of your choice with a special message acknowledging your donation on their behalf.

For last-minute shoppers who miss the shipping deadline, don’t despair, we will offer jacket pick-up from 3-6pm on December 23rd at our office at 5792 N. Highland Dr., Park City UT 84098. This service will be available to those who have already pre-purchased gifts via the website.

To arrange a custom card acknowledgment, or to pick up your order on the 23rd please email ian@mountaintrails.org.

Give The Gift of Trails Today