Park City Town Loop
Sweeney Switchbacks, Johns Trail, 4:20, Gravedigger
The Park City Town Loop is a dang good ride but it's for expert-level
riders. The loop was published as a "classic ride" over 25 years
ago. The Town Loop loop links
the Sweeney Switchbacks, John's, and Gravedigger trails for a nice taste
of Park City riding without spending all day. It's upper-intermediate with a few
slightly technical spots that raise the rating to expert. Overall climbing 1200 feet.
Climbing the Sweeney Switchbacks, the
Town Lift crosses the trail. Initial review and photos June 18, 2002 by Bruce,
with most recent page update July 30, 2022.
There's 7 miles
on dirt, of which 5 is high-quality forested singletrack. There's a couple
of miles of doubletrack that tie it together. Overall climbing on this
loop is around 1300 feet.
Pedaling through an aspen forest on Sweeney's
Switchbacks.
Because this loop has a top elevation of 8100 feet, it's
ready to ride a bit earlier than trails on the upper slope. The expected
riding season will be early June through October.
Getting steeper and rockier as we climb higher. Lower
Sweeney's is plush; upper Sweeney's requires expert skills to stay on your
bike.
Trailheads
Treasure Hill Trailhead
This small trailhead, with room for 5 cars, is located on the southern end
of Lowell Avenue 1/2 mile south of the main PCMR parking. You'll need to
climb uphill on Sweeney's Switchbacks or a combination of Treasure Hill
and Sweeney's. Then keep straight (left and downhill) onto South Sweeney
at mile 1.2 from the Treasure Hill trailhead. South Sweeney will cross
Mother Urban after another 0.1 miles.
Do not park on residential streets! If the Treasure Hill Trailhead is
full, drive to the main PCMR parking and pedal uphill 1/2 mile via Lowell Avenue.
The Treasure Hill trailhead. The doubletrack is the
Sweeney Connector. Treasure Hill is 100 feet uphill on your right.
South Sweeney's Switchbacks
You can reach South Sweeney's by taking the Sweeney Connector 0.3 miles
south from Treasure Hill's trailhead then keeping straight onto South
Sweeney's where you'll climb 0.7 miles to intercept Mother Urban.
You can also enter South Sweeney from paved streets at Norfolk Avenue
(there's no parking here). Or, you can hit South Sweeney from a short
connector at King Road's first left-hand turn above the city.
The entry into South Sweeney's from Norfolk Avenue.
Sweeney's Switchbacks
Sweeney's Switchbacks are reached by riding the doubletrack
0.3 miles south from the Treasure Hill trailhead on Lowell Avenue, then
taking a hard right turn uphill on the singletrack. (Alternately, you can
climb the 1/2-mile Treasure Hill trail until it intercepts Sweeney's
singletrack shortly after Sweeney's leaves the doubletrack connector.) At first the climb is fairly gentle, through choke cherry, aspen, fir, and a maple
or two. This lower part of the trail has a smooth surface.
Just getting started. We're just uphill from the
doubletrack Sweeney Connector as we begin Sweeney's Switchbacks.
Alternate route: South Sweeney's
You can also climb the switchbacks to the south. Pedal 0.5 miles on the
Sweeney Connector. The doubletrack will become singletrack and begin to
climb the hill through switchbacks.
Looking down at the town at a break in the forest.
At mile 0.4 from the Sweeney singletrack (0.7 from
Treasure Hill TH) there's a connector trail on the left that goes out to
King Road. Turn right and keep climbing. Less than 1/10th mile uphill, the
trail splits. The right fork is an easier route connecting Sweeney South
to Sweeney's. It will cross Mother Urban, then at mile 1.1 from the
trailhead, you can fork uphill left onto Sweeney's.
The left fork is quite a bit steeper. It climbs 0.3 miles to join
Sweeney's just downhill from the upper Flat Cable trail fork. On the way,
it will cross Mother Urban twice.
Riding on South
Sweeney's, an alternative to the classic ride.
Assuming you took the main Sweeney's Switchback singletrack
uphill at mile 0.3 from the trailhead -- a hard right turn uphill --
you're on the more plush and easy part of Sweeney's. It will get nasty
later.
At mile 0.4, the Treasure Hill trail will join on your right.
Still smooth and plush with an easy grade as we cross
a ski slope.
Around mile 0.6 a cheater trail will come in to your left
uphill, then leave on your right about 50 feet later.
Enjoy the frequent changes from oak to maple to aspen to fir forest to
meadows. Wildflowers include Wasatch penstemmon, scarlet gilia, and
balsamroot.
Twisting through a grove of maples as we approach the
trail fork for the bottom of Flat Cable.
At mile 0.9, keep left as the Sweeney Cutoff leaves on your
right, then again stay left at the intersection with Flat Cable. Flat
Cable is an alternate climbing route that's less technical than upper
Sweeney's. It will rejoin Sweeney's near the top.
The Flat Cable trail fork, as seen from uphill on
Sweeney's.
The next intersection is at mile 1.2 from Treasure Hill TH.
Turn to the right uphill. The trail on the left that angles gently
downhill is the easier connector to Sweeney South.
Continuing uphill on Sweeney's. The trail to the left
is the Sweeney South connector.
Here's where the trail begins to get tougher. Not all at
once. But as you gain elevation it will get steadily rockier and rootier.
It's getting steadily rockier, but not too bad yet.
At mile 1.6, you'll hit the top of Sweeney South. Don't go
across to the steep trail straight ahead -- it's a downhill cheater route
and there's no reason to push-a-bike up.
Instead, turn to the right and take the flat trail out to the meadow,
then at mile 1.6 make a hard left uphill. (The trail straight ahead is the
top of Flat Cable.)
Above the Sweeney South connector, it's steeper and
rockier. Pedal-bangs will be common. It's a hard area to climb cleanly.
At mile 1.8, turn right uphill to continue Sweeney's. The
trail straight ahead goes to Johns Trail and the King Road Connector
trail.
Keep straight as a connector from Johns joins on your left. Then at
mile 2.0 fork left uphill as Loose Moose heads over to Jenni's Trail on
your right.
At mile 2.1, join the gravel Drift Road heading uphill and pedal 1/3
mile. At the saddle
area at the top, curve left around the lift building to find doubletrack
heading uphill on the left. That's the way to John's Trail.
The final stretch of Sweeney's heads out to the ski
slope then joins Drift Road.
A video of the Town Loop shot
in 2002...
John's Trail
At the top of Drift Road, you're at mile 2.4 of the ride.
Curve around the ski lift to your left and find doubletrack heading uphill
on the far side. That's the way to John's Trail.
Climb 0.2 miles on the doubletrack, then veer to the right on the
singletrack John's Trail.
The John's singletrack begins
after 0.2 miles of doubletrack.
John's Trail will traverse the south side of the hill
through a meadow before entering aspen forest. It will stay in dense aspen
forest for the entire trip down Johns.
This trail bobs and weaves through tight
aspens, with more hairpin turns and root maneuvers than you can count. In
the uphill direction, John's give you no
chance to let it roll -- you're constantly making a move to clear a root,
dodge an aspen, or roll a tight turn. If
you're an advanced rider, the aspen-run is a fun mile, but it's a bit of work. If you're
struggling, well, think of it as bike-control practice.
Heading east on Johns, working our way toward the
aspen forest.
John's Trail is considered expert-level technical both
uphill and down. But intermediates can with good bike-control skills can
do nicely.
The trail is narrow and twisty, with a tight fit for your handlebars
between aspens and no tolerance for bobbling.
It's rare to have a few feet of straight trail once
you get into the aspens of Johns.
There will be a few banked switchback turns, but most of the
turns are quick wiggles as the trail winds through the trees.
The track is almost constantly bumpy due to aspen roots crossing the
trail.
Rolling a tight turn.
The trail dips and twists, with
encroaching aspen trunks
drawing the tip of your handlebar like a magnet.
The trail is littered with aspen roots.
Downhill, it's bumpy.
Uphill, it's a challenge to clear some of them. Downhill,
As you approach the bottom of John's Trail at mile 1.5 from
the lift, pass
the first connector to 4:20 on your right. Join the Sweeney's to Johns
Connector by turning right at mile 1.6. Now keep right as the last bit of
Johns descends on your left.
Continuing on downhill.
You're now on the 4:20 trail (formerly upper Gravedigger),
and at mile 4.0 of the ride.
At the exit of Johns onto 4:20.
John's Trail downhill...
If the above video does not appear on your
browser/device, you can watch it on YouTube by clicking
here.
4:20
The 4:20 trail begins at the bottom of Johns and heads south
and downhill. It starts out on an old road-cut, then drops off to the left
as narrow singletrack to descend through switchbacks. It connects the
bottom of John's (and the top of Sweeney's) to King Road.
The 4:20 trail heads south from the bottom of Johns
trail.
The 4:20 trail is 0.4 miles long and will descend just under
100 vertical feet as it heads towards King Road. It will roll through some
nice turns as you drop elevation.
Leaving the old roadcut to ride twisty singletrack in
the aspens.
At King Road, 4:20 ends in a dusty steep plunge to the road.
(I keep expecting them to revise this for uphill riders, but the chute is
still there after 20 years.) Cross King Road to the top of Gravedigger.
You're now at mile 4.4 from the trailhead.
Approaching one of several switchback turns.
Gravedigger
Gravedigger begins across the King Road from the bottom of
4:20. It's 1.5 miles long with 150 feet of elevation loss as you head
south.
The entry to Gravedigger from King Road.
Gravedigger begins in aspen forest and descends 0.2 miles to
join the Mother Urban one-way trail. (This segment becomes two-way.)
Gravedigger begins in beautiful aspen forest.
The combined Mother Urban and Gravedigger will traverse into
a small valley. Here it will cross the Moosehouse trail at just under 0.4
miles from King Road.
Heading toward the small canyon on the combined
Mother Urban and Gravedigger.
Keep straight to cross the ravine then veer to the left as
you enter the trees. Follow Mother Urban around the hillside.
This is the correct way to go. Keep straight and
cross the rockpile in the ravine.
When you reach a trail fork at 0.6 miles from King Road,
keep left and downhill to stay on Gravedigger. (Mother Urban forks away to
resume climbing uphill.)
Gravedigger offers a different type of technical when it
climbs up the rocks and roots, but it also offers a bit of cruising. The
trail exits the shade of the firs into gambel oak.
After the ravine, Gravedigger passes through a tall
forest of fir.
Gravedigger descends to the bottom of a canyon where you'll
transfer to a dirt road and turn back northbound. You're at mile 1.5 of
Gravedigger; mile 5.9 of the ride.
Instead of going straight back to town on roads, you can follow the
trail signs to connect to Daly Avenue then connect to the singletrack
Daily Overlook, then Daly Bypass as you head back north. Arriving at the
base of King Road, connect back to the trailhead by city streets.
Down to the oak brush at the bottom of Daly Canyon.
Bottom Line:
A relatively tough little ride, but a
classic. You'll do three of Park City's oldest trails.
The aspens of John's Trail are a highlight of this
loop.
Ride Notes:
0.0 Head up doubletrack, keep straight at 0.1
0.3 Fork L to climb singletrack (N Sweeney) N Sweeney Switchbacks
0.85 Keep L uphill as trail joins
1.15 Fork, turn hard R
1.6 R on doubletrack (ignore singletrack across road)
1.7 Fork hard L on singletrack
1.8 Fork R uphill (L= to John's at m4.4)
2.0 Keep left onto gravel road uphill
2.7 Saddle, turn L past Town Lift on singletrack John's Trail
2.8 Fork, turn R downhill
4.4 Fork R (L=connector from Sweeney's m1.8)
N 40° 38.415' W 111°
30.200'
4.85 Cross road to find singletrack Gravedigger Trail
5.15 Dump down onto DT, go uphill
5.15 Cross creek onto ST
6.0 Singletrack drops onto road
Follow road around bend
6.2 Drop down L past water tank
6.9 Pavement. At stop sign, angle across to Park Ave.
Turn L just past tram on
8th St., becomes Tram Crescent
At Empire Ave, turn left,
follow curve around to
trailhead
8.2 Back at car
Getting there: On Park City's Main Street, turn towards
Park City Mountain Resort on Empire Avenue. Turn left on Lowell Drive. Keep straight past the resort. When
you reach the spot 1/2 mile later where the road turns around in a loop to
become Empire Avenue, the Treasure Hill trailhead is on the right. The doubletrack
straight ahead is the trail.
Near the Town Lift stand the remains
of an old mine building.
