Alexander Creek, Parley's Summit Trail
Alexander Creek is a little-known trail that climbs from U-65 just past the Little Dell I-80 exit up to Parley's Summit. This is a singletrack hill climb with substantial altitude gain (over 1500 feet), but fairly easy technically. True rock-and-root junkies may find this trail boring, but it's a good workout and a worthwhile singletrack ride for strong beginning riders. To the crest of the hill just west of Parley's Summit is 4.5 miles, for a 9-mile round trip.

Starting out just west of the golf course, the trail quickly ducks behind a mountain. So you can't hear or see the traffic on I-80 until you arrive at Parley's Summit. Starting out, you're riding along Alexander Creek, with gentle altitude gain during the first 2 miles. The upper three miles of the trail lie on top of a natural gas pipeline, so it's very straight, and there aren't any roots or trees to dodge on this portion. This area gets a little steeper, with just under 500 vertical feet rise per mile.

Along the creek, there are hawthorne, cottonwood, quaking aspen, willow, maple, oak, and a few douglas fir. As you rise in altitude, the terrain becomes more dry, giving way to gambel oak and brush.
Once the trail begins to follow the pipeline, you're riding in crested wheat grass -- a long skinny artificial meadow in the gambel oak near Parley's Summit.

You can use this trail to connect to (or return from) the Great Western: Just before the Parley's Summit I-80 exit, the pipeline clearing intersects a doubletrack. Turn left and climb steeply to the microwave towers. Go around the tower complex to the left, and go northwest. This takes you toward Big Mountain Pass (At the last switchback before the tower complex, a singletrack heads east past a fence. This takes you down to Jeremy Ranch.)
To connect directly to Jeremy Ranch, head east on the paved road from the exit, about 0.2 mile, and find a singletrack on your right.

Ride Notes:
0.0   Head east past gate, doubletrack N 40° 45.336' W 111° 42.590'
0.8   Trail becomes singletrack  Alt=5575 ft
2.0   Fork at pipeline, keep R (east)
        L (west) = return from Great Western
        N 40° 45.638' W 111° 40.435'  Alt=6000 ft
        Follow clearing of pipeline
3.6   Keep L. ST forks R (goes over ridge to Lamb's
        Canyon -- option of loop back south of golf course along I-80)
        N 40° 45.037' W 111° 39.007'  Alt=6750 ft
3.95 ATV trail on R (goes to archery range)
4.0   Keep slightly L, rejoin pipeline at hilltop
4.5   Crest of hill, see Parley's Summit N 40° 45.091' W 111° 38.077'
        Alt=7110 ft (Good turnaround point)
5.3   Arrive at Parley's Summit Exit

Getting there:
On I-80 in Parley's Canyon, take the Little Dell Recreation Area exit (East Canyon, U-65). Turn north towards the golf course. Drive about 0.1 mile. On your right, spot a gate on a doubletrack, just past a ravine and before the first hill. This doubletrack is the beginning of the trail. There's a wide spot on the right for parking. N 40° 45.336' W 111° 42.590'