Perry Canyon Trail

View north over Brigham City, from 2 miles into the ride. Photos Sept 4, 2008, by Bruce.

Perry Canyon Trail
(Grizzly Peak)

The Perry Canyon trail is a stiff hillclimb on narrow singletrack. It's 10.2 miles of climbing, 4400 vertical feet, to a top altitude of 8800. The steepness and narrow track -- plus plenty of power-turns -- make this trail one for very strong riders.

The trail now (as of 2010) goes all the way to Grizzly Peak, where you can connect via ATV track to the Willard Basin dirt road. This offers the option of a shuttled DH ride. Or you can extend the out-and-back ride by heading south to Inspiration Point. For true fanatics, you can do a loop with the dirt road up from Mantua, or long point-to-point by adding the Willard Peak trail to Ben Lomond, then Northern Skyline to the North Ogden Divide, then down to the valley.

Stan Thompson, age 76 at the time of this photo, did a lot of the work on this trail.

The trail begins. Look for the shot-up bear atop a stump reading "Grizzly Pk 9 mi". In less than 1/4 mile, you're out of the sage and riding in trees along the creek.

Typical handlebar view of the trail. Small maples alternate with open grassy areas. The surface is mostly smooth hardpack.

The trail begins just outside Geneva Rock. As you approach the gates of the quarry, turn right through a big chain-link fence and park. Look for the singletrack just across the small dip on the mountain side of the parking (just ride toward the bear). Base altitude is 4500 feet.

View south from the ridge at mile 4. That's Willard Bay. Note: this is the area where the White Rock trail rejoins.

Typical trail view as we head through a stand of maples.

The trail heads up along the north side of the creek for 1/3 mile, then crosses over to the south side and begins climbing. The rate is fairly stiff, averaging 10% slope -- 500 vertical per mile.

The trail hugs a steep sideslope in maple forest as you climb up and around several tough turns. At mile 1.3, turn hard left at the fork to continue up Perry Canyon, as the White Rock trail heads west on your right.

At two miles, the trail breaks out onto grass-covered hillside. Then it dips in and out of maple groves as the pitch mellows a little. At mile 3.7, keep left as the White Rock trail rejoins.

Just after mile 5, the slope gets tougher and the trail is a bit soft. (Needs more bike tires to compact it.) This half-mile was the toughest for me. At mile 6, the trail is on the tree-less upper slopes of Grizzly Peak.

View south at about mile 6. The trail is still very good here, although a bit soft and weedy because fewer bikers venture this high.

After Grizzly Peak, the trail flattens, and actually goes downhill a little bit. At the gravel road, you can ponder your next move. I suggest heading south to the Willard Basin trail and hitting the top of Ben Lomond. That will give you the full Vertical Mile, and then some.

This is a tough trail, but it's a lot of fun. The countless climbing turns require a bit of power. Plaster your body onto the frame and spin on up. The narrowness of the trail requires good balance to avoid bobbling out of control during tough climbs. Once you reach the top, the downhill is a riot. I did take a little skin off my left arm, twice, leaning too hard into tight turns and discovering something unsoft in the overhanging vegetation.

Riding notes, climbing:
0.0   Pass the bear heading east on ST
        N41 27.347 W112 01.934
0.4   Short switchback up to DT
        Hard L to cross DT onto ST
        N41 27.394 W112 01.549
0.6   Go either way, lower route less steep
1.3   Fork hard L (R = BST)
        N41 27.031 W112 00.973
4.4   Fork R (L = older route, rejoins)
        N41 26.390 W112 00.052
5.6   Keep straight (R = blind end)
        N41 26.243 W111 59.578
8.7   Grizzly Peak. N41 25.654 W111 59.016
        Short fork to top of peak
10.2 Junction with Inspiration Point road
        N41 24.670 W111 58.143

Upper trailhead.

Perry Canyon trail map

Getting there: From I-15, take exit 357 (Perry-Willard) and turn right toward the mountains. Drive 0.6 miles and turn left (north) on US-89. 2.2 miles later, turn right on 3000 South. Drive 0.2 miles and turn right through the big chain-link gate to a small gravel parking area. (Don't go straight into Geneva Rock!) The trailhead is on the left (east) side of the small parking area, at the bear statue. N41 27.346 W112 01.940
From Brigham City: At the intersection of 1100 South (heading east from the freeway exit) and US-89, turn right (south) and drive 2.3 miles, turning left on 3000 South.