Emigration Canyon was first introduced to me while on a group ride with a local tri club a few years back. I would have to say that it is one of the most popular riding routes in Salt Lake and I always see other riders on this course whenever I cycle it. Add to this the killer incline up to Big Mountain pass and you have a mean workout. The ride to the top of Emigration Canyon is approximately 9.5 miles for a total roundtrip of 19 miles. Throw in the ride to Big Mountain and then you’ll have a 34 mile roundtrip ride.

As the summer wanes it doesn’t take much for conditions to change for the worse on this ride. While things may be decent in the Salt Lake Valley, it can be very stormy and/or chilly on the summits, so dress and ride accordingly. This ride is also very scenic in the fall with the loose tree leaves and the changing of colors. Have fun and ride safe! -Mick M.

slamkablam@yahoo.com

Popularity: 23% [?]

One of my favorite rides in northern Utah is Antelope Island. It is a very scenic ride that has nice views of the Great Salt Lake and is a great way to escape from neighborhood and city traffic. The difficulty of this bike ride is moderate, but can be harder depending on how much you want to push yourself – or who you cycle with!

Antelope Island is an out-and-back trip that is approximately 38 miles long. It starts from the ranger toll booth at the beginning of the island causeway. A good turnaround point is at the Fielding Garr Ranch on the south end of the island.

You can reach the causeway to the island by taking Exit 335 off I-15 in Layton. When you take the exit, turn west onto Antelope Drive and follow the road until you reach the Great Salt Lake. Just before the toll booth, you should pull into the parking lot on the left hand side of the road. You will have to pay the obligatory toll of $4 for each bicycle that enters the park.

From the toll booth, you bike ride along the seven mile causeway to the island. The causeway is flat. It can be a little tough if there is a headwind. You should keep in mind that this is also the last seven miles of your ride! Returning back on this strip of road after a strenuous workout can be long and tiresome, especially when you are already fatigued.

Once you arrive on the island, you will follow the sign that points left to the ranch. After riding your bike up a slight uphill that goes by a 2002 Olympic buffalo sculpture, you’ll come by another sign pointing left to the ranch. Take the road that goes left because it is the road you’ll follow south all the way to the turn around point at Fielding Garr Ranch.

The ride is pretty flat. You’ll encounter a little downhill before a long hill at appoximatley seven and a half miles. This hill is about a mile long, and then will level out. The summit offers a nice overlook of the bay and causeway. From there on out you’ll go over small rollers until you reach the ranch at about mile 19.

If you are feeling strong and want to test your climbing skills, take the road that turns off to Frary Peak at about mile 12.5. This road goes up a hill that is really INTENSE, even though it is les then ½ a mile long. At the top of the hill, you will come to a stop at a dirt trailhead to Frary Peak. There is a sign that says the road has a 23 percent grade. On the ride down the hill you can easily exceed 40 mph, so be smart and careful while descending. If you feel inclined, you can also ride up a the hill to Buffalo Point or you can hit a small loop that goes by some beaches and the visitor center. This will tack on a few more miles to your ride.

When you ride Antelope Island, be sure to bring plenty of fluids because Fielding Garr Ranch doesn’t have water access. I always take at least two full water bottles but sometimes even that amount isn’t enough. To refresh your sure-to-be parched throat, you can purchase water at the Buffalo Point Bistro, or you can refill your water bottles at a fountain in the visitor center. In addition to plenty of water, take the map of the island available at the toll booth so you’ll know where you are at all times. You will also want to bring insect repellant with you or spray yourself before you ride. Bugs can be an issue on the island, especially mosquitoes. One time I flatted in the early evening and was mauled by mosquitoes. It was a very ugly experience, to say the least. Brine fly swarms can get bad, too. Oh, one more tip. In the past I’ve come across buffalos (bison) crossing the road to the ranch. If this happens to you, I recommend that you either wait patiently for them to go by or ride along the side of slow-moving cars, using them as barriers from the unpredictable animals.

I highly recommend this ride. The flats of the causeway along with the rollers on the road to the ranch make this a nice ride to time trial on. The wide roads and low automobile traffic allows for less stop and go.

Enjoy!

Mick McKinley
slamkablam@yahoo.com

Popularity: 25% [?]

The old highway to the Saltair marina is one of the best beginner bike routes in the Salt Lake area. However, you will find cyclists of all levels riding this long stretch of barren road. What makes this ride perfect for beginners is that this is a lightly driven stretch of pavement. You will rarely see an automobile on the road, if at all. This is the place to break in your new clip-in pedals or to practice riding a road bike for the first time.

If riding from the start of Apollo Drive to the marina you will find that you have gone just over 11 miles (22 miles round trip).

How to Get There

From Salt Lake take I-80 West to 5600 West (just past the airport). Take an immediate right off of the freeway and a left at the first light. You will then take your first available left (Apollo Drive), which is the beginning of the old highway. Park yourself along side of the road and suit up.

The Ride

The route itself is very flat. You will encounter an easy roller approximately one quarter of a mile into the ride but will remain relatively flat the rest of the way. Yes, there is a spot or two that rises slightly but I refrain from calling them hills or even rollers. The elevation gain is minimal.

There is a stretch of road lasting approximately two and a half miles into the ride that is rough pavement. It’s actually a cement road with plenty of cracks to keep your cycling skills honest. One wrong move and you’re stuck in a rut and on the ground. This stretch is nearly one and a half miles long.

The only serious challenge you may face is the winds. The route is prone to headwinds coming from all directions. The road is in a wide open area with no protection. Pacing yourself is critical if you’re not experienced in the winds. If you are facing headwinds going out, be careful, you may face the headwind going back. A bonk is on the menu if your not nutritionally prepared. Yes, I would like a meteorological explanation of this occurrence but, whether you like it or not, it’s something you may deal with.Some riders enjoy riding to the Saltair concert hall and heading back, cutting the marina ride short by approximately two miles. The trip to the marina does have its perks with pleasant bathroom facilities and a water fountain to refill your bottles. There is even a soda machine for the cyclist in serious calorie deficit. The area also has a nice look-out point where you can overlook the Great Salt Lake.

There are several ways to extend the ride, most notably riding through the International Center and through the airport walking/cycling path.

This is a perfect for any level of cyclist.

Popularity: 17% [?]

We all have rides that are close to home, and are staples of our individual cycling regimens. These are rides that we know so well that we know what to expect and how far we can push it. It’s the type of ride we may go on after a long day at work when we don’t want to go too far from home. For me, one of those rides is one that has been termed the “Bountiful Loop.” It’s a great ride that satisfies my love of hill climbing.

This loop is approximately 18 miles long and is defiantly a hill workout. One needs to be in decent shape (or close to it!) for it because at times it is a strenuous ride.

You start the loop from Mills Park in Woods Cross (1750 S. 1200 W.), and head north on 1200 west until you reach 1500 south. From here, you will take a right, heading east. Then you take a left onto 1100 west. About 85 percent of this trip is through neighborhoods, which is nice because you don’t have to deal with fast traffic. At this point, head north on 1100 west for about three miles. Along the way you will pass homes, a few horses, and the Lakeside Golf Course. This portion of the ride is flat terrain. Once you reach 1600 north, take a right, heading east towards the Wasatch Mountains. This stretch will take you through a stop sign and two traffic lights.

When you reach Bountiful city limits, the street name changes to Pages Lane. On Pages Lane, riders will pass by Deseret Industries, Dick’s Supermarket, and JA Taylor Elementary before reaching a turn at 400 east, which I take a right on, heading south. On 400 east, you will pass Gold’s Gym and a Southern Baptist Church. Take a left when you reach 400 North.

You are now at the toughest part of the ride – the climb east up 400 North. The last time I rode this route a sign at the bottom of the hill read, “God says ‘Do Not Wait,’ Satan says ‘Procrastinate’” – I feel these were worthy words , possibly, to base your training on or to motivate you to attack this monster hill!

At this point, you face a mile long ascension where you’ll be climbing at a crawl. Ride along the road to the top where you’ll hit a small “bowl” before you reach the Bountiful LDS Temple. The rest of the course is relatively easy from this point on. As you go along, the name of the street will change from 400 North to Bountiful Boulevard, and then again to Eagleridge Drive. You’ll be high up enough to see the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island so don’t forget to look around and enjoy the scenery. This part of the ride is about eight and a half miles long and has some small hills and short descents. You’ll pass by two golf courses (Bountiful Ridge and Eaglewood), which are set in beautiful neighborhoods. After going by Eagleridge Golf Course you are in for a major downhill because what goes up must come down. This part of the ride is as steep as 12 percent grade in parts for over a mile and a half on a winding road. Please use caution as you complete this portion of the ride! The speed limit posted is 25 mps for a reason. Since you’re riding through a neighborhood, cars will be parked on the street and possibly backing out of driveways. So stay in control and focus on what’s ahead. At the bottom of the hill, take a right turn onto Orchard Drive at the yield sign. Then ride south and take a left turn at the traffic light onto Center Street. At this point, you’ll be heading east. Pass by a traffic light, stop light, and train tracks until you reach 400 West onto which you’ll take a right turn, going north. This is an industrial road and is very wide. Ride it for a little over a mile until you reach 1100 North. Ride across 1100 North into the Woods Cross neighborhood leaving North Salt Lake.

At this point you’ll ride north from 400 West and go past 1100 North in to the neighborhood. Then take a right onto 2550 South. After a bit, turn left onto 1400 West, then turn right onto 2400 South and turn left again onto 1350 West. Before reaching 1975 South there is a sidewalk on the right hand side of the road heading east, which leads to a walk way. Take a left heading north onto this walk way, which will lead you back to Mills Park, the start of your ride. Then you’re finished!

This is one of my favorite “hometown” rides which provides me with a great climbing workout while honing my descending skills and rewarding me with some great overviews of the valley. Ride smart, be safe, and enjoy!

Mick M.

slamkablam@yahoo.com

Popularity: 15% [?]