Self Shuttled Wasatch Crest / Mill D Loop

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E-Bikes Not Allowed

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This is an alternative option to taking Wasatch Crest down into Mill Creek Canyon (famous shuttled ride). Since Mill Creek Canyon is only open to bikes on even days, this is a great alternative on odd days, plus you can self shuttle this ride with a reasonable eight-mile climb up Big Cottonwood Canyon and Guardsman Pass roads.

The best time to ride this route is on weekdays and odd-numbered days because you'll encounter fewer mountain bikers (shuttling the famous Wasatch Crest trail) and most importantly hikers. Mill D is a well-known MTB trail but it is also used heavily by hikers.

If you do ride on the weekend, just be prepared to slow down a bit for hikers.

Park at the Mill D trailhead, which is almost exactly 10 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. There is plenty of available parking. Climb on your bike and climb eight miles up to the top of Guardsman Pass. You'll climb about 1,700 feet in eight miles (you need to turn left onto Guardsman Pass Road just past the fire station on the right hand side of the road).

Once at the top of Guardsman Pass, the trail is well marked and traveled. You'll follow the singletrack until you reach Puke Hill and then climb Puke Hill, staying on the doubletrack until it turns back into singletrack. Once you clear the spine (short double-black diamond section), you'll look for your first lefthand turn (a couple hundred yards at most after the spine).

This left will take you down to Desolation Lake (worth stopping for a picture) and then just beyond Desolation Lake the singletrack turns into the Mill D Trail. This trail is black diamond because of rocks and roots but 100% ride-able and one of the funnest downhill trails Salt Lake City has to offer. The trail will drop you back at your vehicle.