The seasons are changing and with the cooler temps and shorter hours of sunlight come our glowing hillsides - full of golden aspens and other strikingly colorful auburn-hued trees. Fall in Park City is nothing short of spectacular. You get those cool mornings and evenings with the waning summer warmth during mid-day. It’s one of my favorite times of year in the mountains to explore the never-ending mountain bike trails that Park City has to offer! 

With over 400+ miles of easy-access trails, Park City is a mountain biker’s dream come true, especially in the fall months. Take yourself on a leaf peeping tour through our flowy, cross-country single track and techy downhill trails where the magic of the season will create an even more joyful experience.

  1. Lost Prospector
  2. Flagstaff Loop
  3. Armstrong
  4. Charlie's 9k

Lost Prospector

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  • Distance: 2.6 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 287 ft
  • Trail Use: Hiking and Biking
  • Out and Back or Loop: Loop
  • Dog-friendly? Yes - should be leashed
  • Parking: Park at White Pine Touring, take the Rail Trail to Free Mason or Skid Row which connect to Lost Prospector

Another great loop trail in the heart of Park City that will easily capture your heart during the prime leaf-peeping season is the Lost Prospector trail, an easy/intermediate loop where you connect with a variety of other trails that include Freemason, Gambel Oak, and Masonic. The trail is well maintained, with few rocks and roots along the way, offering mostly smooth surfaces and a gentle grade. Dip in and out of forests and take in expansive views of Old Town, Park City Mountain, and Deer Valley. During the autumn months, the scenery becomes particularly splendid with fiery reds, oranges, and yellows exploding from the groves of Quaking aspen, Gambel oak, and Rocky Mountain maple

Lost Prospector and its tree tunnels make for a unique mountain bike experience!
Lost Prospector on Trailforks.com

Flagstaff Loop

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  • Distance: 1.3 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 196 feet
  • Trail Use: Biking or hiking
  • Out and Back or Loop: Loop
  • Dog-friendly? No
  • Parking: Park at Snow Park Lodge Parking Area at Deer Valley Resort, Empire Pass

Deer Valley Resort is a stunning area for some fall mountain biking.  A single lift ticket gives you access to an insane amount of trails. But Flagstaff Loop stands out for its high alpine setting that includes stunning views of fall colors. You can connect this classic bit of Park City singletrack to the downhill-only Tidal Wave stretches for 2.7 miles, dropping 1,100 vertical feet from the top of the ski lifts on Bald Mountain all the way to Silver Lake Lodge, while the Flagstaff Loop is known for its spectacular views of the surrounding area. 

Flagstaff Loop winds through a stunning high alpine meadow!
Flagstaff Loop on Trailforks.com

Armstrong

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  • Distance: 3.8 Miles
  • Elevation Gain: 1240 ft
  • Trail Use: Hiking and Biking
  • Loop or Out and Back: Uphill - connects with other trails for a loop 
  • Dog-friendly? Yes - but Park City requires dogs on leash
  • Parking: First Time lot at Park City Resort

Another local favorite is the Armstrong trail. A 3.8-mile-long trail classified as intermediate in difficulty, but it’s quite a huffer and puffer with 1262 feet of vert gained. You can find access to the trail by way of a 0.1-mile connection on Silver Star Access, which also opens into Dawns, Spiro, and Silver Spur. Once on Armstrong, enjoy the brightly-hued tree coverage as you pedal up the mountain. Stop along the way to take in those glorious fall views. One of my favorite things about riding Armstrong in the fall is traversing over all the colored leaves that have fallen on the trail making it look like someone has thrown out a red carpet for you. Riders can connect directly to Dawn's and Mid-Mountain. Dawns is a comfortable 1.8-mile trek back down to Silver Star Access with additional outlets to Spiro and Silver Spur, while Mid-Mountain (a challenging 26-mile point-to-point behemoth) connects bikers to dozens of other trails throughout the Wasatch Back - which is also in another spectacular fall ride for a full day of excitement.

Armstrong is a kaleidoscope of colors in the Fall!

Charlie's 9k

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  • Distance: ~5.5 miles (or more if you decide)
  • Elevation Gain: 482 ft
  • Trail Use: Hiking and Biking
  • Loop or Out and Back: Out and Back (or Loop if you sync up with other trails)
  • Dog-friendly? Yes—but Park City requires dogs on leash

Charlie' 9k is a relatively new addition to the Park City trail network. It stretches from Empire Pass nearly six miles to Blazing Saddles, below Puke Hill and the Wasatch Crest. The trail isn't overly technical, and the views are fantastic. You can make it an out-and-back or a loop by dropping in on Black Forest, Cyn City, or Change Reaction. The real treat are the views of Bonanza Flats which POP in the fall thanks to a massive meadow that is home to a spectacular aspen grove. Riding 9k in the fall in non-negotiable—it must happen!

The leaves in Bonanza Flat are truly magical in the Fall!
9K Trail on Trailforks.com
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Fall Mountain Biking Tips and Advice

  • Set realistic goals and research the trail network ahead of time—pay attention to the total distance and the total elevation gain. Have an idea in mind of how far you can comfortably ride and how much elevation gain is too much.
  • Bring enough water and snacks for the amount of time you think you’ll be on the trail.
  • Tell a friend where you are headed in case of an emergency.
  • Bring layers and rain gear—the weather can be fickle this time of year, locals even refer to fall as "Monsoon Season."
  • Wear appropriate mountain biking clothes for comfort.
  • Keep in mind the altitude if you are coming from a lower elevation—stop as many times as you need to catch your breath, stretch your legs, and hydrate.
  • Wear sunscreen—even on cloudy days, at our elevation, you can get a pretty gnarly sunburn.
  • Leave No Trace—pack out any trash you find and stay on the trail.
  • Make sure your phone and camera are charged to take all the photos of the beautiful fall foliage.
  • If you are on a shared multi-use trail, stay alert and be aware of your surroundings—mountain bikers should always yield to hikers. 

Get Out and Ride this Fall in Park City

What an amazing time of year to visit Park City - how lucky are you to get to experience the true majesty of fall in the Wasatch?  You not only get to see the transformation from Summer to fall but also get to experience it from the trail. In my opinion, the fall is too short here, so take advantage of this special time of year and get out on the trails for an extraordinary mountain bike ride before the days get shorter, and colder and the snow begins to fall.