 |
Princess Di Trail
Reached by paved Three Mile Canyon Trail,
with return via Rail Trail
The Princess Di trail is a singletrack trail that hugs the hillside
east of Promontory. The track is narrow, with some areas of loose volcanic
rock that create tricky traction on the many tight switchback turns. This
makes the trail "expert" in technical requirement, although
intermediates can ride it by dismounting on most of the turns.
View northbound a few miles into the
ride. You'll spot a few huge homes on the hills above the trail. Photos by
Bruce, August 16, 2010. |
| Princess Di can be reached directly from the bottom
(northern) end by taking the Promontory/Tollgate Canyon I-80 exit. But
most riders do the ride as a loop starting with the paved Three Mile
Canyon trail, then finishing with 4 miles on the Rail Trail. For this
review, we'll assume you're doing the counterclockwise loop starting from the Rail
Trail Promontory trailhead off US-40.
Just getting started. The Three Mile
Canyon paved trail has a gentle slope, climbing 400 vertical feet in 2.4
miles, then descending 100 feet over 0.6 miles before you hit the
singletrack Princess Di trail. |
|
 |
Princess Di itself is 7.5 miles in length, with the total
loop ride being 14.5 miles. The 7 miles you'll spend on the paved Three
Mile Canyon and cindered Rail Trail are pretty easy. Still, the ride is a
moderately strenuous trip due to the climbing on Princess Di.
Trailhead parking is at 6500 feet elevation. Top altitude is 7300 at
the ridgeline 10 miles into the ride, bottom 6300 at the Rail Trail. You'll gain, lose, and regain
altitude for about 1800 total feet of climbing.
From the Three Mile Canyon Trail,
there are views west to Parley's Summit and south to Deer Valley. After
cresting the hill, you'll be above a little golf course stuffed into the
little canyon. |
| Start at the Promontory Trailhead for the Rail Trail (see
below). Head out of the parking lot to the street, cross the road,
and turn left on the paved path. Keep on the paved bike path, ignoring the
many side trails and confusing signs. Climb the hill for 2.4 miles. The
paved trail follows the road for the first mile, then veers out into the
brush of the hillside, but returns to the road at the top.
Heading downhill after crossing the
ridge. The Princess Di trail is just a couple of wiggles away. |
|
 |
At the crest of the hill, the paved path will turn away from
the roadway and begin descending. You'll drop 100 feet of the 400 you
gained since the trailhead. At exactly mile 3.0, the trail makes a hairpin
turn to the right (as of 2010, the pavement ended here). The Princess Di
trail forks north (left) at the apex of this turn.
Entry into Princess Di. The trail is
very well marked with carsonite signposts. If you find yourself confused,
look around for a post, or check the dirt for tire tracks. |
| Princess Di contours around the east side of the Promontory
mountain, keeping just below the easternmost homes of the development. The
trail will go in and out of
several drainages, gently gaining and losing altitude. You'll hit quite a
few very tight and loose switchbacks on this side of the mountain. But if
you hate switchbacks, you haven't seen anything yet. Just wait.
The trail skirts an outcrop of
volcanic rock, a mix of pumice and ash. |
|
 |
On south slopes, the trail base is fairly smooth overall,
but with scattered loose sharp volcanic chunks. These make climbing around a
sharp uphill switchback more interesting. Southern slopes are usually
bitterbrush and sage with occasional stands of gambel oak.
View east toward Rockport Reservoir. |
| On north-facing slopes, the trail is hardpack dirt, with a
few petrified ruts left over from early season. There are occasional
sections of teeth-rattling horse-hoof postholes. The north slopes have
thicker brush and oak, with groves of aspen, choke cherry, and maple.
The last long climb on the singletrack gains 400 feet over about 1.5
miles, putting you on top of the ridge at 7300 feet. To the west are views over Park
City and Jeremy Ranch. To the east, Rockport Reservoir sits in front of
the Uintah Mountain foothills.
Typical trail section on a
north-facing slope. Thick low shrubs such as potentilla mix with sage
between small stands of aspen, maple, or oak. There's occasional
elderberry, serviceberry, or chokecherry. |
|
 |
At the top, head for the end of the roadway in front of you. Look for the
trail post on the other side of the road, about 100 feet before the end.
Hit the singletrack and begin your descent. You'll be dropping 1000
vertical feet over 4 miles and countless switchbacks. Fun stuff. Great
ride if you've got the handling skills to roll the turns quickly.
View west from the top. The light
stripe at mid-left is the end of the subdivision road. The continuing
singletrack is across on the other side. |
| The trail grade on the downhill is usually fairly mellow and
consistent. But the track is narrow enough that you'll have little
temptation to "fly" and your descent will be interrupted
regularly by very tight tricky turns.
Near the bottom, there's a long straight downhill as you and the
Promontory Road follow a small creek down toward I-80.
One of the few groves of larger trees,
as the trail becomes cool and shady under the maples. |
|
 |
The final bit of singletrack is a steep section that clings
to a cliff-like washed-out sidehill. Just ride. It's easier to roll down
on the bike than to walk it. The trail ends where Promontory Road hits the
freeway exit.
Turn right and cross I-80. Notice the little tree-lined pit to your
right. Hike down into the creek (dry in August), turn right, and go
through the tunnel under the southbound lane. In between freeway lanes,
you'll find the Rail Trail. Turn right and ride uphill 4 miles back to the
trailhead.
I-80, with the Rail Trail between the
lanes. |
Princess Di Trail, counterclockwise loop:
0.0 Back to road N40 43.475 W111 28.309
Cross road, L on paved trail
Begin Three Mile Canyon
paved trail
0.3 Keep straight on paved trail at all crossings
N40 43.449 W111 28.082
(R = to South Canyon Trail)
2.4 Top of ridge, begin to descend
3.0 L on singletrack (end of pavement 2010)
N40 44.537 W111 26.103
Begin Princess Di
singletrack
7.2 Top of ridge, angle L across road to
ST
N40 46.140 W111 26.772
Clattering through the tunnel under
the freeway, with a bridge on the
Rail Trail waiting on the other side. |
|
 |
7.6 Cross paved road
9.4 Drop R on ST as you hit clearing with bldg
N40 46.684 W111 27.391
10.5 Plunge down to road, turn R and go over I-80
N40 46.512 W111 28.066
Immediately after freeway, drop
R into "hole"
N40 46.530 W111 28.161
R into drain tunnel, go under
southbound land
R on Rail Trail in
between lanes of freeway
14.5 L into parking area
On the Rail Trail southbound, between the lanes of
I-80. Not as obnoxiously noisy as you'd think. |
| Getting there: Take I-80 eastbound out of Salt
Lake City and cross Parley's Summit. Pass the Park City exit, then a
couple of miles later, take US-40 south at Silver Creek Junction. In 1
miles, exit at Silver Summit. Turn L (east). Follow the road as it veers
north. At 0.8 miles after leaving US-40, turn right on Promontory Ranch
Road. Continue about 1/2 mile. Just after crossing the Rail Trail, turn
left into a paved parking area with a "Promontory" sign. Begin
the ride by heading for the paved trail across the road from parking.
Bathroom: Outhouse at trailhead.
Water: None at trailhead. Convenience store 1/2 mile away.
Camping: None in immediate area. Nearby at Rockport, Echo, or
Jordanelle Reservoirs.
Bike Services: Multiple shops with rentals and repairs in Park
City. |
|
|
