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 step-over ATV extruder 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.

Trailhead options!

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. A singletrack trail climbs 1.5 miles to the Riverview Trail.

Wile E Canyon trailhead: The Wile E Canyon trailhead is located on the southern side of Highway 32, just over 4 miles from US-40. It's 1/10th mile east of the old Cutthroat trailhead (see below). There's room for about 8 cars here. From the parking lot, a connector trail takes you 120 yards uphill to the Wile E Canyon loop. To get to Beep Beep (or the Coyote Switchbacks or East Riverview), turn right at the trail fork, keep right at the next fork, then turn left onto the Coyote Riverview Connector trail as you approach the gravel road.

Coyote Riverview Connector trail (old Cutthroat): You can still connect through the old Cutthroat trailhead, although there's no longer a parking area here. For example, if the crowds have forced you to park where construction workers leave their vehicles along Highway 32, you can pedal to the gravel road to the new golf course leaves the highway, four miles east of US-40 and just east of the big rock-wall road-cut.

Puddy Tat parking: On Highway 3 around three miles from US-40, watch for a dirt road turning to the right in a huge sage meadow. There are a couple of buildings across Highway 32 at this spot. The parking spot is just through the fence, with a connection to Puddy Tat on the eastern side of parking. (This spot was still being worked on at the time of my review.)

Riverview trailhead: From US-40 just south of the Jordanelle reservoir, turn east at the traffic light onto Highwat 32 (at mile 14.2 from I-80 if you're coming from the north). On Highway 32, climb 1.1 miles. When you see the second entry into Riverview on your left and a road under construction to your right, the Riverview Connector trail starts on the uphill side of that road just after it leaves Highway 32. (In 2025, there's no longer protected parking here. It's unclear whether the trailhead will be restored when construction is complete.)

Coyote Trailhead: The southern Coyote trailhead has been lost to subdivision construction. Access to the southern side the trail system is in limbo, but some riders find their way through the construction zone by pedaling up the gravel Coyote Canyon road.

Canal DT trailhead: Just uphill from the light on highway 32, watch for the canal crossing. Park along the road. Start riding south on the doubletrack just uphill from the canal.