This is a 5.3-mile loop in Empire Canyon, starting just a little uphill from the Ruby Lift at the Empire Canyon Lodge. The loop starts at 8300 feet elevation on the road to Guardsman Pass and climbs to 9000 feet at the top of the Ruby Lift. You can reach the loop from other Park City and Deer Valley trails for a longer ride. This loop originated with the opening of the new Corvair and Boulder trails in September 2011. Most of the riding is in forest, with occasional breakouts with views over Park City. At the top, there are views south over the Heber Valley as well.

If you're driving directly to the loop, go up highway 224 from Park City (the road to Guardsman Pass). Just after the roundabout at the Empire Canyon Lodge, there will be a hairpin turn to the right. Just uphill, on the left, is parking.

Drop back down 100 feet from parking and turn left (west) on the Midmountain Trail as it crosses the road. You're heading back toward the lodge.

Keep straight immediately after the road, as Drift joins on the left. Stay straight again at 0.3 as Payroll joins from left uphill.You'll cross ski slope and a doubletrack heading for the lodge. After 0.4 miles from parking, fork uphill to the left on the Corvair trail.

The Corvair trail will climb through forest of fir and aspen on the north-facing slope of Empire Canyon. The trail surface is smooth and the climbing is at a reasonable grade. At around mile 0.9, the trail turns from southwest to southeast and begins climbing away from the canyon bottom towards a meeting with the TG trail.

At mile 1.1, the trail comes into an intersection with TG from below. Keep left and downhill for the new trail. You'll rejoin TG later, so if you want, you can cross over to TG. TG is more technical, with additional up-and-down riding when compared with the newer Corvair trail cut.

The trailcut on Corvair seems to be a "no-climbing" route so that bikers from the top of the Ruby Lift can cruise down to the Empire Canyon Lodge. So keep an eye open for armored speedsters coming the opposite direction.

Keep right and uphill where the (currently unmarked) Payroll trail forks left downhill at around mile 1.5.

The trail slowly climbs around the mountain and joins TG at mile 1.6. Fork hard left as you meet TG. (Right will take you back to the trail fork where you touched on TG.)

After 1/3 mile (at mile 1.9), fork to the right to leave TG. (The end of TG is just 100 feet uphill at the road to Guardsman.) This uphill trail had no markings when I rode it, but I understand it's called Upper Corvair.Here the trail reverses direction almost 180 degrees. Climb through a forest of small aspens and occasional fir for 1/3 mile.

At mile 2.2, fork left uphill. (The right fork drops down to TG north of where you joined it.) The trail gets more narrow and technical for a short distance after turning back southeast.

As you leave the aspens, the trail hugs the side of a grassy slope, heading toward the ridgeline.As the narrow singletrack hits doubletrack, fork right uphill toward the big rocks. Stop and check out the views in all directions.

Now head left (slightly downhill) on doubletrack. Keep straight through the parking area, cross the Guardsman road, and keep heading the same direction into doubletrack. Aim to the right of the hill where you see the ski lift.

At mile 3.2, fork left. Aim for the ski lift to the north. The doubletrack will skirt the east side of the hill and climb toward the lift.

Pass east (right) of the lift. Stay generally straight and find the downhill Boulder singletrack northeast of the lift.Plunge downhill. After about 1/4 mile, keep right as a connector to Moose Bones forks away (mile 3.6).

At mile 3.8, stay straight as you cross Moose Bones to take the Boulder Trail downhill.

At mile 4.1, cross the doubletrack (the connector between Tour des Suds and Moose Bones or Team Big Bear) and continue downhill.

The trail will zigzag down the hill, crossing ski slopes and turning hard in aspen or fir forest. The turns are tight but are bermed for high speed. There are a few jump opportunities.

At mile 5.3, keep straight as you hit the Midmountain Trail. The trail on your left going uphill is the Tour des Suds . Ride about 1/10 mile back to the road and turn uphill to your car.

As you enter Park City, follow the signs for Deer Valley and Guardsman Road. Get on Bonanza Drive heading south uphill. At the roundabout, turn toward Empire Canyon (SR 224). Stay on that road for about 3.5 miles. Go through the roundabout in front of Empire Canyon Lodge and head uphill on 224. Just after the turn to the right, park on the left side of the road. The Midmountain Trail is back downhill just above the turn. Head left (west).