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Powder Mountain West Trails
Brittain's Ribbon, Woody's World, and Paper Airplane
with GBPB and Baggage Claim connectionsWhile the Brim
trail is well-known, Powder Mountain has a full system that's a hit with
locals. This page
covers the western trails, consisting of (from north to south): (1) Brittain's
Ribbon, (2) Doctor's Dozen doubletrack, and south of Powder Ridge Road (3) Woody's
World, (4) Paper Airplane, (5) Baggage Claim, and (6) GBPB connector. The riding season is mid June through
September.
View southeast, with a bit of Pineview Reservoir
sneaking into view. Photos and ride review of Woody's World June 2016 by Bruce.
Latest update September 2021. |
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Brittain's Ribbon runs from the Powder Mountain Lodge to the
Hidden Lake Lodge. It can be either a climbing or descending route. Both
ends can be reached by car, so a shuttled downhill is a viable option. The
trail is 2.0 miles long, starting at an elevation of 8250 feet and climbing
to 8850. When climbing, there's a bit of descending and traverse, bringing
the total vertical closer to 700 feet.
Early in the ride climbing up Brittain's Ribbon,
we're traversing the steep hillside through stands of fir. |
| The trail begins to the left of the lower lodge. Take the
doubletrack (which is the bottom of Doctor's
Dozen), and as the DT turns
to the right at the upper corner of the lodge, turn to the right onto the
winding singletrack.
The climbing turns in the steeper areas tend to be wide in radius,
requiring a bit of leg and momentum. In the other direction, they're
swooping bermed rail-em's that area a lot of fun. That's why most riders
use Brittain's Ribbon as a downhill.
After a set of climbing turns, at mile 1.0 we're
crossing a ridge and heading in a long traverse over to the cross-over
with Doctor's Dozen.
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Brittain's Ribbon crosses the gravel-road portion of
Doctor's Dozen at mile 1.4 from the bottom, 0.6 miles from the top. Just
west of the crossover is a doubletrack connector down to Powder Ridge
Road. There's a singletrack in the middle, to your right, that crosses the
paved road to connect to Woody's World. If you miss it, 100 feet downhill on the paved road is
the spur over to Woody's World.
Most of the terrain here is low scrub and flowers,
with tiny patches of fir and aspen. The views are constant. Here we're
looking north into Wellsville Creek Canyon. |
| The top 0.1 mile of Brittain's Ribbon is a steep doubletrack
at this time. If you're starting from the uphill end at the Hidden Lake
Lodge, go to the right (east) of the building. The doubletrack will fork.
Go left and pass between the lift and the lodge going westbound. Find the
singletrack on your right 1/10th mile downhill.
Beginning the final grunt up to the top. You can see
the lift on the ridgeline at upper right. (The lodge itself is just out of
sight to the right of the lift canopy.)
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Doctor's Dozen Doubletrack |
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The western end of Doctor's Dozen begins on the left side of
the Powder Mountain lodge as doubletrack. Veer to the right after passing
the lodge, then climb the dirt road. There's little to recommend on this
end of the trail, so you could be forgiven if you take Brittain's Ribbon
uphill to where it intersects Doctor's Dozen. The doubletrack portion of
Doctor's Dozen is 1.3 miles long and boringly straight. You'll climb 350
vertical feet then descend 250 vertical before hitting the singletrack
near Hidden Lake.
View southwest to Mount Ogden.
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| Climb 0.7 miles with 350 vertical feet of elevation gain. On
the ridge, a doubletrack heads down to the paved Powder Ridge road. (This
spur allows you to connect to upper Woody's World. Jog downhill on
pavement about 100 feet, then cross to the downhill side of the road to
find the spur to Woody's.)
Just as the gravel road begins to go downhill, Brittain's Ribbon
crosses. Go straight downhill on the gravel road for 0.5 miles, losing 250
vertical feet. The road will curve at the southern border of Hidden Lake.
Just after passing the lake, the Doctor's Dozen
singletrack forks away on
your right.
At the ridgeline looking west. |
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Woody's World runs parallel to Powder Ridge road -- the road to
the upper Powder Mountain ski lodge and Summit Village. Woody's is 1.8 miles long with excellent
riding either as a climbing or downhill trail. It can be combined with
other Powder Mountain trails such as Brim
and Doctor's Dozen for a longer ride. The starting
elevation is 8200 feet with
a top of 8800. Climbing through rollers on a straight-away
section, shortly after leaving the Powder Ridge Road.
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| Woody's World makes a good climbing trail, either as a
stand-alone out-and-back or as a climb-intensive start to a large lariat
loop that includes Brim. The entry to the trail is 1/10 mile up Powder Ridge
Road -- the road to the upper (Hidden Lake) lodge -- on the right side of
the road.
The four sets of switchbacks make the grade more tolerable
as you gain 600 vertical feet. The trail has been constructed with rollers
that give your climbing legs a bit of change-up, check downhill speeds,
and reduce trail erosion. I found the surface butter smooth.
Taking a break. |
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The trees are mostly aspen with occasional fir. Chokecherry,
fern, and currant fill the understory. The shade (and the elevation) keep
things fairly cool even on this sun-facing slope. Although the trail is almost 100% forest-covered, there will
be an occasional break in the trees that give nice views. To the west is
Eden and the Ogden Valley, with Lewis Peak on the opposite side. Mount
Ogden lies southwest and Ben Lomond to the northwest.
There are two trail forks. When climbing, you'll hit the
first one at mile 1.2 from the pavement at the apex of a switchback. Turn
right. Going straight takes you about 40 feet to the Powder Ridge ( upper lodge) road.
Almost all of the trail lies in dense forest. Once in
a while, it breaks out.
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The next trail fork is the Paper Airplane trail, on
your right. To continue uphill, stay left. The trail to Paper Airplane Point
angles somewhat downhill
0.3 miles, where you'll find a giant steel "paper airplane"
before the trail continues on east. Worth doing as a quick out-and-back even if the Paper Airplane Trail isn't your
final destination.
The "paper airplane" lies on its side down
the ridge. In 2016, the trail beyond the airplane is still under
construction and is subject to closure. See the little white spot near the
nose of the airplane? That's a trail worker, for size comparison. |
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As you reach the top (mile 1.8, or 2.5 if you went to the
airplane), the trail will end on paved road next to a guardrail. If you go
left uphill, you'll be at the lodge road in about 60 feet, even though it
might not be obvious from where you stand. This can take you to the Hidden
Lake Lodge.
If your objective is to get to the Brim trail as fast as you
can (without taking the Paper Airplane and Baggage Claim trails to get there), turn
right on the paved road.
Follow the paved road to a T intersection, then go right under the
underpass. Stay on what appears to be the main road, generally straight,
as it arcs around gently toward the south. It will be 1.8 miles of
pavement to the Brim trailhead.
Another look over at Mount Ogden from higher on the
mountain. |
| As a downhill, the major challenge of Woody's World is
simply FINDING it. There's a plan for a connector from the lodge. But at
the time of my ride (June 2016) you wouldn't find the upper end of Woody's
World unless you'd ridden it uphill (and remembered right
where you left it).
From the lodge parking, coast down the gravel entry road. Keep straight
as you hit the pavement, retracing a tiny bit of the drive uphill. At the
first opportunity, turn left downhill. About 60 feet later, find the trail
just past the end of the guardrail. See the photo.
Little Rocky rests against the guardrail. The worn
spot is the top of Woody's World.
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The Paper Airplane trail is 1.8 miles long. West to east,
there's 150 feet of descending followed by 200 feet of climbing.
When climbing uphill on Woody's World, the Paper Airplane trail forks
to the right at mile 1.4 from the bottom of the singletrack. Paper
Airplane will descend through aspen forest for 0.3 miles before breaking
out into low scrub at Paper Airplane Point. This part of the trail is
smooth and easy with gentle grade.
Starting downhill toward Paper Airplane Point. |
| While the trail is signed as a beginner route (and most of it is
appropriate for beginners),
there are some rock gardens on the eastern end. Beginners and even most
intermediates will bounce out of control and hike through a couple of
short sections of embedded bounders.
Of course, the "paper" airplane is the highlight
here, certainly worth a photo or video session. I don't know if you're
officially allowed to do a "wall hit" on the airplane sculpture,
but many riders do that and the steel hasn't broken yet.
Little Rocky rests on the paper airplane. Looking
northwest.
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At Paper Airplane Point, there are views to the south and
west. Hang out and take a few pictures of the scenery as well.
The trail now reverses direction to head east. The gentle
descent will continue for about 1/2 mile. Then the trail starts a slow
climb along the canyon above the south fork of Wolf Creek. You'll climb 200
vertical feet over one mile.
View to the west. |
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As you approach the Summit Village road, you have three options. A fork
downhill to your right will take you onto the Baggage Claim trail. It will
descend a series of turns, then climb the other side of the small valley to the Brim
Loop. This connector is 1.3 miles long. (See below.)
Eastbound on Paper Airplane through little stands of
aspen and fir.
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If you continue straight on Paper Airplane, you arrive at a second fork
just before the underpass. To the right, Paper Airplane climbs up to the pavement.
Straight ahead, GBPB passes under the road then climbs up to the ridgeline
to join Doctor's Dozen. (See
below.)
Meadows with young aspen. |
Baggage Claim and Brim Connector |
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The Baggage Claim trail forks away from Paper Airplane near
its eastern end and connects across the valley to the Brim
trailhead. It's 1.3 miles -- and 150 feet of climbing -- to reach the Brim
trailhead.
Looking down the South Fork Wolf Creek valley as we
drop away from Paper Airplane on the Baggage Claim trail. |
| Baggage Claim will descend 150 vertical feet over 1/2 mile,
then begin climbing up toward the Brim Loop.
This area passes through a ski slope of flowers and low scrub. The trail
spends a lot of time winding back and forth as it changes elevation.
Looking north as we switchback the slope to drop
elevation.
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At mile 0.9 from Paper Airplane, the Brim Connector forks
away from Baggage Claim. Keep left to climb Baggage Claim to the
trailhead; right to traverse the hillside to join the Brim Loop.
Trail fork with the Brim Connector. |
| The Baggage Claim to Brim connector is one mile long with
only a bit of elevation change. It joins the Brim Loop westbound in the aspen and
fir forest just before it breaks out for views to the west and turns back
to the east.
We've reached Brim and we're looking back. On the
left is the connector; Brim is on the right.
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Whether you climb Baggage Claim to the trailhead and take
the main Brim Loop to this point, or take the connector trail, is up to
you. Climbing to the trailhead will add about 100 feet of climbing and 0.4
miles to the ride.
Climbing on Baggage Claim up to the Brim trailhead. |
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The GBPG connector is the route from Paper Airplane to
Powder Mountain's northeast trails (Doctor's
Dozen and Sunrise, Trail Yeah!).
The trail forks away from Paper Airplane just before its end on paved
road. |
| Keep straight (left) as the Paper Airplane trail approaches
the underpass. After going under the road, climb up and the trail will
turn to go north. |
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The GBPB trail is 0.7 miles long with 150 feet of elevation
gain as it climbs from the end of Paper Airplane to meet Doctor's Dozen
near its highest point. |
| At the uphill end of GBPB, a left turn takes you west on Doctor's
Dozen, where you can connect to the western end of Sunrise or descend
down to Hidden Lake.
A right turn takes you eastbound on Doctor's Dozen, where you can hit
the eastern side of Sunrise or continue to the eastern side of the Brim
Loop.
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Quick Loop!
Start at the main lodge parking. Woody's up, plus or minus Paper Airplane.
Pavement link to Hidden Lake Lodge. Brittain's Ribbon downhill.
Looking west at Eden, you can see the North Ogden
Divide Road, and the Great Salt Lake in the distance. |
Monster ride!
Start at the main lodge parking. Woody's up to Paper Airplane, Baggage
Claim to the Brim Loop counterclockwise.
Doctor's Dozen around the mountain and down to Hidden Lake. Climb
doubletrack to the ridgeline. Fork right on Brittain's Ribbon for the
descent to parking.
Nicely done.
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Getting there: From I-15, take Exit 347 to
Ogden Canyon. Drive 7 miles up Highway 39 and turn left across the Pine View dam
onto Highway 158. Four miles later as you pass the gas station in Eden, keep straight at the stop sign.
Drive steep uphill 7 more miles to Powder Mountain. Pass the lower lifts
on your left as you follow a turn in the road. The next road on your right
is Powder Ridge Road. The bottom of the trail is 1/10th mile up the road,
on your right.
There's a bit of parking on the shoulder of Powder Ridge Road, presumeably
legal. Pedal uphill until you see the trail on your right.
To start from the main lodge parking, keep straight on Highway 158 for 100
yards. Park at the main lodge and backtrack to Powder Ridge Road and pedal
uphill to the trail.
Do NOT park at the top of Woody's World. Self shuttling is against the
rules. |
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