My favorite Ironman distance ride takes in the seven major reservoirs on the east side of the Wasatch. It has the benefit of a fairly even mix of hills and flats. The section from Henefer to Midway has only one major climb. I do my best to stay in the tri bars for this 50 mile section to train my neck, arm and back muscles to cope with the long periods in the tri bars that we experience in most races.
I typically loop the ride from home in Park City (104 miles) leaving out Lost Creek and Deer Creek reservoirs. Starting off from the East Canyon exit off I-80 makes logistical sense if you have somebody to pick you up at Deer Creek (92 miles) and avoids riding on I-80 for about four miles. This is a tough ride which typically takes me about six hours and has no option to cut it shorter. Good places to stop for nutrition and fluids are Henefer (30 miles), Wanship (50 miles), Kamas (66 miles), Midway (85 miles).
If you choose to add Lost Creek Reservoir it will add 30 miles to your ride. Given the time, it is worth enduring a short ride on gravel to the boat ramp for a swim. In my opinion the water is the cleanest and the setting by far the most scenic of any of the reservoirs (think Lake Powell). I typically only include it if I am starting and ending in Wanship. Wanship is an excellent base for a number of reasons including; ample parking at the LDS church or Rail Trail head for a post ride run and is less than a mile from the Rockport reservoir which has easy access from the road for open water swimming.
The Route
Starting at Mountain Dell Reservoir climb up and over Big Mountain to East Canyon Reservoir. At the far end of the reservoir take the right split and head into Henefer. Essentially this is the old East Canyon Olympic tri route which is a sad loss to our list of local events. At Henefer you have a choice to head left for an out and back to Lost Creek Reservoir on the Echo half IM course or take a right towards Echo. At Echo junction cross under I-80 and in quick succession you will knock off Echo Reservoir on the right hand side before Coalville and Rockport Reservoir just after Wanship on the left. I typically head back towards Park City up Brown’s Canyon looking out over Jordanelle Reservoir from the summit. At the base of Browns you have the choice to continue straight through Kamas to Francis where you would make a right onto the Jordanelle tri course passing the Jordanelle Reservoir on the right hand side on your way to Midway. In Midway follow the signs to Soldier Hollow which will be on your right hand side shortly before you reach Deer Creek Reservoir.
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Directions
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Distance
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Mountain Dell Reservoir, Salt Lake City, UT
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1:
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Start out going SOUTHWEST.
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0.3 miles
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2:
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Merge onto I-80 W via the ramp on the LEFT.
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0.8 miles
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3:
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Take EXIT 132 toward RANCH.
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0.1 miles
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4:
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Turn LEFT onto MT AIRE CANYON RD.
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<0.1 miles
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5:
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Merge onto I-80 E via the ramp on the LEFT.
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1.4 miles
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6:
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Take the UT-65 N exit- EXIT 134- toward EAST CANYON.
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0.3 miles
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7:
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Turn LEFT onto UT-65 (Portions may be closed seasonally).
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19.3 miles
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8:
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Turn LEFT onto UT-66/EAST CANYON RD. Continue to follow UT-66.
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2.3 miles
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9:
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End At East Canyon Reservoir, Morgan, UT
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Estimated Time: 43 minutes Distance: 24.89 miles
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East Canyon Reservoir, Morgan, UT
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1:
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Start out going EAST on UT-66/EAST CANYON RD toward UT-65. Continue to follow UT-66.
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2.3 miles
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2:
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UT-66 becomes UT-65.
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8.0 miles
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3:
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Turn RIGHT onto UT-65/MAIN ST.
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0.3 miles
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4:
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End At Henefer, UT
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Estimated Time: 15 minutes Distance: 10.72 miles
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Henefer, UT
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1:
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Start out going NORTHEAST on UT-65/S MAIN ST toward 100 SOUTH ST. Continue to follow UT-65.
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0.7 miles
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2:
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UT-65 becomes ECHO RD/UT-86 S.
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4.1 miles
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3:
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ECHO RD/UT-86 S becomes ECHO CANYON RD.
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0.2 miles
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4:
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Turn RIGHT onto ECHO DAM RD.
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4.3 miles
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5:
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ECHO DAM RD becomes MAIN ST.
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2.4 miles
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6:
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MAIN ST becomes S HOYTSVILLE RD.
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6.4 miles
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7:
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S HOYTSVILLE RD becomes E WANSHIP RD/UT-32.
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0.1 miles
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8:
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End At Wanship, UT
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Estimated Time: 35 minutes Distance: 18.49 miles
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Wanship, UT
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1:
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Start out going WEST on E WANSHIP RD/UT-32 toward W WANSHIP RD.
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<0.1 miles
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2:
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Turn LEFT onto MAIN ST/UT-32. Continue to follow UT-32.
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7.7 miles
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3:
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Turn SLIGHT LEFT to stay on UT-32.
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8.2 miles
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4:
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Turn LEFT onto UT-150/E CENTER ST.
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<0.1 miles
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5:
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End At Kamas, UT
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Estimated Time: 22 minutes Distance: 16.15 miles
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Kamas, UT
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1:
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Start out going WEST on UT-150/E CENTER ST toward UT-32/N MAIN ST.
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<0.1 miles
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2:
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Turn LEFT onto UT-32/S MAIN ST. Continue to follow UT-32.
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2.2 miles
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3:
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Turn RIGHT to stay on UT-32.
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10.3 miles
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4:
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UT-32 becomes W RIVER RD.
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4.1 miles
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5:
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Turn RIGHT onto E MAIN ST/UT-113. Continue to follow E MAIN ST.
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0.5 miles
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6:
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End At Midway, UT
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Estimated Time: 24 minutes Distance: 17.35 miles
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Midway, UT
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1:
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Start out going EAST on W MAIN ST/UT-224 toward N CENTER ST.
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<0.1 miles
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2:
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Turn RIGHT onto S CENTER ST/UT-113. Continue to follow UT-113.
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3.9 miles
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3:
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Turn RIGHT onto US-189.
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0.3 miles
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4:
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End At Deer Creek State Park, S Us-189, Heber City, UT 84032, 435-654-0171
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Estimated Time: 7 minutesDistance: 4.38 miles
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Deer Creek State Park, S Us-189, Heber City, UT 84032, 435-654-0171
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Total Estimated Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes Distance: 91.98 miles
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