View from Middle Earth as we enter Frodo's Playground.
View from Middle Earth as we enter Frodo's Playground.
Frodo's Playground DH
with Upper Frodo and Doors of Durin

Frodo's Playground, Upper Frodo, and Doors of Durin are downhill-only trails  in the Coyote (Riverview) trail system north of Heber. They lie directly uphill from the UVU Wasatch Campus trailhead, so it's a quick and non-strenuous climb to arrive at the top. The riding varies from very easy on Frodo's Playground to very difficult on Doors of Durin.

The expected riding season would be late April through October.

Frodo's Playground is the continuation of Upper Frodo, running 0.5 miles Middle Earth to Lower Riverview. The top of the Frodo's Playground trail is at 6000 feet elevation on a sunny slope, and is reached via the bottom of the UVU Connector and a small piece of Middle Earth.

The trail includes rock roll-overs and wooden ramps. These stunts in the trail are intermediate in difficulty. But easy ride-arounds for the stunts make Frodo's Playground suitable for beginners and families.

Rolling down Frodo's Playground. An optional wooden ramp with a small drop can be seen around the turn.
Rolling down Frodo's Playground. An optional wooden ramp with a small drop can be seen around the turn.
Looking downhill to a table jump on Upper Frodo. There's a ride-around on the left for beginning riders.
Looking downhill to a table jump on Upper Frodo. There's a ride-around on the left for beginning riders.
The Upper Frodo trail is an engineered flow trail, running from Upper Riverview trail down to Frodo's Playground. The top of Upper Frodo's and Doors of Durin are found together at an elevation of 6250, 1/4 mile north of the top of the UVU Connector trail.

Upper Frodo is 0.7 miles long, and is easier-intermediate in difficulty. Upper Frodo continues as Frodo's Playground when it crosses Middle Earth, for a total downhill of 1.2 miles back to Lower Riverview. A loop up UVU Connector, down Upper Frodo and Frodo's Playground and back to the trailhead is 3 miles.

Doors of Durin is a double-black DH trail that starts on Upper Riverview next to Upper Frodo. At the time of this review in July 2024, work is still being done, but you can make it down to Middle Earth. It's 0.5 miles, with a drop of 250 vertical feet.

Doors of Durin is a narrow hand-built trail. It has rock rollovers and some steep rough stretches, with no ride-arounds to the technical spots.

Crossing an area of igneous breccia. There are three rock rollover stunts before you reach the oak.
Crossing an area of igneous breccia. There are three rock rollover stunts before you reach the oak.
Trailheads and access
Bruce heads uphill from the UVU trailhead.
Bruce heads uphill from the UVU trailhead.

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.

The UVU Connector trail climbs uphill from the trailhead to the Upper Riverview (Rivendell) trail. On the way, it crosses the easy rides on Lower Riverview, the Riverview Doubletrack, and Middle Earth. Lower Frodo's Playground is reached via a right turn onto Middle Earth at mile 0.7 from the TH. The new upper Frodo is at mile 1.2 on the UVU Connector. ( This trailhead is also closest to the beginner skills area trails at Lower Potatoes and Isengard.)

Climbing on the UVU Connector trail toward Middle Earth.
Climbing on the UVU Connector trail toward Middle Earth.
The Coyote trailhead. Take the singletrack east for connections to Coyote, Lower Riverview, Sheep Pen, and Upper Riverview.
The Coyote trailhead. Take the singletrack east for connections to Coyote, Lower Riverview, Sheep Pen, and Upper Riverview.

South Coyote Trailhead (CLOSED AT TIME OF REVIEW)
You can get to Frodo's Playground from the south. Connect to Middle Earth for the northbound trip. Note that this trailhead has been affected by construction, and may not be available. If you can find your way uphill, you can take Sheep Pen to Middle Earth.

Looking down the Riverview Connector toward the trailhead.
Looking down the Riverview Connector toward the trailhead.

Riverview Trailhead
On US-40 north of Heber, turn east on Highway 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. That's your spot. Take the 0.3-mile connector to Upper Riverview and head 3 miles south to the UVU Connector trail.

Upper Frodo
The entry to Upper Frodo from Riverview, seen as if riding north after climbing the UVU Connector.
The entry to Upper Frodo from Riverview, seen as if riding north after climbing the UVU Connector.
The upper portion of the 1.2-mile "Frodo DH" is called Upper Frodo. To get there, pedal 1.6 miles up the UVU connector, then turn left when you hit Riverview. Go 1/4 mile north. You'll come to a three-pronged trail fork. The right fork is the continuation of Upper Riverview. Doors of Durin is in the middle. Upper Frodo is the left-most option.

Upper Frodo descends as a wiggling bench-cut from Upper Riverview downhill. There are two table jumps that you can ride around, and a few optional rock launching pads. Turns are banked for speed.

While officially rated intermediate, Upper Frodo is suitable for beginners. You can ride around any stunts on butter-smooth trail. Upper Frodo rides like a flow trail, with fewer stunts and rock roll-overs than on Frodo's Playground.

On the middle piece of Upper Frodo, we see two rock launching ramps ahead, with an easy ride-around to the side.
On the middle piece of Upper Frodo, we see two rock launching ramps ahead, with an easy ride-around to the side.
A wooden ramp on Upper Frodo, with a lip at the end that launches you onto an easy dirt landing.
A wooden ramp on Upper Frodo, with a lip at the end that launches you onto an easy dirt landing.

You'll cross the UVU connector about half-way down. 

Upper Frodo's continues as Frodo's Playground when it hits the Middle Earth trail. The Upper Frodo portion of the descent is 250 vertical feet over 0.7 miles. The combined ride is 1.2 miles with 350 feet of elevation change.

Frodo's Playground
Approaching a set of three rock drops. From easy to very easy.
Approaching a set of three rock drops. From easy to very easy.
To ride lower Frodo's Playground, climb the UVU Connector 0.5 miles uphill. At Middle Earth, turn to the right and ride 0.1 miles. As Frodo's Playground crosses Middle Earth, fork 90 degrees to the right downhill to begin the descent.

Turns are banked and flow smoothly. The trail is 0.5 miles in length, descending only 150 vertical feet at a gentle and constant rate.

It's easy to flow down this trail on butter-smooth dirt with hardly a bump if you take the easy way around every stunt. So Frodo's Playground is suitable for mixed-ability groups and kids.

Approaching a gentle turn with just a bit of banking.
Approaching a gentle turn with just a bit of banking.
Rolling onto a wooden hump-ramp.
Rolling onto a wooden hump-ramp.

Frodo's Playground has several rock challenges and wooden ramps that would be rated intermediate. There's a final narrow hump-ramp that I would rate expert. All of these stunts have easy ride-arounds.

Once you're on the mountain, a loop around lower Frodo's and back to the top is just under one mile with 150 feet of climbing.

Rolling down Frodo's Playground

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Heading toward a rock roll-over. Note the alternate dirt route on the right.
Heading toward a rock roll-over. Note the alternate dirt route on the right.

Bottom Line

Very nice trail that's easy to reach and easy to ride. Suitable for groups of mixed ability and families with younger kids.

Doors of Durin (expert DH)
The first bit of Doors of Durin is flat dirt. Which makes the area that follows steeper.
The first bit of Doors of Durin is flat dirt. Which makes the area that follows steeper.
Doors of Durin starts on Upper Riverview, right next to Upper Frodo. It looks pretty easy from the top. But wait.

This is a double-black descent with some very steep spots, featuring loose rock to make you slide. There are man-made rock roll-overs that can offer bike-handling challenges.

From Upper Riverview down to Middle Earth is 0.5 miles with 250 vertical feet of descent. Doors of Durin offers an expert descent that's quick and close to the trailhead.
Hitting a rock roll-over. The rocks are abrasive and will remove skin if you fall.
Hitting a rock roll-over. The rocks are abrasive and will remove skin if you fall.
On the way to the valley.
On the way to the valley.
The trail heads down a ridge area that's sun-exposed and eroded. The trail surface can be filled with loose cobble. The riding feels a lot like Skidder 1.

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.

Closeup of the Frodo's Playground area.
Closeup of the Frodo's Playground area.

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.