First, go ride the Wasatch Crest in the usual (downhill, south to north) direction. Then consider this loop. I've chosen to tackle the Wasatch Crest backwards for this ride because it's interesting and it gets most of the tough climbing out of the way early in the ride. I also like the views better from this direction.

You can enter the loop from other trailheads besides Mill Creek. Note: Upper Mill Creek trails are open to bikes only on even-numbered days!

For example, on the Salt Lake side there's Mill D North Fork, Guardsman Road, and Guardsman Pass.

In Park City, you can climb to the Midmountain-Wasatch Crest Loop via Rob's, Ambush, Holly's, Armstrong, Spiro, Crescent Mine Grade, Sweeneys/Johns, Gravedigger/Johns99, Empire Link, Tour des Suds, Deer Valley -- and a bunch of others I didn't think of.

To start your ride in Mill Creek Canyon, consider parking in Salt Lake (not in residential areas please) to pedal up the canyon. This will add 2000 vertical feet of pavement climbing over 8 miles, and will bring your ride to a hero 6300 vertical and 47.5 miles. Consider a diversion onto the Mill Creek Pipeline trail on the way down.

Assuming you don't plan to pedal the canyon, drive up to the lower Big Water trailhead. There's paved parking at the upper trailhead and overflow parking a bit down the road. There are bathrooms at both trailheads.

At the lower trailhead, find the Big Water trail right in the middle of the parking strip. Follow Big Water uphill, keeping straight at the Dog Lake intersections. Further up the canyon, keep straight as Red Pine Road Trail comes in on your left.

At the top of the ridge, veer to the right toward what looks like old doubletrack. (On your right, the singletrack is the Crest Connector. You'll be coming back via that trail. Stop now and take a look if you like.)

Climb steadily up the ridge. The slope will level out, and suddenly there are beautiful views everywhere. There will be a couple of view turnouts on your left. About mile 6, you'll hit a steep rocky section. It's rideable (barely), but not if it's torn up and loose from downhillers. This will introduce you to the most technical stretch of trail, about 1/2 mile long.

The trail now descends into a saddle where the Desolation Lake (Mill D North Fork) trail joins on your right. Make your way up The Spine. I tried to clean it uphill using the right-most line, but I couldn't quite make it over one nasty outcrop.

After The Spine, the trail undulates through meadows with constant views of the peaks. Just before the radio towers, you'll also have views into the Park City area. The trail will merge onto doubletrack. Keep heading southeast.

At mile 10, you'll arrive at the top of Puke Hill. The doubletrack to the right drops down to Scott's Pass. That's the route that put the Puke in Puke Hill. We won't go there. Take a break and cheer the riders coming up from below.

Now head straight (left) on to the singletrack left of the ridgeline (see the photo below). That's Pinecone Ridge. It will connect you directly to the Midmountain Trail.

Descend 4 miles down Pinecone Ridge. Keep straight as you join Midmountain. Follow Midmountain north about 2/3 mile.

After a set of switchbacks, keep straight as Armstrong joins on your right. Continue north, then west on Midmountain.

After a short stretch on Midmountain, the next trail fork is the Ironman Trail. Fork left on Ironman, leaving Midmountain temporarily.

Ironman climbs uphill on rocky steep sun-exposed slope. There will be some occasional shade as you gain 200 vertical feet.

The trail will skirt Iron Pass to the south, where you'll have some views of gazillion-dollar homes going in at The Colony.

After crossing the pass, you'll descend a bit and arrive at another trail intersection. The signs here are confusing! First, understand that no matter which way you go, you'll be going to the Midmountain. But NONE of these trails ARE the Midmountain. So just ignore any sign with "Midmountain" and an arrow.

You have just ended Ironman. Straight ahead (right) is Goldfinger going to Midmountain out at the point overlooking The Canyons. The left fork takes you down the other half of Goldfinger through many switchbacks, where you'll join Midmountain. OK, fork left.

At the bottom of the switchbacks, turn left onto Midmountain. (If you took a wrong turn and are already on Midmountain, keep straight and downhill.) Descend on Midmountain to The Colony.

Cross a couple of roads as you continue northbound on Midmountain. When you reach The Canyons, keep straight on the uphill side of the Red Pine Lodge and find the continuing Midmountain Trail on the edge of the doubletrack near the DH trail.

Continue north on Midmountain, passing the fishing pond. The trail will enter a scrub area and continue climbing. When the trail hits a ridgeline road, veer left on the road, then immediately find the trail on your right. (The trail will also join a doubletrack road for about 1/4 mile for a climb, then exit on the right.)

At mile 24.7, you'll come to a singletrack fork. Go left and uphill on the Crest Connector. You've now left the Midmountain Trail. The Crest Connector will climb up and over the ridge to join the top of Mill Creek Canyon.

At the trail fork in the meadow, keep right. You've now rejoined the Mill Creek Canyon trail. Drop downhill back to parking.

Getting there:
Get to Foothill Blvd on the east bench of Salt Lake City via I-215. Exit at 39th South. Take 3800 South eastbound into the Canyon. Mill Creek user fee is $3 per car as of 2009. Drive all the way to the top of the canyon (about 8 miles). The trail begins on the south end of the Big Water Trailhead parking area GPS N 40° 40.922' W 111° 38.914'. (Note: the gate to upper Mill Creek Canyon is open to cars July 1 to November 1. Mountain bikes are only allowed on upper Mill Creek trails on EVEN numbered days!)