|
Lone Peak Access Road
 |
This road north of Alpine is a good workout during winter
and early spring. Being on the south face of the foothills of Lone Peak, the trail is
quickly cleared of deep snow by the February sunshine. The main trail is usually rideable
again within a week after a heavy snowstorm. (The single-track is hit-and-miss during the
winter.)
Early mornings, you're riding on frozen dirt and hard-crust snow, with a
few spots of sheet ice for fun. By afternoon, you can descend in a sloppy slippy sea of
mud, if that's your "thing." (Try it, you'll like it.)
Photo looking towards Box Elder Peak
January 15, 1999 by Bruce |
After the first mile, you can slip off onto a delicious
but technical little single-track. Ride it to the "Dry Creek to Deer Creek"
Trail parking area at the border of the Lone Peak Wilderness and bail out to ride back on
regular road, or do it as an out-and-back diversion before continuing your hill climb. The
single track is around a mile in length, but most riders only do the first 3/4 mile to the
gully, then head back.
The single-track is found on the right at the first 180-degree switchback
just as the road begins to seriously climb the face of the hill (GPS N 40° 29.191' W
111° 45.344'). This trail is part of the Alpine Days Mountain Bike
Race course. (The other single-track connector is just around the corner from
Schoolhouse Springs, and is found by turning west -- left if you're going uphill -- at the
fork about 1/4 mile back down.)
Looking across the creek at the single-track trail.
January 15, 1999 |
|
 |
The road rises 1900 vertical feet in 3 miles. It's a real thigh workout.
During the summer, the surface gets a little loose. On a clear day, the views are great
and constantly there. During the winter inversion, you can get above the soup into
pristine air.
View south, looking over Alpine. Provo and Orem are somewhere in the soup.
December 20, 1998. |
| Let's be frank: this road isn't the greatest ride you've ever done. But it
makes a nice combo event -- put the day-pack on your back and fight your way up to the
wilderness border, then take a long hike in the beautiful forest starting at the First
Hammagog. The road ends at the border of the Lone Peak Wilderness at a flat area called
the First Hammagog. From here, foot trails head towards Lake Hardy, the Second Hammagog,
and other local attractions. You're not allowed to ride bicycles into the wilderness area,
tempting as that may be. Park 'em here and hike.
Jackie plays on the granite
boulders common to most Wasatch Front foothill trails. December 20, 1998. |
|
 |
Getting there: Drive into Alpine from the south. At the
stop sign at 200 North, turn right (east) to 200 East. Turn left and drive about 2 miles
until you reach a "T" in the road. Turn left. Follow the turn up the hill
(ignoring the first road on your left), then turn left at the 4-way intersection. Turn
right just before the paved road turns back south and down the hill (GPS N 40° 28.730' W
111° 45.716'). Find a place to park. If the gate is locked, hoist your bike over the
boulders right of the gate. |
|
