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Spin Cycle
Spin Cycle is a great little DH ride. This fast, swooping downhill
singletrack is about 2 miles long, dropping 800 vertical feet. It finishes
with a gooseneck whoop-de-do bucking-horse plunge down an aspen-filled
gulley. Great fun.
Unless you shuttle by car (and I'm not sure if that's legal), your ride will be several miles longer.
Most riders do this ride on an XC or all-mountain bike, rather than a big
gravity rig.
Mike Bisagnani (Phillymike) zips
around a turn in the aspens on the serpentine trail. Photo by Kristen H.
Trail review October 23, 2008 by Bruce. |
| Spin Cycle isn't easy to find. Local riders have many ways
to get there. Their favorite route is (as of 2008) closed due to
construction. I recommend that out-of-towners crank up Little Stick from
Deer Valley's Snow Park Lodge, then follow the singletrack from there.
Straz (Peter Strazdins) and his dog
Sydney approach Spin Cycle on the Lookout Trail. That's the Jordanelle
Reservoir. Photo by Mike B. |
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If you're more adventurous, you can reach Spin Cycle from
anywhere in town. I've outlined three other routes: (1) from the upper Deer Valley Lodge
(to connect from the Midmountain Trail, upper Deer Valley, and other
west-side trails), (2) from the Rail Trail via Skid Row and Solamere, and
(3) from east side of the Deer Valley Snow Park Lodge loop road via the Village
Trail (which offers also a loop over and around Snowtop at the upper Deer
Crest gatehouse -- as in the DV ICup race course -- to extend the ride). Pick your poison. More twisty trail in the
trees as Straz flies down Spin Cycle. Photo by Phillymike. |
The shortest ride is around 5 miles. This ride climbs Little Stick from
Deer Valley, drops down Spin Cycle, and returns via the Village Trail
(without climbing back up Pipeline for a 2nd lap). The shortest return route
forks right immediately after the Deer Crest gatehouse onto the Gap Bypass.
You're there: the official entry sign
to Spin Cycle. |
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There are two ways to do multiple drops down Spin Cycle. The
"dirt loop" adds 4.7 miles per additional lap. On the climb back
up from Spin Cycle, this loop forks onto the Pipeline trail, then climbs
up the switchbacks to the top again. On dirt, it took me about 20 minutes
to get from the bottom of Spin Cycle back to the top for another go.
If you don't mind some road climbing, the road loop adds 1.5 uphill miles
on pavement to your 2 miles of downhill. This is quick and fun. Once you
get hit the bottom, it's pretty quick to crank back to the top on
pavement.
Straz hits the apex of a quick turn in
the maples. |
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I don't know if you can legally use a shuttle car for the "road
loops" unless you're a
guest of a Deer Crest HOA member. The gate at the bottom of Deer Hollow
Road was open, and I didn't see a "Members Only, No Trespassing" sign. But this
is a private area. Shuttling to the top with a car seems like a fun
option, but remember: I did not tell you it was OK.
Sample hairpin loop. (Bruce's bike is in center of
photo for size comparison.) The trail hits the bottom of the gulley,
climbs the other side, then falls back down with a swooping 180-degree
turn. |
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Two passes down Spin Cycle (on the dirt loop) starting from
Little Stick and returning via Village, is a quick and fairly easy 11-mile
day on great singletrack. That's assuming you're a reasonably strong intermediate
rider. Great stuff.
Kristen heads into the most fun part
of Spin Cycle -- that 2/10ths mile of whoop-de-doos across the ravine.
Photo by Mike B. |
| 1. Get to Spin Cycle
(Four options, not
counting by car): |
To Dirt Loop, via Little Stick
(quickest!):
0.0 Start DT uphill to R of lift at Snow Park Lodge
N40 38.280 W111 28.712
0.6 Top of Little Stick, veer L onto ST
N40 38.110 W111 28.563
1.0 Keep L (Deer Crest joins on R)
N40 38.171 W111 28.291
1.1 Straight (R) uphill
N40 38.228 W111 28.241
(Don't follow switchback to L
downhill)
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To Dirt Loop, from Silver Lake Village:
0.0 Go to lift south side N40 37.284 W111 29.270
L on DT, stay R of condos
heading north
At paved road, L then immediate
R up DT
0.4 Straight onto ST (Four Pointe)
N40 37.636 W111 29.158
1.0 Up bank onto DT, go L (Deer Crest)
N40 37.675 W111 28.737
1.3 L off DT onto ST N40 37.876 W111 28.548
2.0 Fork R N40 38.171 W111 28.291
2.1 Straight (R) uphill N40 38.228 W111 28.241 |
To Dirt Loop, via Village and Pipeline:
(Direct route via Gap closed due to
construction. When in doubt, go north.)
0.0 Find ST uphill between homes,
across from bottom of 3rd
parking lot
N40 38.526 W111 28.632
0.1 Fork R N40 38.521 W111 28.591
0.3 Fork L uphill N40 38.380 W111 28.631
0.5 Fork R uphill N40 38.483 W111 28.576
0.7 Keep straight N40 38.330 W111 28.550
1.1 Fork L N40 38.517 W111 28.393
1.4 Straight down to pavement, then R
N40 38.571 W111 28.432 |
(Continued route)
1.5 Find ST on L side of street (Village Trail)
N40 38.484 W111 28.287
2.2 At lift, fork R (Pipeline Trail)
N40 38.481 W111 27.964
2.3 Follow trail R off ski track
3.4 After underpass, L up into trees
N40 38.276 W111 28.452
3.5 Keep R and uphill (L = to DV)
N40 38.260 W111 28.352
3.9 L onto smaller trail to start Dirt Loop |
To Dirt Loop, from Skid Row:
0.0 Uphill off Rail Trail on ST
N40 40.257 W111 28.401
1.2 Fork R
N40 40.003 W111 28.365
1.5 L uphill N40 39.944 W111 28.680
1.7 L on pavement, follow Fox Glen circle
N40 39.775 W111 28.716
L on Solamere Drive
1.9 L off pavement onto ST N40 39.643 W111 28.721
2.2 R on pavement, road circles
N40 39.518 W111 28.640
2.5 R off pavement onto ST N40 39.441 W111 28.420
2.9 R on pavement (Rising Star Lane)
N40 39.349 W111 28.133 |
3.0 Straight at end of pavement
N40 39.256 W111 28.172
(Rightmost of two trails, both
get you there)
L=1.7 miles, 300 ft climbing
3.9 At gate house, go L past gate, then straight on road
4.0 Find ST on L side of street (Village Trail)
N40 38.484 W111 28.287
4.7 At lift, fork R (Pipeline Trail)
N40 38.481 W111 27.964
4.8 Follow trail R off ski track
5.9 After underpass, L up into trees
N40 38.276 W111 28.452
6.0 Keep R and uphill (L = to DV)
N40 38.260 W111 28.352
6.4 L onto smaller trail to start Dirt Loop |
| 2. Ride the loop a few
times (option of all-dirt or paved climb): |
Dirt Loop, starting from Outlook:
0.0 East at apex of turn
N40 38.228 W111 28.241
0.4 ST ends on pavement, go L
N40 38.068 W111 28.072
0.6 Underpass, stop sign, go L (Summit View Dr)
N40 37.927 W111 28.077
0.7 Turn R on Home Run Court
N40 37.961 W111 28.005
0.75 Fork L to access road
N40 37.930 W111 27.950
0.8 Fork R onto ST
N40 37.958 W111 27.864
1.5 Keep to R of homes, circle L
1.9 Action! Spin!
2.1 Enter parking area, find ST opposite corner
N40 38.185 W111 27.406 |
2.2 Straight underneath road (vs
R to road then L)
N40 38.210 W111 27.362
2.6 Join road, if you're not already on it
N40 38.393 W111 27.532
2.7 Fork L over bridge
N40 38.409 W111 27.655, cross
gulley
2.75 R uphill on ST (Lower Village Trail)
N40 38.377 W111 27.657
3.0 At lift, hard L (straight = Village Trail)
N40 38.481 W111 27.964
3.1 Follow trail R off ski track
4.2 After underpass, L up into trees
N40 38.276 W111 28.452
4.3 Keep R and uphill (L = to DV)
N40 38.260 W111 28.352
4.7 Back at starting point |
Road Loop, from the bottom:
(Getting your car to Deer Hollow Road:
Southbound US 40 from
I-80, take exit 319,
turn R, then R again. Park and ride your bike
up Deer Hollow Road to the entry gate)
0.0 Deer Crest entry gate, Deer Hollow Road
N40 38.205 W111 27.347
0.4 Fork L on Deer Crest Estates Drive
N40 38.409 W111 27.655, cross
gulley
1.6 Fork L on Summit View Drive
N40 38.308 W111 27.940 |
1.9 R on Home Run Court
N40 37.961 W111 28.005
2.0 L on access
road N40 37.930 W111 27.950
2.0 R onto ST N40 37.958 W111 27.864
2.7 Keep to R of homes, circle L
3.2 Action! Spin!
3.4 Enter parking area, find ST opposite corner
N40 38.185 W111 27.406
3.5 R to road, then L and head uphill for another
N40 38.210 W111 27.362 |
| 3. Then climb out and return
to Deer Valley: |
Back to Deer Valley, from bottom of Spin
Cycle:
0.0 Straight underneath road (vs R to road then L)
N40 38.210 W111 27.362
0.4 Join road, if you're not already on it
N40 38.393 W111 27.532
0.5 Fork L over bridge
N40 38.409 W111 27.655, cross
gulley
0.55 R uphill on ST (Lower Village Trail)
N40 38.377 W111 27.657
0.8 At lift, keep straight = Village Trail
N40 38.481 W111 27.964
1.4 R on pavement N40 38.484 W111 28.287 |
1.5 L around gate then L uphill
on ST
N40 38.574 W111 28.406
Keep straight at crossover
(R = shortcut, less climbing)
1.9 Fork R N40 38.517 W111 28.393
2.2 Fork R (L = to Gap, closed) N40 38.330 W111 28.550
2.5 Fork L (R=return to DC gatehouse)
N40 38.483 W111 28.576
2.7 Fork R (L closed due to construction)
N40 38.380 W111 28.631
2.9 Fork L downhill N40 38.521 W111 28.591
3.0 At street. |
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Getting there: In Park City, follow the signs
to Deer Valley Resort. After you turn past the Snow Park Lodge, turn left
into one of the parking lots. If you're climbing via Little Stick (the
most direct route), pedal back past the lodge and go to the gate on your
left at the far end of the resort property, then start up the doubletrack.
To find your way up via the Gap, find a non-closed route over the Gap. A
singletrack rises between condos opposite the 3rd parking lot, but it's
very hard to see from the street. You can also head north on the road,
then turn R to reach the Deer Crest gatehouse, where you can pick up the
trail (see above). |
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