 | Big (Bad Brutal) Baldy Loop -- Grove Creek to Dry Canyon
This loop ride is for strong, skilled, advanced riders only. It features a long steep climb, a mean tricky descent, and plenty of opportunities to hurt yourself. The trail surface is often rough and loose. The ride is 15 miles, going from 5160 feet to 8280 feet. Total climbing will be about 3500 feet. And because of rough trail conditions, that 3500 of climbing is harder than it sounds. The ride starts at the edge of Pleasant Grove, at the mouth of Grove Creek Canyon. It's a constant stiff climb, with exposed cliffs and loose rock. At the top, you'll follow the Battle Creek Trail to the switchbacks climbing Big Baldy, then descend the extremely technical Dry Canyon trail. This trail is steep, loose, and treacherous. At the bottom, you'll complete the loop by riding the Bonneville Shoreline Trail north. |
| Riding notes, clockwise loop: 0.0 From parking lot, head east up the canyon N 40° 22.483 W 111° 42.721 0.5 Switchback, go L uphill toward valley. Ignore sm trail going straight. 0.9 Trail turns R toward canyon. At fork, keep R. N 40° 22.751 W 111° 42.575 2.3 Bridge, cross creek, climb. N 40° 23.414 W 111° 41.734 3.4 Indian Camp / Springs, fork R N 40° 23.690 W 111° 41.174 4.0 L on DT toward Timpooneke Road | 4.1 R on DT, N 40° 23.226 W
111° 41.069 Keep heading generally southeast 7.3 Cross pass, plunge downhill N 40° 22.295 W 111° 39.354 10.6 Dry Canyon Trailhead, go R to ST at gate N 40° 20.522 W 111° 40.564 13.3 BST dumps onto gravel road, go N N 40° 21.345 W 111° 41.943 13.8 R on road, then immediate L on gravel Rd N 40° 21.811 W 111° 42.186 Follow roads generally north, below power lines 15.0 Cross creek to parking area. |
| Other riding options:
Some riders do Grove Creek as
an up-and-back, riding either to the falls, or all the way to the
viewpoint above Battle Creek. Another option is a DH shuttle, starting
where the Timpooneke Roads ends at the Battle Creek Trail and riding
downhill. Getting there: Get off I-15 at the Pleasant Grove exit, and head east toward the mountains. As the street curves north, you'll reach State Street at the light. Turn right. As State begins to curve southward past a big shopping complex, turn left at the traffic light to Main Street. Go through the 4-way stop at Center, then turn left at the light on 100 East (Canyon Highway). Proceed north to 500 North and turn right. 500 North becomes Grove Creek Drive. Follow it up to the paved parking area. (Bathroom at trailhead.) The ride starts on the east (mountain) side of the parking area, heading straight up the canyon. N 40° 22.483 W 111° 42.721 |
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