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Traildemic to Bicentenial Loop
North Fork Park
This page describes the Bicentennial and Traildemic trails, found at the
northern end of Ogden Valley's North Fork Park. The expected riding season
is June through October. The trails lie at an elevation of 5700 to 6300
feet. This page describes a counter-clockwise ride that uses the entire
length of both trails.
Looking west on the lower Bicentennial trail. Trail
review and photos by Bruce on August 13,
2021.
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| The bottom of both trails can be reached from the northern
campground via a short jaunt on dirt road (see map). The uphill sides of
these trails is found by pedaling to the Cutler Flat group area and
pavilion after parking along the main North Fork Park road.
You can also connect through from the 365 trailhead at the
southern end of the riding area by using Mule Ear, Cinch, or Mule
Connector. My ride description will use the shortest version of the ride,
starting at the Mule Loop trailhead on the
northern North Fork Park road.
This is the Pavilion. It's a critical landmark to riding this
area. |
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Start at the Mule Ear trailhead, 1.8 miles up the North
Fork Park road. Find the connector trail at the northwest corner, then
turn left uphill when it hits the Mule Ear trail.
Cross the gravel road.
Next, cross over the Mule Connector trail (a right turn
here would take you down to the lower parking area). Head uphill 0.1 miles
on the combined Mule Ear and Cutler's Twist
trails.
Looking uphill as we climb the newly-rebuilt Mule Ear
toward the fork with Cutler's Twist. |
| Fork to the right as Cutler's Twist leaves Mule Ear.
Cutler's Twist will head north and arrive at the group area (the
pavilion) at mile 0.5 from the trailhead. Cross the first doubletrack. As
you reach the second gravel road, cross over, then quickly fork left onto
the Traildemic trail.
We're now heading east on the Traildemic trail in a
forest of fern, aspen, and maple.
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Traildemic
Traildemic was built in the year of the pandemic, as you might guess.
It's an engineered machine-cut with a reasonable grade. There are banked
turns good for descending or climbing. Many riders choose to use
Traildemic as their climbing trail, even though this page describes it as
a descent.
Contouring the hillside as we descend the gentle
slope of Traildemic. |
| Traildemic is 1.5 miles in length, with 250 vertical feet of
elevation loss west to east. It's a trail that's suitable for experienced
beginners as an out-and-back. (The loop ride with Bicentenial has pitches
that will be long hike-a-bikes for beginners.)
Gentle rollers on machined trail, designed to shed
water. We're in a thick maple forest.
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After contouring around the hill, Traildemic again heads
east, just above Cutler Creek. Enjoy a cool cruise in this flat area of
aspen, maple, and fern.
Heading east alongside Cutler Creek. |
| At mile 1.1 of Traildemic (mile 1.6 of the ride), keep left
as a trail heads uphill on your right. This spur climbs 100 yards to a
group area (there's a bathroom here).
Stay left and cross Cutler Creek.
The group area at the top of the trail spur. If you
see this, you took the wrong side of the trail fork.
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From the creek crossing, it's 0.4 miles of forested riding
to reach the intersection with Bicentennial and the North Fork Ogden River
dirt road. At mile 2.0 of the ride, keep to the left to begin
Bicentennial.
The dirt road just a few feet away at the base of Bicentennial goes
uphill to Middle Fork, and downhill to the campground. It can be used as a
bailout route back to the trailhead (see map).
Thick tall ferns surround the trail as we weave
through aspen and maple forest. |
| Bicentennial Trail
The Bicentennial Trail is 1.8 miles long; 2.4 if you're counting the
doubletrack portion called Cutler Creek. The trail has some brutal climbs,
so it's recommended for strong upper-intermediates or expert riders.
You'll be gaining 600 vertical feet over the first 1.2 miles of this
trail.
Looking at the entry to the Bicentennial trail from
the North Fork Ogden River Road (dirt road). The Traildemic trail can be
seen joining on the left as Bicentennial curves around to the right.
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The trail starts out mellow on a newly-rebuilt section.
After 0.2 miles of Bicentennial, keep left uphill. The right fork is the
old trail that runs up the bottom of the canyon.
At mile 0.4, the old trail will cross over. Stay straight on the new
route. At mile 0.5 from the origin of Bicentennial, the new trail-cut ends
on the old route, and things get tougher.
New trailcut during the lower climb on Bicentennial. |
| Some areas of the trail will be a bit trenched. There will
be an occasional root to clear. At times, dust and loose rock will make
climbing difficult.
Finding the climbing a bit stiffer as we proceed
westward.
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At mile 0.7 of Bicentennial (mile 2.7 of the ride), pass the
top of the Middle Fork trail on your right.
This is the uphill trail junction between
Bicentennial
and Middle Fork. We're looking north down Middle
Fork from Bicentennial. |
| The Bicentennial trail is 99% forested. There are only a
couple of spots where you can see any sort of view.
A rare break-out view from the ridgeline on
Bicentennial. We're looking north up North Fork Canyon.
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The riding gets even tougher now. You'll gain 300 feet of
elevation over the next 0.6 miles of Bicentennial.
The Bicentennial trail works its way to the top of a
ridgeline as it proceeds to the west. |
| At the ride's highest point (6330 feet by my Garmin) there's
a wide spot and a sign where you can pull over and rest up.
Rest stop at the ride's highest elevation.
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Now descend 0.4 miles to the Long Loop tail junction. You're
now at mile 3.4 of the ride, with around 2 miles to go. Consider a loop down
Long Loop and up Middle Fork to add a few miles to your ride!
From the Long Loop trail fork, keep left to descend Bicentennial down
to Cutler Creek.
Dropping down Bicentennial after passing the Long
Loop fork. |
| You can splash through the river at the horse crossing, or
continue a bit back uphill to reach the crossing bridge.
The bridge. Weight limit 300 pounds. How much do you
plus your big e-bike weigh?
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Cutler Creek
After a short run downhill along the creek, Bicentennial joins the
Cutler Creek doubletrack at mile 3.8 of the ride; mile 1.8 of
Bicentennial. Keep straight and downhill.
Looking back uphill at the junction between
Bicentennial and Cutler Creek. |
| After a bit of descending, Cutler Creek will begin to climb
again. When you see a singletrack on your right, it's a short alternate
route that will rejoin the DT soon.
Cranking east on the doubletrack.
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As Cutler Creek DT reaches the pavilion, find the Cutler's
Twist trail on your right to return to the trailhead.
The alternate ST leaves the DT to meander up through
the fir forest. |
| Cutler's Twist / Mule Shoe option
Or, as you pass the pavilion and reach Cutler's
Twist, turn to the left. Immediately go right at the singletrack fork
and drop down Cutler's Twist to Mule Shoe and climb
back uphill to the TH. This is a fun loop of 2.3 miles with 250 feet of
climbing. It will add only 1.8 miles to your ride.
Climbing the newly-recut section of Mule Shoe from
the bottom of Cutler's Twist.
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Riding notes, lariat ride from Mule TH:
0.0 Find trail on northwest corner
Immediate L uphill on Mule Ear
0.1 Cross road, then cross Mule Connector
0.2 R on Cutler's Twist
0.5 Cross DT, cross 2nd DT
At ST trail fork, go L on Traildemic
1.6 Keep L (R = to group area)
2.0 L on Bicentenial
2.7 Keep straight (R = Middle Fork)
3.4 Keep L (R = Long Loop)
3.7 Join Cutler Creek, keep straight
4.5 Pavilion, find Cutler's Twist for return
R uphill for quick return, 5 miles total
or L for full Cutler's Twist and Mule Shoe
climb for 6.8 miles
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| Getting there: Go up
Ogden Canyon. (From the north on I-15, take the 12th South Ogden exit and
head east on Highway 39. From the south, exit I-15 on US 89. Pass I-84 and
climb up the hill, then turn right on Harrison Blvd. Continue on Harrison
until you hit U-39 and turn R toward Ogden Canyon.) Turn left across the
dam at Pineview Reservoir. At the stop sign in Eden, turn left. Turn left
at the stop sign in Liberty. After about 1/4 mile, take the next right.
Just after you cross the river, veer left toward North Fork Park.
Mule Ear trailhead (recommended): Turn left
again at the North Fork Park sign. At the campground entry gate, you can
turn left into the 365 Trail trailhead for a longer ride. To park at the
Mule Loop trailhead, go
1.8 miles on the main North Fork Park road from where you turned off the main road. Look for a the
trailhead sign on your right. Pull into the little loop and park. Connect to the trail on the northwest side of
the parking area.
Traditional road-fork entry: Pass the
first entrance into the North Fork Park (on your left). Go another mile up
the road and turn left at the second entry N41 22.986 W111 54.298. Fork
left at the T intersection. When you reach a hairpin turn with a gate at
the apex (north side) of the turn, N41 22.979 W111 55.187, you're there.
There's a singletrack on the right as you face the gate. That's a shortcut
for a counterclockwise loop. Ignore it. Take the singletrack that sneaks around the left side
of the gate, then climb the soft cindered DT up to the pavilion area.
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