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Mountain Trails Foundation

Mountain Trails Foundation

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

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Trail Report

May Trails Report

May 9, 2023 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

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AND THEN THERE WAS MUD. . . 

Wow!  The winter of ’22-’23 has been one for the record books, both in depth and duration. Park City Mountain stopped spinning their lifts on Monday of this week and our team completed its final groom in Round Valley just a day earlier. And now, thanks to unseasonably warm weather, we have transitioned from the biggest winter of our lifetimes to full-blown mud-season, seemingly overnight.  While we would all like nothing more than to shift directly from white, to brown pow, it’s going to be a few.  And don’t shoot the messenger but we’re looking at a rain/snow mix for the next several days.      

We hate to get preachy, but every spring as the temps rise, and the dirt reappears, we find ourselves trying to educate trail users and discourage muddy trail use.  So, please help us spread the word.  It’s a fairly straightforward concept, really.  ANY kind of soil displacement will lead to erosion and trail damage.  Low spots and ruts created by foot, paw or tire are ALL culprits. That said, we strongly encourage ALL trail users (yes, that means you too, hikers, runners and dog walkers) to turn around if it’s sticking to heels, wheels or paws.  And walking/running or riding around the muddy spots is never ok as it damages vegetation and widens the trail.  Let’s keep our singletrack “single”.           

This time of year, “variable” and “aspect-dependent” are the words of choice when describing lower elevation trail conditions.  On any given trail you can, and will go from south-facing and bone-dry, to north-facing and snow-covered or “snud”, a snow/mud mix, on all points in-between.  So, when you see a closure up at the trailhead and dry ground just on the other side of the closure, don’t assume that the rest of the trail, or the trail system as a whole, is also good to go. 

The Mountain Trails crew has no lack of work ahead this spring/summer and we’d much rather focus our efforts on new trail projects, than repairing unnecessary, user-created, trail damage.  That said, the onus of responsibility falls on YOU, the trail user to use good judgement out there.  Let’s do our part to protect this amazing resource that we all love. Patience grasshoppers.  Mud really is murder on our local trails.    

It’s good to have options…

If you’re a long-time local, you already know that there is no better time than spring, to venture down to the desert for some red rock trail adventures in Moab, Fruita or St. George/Hurricane. Just down the road in the beautiful Heber Valley, the Dutch Hollow and lower Riverview/Coyote trail systems are great early-season options – once they dry out. Visit Wasatch Trails Foundation for updates. Looking for some great, low-impact, trail options locally? We have well over 30 miles of wide, natural-surface and paved pathways in the greater Park City area.  And let’s not forget the 27-mile-long, Union Pacific Rail Trail- all of it in Summit County! 

Trail Condition Info…

While it will never be a perfect system, we’ll continue to do our best to keep you in the know on changing conditions.  As you may already know, we regularly post condition updates on our Facebook page, Instagram and website, but here are a few additional resources…

You can get a visual snapshot of current conditions by going to our website; https://mountaintrails.org clicking on the “Trails and Maps” dropdown, and then click “Interactive Map” followed by the “conditions” filter.    

For the Snyderville Basin Area trails go to:https://www.basinrecreation.org/trails-open…/trail-report/ then click on the Trail Conditions tab.      

What’s the big deal about muddy trail use?  Here are a few older, but still pertinent posts, that will shed some mud, and hopefully some light.  The first is spot on for Park City…

https://www.singletracks.com/…/over-a-beer-rutting-up…/

http://parkcitymountainbike.com/riding-wet-trails/

Happy Cinco de Mayo and happy Spring!    

Rick Fournier, Trails Manager

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Anthony

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Bookkeepr

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Resource Manager
435-655-5853

2022 Trail Crew

Alec Johnson

Candy Roland

Canyon Holdman

Dawson Frentheway

Derek deHass

Emil Harry

Emma Paden

Matt Jones

Mike Vakula

Sean Ward

Zach Strickland

Filed Under: Trail Report

25 Years of Mapping Park City Trails

March 31, 2023 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

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Long before cell phones, Google Earth and apps like Trailforks and AllTrails, topographic paper maps were the tool of choice for navigating trail systems.  Contour lines conveyed grade, elevation gain and loss, while serpentine, multi-colored, green, blue and black lines, represented new adventures of varying difficulty in the form of singletrack trails.  In those days, it was understood that getting “lost” was a distinct possibility and sometimes welcomed.          

Mountain Trails has been involved in the production of the Park City trail map since the original went to print in 1998.  Thanks to Dawn Bowling, (our beloved resource manager, who we lost to cancer in 2013), for being a packrat of best kind, and hanging onto at least one copy of each map over the years.  Now, carefully stored in a plastic tote labeled “Map Library”, they represent a physical, historical timeline of the growth and evolution of our trail system, from a handful of hand-built pirate trails, mine roads and mine grades, to the 500 mile, world-class, IMBA Gold Level trail system we have today.           

The original, “1998 Hiking & Biking Trail Map”, as it was titled, is a small and simple, yet purposeful production.  On the front you’ll find what looks to be a hand-drawn overview map showing a hodgepodge of mine roads and just a few dozen trails, including Park City hand-built classics like Gravedigger, Sweeny’s Switchbacks, the original Tour Des Suds (pre-Empire Pass), TG1 & 2, along with a lone Round Valley trail labeled; “Round Valley”.  You’ll also discover some long-forgotten gems like Jurassic, Bed Springs and my favorite, a trail named “Game Trail”.  On the back side are several color-coded elevation profiles and descriptions of various routes throughout the area.  This was a true adventure map, with no trail mileage or difficulty ratings and no topos to discern grade or elevation gain and loss.  Your only reference points were one of the many artist renderings- historical and non-historical landmarks including various mine buildings, the ”Old Car” in Round Valley, the “Water Tank” in Daly Canyon, along with the “Blue Dumpster” and “Junk Yard”.  

Two years later, at the turn of the century, our trail system was beginning to blossom.  The 2000 trail map mirrors this expansion, with miles of “purpose-built” trails like the newly completed- Spiro at Park City Mountain Resort, Lost Prospector high above the Rail Trail and Deer Valley Drive, and Rambler, Kari’s & High Side in Round Valley.  Also represented was an extensive lift-served system at Deer Valley with 45+ miles of trail along with sections of the Mid Mountain Trail, some complete and others still labeled “under construction”.  

Mountain Land Association of Governments or MAG, GIS coordinator, Andrew Woolly would produce those first few early cartographic efforts, before Trish Murphy Cone, also with MAG, would take the reins in 2003, beginning a 16-year run as designer/cartographer. There would be literally hundreds of miles of trail and thousands of acres of protected Open Space added to the map during that time.  Trish did a phenomenal job documenting that growth and understood the need for a detailed and accurate map.  Her passion for trails, wildlife, the open spaces that supported them and local history were obvious and always on display.  Her attention to detail and personal touches contributed in a big way to the map’s character and long-running success.  

I would literally have to write a novel to describe all the changes/additions that took place with the map over the next two decades, but here are a few of the major highlights to give you a sense of what was taking place:  

2005- includes the iconic Mid Mountain Trail in its entirety, a well-developed system in the Glenwild area, north of I-80, that included the Stealth trail, Cobblestone, 24-7 along with some early downhill, bike-only trails in the new, Bob’s Basin.  Rob’s, Collin’s & Ambush are complete, the Swaner Nature Preserve is highlighted, and several sponsored trail loops are identified, including the Glenwild Loop, Lost Prospector loop, the High Alpine Loop and the Town loop.  

2007- Flying Dog is complete at Glenwild along with new trail offerings at the Utah Olympic Park, including ????   conservation efforts were well under way and protected easements that enabled trail development would be highlighted and shown in the legend as “Protected Open Space”.

2009- the Old Town window of the map would be flipped to a “bottom up”, users’ perspective, in an effort to better represent the nearly 3,000 feet of vertical relief from Main Street to the Wasatch Crest.  

2011-  the now vast system would be broken down into six distinct, color-coded, trail area “windows”.  The map would also mirror wayfinding signage on the ground with newly added “Location Markers” in Round Valley, Glenwild, the Mid Mountain Trail and the Wasatch Crest.

2012/13-  Park City’s recent designation as “The World’s First IMBA Gold Level Ride Center” would be acknowledged on the cover along with new trail additions, Armstrong, Jenni’s and Pinecone Ridge 

2014- future ED, Lora Smith, would grace the cover, and the first “MTF Crew” photo would be added under the legend, the start of a new tradition

2017- MTF 25th anniversary map with many historical trail photos and acknowledgment of individuals who played a role in creating the PC trail system.  Freemason is new.    

2020- Bonanza Flat first appears on the map and includes the Blood’s Lake trail  

2021- with the continued expansion of our trail system into areas like Clark Ranch, Skyridge and Bonanza Flat, we transition into a 2-map, format.  Charlie’s 9K is complete along with the Lake Lackawaxen trail. 

2022- weather and tear-resistant paper is used for the first time, improving the durability of the map           

The map covers have always been an integral piece of the MTF map production.  They represent different trails users, uses and experiences as well as our local trail culture.  And what better way to show off our trails!  Over the years the covers would also acknowledge and memorialize individuals who played a major role in the trajectory of our organization and trails in general, including previous Executive Directors, Carol Potter and Charlie Sturgis and Basin Rec trails planner, Senta Beyers.  One year, we even did a cover of our trail crew on the Pulp Friction work site.  More recently, in an effort to maintain that organic, home-grown feel for the map, we have held a yearly cover-photo contest.  The map “panels” would be used to promote our long-running summer trail running series, trail etiquette and to recognize a quickly growing list of Adopt-A-Trail sponsors. We have packed a lot into those 27×36” pieces of paper.  

In 2019, Trish would retire from the “little” map production she helped create, and in 2020, with big shoes to fill, we would welcome cartographer, Jay Hill, to the team.  Jay brought with him 14 years of GIS experience working for the Utah Geological Survey branch of the DNR.  With a fresh set of eyes and a passion for mapping and mountain biking, Jay would tap into the latest technology to visually enhance the map, along with a renewed focus on emphasizing the trails, themselves.    

For 2023, we’ll have new trail additions including Mother Urban, Cyn City, Sparky, Change Reaction and Ripple at Deer Valley.  The accuracy of our trail files will be improved, and the background and trail colors will be enhanced to improve the overall look of the map.                    

While the demand for paper maps may not be what it once was, they remain a viable tool for those of us who prefer a physical, hands-on, reference.  You’ll still find the MTF map in bike shops, at the Chamber, on garage and office walls, and in backpacks.  Like our trail system, the map has always been a work in progress.  Looking through these maps in detail over the past week has been an eye-opening reminder of how much effort has gone into their creation, and that of our trail system.  As the saying goes, “It takes a village”, and there have been many villagers involved in this ongoing legacy.  We owe them all a great debt of gratitude.    

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Anthony

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Bookkeepr

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Resource Manager
435-655-5853

2022 Trail Crew

Alec Johnson

Candy Roland

Canyon Holdman

Dawson Frentheway

Derek deHass

Emil Harry

Emma Paden

Matt Jones

Mike Vakula

Sean Ward

Zach Strickland

Filed Under: Trail Report

February Trail Report

February 8, 2023 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

The Greatest (and deepest) Snow on Earth ™

You’ll rarely hear Parkites complain about a big winter and countless, deep, powder days (unless you live in Summit Park and don’t own a snowblower). We all “moved here for the winters and stayed for the summers,” after all.  And when four Utah ski resorts are reporting the most snowfall in North America, in January, you know that it’s a winter of epic proportions.  But is it possible to have too much of a good thing???  

As the first sustained period of high pressure since November settles in upon the Wasatch Back, those of us that work in the snow business are finally getting a little reprieve and a chance to catch our collective breathes. For the hearty individuals who work out in it – the snowplow operators, groomers, lift-mechanics, ski patrollers and the under-appreciated lifties, a winter like this can be extremely challenging. But it’s a challenge that we all embrace, despite shovel-weary arms and tired ski-legs. 

The MTF Winter Crew has had its own set of snow-related challenges this winter.  The snow gods, Urll and Boreas, chest-bumped and threw down a relentless sage-and-singletrack swallowing snowpack on the Round Valley trails, unlike anything I’ve seen since we started the grooming program 16 years ago.  And nearly all these storms have been accompanied by strong winds that have created dense, waist-to-head-high, wave-like drifting conditions that are hard on both the equipment and the operators.    

Burying a snowmobile multiple times in three-plus feet of snow can be a backbreaking, sweat-inducing, shovel-fest.  And leveling drifts with the cat often requires multiple passes and several hours behind the wheel. Our two grooming snowmobiles and the tracked 4-wheeler have all been out of commission at some point this winter.  And la Pantera Roja (our cat) has also been temporarily sidelined with mechanical issues, twice.  

Prior to the start of this epic season, our soon-to-be rookie groomers were questioning, why place so many PVC and fiberglass markers out on the trails, late fall?  Well, grasshoppers, it’s for rare years like this when one might actually lose the trail.  And THIS winter, trails have literally been lost, multiple times.  Grooming singletrack is a challenging enough endeavor, but in a year like this, the real challenge has been FINDING the singletrack, and in some cases, even the Nordic.    

Remember the Etch-A-Sketch you played with as a kid?  Shake it up, your artwork disappears, and you have a blank slate. That pretty much sums up the snow/wind effect on the singletrack this winter. Immediately after a storm passes, we typically do multiple packing laps with the snowmobile, and then a few more with the snowmobile/drag combo.  More often than not this year, our efforts have been obliterated, as storm after storm wipes the slate clean.  

Because of this year’s non-stop snow-train, part of our daily work plan has included post-storm snowshoeing or skinning the trails (along with a little help from our friends) armed with the TrailForks gps app, to make sure we’re actually “on-trail”. Kinda like leaving breadcrumbs for the snowmobile to follow.  All in the name of winter recreation.                       

So, the next time you’re grinning ear to ear after multiple, bottomless resort laps, a fast and firm fat bike ride, or a skate on perfectly groomed corduroy, be sure to thank those winter warriors who work tirelessly to make it all happen.  And DON’T forget the lifties.    

Enjoy these bluebird days and soak up some of that rare vitamin D, because February is typically one of the snowiest months of the year…   

Have a great one out there!

Support the Crew and Winter Grooming

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Anthony

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Bookkeepr

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Resource Manager
435-655-5853

2022 Trail Crew

Alec Johnson

Candy Roland

Canyon Holdman

Dawson Frentheway

Derek deHass

Emil Harry

Emma Paden

Matt Jones

Mike Vakula

Sean Ward

Zach Strickland

Filed Under: Trail News, Trail Report

Round Valley in the Winter 

January 5, 2023 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

Many moons ago, when we first dipped our toes into the winter recreational experiment, AKA,”Pilot Program”, that has evolved into the current Round Valley Winter Trails program, we really had no idea what we were building.  There were a lot of question marks in those early days with the biggest X-factor being that of the cold, white variety.  Would Round Valley hold enough snow to groom???  Climate change awareness and “Save Our Snow” forums at the time, added to the doubt.  

In those early years, we had one old, high-mileage, ex-resort snowmobile chained to the gate near Wyatt Earp on the Rail Trail, and a beat up, Yellowstone box drag parked beside it.  A short segment of the Rail Trail along with a trail around the tennis courts at Solamere, were the only things being groomed in town those days beyond the Nordic Center.  I was pretty green to Mountain Trails at the time and as part of my new, year-round role, our director, Carol Potter, along with some fine folks at the City, encouraged me to pursue winter trails, with the Round Valley open space being the low-hanging, snow-covered fruit.  

Soon we would buy our first new snowmobile, a cleaner and quieter, 4-stroke with electric start, no less, and the city would purchase a grooming drag from a company called Tidd Tech out of Winter Park Co.  The learning curve was a quick one, with a big winter, a lot of flailing, getting stuck, shoveling out, cursing, rinse, and repeat.  But we were off and running with several kilometers of groomed trail, utilizing the old Round Valley jeep roads, and soon, some newly built soft-surface trails.

The early success was taken to a new level in 2009/10, when the City purchased a brand spanking new Piston Bully 100 cat(la Pantera Roja) to replace their old cat.  I was given a quick, two-hour, crash-course on intricacies of cat-driving by the crusty old City parks manager, Dave Urban, and we were off to the winter rodeo… until I ran out of gas on day one, in the furthest reaches of the inner valley, and as far away from fuel supply as I could be.  Sigh… it seems that during my two-hour training sesh, I missed the chapter about the fuel gauge.

In 2010, local outdoor rec icon and super-hero, Charlie Sturgis was at the helm, and with his background operating the White Pine Nordic Center, we took the Round Valley grooming program to the next level.  We would “up our level of service” as Charlie liked to say.  Soon we were grooming 20Km of trail daily, and as one long-time local who flagged me down in the cat described it… “you are creating joy”.  Well, it doesn’t get much better than that!    

Mountain Trails would attempt to organize a Nordic race/fundraiser, beginning in 2011- the infamous Round Valley Round-Up. Year one brought white-out, blizzard conditions and near frost bite.  Years two and three offered unseasonably warm conditions, slurpy-like snow, and numerous water features to negotiate- pond skimming on skinny skis.  We decided the event was cursed and reluctantly pulled the plug.      

During the winters of 2016 & 17, our good friend, Alex Stoy, purveyor of joy, would join the grooming team of two. With his glass half-full enthusiasm, creative wit and offbeat sense of humor, Alex would take the simple concept of a grooming report to a whole new realm, one that we’re still trying to emulate.  Suddenly, a contingency of loyal followers were eagerly awaiting the latest caffeine-induced, early morning report, complete with great photos and “Stoyisms”.

About that same time, fat biking was starting to take off and Mountain Trails was one of the first orgs to groom singletrack for this new user group.  Early on, we were using our big, clunky, grooming snowmobile with an old, weighted-down spare Suburban tire in tow.  We still occasionally use that same tire, but we now have a stealth and light, yet powerful, singletrack snowmobile- Little Red, and multiple grooming implements for varying conditions.  

Throughout this wild ride, we have experienced some great snow years, and some dismal ones.  There have been wind events that would bury the trails in wave-like, 5-foot tall drifts, and many years that we were fighting all winter to hang on to a 2-inch base.  

We have seen some of the most stunningly beautiful sunrises and bluebird days, along with vertigo-inducing, flat-light days, where you felt like you were floating in the Land of Oz.  And numerous wildlife sightings including the resident elk herd, coyotes, golden eagles and moose are always a highlight of the early mornings.           

More recently, we’ve added “ski only” areas like Land Of Oz and Hanscom’s Hollow, along with many miles of year-round singletrack.  Through necessity, we have added winter staff, and additional equipment.  

One thing for certain, the world’s largest dog park, Round Valley, remains a unique and spectacular environment for winter recreation, wildlife viewing, human interaction and of course, the spreading of joy.  And none of this would be possible without the generous support of the local community.  As the faded old sign on the cat window says, we are literally “fueled by your donations”.      

So, circling back to the original question… will Round Valley hold snow?  16 years in, as we contend with nearly 3 feet of snow to kick off the new year, I think we can put that one to rest.  

Wishing you all a healthy and joyous New Year filled with many miles (and Km’s) of smiles.      

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Anthony

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Bookkeepr

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Resource Manager
435-655-5853

2022 Trail Crew

Alec Johnson

Candy Roland

Canyon Holdman

Dawson Frentheway

Derek deHass

Emil Harry

Emma Paden

Matt Jones

Mike Vakula

Sean Ward

Zach Strickland

Filed Under: Trail Report

Trails Report Early Winter ’22-’23

December 9, 2022 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

To coin a Gumpism, Park City winters are like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re going to get. Thus far, this early-season, we’ve managed to snag the salted caramel, with a solid, white-chocolate coating. Thanks to early November storms and cold temps, we were able to get the snowball rolling, grooming nearly 15 Km of high-alpine Nordic track in beautiful Bonanza Flat- the earliest start for our winter trails program, ever! Add to that, improved accessibility to Bonanza, thanks to our trail partners, Park City Municipal and Utah Open Lands, who fired up the winter version of the Transit to Trails program, shuttling snowshoers, skiers, fat-bikers, and four-legged friends up to Empire Pass.

The transition from summer ops to winter was a brief one this season, as we were just wrapping up trail projects in late October. Winter trails prep consists of installing literally hundreds of PVC/rebar and fiberglass markers on nearly 50 km of Nordic track and 25 miles of singletrack we maintain. We perform this ritual each fall in anticipation of a big, phat, winter, where losing the trail is a distinct possibility. Other pre-groom work includes trimming back the upper tree branches, clearing deadfall, and mowing the tall grasses and encroaching sage to ensure the best snow-surface possible.

This year’s MTF winter trails team will consist of first-year, summer trail crew members; Matt Jones and Sean Ward, along with Alec Johnson returning for his second winter. Derek DeHaas and super-hero, Todd Henneman, will round out the team, lending a hand as needed. We’re stoked to have these guys on-board for what’s shaping up to be a stellar winter.

What’s New?

Fat Heads rejoice! New, this season, we’ve added the farm-fresh Sparky trail at Clark Ranch to the mix, for 3.5 miles of groomed fatty-flow and snowshoe fun. With the Big Easy loop in Round Valley, now complete, we’ll also be grooming the entire 6-mile loop for your rolling and strolling (when firm) pleasure.

Nordic Skiing

We’ll continue grooming Bonanza through the weekend of December 18th and potentially later in the spring. And of course, we’ll be grooming all the usual suspects in Round Valley and Clark Ranch as well as the Rail Trail from Bonanza to Hwy 248. While we will not be able to groom the entire Land of Oz this year (a large chunk of it has been tilled) we should be able to milk 3-4km out of it. The Green Heart 5K, accessed from Willow Creek Park, will be in play again this year as well. We are incredibly fortunate to be able to access these agricultural easements for winter recreation but there is some give and take with that privilege.

Winter Trail Updates

As always, we’ll be posting daily grooming updates on our Facebook page and website. For a visual look at what cord and classic has been set, be sure to check out our interactive map.

Tune in to KPCW daily at 7:20am for the Mountain Trails, Wasatch Trails and Basin Rec regional winter trail report. 

Etiquette

Winter etiquette is all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Round Valley in the winter is an amazing, grand, socio-recreational experiment that has functioned incredibly well for nearly 15 years. Yes, we are seeing more use, and it’s not to say we don’t have the occasional bad player or two, but for the most part, everyone, be it a hiker, fat biker, dog walker or skate skier, all get along swimmingly, or is that skatingly? We at Mountain Trails have made a concerted effort to separate uses where possible, with trails like the Big Easy (fat bike), Hanscom’s Hollow and Land of Oz (ski only) and that has no doubt, improved the user experience for everyone.

Some general winter etiquette tips:

Fat Bikes– If you are creating a rut deeper than one inch, conditions are too soft. Try lowering your tire pressure (2-5psi) or turn around. #RutsSuck!

Foot Traffic– Please stay to the outside edge, opposite the classic lanes, on the wide-groomed Nordic track and avoid blocking the trail. Don’t run or hike on the singletrack if you are leaving a footprint deeper than 1-inch. Especially just after a storm. Consider taking the snowshoes out for a tromp instead.

Skiers- Contrary to summer bike etiquette, skate skiers trending in the uphill direction must yield to the downhill skiers. Round Valley is NOT a Nordic center. Please slow down at busy intersections and when passing other trail users, pass with patience. 

Dogs – Maintain control of, and keep your pups within sight, at all times. Pick up after them (including tossing sticks/sage off-trail) and do not leave poop bags lying on the trail. There are 14 trash cans spread out throughout Round Valley, please use them!

Support The Crew and Winter Grooming

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Anthony

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Bookkeepr

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Resource Manager
435-655-5853

2022 Trail Crew

Alec Johnson

Candy Roland

Canyon Holdman

Dawson Frentheway

Derek deHass

Emil Harry

Emma Paden

Matt Jones

Mike Vakula

Sean Ward

Zach Strickland

Filed Under: Support, Trail News, Trail Report

2022 ANNUAL TRAIL REPORT: A BIG Summer for Trails

November 7, 2022 by Rick Fournier, Field Manager

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…    

MEET MORE OF THE TEAM

Meet the Team

We are passionate about the Park City Trail System.

Lora Anthony

Lora@MountainTrails.org
Executive Director

Rick Fournier

Rick@MountainTrails.org
Field Manager

Ginger Wicks

Ginger@MountainTrails.org
Bookkeepr

Ian Hartley

ian@MountainTrails.org
Resource Manager
435-655-5853

2022 Trail Crew

Alec Johnson

Candy Roland

Canyon Holdman

Dawson Frentheway

Derek deHass

Emil Harry

Emma Paden

Matt Jones

Mike Vakula

Sean Ward

Zach Strickland

Filed Under: Trail News, Trail Report

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