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01.(6620ft,mile00) START-END EAST ALTERNATE: Keetley Juction: jct:  US40 - Ut248 02.(7000ft,mile05) START-END EAST: Park City 03.(9710ft,mile11) Guardsman Pass 04.(9840ft,mile12) summit between Guardsman Pass and Scott's Pass 05.(9470ft,mile12) Scott's Pass 06.(9970ft,mile16) TOP: highest point 07.(9930ft,mile16) junction with Beartrap Fork on left 08.(9420ft,mile16) junction with Desolation Trail on left 09.(7960ft,mile21) Mill Creek Canyon trailheads 10.(4940ft,mile31) START-END WEST: jct Mill Creek Canyon - Wasatch Blvd ( Salt Lake City )

Approaches

From South. The profile includes the ascent to Guardsman Pass from Park City. The description begins at the top of Guardsman Pass. A smooth unmarked double track trail leaves the top of the pass, to climb along the boundary of a ski area. At the top a single track turnoff continues along the ridge. It descends to a dirt double track, known as Scott's Pass. The final part of the descent is torn up by motor vehicles and too steep to ride. The top of Scott's Pass can also be reached by turning off lower parts of the Guardsman Pass road on either side.

The trail on the other side of Scott's Pass can be recognized by a sign stating that bicycles are prohibited in Mill Creek Canyon on even numbered days (or possibly the other way around). Mill Creek Canyon is still a long ways off. But the sign is useful anyway. It is a logical deduction that the route ahead is indeed a popular bicycle route and that it must lead to Mill Creek Canyon. The double track climb is affectionately known as Puke Hill. On top of the ridge, passing the second transmission facility, it becomes evident that this is a grand tour of ski facilities. Across the ridge Brighton lifts run strings to peaks. Park City runs creep further and further up the west side until they meet at the top. An extremely smooth single track begins here, running close to the ridge line. A short section of a rocky ridge line is the only exception.

From North. The approach is described in a downward direction. A junction finally forces a decision of descent routes, down into a Park City ski area, or left across the ridge into Mill Creek Canyon. Mill Creek is a gentler canyon than its Cottonwood neighbors. A smooth trail switches back and forth in the midst of heavy growth. At times the single track express way is interrupted by downed trees that force 5 minute portages through mud. At the bottom of the single tack portion the trail splits to access two separate trail heads.

In terms of the elevation profile the descend has just begun, even though the next portions go by much faster. A wavy asphalt cover that gives the impression that somebody has ladeled out a roll of dough and street rollered it across roots and creeks and ravines - perfect for cycling - leads to gate. "Closed for winter" the sign facing the other way says. By "winter" a period other than July 1st to November 1st is meant. Even in Alaska winter is not that long, but if it keeps the road a virtual bikepath for that long. Long live a long winter. The more elaborately engineered open road now descends to Salt Lake, with one or two short views of the valley along the way.

Tours

Dayrides. A loop ride from Keetley Junction ( junction Ut248 - US40 ) to Park City, up to Guardsman Pass, following the Wasatch Crest Trail down Mill Creek Canyon, returning via I80 and Parley's summit measured 64 miles with apr. 6400ft of climbing in 7:1 hours, using a VDO MC1.0 cycle computer (m3:07.06.11).

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