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Armstrong Trail
The Armstrong Trail shares a trailhead with Spiro, just north of Park
City Mountain Resort (PCMR). This is an uphill-only trail. Commit to the
full ride, or don't start uphill. The climbing is sustained but not steep
-- most riders won't need the granny gear. It's
pretty easy by Park City standards, suitable for strong advanced-beginners
or conditioned intermediates.
View east toward Park City about 3
miles into the ride. Photos and description August 30, 2011 by Bruce. |
| The Armstrong Trail is 4 miles long, with 1300 vertical feet
elevation change. Top altitude is 8150 feet at the Midmountain Trail just
below Iron Mountain. Because Armstrong is one-way, you need to add some
trails and some additional climbing to complete a ride. (Note: If you're
doing a southbound ride past Spiro, be sure to have a GPS track or a
current Park City trails map. The complex trail system can be confusing.)
Starting out from the trail fork with
Spiro. Bushes and grass quickly give way to oak, then maple.
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The Armstrong Trail has a gentler grade than Spiro. It also
has more twists and turns, and is generally a more-interesting trail to
ride. For riders intending to go northbound on Midmountain, it will cut a
mile off the distance.
For southbound Midmountain riders, the climb via Armstrong adds three
miles when compared to Spiro, and will add about 200 extra
vertical.
Mining ruins along the trail as we
begin the climb. |
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The shortest ride using the Armstrong Trail is a loop that drops away
on HAM to descend Spiro. This loop is 6 miles, with 1100 vertical feet of
climbing. A larger loop climbs to the top of Armstrong, adds two miles of southbound Midmountain Trail,
descends on the Spiro Trail. This is our featured ride.
Watch out for hikers and dogs. You'll see plenty of these on Armstrong
and Spiro, even on weekdays.
Like Spiro, the trail quickly becomes
shaded by deep conifer forest alternating with aspen and maple.
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Armstrong to Spiro Loop (10 miles):
From the PCMR parking lot, this ride is exactly 10
miles long with just over 1600 total feet of climbing. Start at the parking lot on the north side
of PCMR. Exit the north end of the parking lot, and angle across Silver
King Drive northbound to continue north on Three Kings Drive. Take the
next left and climb Crescent Drive. Just as the road veers left, turn
right into a gravel road and spot the singletrack trail on your left.
Looking southwest at the ski lift as
we cross Thaynes Canyon. |
| Begin climbing on the combined Spiro/Armstrong trail. About
200 yards up the hill, the trail will split. Keep straight (right) for the
Armstrong Trail. There will be NO trail forks now (at least, as of 2011)
until you reach the Midmountain Trail.
Typical climbing turn as we switchback
our way up the slopes of Iron Mountain.
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At mile 1.8, the trail will cross the meadow in the bottom
of Thaynes Canyon, just downhill from the ski lift. It will now begin a
series of switchback climbs as it ascends the mountain.
The corners are more "climbing turns" than switchbacks. It's
pretty easy to power up and around. No tricky stuff. At mile 3.7, keep
right as HAM forks left to descend to Spiro. (Bail on HAM if you need the
shorter 6-mile ride.)
The trail has short up-and-downs and
twists, which helps it shed water. In its first year, the surface is
already nicely packed and buff. |
| As you reach Midmountain at mile 4.5, fork left. (Right will
take you up and over Iron Canyon Pass. It will be 7 miles from the fork before the next
opportunity to descend.)
After two miles on Midmountain, keep left and downhill as Spiro forks
away. There will be some intersecting trails as you descend. Just follow
the signs. Stay left at the forks except for HAM, where you'll stay right. You'll arrive
back at the Spiro/Armstrong fork at mile 9.4 and drop down to the
pavement.
At the apex of a turn, we break out of
the forest to see views of the Park City Mountain Resort ski slopes to the
south.
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Option: Loop through Park City Mountain Resort (Johns), 15.7 miles
(includes 2.6 mile road return), 1800 vertical Armstrong-Johns-Gravedigger
ride track
4.5 L on Midmountain
6.4 L, immediate R on Midmountain at Spiro Fork
9.3 Keep downhill (L), leave Midmountain
Cross open area east to Johns
at 9.5
(Just to R of crest of ridge)
11.2 Keep R to Gravedigger
11.7 Cross Johns99, southbound on Gravedigger
12.2 Stay L downhill
13.1 L downhill on Daley Canyon Rd into town
Higher up, as aspens temporarily
replace the fir trees. |
| Option: Loop through Park City Mountain Resort (Johns99),
13.2 miles (includes 1.4 mile road return), 1750 vertical Armstrong-Johns99
track
4.5 L on Midmountain
6.4 L, immediate R on Midmountain at Spiro Fork
9.3 Keep downhill (L), leave Midmountain
Cross open area then R on DT at
9.5
Join Johns99 at 9.6
10.0 Stay L, veer to west then back northeast
10.8 Cross Gravedigger, head northeast
11.8 Hit pavement, turn L head north to parking
We've reached the Midmountain Trail at
8150 feet. This is the view to the east. |
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Option: Loop through Deer Valley Resort, 19.2
miles (includes 2.0 mile road return), 2100 vertical Armstrong to Deer
Valley Track
4.5 L on Midmountain
6.4 L, immediate R on Midmountain at Spiro Fork
9.3 L downhill then R 150 degrees on Midmountain
10.2 Stay R uphill on MM
10.8 Straight on MM at Link
11.7 Stay on MM at TG, pass around lift
12.4 Straight (L) and downhill at Tour de Suds
12.8 Straight (L) and down at Team Big Bear
13.2 Stay R uphill
14.0 Lift area, keep L
17.2 Descend to DV road, north into city
Heading south and gently downhill on
Midmountain. We'll meet Spiro as the trail reaches the valley. |
| Option: Loop to Tour de Suds, Deer Camp, Naildriver, and
Deer Crest, 23.7 miles (includes 2.6 mile road return), 3000 vertical
Track
File for this ride
4.5 L on Midmountain
6.4 L, immediate R on Midmountain at Spiro Fork
9.3 L downhill then R 150 degrees on Midmountain
10.2 Stay R uphill on MM
10.8 Straight on MM at Link
11.7 Stay on MM at TG, pass around lift
12.4 R uphill onto Tour de Suds
13.2 L on gravel road
13.7 L again
Heading east from the Spiro-Midmountain
junction.
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(continued...)
13.8 Find ST (Team Big Bear) L side of road, eastbound
14.1 R on Flagstaff
15.2 Keep toward Bald Mtn on Deer Camp
15.6 Stay R, aim for Bald Mtn
15.9 L on Nail Driver, descend
17.9 At lift, head to DT south (R) of buildings
18.1 Cross paved road, climb up to ST
Follow Four Point NE to
Deer Crest
19.9 Stay R uphill
20.1 L downhill
20.5 Straight and down
21.1 Descend to pavement, follow streets back
On Midmountain heading toward Park
City Mountain Resort, we pass a bench overlooking the city. |
| Option: Loop northbound through The Canyons Resort
(Holly's), 19.1 miles (includes 4.3-mile pavement return), 2200
vertical Armstrong-Holly's
Track File
4.5 R (north) on Midmountain
6.8 L uphill on MM (2010 bypass)
7.7 L westbound on MM
11.5 R on DT, L on DT down, find ST on L
14.8 Into resort roads, head downhill
15.9 R, find Olympic paved trail for return
Further along the trail, we begin to
see the slopes and buildings of Deer Valley Resort to the south. |
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Option: Loop northbound to Robs Trail, 22.2 miles
(includes 5.2-mile pavement return), 2400 vertical Armstrong-Rob's
Track
4.5 R (north) on Midmountain
6.8 L uphill on MM (2010 bypass)
7.7 L westbound on MM
11.5 Cross DT to find MM ST
13.4 Keep R on MM at Crest connector
14.6 R downhill on Robs at Hunter
14.9 L on Robs at Ambush
16.2 L downhill
17.0 R on pavement, follow streets / Olympic paved trail
After climbing Tour de Suds on the BIG
loop, we're heading southeast on Deer Camp at 9000 feet. |
Small Loop down Spiro, 10 miles with 1600 vertical
Track file, loop w Spiro
0.0 Leave parking to N, cross to Three Kings
Dr
0.3 L uphill on Crescent
0.4 R to gravel area, L onto ST
0.5 R on Armstrong
4.5 L on Midmountain
6.4 L downhill, keep L onto Spiro
7.7 Keep R (L = HAM)
Now keep L at Eagle and Silver
Spur
9.4 Back at Armstrong fork, R
10.0 Parking
On the big loop, I've descended
Naildriver and rolled onto Deer Crest. We're looking north. We'll be
descending toward the parking lot just above the ridge on the right.
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Getting there: In Park City, follow the signs
to Park City Mountain Resort. As you see the first parking area, turn in
and park there. Now ride your bike back out onto Silver King Drive,
heading west (uphill, toward the mountain, and the way you were heading
when you first saw the parking lot). Turn right onto Three Kings. The next left will be Crescent Drive. The trail is
the singletrack next to the gravel road where Crescent Drive turns left. N 40°
39.390' W 111° 30.895'
Parking: Not at trailhead! Use north Park City
Resort lot.
Water: None at trailhead.
Bathrooms: None.
Bike services: Multiple in Park City, includes rentals
Camping: Hailstone on US 40 |
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