Five of the Best Mountain Bike Areas in the Wasatch
Highlighting only five of the best mountain bike areas in the Wasatch is a challenge with so many great trails throughout the state of Utah. Everyone has their own opinion of what makes a trail great based on what they are looking for from their riding experience. These are a few areas and trails that are worth checking out if you are looking for convenience, a lift to the top, a first ride, or amazing views.
Corner Canyon
The Corner Canyon mountain bike trail is one of five of the best mountain bike areas in the Wasatch located at the southern end of the Salt Lake valley. They are convenient, have some variety, and are super well maintained. One of the all time favorites is the Rush trail, a blue with berms and jumps for everybody to try out. Some of the berms and jumps are big and some are small but Rush is a great mountain bike trail near Salt Lake City for anybody to access and enjoy before work, after work, or on the weekends.
Bonneville Shoreline Trail- Most Convenient
The Bonneville Shoreline trail is currently over 100 miles of trail that runs from Ogden, UT to Payson, UT. This trail encompasses a huge number of separately named Mountain bike rides with ascents and descents connecting to the larger trail. There are hundreds of access points along the route and if you live in Davis County, Salt Lake County, or Utah County, you are probably only a short drive away from a fun ride along some segment of the shoreline trail.
The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is a favorite because it offers so much variety for riders of all levels. Whether you’re looking for a spicy after-work ride or a longer calmer all-day ride, there is a segment of the trail that will meet your needs. Ranked as the number 12 recommended ride in Utah on MTBproject, Bobsled is a popular descent from the Bonneville Shoreline trail. Located in Salt Lake City, it is a popular after-work destination.
Deer Valley Resort- Tidal Wave
With three lifts that access almost 70 miles of trails, Deer Valley is a downhill dream. There are trails for all levels and some even connect to the broader network of single track running throughout Park City. Tidal Wave is a great trail that is fast and flowy with easy jumps and great berms. Riding it with a pack of friends can make everybody feel like they are in a scene from Star Wars, zipping through the forest together.
The resort also offers services like bike rental and lessons for people just dipping their toes into the metaphorical mountain biking pool. It is a convenient and fun way to try different trails with different features and a variety of different riding experiences.
If you want to skip the lift ticket, you can still explore Deer Valley. The Mid-Mountain Trail spans 28 miles and takes you through two ski resorts. The trail boasts great forest views as well as expansive views of Park City.
Round Valley- For First-Timers
The Round Valley area in Park City offers the highest concentration of beginner and intermediate trails in Utah. The trails range from flat straight rides to short segments that can be strung together to gain experience with climbing, descending, and navigating rocks and turns.
The Round Valley Loop is an intermediate level 11.3 miles that skirts the perimeter of the area, intersecting a bunch of shorter trails like Pulp Friction (1.4 miles/difficult) and Nowhere Elks (1.3 miles/intermediate) that keep things interesting ride after ride.
The area is easily accessible from Highway 40, offers plenty of parking, and is just a short drive from downtown Park City. If you’re a newer rider and worried about getting injured out on a remote trail, you can find some peace of mind in knowing these trails are located right next to a hospital.
Antelope Island- For the Views (and the Bison)
Antelope Island is an island in the Great Salt Lake that can be accessed by a causeway that runs from Syracuse, Utah to the island. It is a state park and there is a fee to drive onto the island but the trails are bikeable essentially year-round. Mountain View Trail is aptly named as it offers an expansive view of the Wasatch Mountains.
Although the island has only a handful of formally designated mountain bike trails, the whole area is a bit of a pedaling haven and many locals take daily rides down the causeway and around the island. In addition to the views, Antelope Island is known for its huge herds of Bison. Depending on the season and day of the week, you’ll likely encounter more animals than people on your ride.
Five of the best mountain bike areas in the Wasatch are located just a short drive away from Salt Lake City. These trails only scratch the surface to all that Utah has to offer for mountain biking trails in the Wasatch mountains. If you are new to mountain biking, make sure to check out these Beginner Mountain Bike Trails in Salt Lake City.
Happy Riding
With over 7000 miles of recorded mountain biking trails (MTBproject), it’s hard to choose the best. Utah mountain biking trails can keep you entertained for an entire lifetime. We listed only the top 5 best mountain bike areas near the Wasatch that we prefer to ride on in the summer. Whether this is your first or twenty-first-year mountain biking, there’s a ride out there for you in one of these areas. Happy riding and check out some other outdoor recreation options in Salt Lake City to enjoy this summer!