Mountain Trails

Mountain Trails Foundation

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

Rick Fournier, Field Manager

2022 ANNUAL TRAIL REPORT: A BIG Summer for Trails

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This past summer, trails season was our most successful to date, with our team completing 6 major projects and nearly finishing two others.  It was also one of our most meaningful, both in scope and in overcoming numerous hurdles along the way.  “Directional” & “Purpose-Built” were the overriding themes, with all trails except for one being directional in nature, and each designed with a purpose.  And let’s not forget our general maintenance program, one that included reroutes, drainage work, deadfall removal, and the clearing of many miles of thick vegetation, thanks to a wet summer.  Here’s a look at this summer’s highlights.

Sparky (Clark Ranch)

Named after the Family Vacation, Clark Griswold character, and as a nod to its eMTB-friendly status, this 3.5 mile-long, multi-use, directional (for bikes) loop, is located on the newly City annexed, Clark Ranch easement, off Richardson Flat Road, on the east side of Highway 40.  This was a breakout project for our 4-year crew member, Tim McChesney.  He did most of the machine work, incorporating many “flow” features into the descent to bump up the fun factor, and we couldn’t be happier with the result.  This is a NO DOG trail due to the agricultural easement and seasonal grazing that takes place on the property.  The loop will be groomed this winter for fat biking and we hope to add additional “flow” lines off the east side of the loop next season.       

Big Easy (Round Valley)

Work began on this project 3 years ago, with the concept of creating a true beginner and adaptive-bike-friendly loop trail in Round Valley.  With winter “fat bike” use exploding in popularity, we were also looking at how we could better separate that use from the Nordic trails during the winter months, and this was our opportunity to do just that.  At 5.5 miles in length, the Big Easy circumnavigates Round Valley, with several “bailout points”, creating shorter loop options for families and beginner adaptive cyclists.  Prior to this year’s dirt work, our team watched a webinar on adaptive bike trail development, and it opened our eyes to design elements that we hadn’t previously considered. Alec did an amazing job incorporating that knowledge into a super fun, flowy trail that will hopefully see significant adaptive use, as well as creating a sweet fat bike loop in the winter months. This one checks a lot of boxes.       

Big Dipper (SkyRidge Mountain Community)

For the past 4 years, Mountain Trails has been working with the SkyRidge Mountain Community on developing a trails master plan for the new development.  That partnership has resulted in nearly 8 miles of new, public, hiking, and eMTB-friendly biking trails along the northeast corner of the Jordanelle Reservoir.  Most recently, our team collaborated with Singletrack Trails LLC, on the construction of the Big Dipper; a 2.2-mile-long, directional downhill and bike-only trail from the summit of SkyRidge Peak, down to the start of the Milky Way trail, creating a 6-mile-long, loop.  With its unique volcanic rock formations, exposure, and unrestricted views, this trail is unlike anything else you’ll ride in Park City.

Lynx Trail (Park City Heights)

After completing the upper half (one mile) last season, the team completed the lower half (an additional mile) this year.  Winding its way up through the thick oak and maple stands, this trail provides a connection from the Rail Trail near Richardson Flat Rd, up to the Foxtail/Upper Skid Row area.  With plans to build a downhill, bike-only trail in the area, this trail will eventually be uphill only for bikes and multi-directional for hiking.  This project was funded by Park City Heights as part of their commitment to developing 4 miles of hiking and biking trails adjacent to their development.   

Mother Urban(Treasure Hill/Old Town)     

In early July we completed the last two miles of Mother Urban, a project we had started the previous year.  Named after a colorful character in Park City history, this 4.5-mile-long trail begins just off Lowell Ave, crossing paths with Old Town classics such as Sweeny’s, Gravedigger, and John’s ’99, throughout its 1,200-foot ascent to the Mid Mtn trail near King Road.  The primary intent of the project was to take pressure off both Jenni’s and Armstrong and create a great climbing (uphill only for bikes) and hiking experience in the heart of Old Town.  It also allows for numerous new loop options with nearby trails.  This one gets the award for the most challenging project of the summer, both logistically and from a construction standpoint. This project also brings front and center MTF’s ability to leverage private donations for public good. A full one half of this, $100K+ project was funded by generous donations from a group of really awesome people.  

Cyn City (Park City Mountain)   

In mid-July, after two plus years of planning and construction, we completed the Cyn City trail, named in memory of long-time local trails advocate, trail-builder and mountain biking pioneer, Cyndi Schwandt.  Funded by a Utah Outdoor Rec grant with a match made by Cyndi’s family and estate, this 2.5 mile-long, directional downhill and bike-only trail was the first new connection to be built off of Charlie’s 9K with a Mid Mtn end-point.  From the start, the vision was to design a mountain bike trail that had the potential to positively touch the largest number of riders.  We wanted to create something that would be more inclusive and fun for riders of varied ability levels.  With large bermed turns, rollers, table-tops and numerous “side-hit” features in the mix, the trail was designed to be “interactive”.  So, while a lower intermediate rider can navigate it without feeling intimidated, a more experienced rider will quickly realize that with a few extra pedal strokes, it can be as fun or as challenging as you choose to make it.  We have had 9-year-olds, 70-somethings, and every age and ability level in between, all grinning ear to ear, as they exit Cyndi’s trail.  Mission accomplished!    

Chainge Reaction (Park City Mountain)  

The ying, to Cyn City’s yang, Chainge Reaction is intended to be an advanced, expert-only, downhill bike trail, with steep drops, jumps, roots, rocks, and tight trees.  You will literally “drop in” on this one off Charlie’s 9K, just before the talus runout below Jupiter Peak, with the finish near the bottom of the McConkey’s lift as well as a return connector to Keystone, earlier on. This project was funded, in full, by a generous MTF donor. On this project, we are collaborating with professional trail builder, Derek Thomson of Apex Trails.  We look forward to a mid-summer, 2023 completion for this one.  This trail should really help to fill the void for riders looking for a more advanced, technical, and feature-rich, downhill option at Park City Mountain.  

Bonanza Multi-Use loop (Bonanza Flat)

Construction on the Bonanza Loop began over 3 years ago as part of the trails master plan for the area.  After multiple alignment changes and numerous challenges, in September we resumed construction on this 5-mile-long, high alpine, cross-country loop and will complete the project late next summer.  As the first and likely only, mountain bike-friendly trail in Bonanza, the loop will be directional, counterclockwise for bikes and multi-directional for foot traffic.  Because wildlife frequents the area, it will also be a “no dog” trail.  With this alignment being less than a quarter mile from the Wasatch State Park boundary, we are hopeful to make the long-awaited connection to the WOW trail in the not-to-distant future.  

Each of these projects was unique and all were the result of a true team effort, from the layout/design to the corridor clearing, to the machine and hand-finish work.  I can’t give enough credit to our amazing crew; Alec, Tim, Sean, Matt, Derek, Emma & Phil, for the huge effort they put in this summer.  A shout-out to the many volunteer groups that contributed to each of these projects.  Each of you has left your mark, literally, on these trails.  We also must thank all our community partners including Park City Municipal, Summit Land Conservancy, Utah Open Lands, Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort, and Vail EpicPromise, and all our donors, both large and small.  We couldn’t do what we do without your support.  

2022, that’s a wrap!  We’ll see you out on the snow before you know it…    

The Mother of All Trails

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Three weeks ago, the MTF team completed our second major project of the summer, the Mother Urban trail. Named after a colorful character in Park City history, this new trail originates in the heart of Old Town, just off Lowell Avenue, gently ascending for nearly five miles and 1,200 feet before topping out on the Mid Mountain Trail just south of King Road.  

Bobbing and weaving its way up Treasure Hill, the trail passes under the Town Lift and brushes by the singletrack classics; Sweeny’s Switchbacks, South Sweeny’s and Gravedigger, followed by a long traverse, high above Daly Canyon.  It then switchbacks its way up a pine-covered ridge and crosses John’s ’99, before one last, aspen-gladded push to Mid Mountain.  Along the way you’ll pass iconic tramway towers, abandoned mine shafts and other relics – reminders of this region’s rich mining history.        

Designed to be directional uphill only for bikes, (multi-directional for foot traffic), the primary intent of the trail is to take pressure off two extremely popular climbs, Jenni’s trail and Armstrong, while also creating a unique user-experience and unparalleled views of Historic Old Town. The trail’s end point works seamlessly with Tommy’s Two Step providing a moderate, directional, climb from town all the way up to the popular yurt trail-hub at the top of the Crescent lift.  It also opens up multiple, new, loop options with nearby trails.    

This project was two years in the making and incredibly challenging from both a logistical and construction standpoint.  The team had to work around existing trails and private property within the Park City “spaghetti bowl” excavating through extremely steep and rocky terrain, particularly above the exposed Daly Canyon and the quartzite-covered, mine-riddled Treasure Hill. The finished product is the result of a true team effort, and the MTF crew did a stellar job from beginning to end.    

As with most projects of this scope, there were many moving pieces and numerous individuals working behind the scenes to help bring Mother Urban to fruition.  A big shout out to the Mother Urban Group, Park City Municipal, Andy Beerman, Pat Sweeny and Shaydar Edelman with Park City Mountain, to name just a few. It’s collaborations like these, that enable our organization to create great recreational opportunities. 

And lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t pay homage to Rachel “Mother” Urban.  She was ahead of her time as an entrepreneur and pioneer, at a time when women were often marginalized and afforded limited opportunities. I would like to think that she would be thrilled to have a trail named after her, and having caught a glimpse of her intriguing story, it’s arguably one worth memorializing.

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Trail Report –  Cyn City

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The completion of Charlie’s 9K trail two years ago was a real game changer for the Park City system.  We were super excited about the potential this “artery trail” held, not only for dispersing use, but also in creating meaningful, exciting, new connections and loop options, both hike and bike, between the 9K, Mid Mountain Trail and existing upper elevation trails. 

In mid-July, after two-plus years of planning and construction, the first of these connections, the Cyn City trail, came to its flowy fruition. The trail was named in memory of long-time local, trail advocate and mountain biking pioneer, Cyndi Schwandt. In addition to being a founding member of the Team Sugar women’s mountain biking club, Cyndi was a pioneer in women’s mountain bike racing and an early Park City trail builder.    

From the start, the vision was to design a directional, mountain bike-specific trail that had the potential to serve the largest number of riders. We wanted to create something that would be more inclusive and fun for riders of varied ability levels. Since Cyndi’s untimely passing three years ago, we have been eager to recognize her enduring legacy, and this project seemed like a perfect fit.  With the support from Cyndi’s family, the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation and approval from Park City Mountain, we were green light, GO!

The canvas that we were immediately drawn to was the Black Forest area at Park City Mountain. Looking at topo maps, having skied the area in the winter months and ridden the nearby Black Forest bike trail, we realized that there was an opportunity to create something unique. A sustained descent of nearly three miles and 700 feet vertical, in a north-facing, partially-gladded, pine and aspen tree canopy.  “Tree canopy” and “north-facing” are ideal for maintaining moisture in the trail tread and the pines typically hold the most sustainable, loamy, “hero dirt”. 

Drawing a line on a topo map is one thing but “ground-proofing” and laying out a trail on an extremely steep, 40-degree slope, with a precarious mix of thick brush and jumbled deadfall log-jams, proved to be incredibly challenging.  And as we bushwhacked and performed the log-jam limbo, the Black Forest offered up some of its secrets. In between the beer cans, animal bones and lonely solo skis, we discovered a laminated photo memorial from years past, a now closed mine shaft, and most peculiar, some rotary phones mounted high up in the pines along with their cordless counterparts in their chargers, sitting upon stumps, awaiting a call. Curious indeed!   

This project was truly a team effort, and I can’t give enough credit to the MTF crew members, who, over the past two summers spent many weeks with the chainsaws, removing hundreds of tangled blowdowns, clearing the way for Chase and the mini excavator. They also packed and shaped each of the 16 switchbacks, cleared back vegetation, sledge-hammered “shark fin” rocks, added drainage features (and fun features), and put the final touches on the tread to get it ride-ready.     

Long-time crew member and talented trail artist, Chase Smith, used the mini excavator as a both a scalpel and a paintbrush, creating smooth, flowy lines, perfectly shaped, bermed turns that “cradle you like a baby”, in-sloped “catch berms” and exaggerated grade reversals and rollers to bump up the fun factor.  There are also several strategically placed features including log, rock and root drops/jumps. The trail is, as Chase likes to describe it, “interactive”.  So, while a lower intermediate rider can navigate it without feeling intimidated, a more experienced rider will quickly realize that with a few extra pedal strokes, it can be as fun or as challenging as one chooses to make it. 

Since its completion, Cyn City has had quite the buzz about it.  We have had 10-year-olds, 70-somethings, and every age and ability level in between, all grinning ear to ear, as they exit Cyndi’s trail.  Our entire team is proud of what we accomplished with this challenging project and it’s incredibly rewarding to see it bring joy to so many.  Simply put by Chase, after seeing the stoke that the trail has created thus far, “I think we did good.”  I have no doubt that Cyndi would agree.

Trail Stats:

Type:  Bike Only/Directional Down

Start:  Black Forest 

Finish:  Mid Mountain Trail

Length:  2.52 miles (2.72 with Black Forest)

Descent:  700 feet

Number of switchbacks: 16

Loop Options: 

1)     9K to Cyn, Mid Mountain to Boulder, Moosebones to Empire Pass/Bonanza Flat TH.

2)     Mid Mountain to Tommy’s Two Step, Keystone, Fat Lip/Stiff Upper Lip, 9K, Corvair, back to the Mid Mtn TH.

3)     Lollipop Loop: 9K to Cyn, Riser to Tommy’s Two Step, Keystone, Fat Lip/Stiff Upper Lip, 9K back to Bonanza TH. 

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Saving the World, One Trail at a Time – July Trail Report

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Photo Courtesy Dirt Coast Photography

I have a short quote at the bottom of my Mountain Trails email signature that reads:  “Saving the World, One Trail at a Time.” It was originally a scrapped t-shirt idea from several years back.  I envisioned Superman-looking logo on the chest with “MTF” replacing the “S”.  It was done completely tongue in cheek, and while I had no preconceived notions that trails could literally save the world, I found humor in its pretentiousness.         

Many moons ago, in the early days of the Round Valley Nordic program, I had an experience that left a lasting impression.  While grooming in the cat early one winter morning, a long-time local flagged me down, and said with a smile on his face; “I just want you to know that you are creating joy for many of us”.  I looked at him somewhat astonished, and kind of brushed it off at the time, but that comment has always stuck with me.    

During the Covid years, we realized just how important trails were for our mental and physical health.  They provided a means of escape and a little slice of normalcy during a time that was anything but normal.  Thousands of Covid expats moved to mountain towns across the west, including our own, many discovering the joy of trails for the first time. 

Trail development and the trail industry has exploded in the past few years.  There are now hundreds of trail contractors, trail non-profits like our own, along with local, state and federal agencies with a trail centric focus, and new trails systems are being developed nation-wide.  I guess you could say that a trail renaissance is under way.  

So, in revisiting my “saving the world” quote, while trails may not necessarily be saving our planet, they are most definitely making it a better place to coexist, despite our differences, and hopefully bringing a little joy to us all during these challenging times.

Have a great one out there! 

HELP US SAVE THE WORLD, ONE TRAIL AT A TIME

June Trail Report

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Get up!  Get on up

– James Brown

Each spring, for nearly 30 years running, the MTF trail crew has initiated the ritual of chasing the swiftly receding snowpack up the mountainside.  During this glacial retreat, there are hundreds of trees to clear, thick vegetation to cut back and dozens of signs to install.  We’ll also take advantage of precious moisture to perform some hand-work on blown-out bermed turns and washboard from last season’s adventures, as well as adding drainage features where needed.    

In addition to our general maintenance program, we have yet another ambitious dirt agenda this season, one that includes the completion of two major projects from last season, as well as four, brand-spanking-new projects.  Each of these dirt endeavors is unique in that they are all “purpose-built”, meaning that there is an underlying objective (or objectives) for each of these new trails.            

Out in the rolling high desert terrain of the City-owned Clark Ranch parcel, just east of highway 40, we’ve begun work on what will be a 4-5 mile long, multi-use, directional loop. While this trail will be open to all trails users, it is being designed with electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) in mind. There will be flow on the up as well as the down, with larger radius turns, open lines of sight and all bikes will be rolling safely in one direction. The project is being done collaboratively with Park City Municipal, which was awarded the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG). 

Just a mile east of Clark Ranch as the crow flies, along the north end of the Jordanelle Reservoir, the Skyridge Development will be funding a new addition to their quickly growing trail system. We have contracted Singletrack Trails to build the Big Dipper: a 2-plus-mile, mountain bike only, downhill trail with nearly 1,000 feet of descent. This will complete a 6-mile loop when combined with the Milky Way trail built by MTF over the past two seasons. With its unique volcanic rock gardens and exposure, this flow trail will be unlike anything in Park City.

Lastly, on the early-season dirt docket will be the completion of the Big Easy trail, also funded by the UORG grant. With the addition of three miles of trail, we’ll complete a 5-mile loop that will circumnavigate the Round Valley open space. This new “artery” trail will provide endless loop opportunities with existing trails and will be easily accessible from four of the six Round Valley trailheads. In addition to dispersing use, this multi-faceted trail will be the only true “beginner” trail with several “bailout points” and a wider footprint that will also accommodate adaptive cyclists. In winter months, it will also transition into an amazing fat bike loop, enabling cyclists and other winter trail enthusiasts to completely bypass the wider, Nordic offerings.

If this isn’t enough to get your trail juices flowing, look for beta on some exciting upper elevation projects next month… 

Boots on the Ground – The 2022 Trail Crew

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Any organization is only as good as its people, and the Mountain Trails Foundation has had no lack of good humans in the mix throughout its 30-year history. The success of Mountain Trails and the enduring legacy of the Park City trail system is due in large part to the guys and gals who are the “boots on the ground”- the MTF Trail Crew. 

Since landing the Trails Manager position many moons ago, I have had the good fortune and pleasure of working with some amazingly talented, passionate and hard-working individuals, who have literally left their mark on our local trails; building, maintaining, and protecting this amazing resource that we all love.    

Early on, through word of mouth, we tapped into the local ski resorts, attracting ski patrollers who were looking for summer work to complement their winter gigs.  We’ve also had many college graduates who ended up in Park City for the same reasons we all did and were looking for a temporary venture until they got a “real job.”  And we’ve had several individuals who had worked on legit trail crews, from Maine to New Mexico to Driggs, Idaho.  We’ve had Airforce and Marine veterans and we’ve had a professional cyclist, professional skier, and a 4-year “intern” who went on to become an aerospace engineer for Boeing – proof that rocket science and trail building are not that far removed. 

2022 has been a year of rebuilding, with several long-time, experienced staff leaving us recently to pursue their dreams. Despite my concerns a few months back that it would be a challenge to find sufficient staffing, it all came together, as it always does, and I couldn’t be more stoked with the diverse team that we’ve assembled. That said, I’m super excited to introduce you to the 2022 Mountain Trails Trail Crew… 

Alec Johnson

Derek deHass

Emma Paden

Matt Jones

Matt Steingass

Philip Blevins

Sean Ward

Tim McChesney

Rick

Trails Manager