Looking back to the west on Bofur's Climb. The trail is angling a bit downhill here, in the middle of the climb. Photos and trail review by Bruce on September 4, 2024.
Looking back to the west on Bofur's Climb. The trail is angling a bit downhill here, in the middle of the climb. Photos and trail review by Bruce on September 4, 2024.
Bofur's Climb

Bofur's Climb is an alternate climbing route in the Coyote (Riverview) system north of Heber. This trail is for strong expert riders. Bofur's Climb is one-way uphill, running between Middle Earth (at the Frodo's Playground crossing) and Rivendell (at the Chop'd Coyote trail fork).

Bofur's Climb is 1.2 miles long, gaining 230 feet of elevation. Because of some up-and-down riding, the total climbing on this trail will be 270. The top elevation of the trail is 6280 feet. Because the trail is mostly sun-exposed, the expected riding season will be mid-May through November.

This trail is a hand-cut narrow singletrack that passes through several igneous rock outcrops. While there are some sections of smooth wide trail and some banked turns, most of the trail is raw and bumpy. This is the only black-diamond climb in the Coyote riding area, and it deserves this rating.
Heading east through volcanic debris. At times the trail is a bit faint in 2024.
Heading east through volcanic debris. At times the trail is a bit faint in 2024.
Getting a bit higher on the mountain, still heading east, in an area of soil and embedded boulders of mixed type.
Getting a bit higher on the mountain, still heading east, in an area of soil and embedded boulders of mixed type.

The Bofur's Climb trail offers some challenging riding in the uphill direction for expert mountain bikers. It makes a good loop when combined with a downhill on the expert DH routes Second Breakfast (Skidder 2) or Doors of Durin. And because it ends right where Chop'd Coyote starts, it's a good (but tough) beginning to a climb up to Stone Giants and down Tom Bombadil.

Recommended trailhead and access
UVU Trailhead
Most riders get to the Riverview area west-side trails from the UVU Wasatch Campus trailhead. This is found on the far north end of Heber on Highway 40, one mile south of the Highway 32 junction. At the UVU campus entry, turn east (toward the mountain). Go to the uppermost level of parking behind the UVU buildings. Look for the duck-under and kiosk.

As you cross the canal, turn left onto Lower Riverview, then turn right as the UVU Connector climbs uphill. Cross the doubletrack (also known as Lower Riverview), then turn to the right on Middle Earth. After 1/10th mile, veer left uphill on Bofur's Climb at the spot where Frodo's trail crosses Middle Earth.

At the kiosk, head uphill (via any route) to cross the canal.
At the kiosk, head uphill (via any route) to cross the canal.
Bofur's Climb
Looking at the entry to Bofur's Climb on Middle Earth.
Looking at the entry to Bofur's Climb on Middle Earth.
Bofur's Climb begins on the Middle Earth trail at the point where Frodo's Playground crosses. (This is just south of where Middle Earth crosses the UVU Connector.) To climb via Bofur's, take the UVU Connector uphill to Middle Earth, 0.7 miles from trailhead parking. Turn right on Middle Earth and ride 1/10th mile south, veering left uphill on Bofur's Climb.
The trail will smooth and widen as more riders use it, but in 2024, it's narrow, bumpy, and often loose. There's one steep uphill as you cross the ravine at mile 0.4, but elsewhere the climbing rate is mellow even if the riding is challenging.
Crossing the first ridge. We'll descend a bit here, cross the small canyon and climb the easy gentle path you see in the upper photo.
Crossing the first ridge. We'll descend a bit here, cross the small canyon and climb the easy gentle path you see in the upper photo.
A challenging spot. Looking back at a sloped rock face with drop-offs and off-camber riding.
A challenging spot. Looking back at a sloped rock face with drop-offs and off-camber riding.
You'll cross through several areas of volcanic rock outcrops. Mostly these are petrified mud-flows of granite and volcanic ash. Where you ride over open rock, the surface is rough. In other areas, the rock lies beneath a layer of dust, pebbles, and baby-head boulders.
At the top, Bofur's Climb joins Rivendell aiming northbound. If you keep straight and to the right, you'll immediately enter Chop'd Coyote to continue uphill. If you stay left and level, you'll be on your way toward other DH opportunities such as Second Breakfast, Mordor and Skidder 1.
Bofur's arrives at the Rivendell trail (on the left).
Bofur's arrives at the Rivendell trail (on the left).
middle region of the coyote system
middle region of the coyote system
Getting there, UVU Wasatch Campus Trailhead:
One mile south of the junction of Highway 40 and 32 (a couple of miles north of Heber), turn east (toward the mountain) at the UVU campus. Go to the uppermost level of parking behind the UVU buildings. Look for the duck-under and kiosk N40 32.798 W111 24.735. A singletrack trail climbs 1.5 miles to the Riverview Trail.

Riverview Trailhead:
From Salt Lake, take I-80 eastbound to Silver Creek Junction (just past Park City). Go south on US-40, past the Jordanelle reservoir and descend past the dam. At the traffic light at mile 14.2 from I-80, turn left on 32 and climb 1.1 miles. When you see the second entry into Riverview on your left, note the gravel parking area on your right N40 34.403 W111 25.214. That's your spot.
From Utah County, drive up Provo Canyon to Heber. At the traffic light on US-189/US-40, turn left and drive north through Heber. 4.7 miles from the intersection, turn right on Highway 32 and climb 1.1 miles to the parking area as above.

Coyote Trailhead:
Two miles south of the junction of Highway 40 and 32, turn east (toward the mountain) on Coyote Lane. Just after the road crosses a canal, turn left into the parking lot. The singletrack starts at the northeast corner at the step-over, where you'll also find a repair stand and a kiosk with a trail map. The Coyote singletrack takes you uphill. After merging with the gravel road to cross the bridge, veer left onto singletrack then keep generally right and uphill at the trail forks.

Cutthroat (Highway 32) Trailhead:
Drive up Highway 32 four miles. Look for a gravel road on the right side N40 35.430 W111 23.389. You can park along the road and clamber over the fence near the (locked) gate. Find the singletrack on your left and ride uphill, keeping to the right at the Wile E Canyon fork about 100 yards uphill. You'll reach the fork that starts the Coyote loop 0.4 miles from the highway.