Looking west on the lower Bicentennial trail. Trail review and photos by Bruce on August 13, 2021.
Traildemic to Bicentenial Loop
North Fork Park
This page describes the Bicentennial and Traildemic trails, found at the northern end of Ogden Valley's North Fork Park. The expected riding season is June through October. The trails lie at an elevation of 5700 to 6300 feet. This page describes a counter-clockwise ride that uses the entire length of both trails.
North Fork Park
This page describes the Bicentennial and Traildemic trails, found at the northern end of Ogden Valley's North Fork Park. The expected riding season is June through October. The trails lie at an elevation of 5700 to 6300 feet. This page describes a counter-clockwise ride that uses the entire length of both trails.
The bottom of both trails can be reached from the northern campground via a short jaunt on
dirt road (see map). The uphill sides of these trails is found by pedaling
to the Cutler Flat
group area and pavilion after parking along the main North Fork Park road.
You can also connect through from the 365 trailhead at the southern end of the riding area by using Mule Ear, Cinch, or Mule Connector. My ride description will use the shortest version of the ride, starting at the Mule Loop trailhead on the northern North Fork Park road.
You can also connect through from the 365 trailhead at the southern end of the riding area by using Mule Ear, Cinch, or Mule Connector. My ride description will use the shortest version of the ride, starting at the Mule Loop trailhead on the northern North Fork Park road.
This is the Pavilion. It's a critical landmark to riding this area.
Looking uphill as we climb the newly-rebuilt Mule Ear toward the fork with Cutler's Twist.
Start at the Mule Ear trailhead, 1.8 miles up the North Fork Park road. Find the connector trail at the northwest corner, then turn left uphill when it hits the Mule Ear trail. Cross the gravel road.
Next, cross over the Mule Connector trail (a right turn here would take you down to the lower parking area). Head uphill 0.1 miles on the combined Mule Ear and Cutler's Twist trails.
Fork to the right as Cutler's Twist leaves Mule Ear. Cutler's Twist will head north and arrive
at the group area (the pavilion) at mile 0.5 from the trailhead. Cross
the first doubletrack.
As you reach the second gravel road, cross over, then quickly fork left
onto the Traildemic
trail.
We're now heading east on the Traildemic trail in a forest of fern, aspen, and maple.
Contouring the hillside as we descend the gentle slope of Traildemic.
Traildemic
Traildemic was built in the year of the pandemic, as you might guess. It's an engineered machine-cut with a reasonable grade. There are banked turns good for descending or climbing. Many riders choose to use Traildemic as their climbing trail, even though this page describes it as a descent.
Traildemic was built in the year of the pandemic, as you might guess. It's an engineered machine-cut with a reasonable grade. There are banked turns good for descending or climbing. Many riders choose to use Traildemic as their climbing trail, even though this page describes it as a descent.
Traildemic is 1.5 miles in length, with 250 vertical feet of elevation loss west to east. It's
a trail that's suitable for experienced beginners as an out-and-back.
(The loop ride with Bicentenial
has pitches that will be long hike-a-bikes for beginners.)
Gentle rollers on machined trail, designed to shed water. We're in a thick maple forest.
Heading east alongside Cutler Creek.
After contouring around the hill, Traildemic again heads east, just above Cutler Creek. Enjoy
a cool cruise in this flat area of aspen, maple, and fern.
At mile 1.1 of Traildemic (mile 1.6 of the ride), keep left as a trail heads uphill on your
right. This spur climbs 100 yards to a group area (there's a bathroom
here).
Stay left and cross Cutler Creek.
Stay left and cross Cutler Creek.
The group area at the top of the trail spur. If you see this, you took the wrong side of the trail fork.
Thick tall ferns surround the trail as we weave through aspen and maple forest.
From the creek crossing, it's 0.4 miles of forested riding to reach the intersection with Bicentennial
and the North Fork Ogden River dirt road. At mile 2.0 of the ride, keep
to the left to begin
Bicentennial.
The dirt road just a few feet away at the base of Bicentennial goes uphill to Middle Fork, and downhill to the campground. It can be used as a bailout route back to the trailhead (see map).
The dirt road just a few feet away at the base of Bicentennial goes uphill to Middle Fork, and downhill to the campground. It can be used as a bailout route back to the trailhead (see map).
Bicentennial Trail
The Bicentennial Trail is 1.8 miles long; 2.4 if you're counting the doubletrack portion called Cutler Creek. The trail has some brutal climbs, so it's recommended for strong upper-intermediates or expert riders. You'll be gaining 600 vertical feet over the first 1.2 miles of this trail.
The Bicentennial Trail is 1.8 miles long; 2.4 if you're counting the doubletrack portion called Cutler Creek. The trail has some brutal climbs, so it's recommended for strong upper-intermediates or expert riders. You'll be gaining 600 vertical feet over the first 1.2 miles of this trail.
Looking at the entry to the Bicentennial trail from the North Fork Ogden River Road (dirt road). The Traildemic trail can be seen joining on the left as Bicentennial curves around to the right.
New trailcut during the lower climb on Bicentennial.
The trail starts out mellow on a newly-rebuilt section. After 0.2 miles of Bicentennial, keep
left uphill. The right fork is the old trail that runs up the bottom of
the canyon.
At mile 0.4, the old trail will cross over. Stay straight on the new route. At mile 0.5 from the origin of Bicentennial, the new trail-cut ends on the old route, and things get tougher.
At mile 0.4, the old trail will cross over. Stay straight on the new route. At mile 0.5 from the origin of Bicentennial, the new trail-cut ends on the old route, and things get tougher.
Some areas of the trail will be a bit trenched. There will be an occasional root to clear.
At times, dust and loose rock will make climbing difficult.
Finding the climbing a bit stiffer as we proceed westward.
This is the uphill trail junction between Bicentennial and Middle Fork. We're looking north down Middle Fork from Bicentennial.
At mile 0.7 of Bicentennial (mile 2.7 of the ride), pass the top of the Middle Fork trail on
your right.
The Bicentennial trail is 99% forested. There are only a couple of spots where you can see
any sort of view.
A rare break-out view from the ridgeline on Bicentennial. We're looking north up North Fork Canyon.
The Bicentennial trail works its way to the top of a ridgeline as it proceeds to the west.
The riding gets even tougher now. You'll gain 300 feet of elevation over the next 0.6 miles
of Bicentennial.
At the ride's highest point (6330 feet by my Garmin) there's a wide spot and a sign where you
can pull over and rest up.
Rest stop at the ride's highest elevation.
Dropping down Bicentennial after passing the Long Loop fork.
Now descend 0.4 miles to the Long Loop tail junction. You're now at mile 3.4 of the ride, with
around 2 miles to go. Consider a loop
down
Long Loop and up Middle Fork
to add a few miles to your ride!
From the Long Loop trail fork, keep left to descend Bicentennial down to Cutler Creek.
From the Long Loop trail fork, keep left to descend Bicentennial down to Cutler Creek.
You can splash through the river at the horse crossing, or continue a bit back uphill to reach
the crossing bridge.
The bridge. Weight limit 300 pounds. How much do you plus your big e-bike weigh?
Looking back uphill at the junction between Bicentennial and Cutler Creek.
Cutler Creek
After a short run downhill along the creek, Bicentennial joins the Cutler Creek doubletrack at mile 3.8 of the ride; mile 1.8 of Bicentennial. Keep straight and downhill.
After a short run downhill along the creek, Bicentennial joins the Cutler Creek doubletrack at mile 3.8 of the ride; mile 1.8 of Bicentennial. Keep straight and downhill.
After a bit of descending, Cutler Creek will begin to climb again. When you see a singletrack
on your right, it's a short alternate route that will rejoin the DT soon.
Cranking east on the doubletrack.
The alternate ST leaves the DT to meander up through the fir forest.
As Cutler Creek DT reaches the pavilion, find the Cutler's Twist trail on your right to return
to the trailhead.
Cutler's Twist / Mule Shoe option
Or, as you pass the pavilion and reach Cutler's Twist , turn to the left. Immediately go right at the singletrack fork and drop down Cutler's Twist to Mule Shoe and climb back uphill to the TH. This is a fun loop of 2.3 miles with 250 feet of climbing. It will add only 1.8 miles to your ride.
Climbing the newly-recut section of Mule Shoe from the bottom of Cutler's Twist.
Cutler Flat area
Riding notes, lariat ride from Mule TH:
0.0 Find trail on northwest corner
Immediate L uphill on Mule Ear
0.1 Cross road, then cross Mule Connector
0.2 R on Cutler's Twist
0.5 Cross DT, cross 2nd DT
At ST trail fork, go L on Traildemic
1.6 Keep L (R = to group area)
2.0 L on Bicentenial
2.7 Keep straight (R = Middle Fork)
3.4 Keep L (R = Long Loop)
3.7 Join Cutler Creek, keep straight
4.5 Pavilion, find Cutler's Twist for return
R uphill for quick return, 5 miles total
or L for full Cutler's Twist and Mule Shoe
climb for 6.8 miles total
0.0 Find trail on northwest corner
Immediate L uphill on Mule Ear
0.1 Cross road, then cross Mule Connector
0.2 R on Cutler's Twist
0.5 Cross DT, cross 2nd DT
At ST trail fork, go L on Traildemic
1.6 Keep L (R = to group area)
2.0 L on Bicentenial
2.7 Keep straight (R = Middle Fork)
3.4 Keep L (R = Long Loop)
3.7 Join Cutler Creek, keep straight
4.5 Pavilion, find Cutler's Twist for return
R uphill for quick return, 5 miles total
or L for full Cutler's Twist and Mule Shoe
climb for 6.8 miles total
Getting there: Go up
Ogden Canyon. (From the north on I-15, take the 12th South Ogden exit and
head east on Highway 39. From the south, exit I-15 on US 89. Pass I-84 and
climb up the hill, then turn right on Harrison Blvd. Continue on Harrison
until you hit U-39 and turn R toward Ogden Canyon.) Turn left across the
dam at Pineview Reservoir. At the stop sign in Eden, turn left. Turn left
at the stop sign in Liberty. After about 1/4 mile, take the next right.
Just after you cross the river, veer left toward North Fork Park.
Mule Ear trailhead (recommended): Turn left again at the North Fork Park sign. At the campground entry gate, you can turn left into the 365 Trail trailhead for a longer ride. To park at the Mule Loop trailhead, go 1.8 miles on the main North Fork Park road from where you turned off the main road. Look for a the trailhead sign on your right. Pull into the little loop and park. Connect to the trail on the northwest side of the parking area.
Traditional road-fork entry: Pass the first entrance into the North Fork Park (on your left). Go another mile up the road and turn left at the second entry N41 22.986 W111 54.298. Fork left at the T intersection. When you reach a hairpin turn with a gate at the apex (north side) of the turn, N41 22.979 W111 55.187, you're there. There's a singletrack on the right as you face the gate. That's a shortcut for a counterclockwise loop. Ignore it. Take the singletrack that sneaks around the left side of the gate, then climb the soft cindered DT up to the pavilion area.
Wider area map of North Fork
Riding resources for this trail:
GPS track files (right-click, "Save as..."):
Multi-track GPX area file
Area map in separate window for printing: View map
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to Ogden area resources
GPS track files (right-click, "Save as..."):
Multi-track GPX area file
Area map in separate window for printing: View map
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to Ogden area resources
