Looking north from the parking lot entry. The singletrack to the right of the smaller sign is the official entry. GPS tracks, photos, and ride review by Bruce on April 8, 2019.
The East Mountain Wilderness Park (EMWP) in Kaysville has a system of singletrack trails surrounding the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST). The trails are relatively easy to ride, with only a few very short spots that beginners might need to hike. The area is at 4900 feet elevation, with an expected riding season of mid-April through November. The trails are almost completely shaded by old-growth trees.
The trails are popular with local hikers as well as bikers, with the preferred riding direction
being counterclockwise. The trail system has over 4 miles of trails within
an area that's merely
1/2 mile by 1/3 mile. There are also campsite trails, some of which are
being used by cyclists
shortcutting between routes. So things can get a bit entangled.
"Howard Campsite." There are many picnic tables and rest areas, as well as camping spots that have major trails serving them.
Post on Kays Crest indicating the preferred riding direction and helping with navigation.
The 3 major trails are Kays Crest, Graveyard, and Bamberger. Most intersections above the
Bonneville Shoreline
(BST) doubletrack trail are fully marked with carsonite posts. The lower trails have fewer
signs and might be somewhat more confusing. The trails are well-designed,
well-built and fun
to ride.
Kays Crest
Looking uphill from EMWP at Thurston Peak.
Most riders will start with the upper side of Kays Crest. You'll find it on your right shortly
after you enter the park on the doubletrack. If you start on the singletrack
connector on the
north side of parking, it will take you to Bamberger. If you follow this
trail uphill, it will
deliver you to the Kays Crest loop connector on the opposite side of the
broad BST.
If you follow the signs for Kays Crest, you'll eventually cross the doubletrack again, then
loop around back uphill. Note that in 2019 there's an unmarked intersection
at the loop's northwest
corner where you need to turn right to climb back. (The left fork takes
you past Johnson Campsite
over to the Bamberger trail. Go ahead and take the wrong turn. It will
only take 100 yards
for you to figure it out.)
A mini-loop extends from Kays Crest to the Connector Trail (which takes you to the BST and Graveyard).
A wall turn on lower Kays Crest.
Most of Kays Crest is smooth easy riding. There are some modestly-tight bermed turns that will
challenge true beginners, and a couple of spots where you need to bang
over some roots. There
are a couple of wooden stunts that are fun to hit, but beginners can simply
ride past.
Avoid the BST connector trail on Kays Crest (see topo map). The trail seems prominent, because a lot of riders have turned uphill here before turning back. The connectors are very steep, and the official BST is just a little bit further north.
Avoid the BST connector trail on Kays Crest (see topo map). The trail seems prominent, because a lot of riders have turned uphill here before turning back. The connectors are very steep, and the official BST is just a little bit further north.
Graveyard
Entry to the Graveyard trail from the doubletrack BST.
The Graveyard trail can be reached via a marked "Connector" trail from the northeast corner
of the Kays Crest loop. The first portion of Connector is also the return
from the Kays Crest
loop. Keep level and northbound until you join doubletrack, then pass
the BST and find Graveyard
on your right.
You can also get there by riding the BST doubletrack, but continuing another 100 feet on DT
after the singletrack BST forks uphill.
Graveyard is signed as an expert-level trail, but 95% of the riding surface is easy. The areas of rock garden stunts are short and easily walked by beginning riders.
Graveyard is signed as an expert-level trail, but 95% of the riding surface is easy. The areas of rock garden stunts are short and easily walked by beginning riders.
Northbound during the first portion of Graveyard. Gneiss rock.
A very roll-able boulder bile.
Graveyard initially heads northbound on smooth riding surface. Then it turns west and starts
to descend. Here it gets a little tougher. Finally, Graveyard turns back
to the south and ends
on the main doubletrack. The trail that continues straight across is Bamberger.
Bamberger
Looking south on Bamberger.
The Bamberger trail runs north-south on the lower side of the park. It's rated "easy" and for
the most part it is. But the final climb will be difficult for true beginners.
And there are
a couple of short rocky spots where beginners and kids will get off and
walk.
At the south end, Bamberger climbs uphill to the BST doubletrack at the Kays Crest loop connector.
There are two routes. Most riders will fork left uphill at exactly mile
0.5 of the trail and
climb through a series of turns.
An alternative is to keep straight and downhill, then take a sharp left turn at the next intersection. (If you reach the fence and road, you missed it.) This route will join the other trail just before it reaches the doubletrack.
An alternative is to keep straight and downhill, then take a sharp left turn at the next intersection. (If you reach the fence and road, you missed it.) This route will join the other trail just before it reaches the doubletrack.
There are a few unmarked trail forks on the lower trails.
Map of East Mountain Wilderness Park.
Ride recommendatons:
Start out northbound on the Kays Crest loop connector, but then just explore everything. The park is not that big. Pay no attention to the "Expert," "Intermediate," "Easy" designations. The spots you'll walk are very short, and easily spotted before you can get in trouble.
Start out northbound on the Kays Crest loop connector, but then just explore everything. The park is not that big. Pay no attention to the "Expert," "Intermediate," "Easy" designations. The spots you'll walk are very short, and easily spotted before you can get in trouble.
Getting there:
Exit I-15
onto US-89. Zero your odometer as you go under the first overpass on the
exit. Drive north 3.3 miles to a stoplight at 200 North in Kaysville.
There's a small "Kaysville" sign on the right side of US-89.
Turn right, then immediately left. Follow the road as it turns uphill and
drive to "East
Mountain Wilderness Park," parking in the gravel area just before the
sign. The doubletrack just past the
sign is the main doubletrack trail. There's a connector trail on the north
side of the parking lot that will take you over to Bamberger.
Facilities: bathroom at trailhead
See the topo map (link below) for higher detail on these trails.
GPS track files (right-click and "Save as..."):
GPX multitrack file
High-resolution topo map for printing: View map
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to Ogden area resources
GPX multitrack file
High-resolution topo map for printing: View map
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to Ogden area resources
