Lookout Peak - Big Mountain Loop
This fabulous loop ride is for advanced riders. The ride climbs Big Mountain Pass, then up Big Mountain itself. It rolls around the ridge that connects Big Mountain to Lookout Peak, skirts the top of Emigration Canyon, then drops down to Affeck Park from the top of Killyon Canyon. The route described here is 15.4 miles, with altitude change of 2500 feet, reaching a peak altitude of 8600. Up-and-down riding on the ridge brings the total vertical to around 3500.

Ride Notes, from roadside Pioneer Trail parking.
0.0   Trail back on L about 100 feet
N 40° 47.994' W 111° 40.755'  Alt 6100
0.2   Faint singletrack joins from L
0.8   Affleck Park, L on DT, R over creek,
then L to end of park
1.0   Cindered trail in Affleck Park gives way to dirt
1.9   Cross road
3.5   Parking area of Big Mountain Pass
Cross road to singletrack that climbs hillside
N 40° 49.680' W 111° 39.227'   Alt 7500
4.5   Trail turns N top of Big Mountain - alt 8300
6.4   Descend, keep straight (L) on DT
7.9   Fork in DT, keep straight (L) on ridge
8.0   Faint DT joins from L, keep straight
8.1  ST forks L, just below rock outcrop w cave
Trail curves north end of valley, going W

9.5 CRITICAL FORK! After steep descent on loose rock down ridge, find faint singletrack forking L, just after trail climbs back into trees. (If you turn onto N slope and descend towards valley, you missed it!)  N 40° 51.133' W 111° 42.696'  Alt 8400
10.5 Mile of dodge-em riding in tight trees
11.6 Reach ridge on flank of Lookout Peak, view
Begin steep ridgeline descent in loose rock
13.6 Trail crosses in clearing, turn L and downhill
N 40° 48.668' W 111° 41.453'  Alt 6300
14.4 Arrive Affleck Park N 40° 48.839' W 111° 40.852'
R on DT, keep R to find ST after gate at 14.6
15.4 Back at parking

For connections to Little Mountain Pass and Killyon Canyon, see the Killyon Canyon Loop page.

Getting there, Pioneer Trail parking area: On I-80 in Parley's Canyon, take the Little Dell Recreation Area exit. From the exit, drive uphill 4.1 miles, then park on the right side of the road near the outhouse at GPS N 40° 47.996' W 111° 40.750'. The trail begins on the opposite side of the road, just downhill.
Affleck Park trailhead: Drive another 0.8 miles uphill, then turn left and descend to Affleck Park. Keep right and proceed uphill to the north end of the park, and find the sign indicating the Mormon Pioneer Trail. (The return trail is across the creek.) Subtract 1 mile from the mileage below when riding the trail.
Little Dell trailhead: At mile 2 after exiting the freeway, turn right into the Little Dell recreation area (fee required). Roll down to the trail parking lot near the water. Trail begins paved at GPS N 40° 46.622' W 111° 41.317', then turns to cinder as you pass close by a picnic table. Add 1.9 to the mileage below. See the Pioneer Trail page for additional details.

Copyright 2002 Mad Scientist Software Inc
Trail conditions change, and the layout of a trail may change without notice. Use this trail guide at your own risk.