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Bald Mountain Backside Loop (Parley's Great Western)
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This loop ties the Great Western Trail from Big Mountain
Pass to Jeremy Ranch east of Parley's Summit, using the East Canyon Road
and the Mormon Trail in Little Emigration Canyon to complete a
19.4-mile
loop. This loop is for strong, experienced riders who can handle some
stiff climbs and descend in occasional loose rock. Many bikers ride a
portion of the Great Western, starting at Big Mountain Pass, as an
out-and-back.
View from the top of Bald Mountain,
looking town at Little Dell and Mountain Dell Reservoirs, with Parley's
Canyon (left) and Emigration Canyon (right). Photos by Bruce,
August 30, 2002.
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| The Great Western has a lot of up-and-down. Although the
altitude at the towers is 300 feet lower than that of Big Mountain Pass,
you'll do almost 2000 vertical feet of climbing between these two points.
The trail follows the ridges and mountain peaks that separate the Salt
Lake valley from the Park City area. You'll climb over 5 hills, around 400
vertical feet each time. For the loop as described here, peak
altitude is 7900 feet, bottom 6100. Total climbing will be around 3500
feet.
Near the northern end of the Great
Western (GWT) by Big Mountain Pass, mahogany sets berries in small trees
that crown the trail under the quaking aspen.
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You can also ride the trail as an out-and-back from Big
Mountain Pass to the microwave towers. This will be 15.2 miles. I've done
this, and I think it's actually more work than dropping into the
valley and climbing back up the Mormon Trail. But it's a really nice ride
if you can handle it.
A citizen of Bald Mountain catches
some early morning rays. Horned toads are plentiful along the trail. I
also saw a bull moose with full rack, cow moose, coyote, and a curious
vulture that kept coming back to hover 50 feet over my head. (Might have
been the smell, or maybe he thought I wasn't going to make it back.)
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| Much of the ridgeline ride is maple and aspen with an
occasional fir. The understory features fern, mahogany, choke cherry, and
elderberry. In open areas, there are mule's ear, lupine, and brush.
It's not all brutal up and spooky
down. There are long stretches of ridgeline such as this one. Elderberry
bushes are close by at right, with current bushes up ahead.
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The area around Bald Mountain is rocky and rough. Around
mid-day, a violent wind blows cross-wise over this ridgeline, adding to
the challenge of riding. There are many tough granny-gear climbs. Probably
the worst is coming back (northbound) up Bald Mountain if you're riding
the trail as an out-and-back.
Nearing Parley's Canyon, we're going
to turn east and drop down to Jeremy Ranch.
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| As the trail turns east towards Jeremy Ranch, the trees get
bigger. You cruise downhill on a broad, shaded trail. The trail will touch
on civilization at Moose Hollow, then move on northeast to the East Canyon
Road on narrow singletrack over a brush-covered hillside.
Looking down the trail, we're mid-way
between the microwave towers and Jeremy Ranch. |
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Getting there, Jeremy's or Little Emigration Trailhead:
Take I-80 eastbound from Salt Lake. Just after Parley's
Summit, take the Jeremy Ranch exit and turn north (left) under the freeway.
Keep straight onto Jeremy Ranch Drive and continue until the
road turns sharply around to the right, where you'll see the dirt East Canyon Road
branching the left. You can park here, or drive 4.9 miles up the dirt road until you see the parking area for the
Mormon Trail (and picnic tables and a bathroom) on your left. GPS N 40° 48.944' W 111° 35.080'.
Getting there, Big Mountain Pass Trailhead: On I-80 in Parley's Canyon, take
the Little Dell Recreation Area (U-65) exit. From the exit, drive uphill 8
miles to the top of the pass, then park on the right side of the road at GPS N 40° 49.687' W 111°
39.244'. The trail begins on the far side of the parking area, heading
uphill.
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Ride notes, counter-clockwise loop from Big Mountain Pass:
0.0 At the far end of the parking lot, trail heads uphill
0.8 Crest ridge and begin first descent
1.5 Cross broad meadow of Mule's Ear
2.0 Crest ridge, 7900 ft, start descent to 7500
2.3 Stiff climb up to Bald Mountain
3.5 Top of Bald Mountain, 7900 ft, N 40°
47.547' W 111° 38.924'
begin steep loose rock descent
4.5 Climb up from 7400 ft
5.0 Briefly join fire road, descend
5.1 Pass branching trail on R (descends ridge towards Little Dell)
N 40° 46.418' W 111°
38.951'
6.0 Cross game trail on saddle, start climbing up again
6.5 At crest of hill, keep straight (L goes 0.2 to viewpoint)
N 40° 45.783' W 111°
38.238' Alt 7800
7.6 Microwave towers, singletrack goes to R of structures
Joins gravel road
7.7 At first turn in road, hop singletrack on L, heading east
9.0 Fork "Main"gy Moose, turn R onto Switchback Trail
N 40° 45.789' W 111°
36.009'
9.4 Go L as ST joins doubletrack
N 40° 45.754' W 111°
35.898' Alt 7000
9.8 Trail hits paved road at Moose Hollow gate (Saddleback)
Find continuing trail across
road on your left
N 40° 45.777' W 111° 35.559' Alt
6750
10.2 Fork hard L N 40° 45.713' W 111° 35.419'
10.8 L onto paved bike trail on Jeremy Ranch Road
N 40° 46.000' W 111° 35.015' Alt
6250
10.9 L onto gravel East Canyon Road
14.8 L into parking area for Mormon Trail
Lift bike over fence, trail crosses
creek
19.4 Arrive back at Big Mountain Pass |
The uphill on the Mormon Trail in
Little Emigration Canyon is a fairly steady climb on reasonably buff
trail. |
Helpful note: If you need supplies (food, drink,
whatever) in mid-ride, drop straight down Saddleback where the trail intersects
paved road at mile 9.8. At Jeremy Ranch Road, turn R, go 1/2 mile south, then
turn L and ride 1/4 mile to the Jeremy Ranch Store near the freeway interchange.
Backtrack on Jeremy Ranch Road to arrive at the East Canyon road. This will add
about 2 miles to your ride, but it means you won't have to haul all the water
and calories you'll need to get back up Little Emigration Canyon.
Copyright 2002 Mad Scientist Software Inc
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