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Gorgoza Park Trails
Gorgoza Park, Up Trail, Dead Reckoning, Arcylon,
Pale Green Dot, and A Toll New WorldThe Gorgoza Park downhill
loops lie on the slope above I-80 just east of Parley's Summit. This
is the location of the classic Arcylon downhill flow trail, but with the
new addition of an easy and an expert-level downhill trail. Connected to
the loops are nice XC trails to the east and west: Gorgoza Park and A Toll
New World.
On Arcylon, here's a ramp dropping to a steep transition
zone, going directly into banked turn. My bike is sitting alongside the
intermediate ride-around. Photos and review by Bruce
on July 18, 2015. |
| These are free public trails located near the "pay-to-play" trails at
the Woodward Park City resort.
While riding these trails, you'll encounter connections to neighborhood
trails to the south and east. These are private trails for residents only.
Also, do not attempt to ride into the Woodward Park City resort, which is
a fee area. Follow the riding directions and obey the signs to be sure you're staying on public
trails. If a branching trail appears very narrow and is unsigned, assume
it's a connector to a trail you're NOT supposed to ride.
Looking downhill to the north. We're on the Gorgoza
Park trail, just a bit west of the Woodward resort.
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These trails start at a bottom elevation of 6350 feet, rising
to 6700 at the top of A Toll New World. This creates a riding season of
June through October. Except for Arcylon and Dead Reckoning (which require
expert skills), these trails are acceptable for experienced beginners and
intermediates.
Descending the Gorgoza Park trail, where we'll either
loop back on the Millenium trail, or climb back uphill on a down-and-back.
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The trailhead complex for the public trails is located on
Discovery Way. There are three paved parking spots with room for
around 20 vehicles total. Drive 1.1 miles east from the I-80 Summit Park
exit on Kirby Road. Turn right on Discovery Way and go 0.3 miles. When you
see overflow parking, the main parking area with bathrooms and running
water is just to the right uphill around the corner.
Looking west from the trailhead parking at Discovery
Ridge. The connector trail is on the left. |
| The connector trails from the upper and lower lots join and
extend 1/10th mile uphill to the flow trail loops. At the trail fork, you
can take a hard left to the Up trail to head to Gorgoza Park or the
downhill flow trails, or you can keep straight until you reach the A Toll
New World trail.
Arriving at the trail fork for the Up trail, turning
hard left in this photo. |
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You can also arrive at the area via the paved Millenium
trail along Kirby Road. A paved spur follows Discovery Drive up to the
trailhead. This creates an option for a loop ride with Gorgoza Park
downhill and a paved return. Another way to arrive here is to drop down A
Toll New World from the Road to WOS area.
Note: Do NOT park in the neighborhoods above or east of the
trail, and do NOT drive into these neighborhoods to drop off shuttle
riders. The trails in Sunridge are privately owned and you are only
allowed on them if a resident accompanies you. Do NOT use the Woodward
resort parking to reach these trails unless you're a paying customer!
Westbound on the Millenium Trail after dropping down
Gorgoza Park.
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Flow Trails at Discovery Ridge
Up Trail |
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The Up trail is the route to the top of all three downhill
flow trails. It's also the route to the top of the Gorgoza Park trail,
which forks away in the middle of the climb. The Up trail is exactly one
mile long, with a bit over 300 vertical feet of elevation gain. Starting
uphill on the Up trail. |
| The Up trail begins 1/10th mile uphill from the Discovery
Ridge trailhead with a hard left turn. After you descend a flow trail, the
return trail will route you directly into the Up trail.
The surface is non-technical and suitable for beginners. The climbing
rate is pleasant even for those who aren't in the best of shape.
The trail winds back and forth. Climbing turns are
usually flat and easy for kids to cruise around.
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At mile 0.5, the Gorgoza Park trail forks away to your
left. Keep straight to continue the climb on Up. The
terrain is a mix of aspen and maple with an occasional fir. The understory
is lush with shrubs and flowers. It's a very nice ride all by itself! Rolling
through an aspen grove. Very pretty stuff. |
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At mile 1.0 (1.1 from the trailhead), you'll reach the
flow trails. While the climbing rate on
the Up Trail is mild, I'd hate to do it on a heavy DH bike. But if that's
how you got here, there are a couple of resting benches waiting for you at the
top.
For the easiest way down, keep to the left for Pale Green
Dot.
Almost to the top as we cruise through a
flower-filled meadow.
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Dead Reckoning Expert Flow Trail |
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The first downhill option at the top of Up is Dead
Reckoning. This is the most technical descent. It not only has stunts that
require expert skill, it also has stretches of rock garden that have no
ride-around. Do NOT take a noob down this trail. Here's
the drop-in to Dead Reckoning. It's steeper than it looks. After a couple
of wiggles as you bounce downhill over rocks and roots, the trail turns
smooth for a while. |
| Dead Reckoning has a TON of gap jumps. These are of varying
length. The longest I saw was around 12 feet. The bottom of the gaps is
filled with brambles -- and the greenery obscures your view of the landing
and the length of the gap as you roll toward it. I strongly suggest a
scouting run first. Fortunately, the gap jumps all have ride-arounds.
Approaching a gap jump. The green stuff you see is
growing in the gap. The ride-around is to the left.
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As I mentioned, there's a bit of technical rock on Dead
Reckoning. And there are no alternative lines to go around them. Stopping
to scramble down these spots is not a good idea, as this blocks the trail
and other riders may hit you. If you're not sure of your ability to hit
this stuff, don't ride this trail. A plunge down a
rocky slope on Dead Reckoning. Fortunately it's only about 20 feet, so
just hold on and aim the bike downhill. |
| Between the raw rock sections, there's some high-speed
cruising and banked turns. Just hold your line on the rocky stuff and
there will be smoother riding ahead.
Rolling into a banked turn.
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Dead Reckoning is 0.6 miles long. It's considerably
shorter and steeper than Arcylon, which is your next DH flow option.
Getting a bit closer to the bottom, and we've got
some more tech rock to contend with. |
Arcylon Intermediate Flow Trail |
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Arcylon is 0.8 miles long. The trail is posted as intermediate, but it's
an expert-level ride if you try to hit the stunts. The entry begins with a rock-garden rollover designed to
discourage tourists. That's the trickiest thing you're forced to do, as
all the remaining tech spots have ride-arounds. Like Dead Reckoning and
Pale Green Dot, the Arcylon downhill is closed to
hikers, dogs, and horses.
Rock-plated rim of a gap jump, with a
dirt jump to follow. Intermediates can roll these. |
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The preferred riding attire for Arcylon is, of course, your best roadie
lycra.
Extra points for doing it on your cyclocross bike. And if you're wondering
what bit of Native American culture or Utah Pioneer heritage is
responsible for the name of the trail, spell "Arcylon"
backwards.
Sample of high-bermed quick turns on Arcylon. |
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If you need to stop or slow for any reason -- for example to snap a photo
of a buddy -- swing well
off the riding path first. Bikes and riders who are stopped in the trail
may become roadkill. The trail isn't particularly steep, but it moves
along at high speed, and sight lines are limited around turns and below
stunts.
About the midpoint of the descent. The
signs warns that the wooden ramp leads to a deep gap jump. It's a good
idea to read the signs on a first run where you take the intermediate
lines. |
| Most turns have high berms to maintain speed. On straight
sections, there will be frequent bumps that form low gap jumps. These are
flat enough that intermediates can simply roll them. Stunts are plainly
marked, with the ride-around route obvious.
Another drop. |
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Most riders will want to take a test-run down the
intermediate lines to scope the transition zones below drops and jumps.
For many of them, you can't see what you'll be getting into from uphill.
Most riders will, of course, keep heading back uphill to do
multiple runs down the tech stuff. The total loop is 1.8 miles, with 0.8
of it being the downhill.
Jump with a wooden roll-out. |
| Arcylon and Dead Reckoning merge at the bottom, then join
the trail back toward the trailhead, where you can catch Up for another
go.
A particularly nasty-looking gap jump
with a short-fall wheel-catcher. It leads into a second ramp. I
didn't have the cajones to do this one. |
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Pale Green Dot Easy Flow Trail |
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Pale Green Dot is the easiest way downhill from the top of
the Up trail. It has a mellow rate of descent and wide easy turns. Older
kids and experienced beginners should be able to ride it without terror.
For this option, just keep to the left at the top of Up, passing the
entries to Dead Reckoning and Arcylon on the right. The
trail on the left is Pale Green Dot, while the rock-pile roll-over to the
right is Arcylon. |
| Pale Green Dot is 1.1 miles long. Comparing this to the 1.0
mile of climbing on Up should tell you that this isn't a steep ride. The
trail drops 300 vertical feet.
Rolling through maple forest, the trail offers a
bunch of easy humps.
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There are occasional breaks in the trees that let you
catch a view. The trail is a series of gentle traverses back and forth
across the hillside. View west toward Parley's Summit. |
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Turns are smooth and banked, and are also fairly
flat.
Here's a typical right-hand turn.
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And here's a sample of a left-hand turn.
It's easy for a kid to stay in control and ride confidently. |
| At the bottom, Pale Green Dot hits the A Toll New World
Trail. Turn right for the traverse back to the Up trail. You'll be joined
by the combined Arcylon and Dead Reckoning. After a steepish but short
climb, you'll hit the trailhead connector, where keeping to the right will
take you back uphill for another lap.
Passing through a pretty aspen grove on the way back
east to complete the loop.
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The classic Gorgoza Park Trail was on the property now
occupied by the Woodward Park City resort. It has been bulldozed. The new
trail alignment is more exposed and has a lot more bumpy rock, but it's
still a good ride. Gorgoza Park connects the middle of the Up trail
downhill to the paved Millenium Trail just east of the pond. On the way, it will pass connectors
to neighborhood trails. (In 2022, I noted that the arrow had worn off of a
carsonite post, so I couldn't distinguish "neighborhood access"
from "continuing trail.") When in doubt, keep to the left on the
downhill, to the right on the uphill.
Bottom of Gorgoza Park as the singletrack forks away
from the paved Millenium Trail.
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| On the uphill end, the Gorgoza Park trail forks away from
the Up trail at mile 0.5 (0.6 from the Discovery Ridge trailhead). It
begins with a long traverse near the top of the ridge, then drops down
into the trees to skirt the top of the Woodward Park City resort
eastbound.
Looking up the Gorgoza Park trail where it joins the
Up trail.
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The trail is 1.7 miles long, with a bit over 400 feet of
elevation change. If done by climbing Up then making a loop with a return
via the paved Millenium Trail and the Discovery Way spur, a lap will be
3.6 miles.
Trail marker where Gorgoza Park forks away from a
broader ridgeline trail. If the trail markers are missing or
damaged: on the downhill, keep left. If you're climbing up, keep
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| The upper half of the trail is fairly smooth. It's mostly
maple and oak forest with occasional meadows. This area tends to be an
east-west traverse with minimal elevation change.
Traversing through groves of gambel oak.
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The lower half of Gorgoza Park (past Pinebrook Point) is
more open, with exposed sandstone occasionally making the trail rough.
Because of this, the trail earns an intermediate rating.
Descending through a field of mules ear flowers. |
| The pitch of the trail increases and the path winds back and
forth across the hillside. Much of the lower trail approaches the edge of
the Woodward property repeatedly.
Rolling into one of many switchback turns.
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And if you need another reminder: For local residents there are connections to Gambel Drive (see
map) just a bit to the east. The upper trail also connects to the Sunridge
Perimeter Trail, as does a short connector on the ridgeline. The Sunridge
Perimeter is a private singletrack that heads
uphill to the southwest corner of Pinebrook and is for residents only.
Heading downhill into the valley on Gorgoza Park.
Dryer and hotter, but still pretty. |
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A Toll New World starts at the bottom of the downhill flow
loops. To reach it from the Discovery Ridge trailhead, just keep to the
right. Pass the entry to Up, the bottom of Arcylon and Dead Reckoning and
Pale Green Dot, then also keep right as a hiking trail forks away uphill.
You'll find it at 0.2 miles from the trailhead.
Typical trail. Smooth dirt in groves of aspen, maple,
and fir. |
| A Toll New World is 1.5 miles long, with an elevation gain
of 400 vertical feet. It ends on the gravel Toll Canyon Road -- where
residents can connect uphill to Sunridge Perimeter, and the rest of us can
descend and hit the No Worries trail up to Road to WOS.
Rolling into the conifer forest as we climb A Toll
New World.
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The trail is mostly forested, with a couple of meadows where
you can appreciate the views. It's noticeably cooler here than the Gorgoza
flow trails below.
Hitting a meadow on the ridge before resuming the
climbing into Toll Canyon. |
| A Toll New World also makes a nice out-and-back for strong
beginners and intermediates who want to add a few miles to their Arcylon
laps.
If you're heading for No Worries and Road to
WOS, keep right and
downhill on the doubletrack when you reach Toll Canyon, Keep straight when
it turns to pavement and follow it around the corner. Keep uphill at the
fork going to the outbuilding, then find No Worries on your left 0.5 miles
from A Toll New World.
Heading into Toll Canyon. Very nice.
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The Gorgoza area trails are worth a visit. Located right
off the freeway at the top of Parley's Canyon, they're nearby and are
ready to ride a bit earlier than the upper Park City trails. The flow
trail loops are fun, but you'll probably want to add some extra trails --
which this area provides!
On the uphill on the A Toll New World trail. |
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Getting there:
From Salt Lake City, take I-80 east up Parley's Canyon. After crossing the
summit, take the Jeremy Ranch exit. Turn right, then immediately right
again to take Kirby Road westbound. After passing a small hill, you'll see
a small gravel parking lot on the left side of the road. It's preferred
that you save this little lot for hikers that are visiting the pond. Go
another 100 yards to the big paved Gorgoza Park lot. (If the big lot is
closed -- as it was on the Saturday I visited -- grab a spot in the little
lot.) Head back out to the paved Millenium Trail and follow it east until
it heads south uphill past the pond. Just above the pond, the mountain
biking trail veers uphill as the Millenium trail turns sharply eastward.
(Keep to the left of the two trails. The trail you see heading straight up
the mountainside meadow gets there, but it's hike-a-bike steep.)
Close-up view of the flow loops.
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| Do NOT park in the neighborhoods to the east of the trails, and do NOT
use the neighborhood roads to drop off shuttle riders above Arcylon! Note
that the Sunridge Perimeter Trail is a private trail for residents and
their guests only.
Also do NOT park in the Woodward Park City resort lot unless you're a
paying customer.
Wider area view.
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