The Midmountain trail is an awesome singletrack that traverses 20 miles of the mountains west of Park City at the 8000-foot level. It extends from Silver Lake Lodge (upper lodge) at Deer Valley in the south to the connector trail to Pinecrest in the north. Several trails climb up to Midmountain (or in spots climb above it), creating many loop ride possibilities.

Here's Mike J of Park City riding the Mid Mountain Trail, high above the city. Photos and original ride description June 17, 2002 by Bruce.

Looking southwest on Midmountain as we approach the ski slopes of Park City Mountain Resort. Photo September 2011.

There are some rocky sections, earning it an upper-intermediate rating. The trail itself is aerobically taxing because it's long, and there's a good climb to get up to it. A ride of this size deserves plenty of water and calories packed along.

Trail surface varies greatly. This is a smoother section among the aspens. Photo 2002.

You can get to the Mid Mountain Trail via Armstrong, Spiro, Sweeney North or Sweeney South, Daly Canyon (Tour de Suds), or Deer Valley. Spiro is a direct route to Midmountain and a longtime favorite. And because the northern 11 miles of Midmountain -- from Spiro northbound -- was constructed first, the Spiro-to-Canyons loop is the "classic ride."

The trail passes over a divide at Iron Canyon, where you can see the Wasatch Crest. Here Bruce cruises through a flower-filled meadow in 2002.

Typical trail view as the Midmountain winds through aspen and fir forest. 2010 photo.

Bruce cruising...

Ambush Access:  From the lift just above the lodges of The Canyons, find singletrack descending into the valley. Pass Rosebud's Heaven on the right, which climbs up to Rob's (it will still get you there). As you reach a flat area, Rob's Trail comes in on the right. Go left and climb to Midmountain.

Armstrong Trail Access:  This is a mellower climb than Spiro, and cuts a mile off the total distance. Armstrong shares a common trailhead with Spiro. Just after beginning the climb, fork right on the Armstrong Trail and climb 4 miles to Midmountain. [Trail Info]

Crescent Mine Grade Access:  The Crescent Mine Grade (CMG) starts as gravel road at the base of the Payday lift at Park City Mountain Resort. After 0.8 miles, a singletrackforks off the road on the right and begins winding around the mountain as it climbs. CMG is 3.1 miles to Midmountain, reaching it about 3/4 mile south of Spiro. [Trail Info]

Sweeney's and John's Access:  Climb the Sweeney Switchbacks. As you reach a trail fork at mile 1.5 (just a little before Sweeney's ends on Drift Road), turn left, then right a tiny bit later. You're now climbing John's Trail. At the open area at the top, aim straight west across the saddle and climb the doubletrack to the right of the ravine (stay to the left of the building on the ridge).. You'll find the northbound Midmountain on your right after 0.1 mile. Continue straight for the southbound Midmountain Trail.  [Trail Info]

Gravedigger Trail Access: Point-to-point, this is 20.6 miles. Go south in Park City until the road dumps onto Main Street. Follow it uphill into Daly Canyon. When you hit dirt, park and head uphill. After climbing up past the water tank, veer right on doubletrack, keeping right until you find yourself on Gravedigger. Gravedigger heads north to King Road, and will meet John's Trail.

Packing the bike over one of many creeks in the early days of the "Eight Thousand Foot Trail," as the Midmountain was first called by locals. There's a big bridge here now.

Empire Link Access:  As you begin climbing Tour des Suds in Daly Canyon, keep uphill and straight when Tour des Suds forks left. Stay uphill, northbound, and straight as you cross Johns99.

Mike J. looks over the view from the northern end. The Canyons is on the left. I-80 is the horizontal line just before the distant hills.

Deer Crest Access:  Even longer. From the lower Deer Valley lodge (Snow Park), climb the singletrack of Deer Crest to the upper lodge. As you pass by the ski lifts, find the Midmountain trail on the left, just past the skiier underpass.

Approaching Scott's Pass (the notch) from the Dead Tree Trail, the hardest way to get to the Wasatch Crest to Midmountain Loop from Park City.

Ride notes, Spiro to The Canyons:
0.0   Start at Spiro trailhead singletrack
0.8   Eagle trail comes in from L
0.9   Armstrong Bypass rejoins on R
1.6   R off Claimjumper road
3.4   Fork R
3.5   Hard right to reverse direction
        Mid Mountain Trail, N 40° 37.917' W 111° 32.171'
RESET to 0.0
1.7   At pass Iron Canyon, drop over ridge
4.1   Switchback
6.8   Cross creek and doubletrack
7.5   Cross paved road
8.0   Cross paved road
9.1   Cross a singletrack, keep straight
9.2   Cross bridge in meadow
        Continue on uphill side of building and gondola
        Trail on uphill side of clearing, continuing north
10.2  Doubletrack, trail continues to your left
         (Holly's trail is just down the DT)
10.4  Lift area, continue straight on DT
         Trail on R about .1 mile later
11.3  DT vs continue on to Robs/Ambush
         Joins gravel road, continue downhill.
15.1  Fork R uphill past lift
         Work down through The Canyons Resort

Riding resources for this trail:
Single-page riding guide
GPS track files (right-click and "Save as..."):
   Midmountain ONLY     GPX with connectors
   Park City multi-track area file
High-res topo map (200 KB):   view
Lodging, camping, shops:  Park City area resources

Option, loop Wasatch Crest with Midmountain:
  Wasatch Crest to Midmountain Loops page!

The Ultimate File!  Intercanyon Connections!
      Multi-track, Parleys to Provo!     GPX  
Topo maps of loop with Wasatch Crest:
    Medium-Res   High-Res (1.5 MB)

Copyright 2002 Mad Scientist Software Inc
Updated 2010