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Deer Creek South Fork
6 reviews
4.83 of 5
6-mile intermediate-technical singletrack loop climbs 600 vertical feet from Deer Creek South Fork to the Alpine Loop Summit, then hangs a right to go north on 3.5 miles of Ridge 157 to the Tibble Fork Trail junction. Turning right on the northern end of the South Fork Trail, there's a couple of miles of blazing downhill through deep pines back to the Cascade Springs Road trailhead.
At the top of the Alpine Loop Road in American Fork Canyon, turn downhill on the Cascade Springs Road. About a mile downhill, turn right on a gravel road into a meadow. The trailhead is on the right at the treeline of the meadow.
Summary: This trail or route is one of the best trails in the state of Utah and yes, I am including Moab. If you like single track and fun climbs and decents; ie a mountain biker, then you will LOVE this trail. American Fork Canyon is the best place to ride and you can't go wrong with any direction you care to take.
Recommended Route: There are so many ways to go that it is relatively easy to get lost or forget how to get back to your car. I highly recommend going with someone who has ridden these trails before. The best place to start is at the Alpine Loop Parking lot at the top of American Fork Canyon. From there you can strike out on your own or ask to follow along with the 10 other mountain bikers who are there. Either way you will be amazed at the riding available. Watch out for other trail users as everything from hikers to horses and dirt bikes are allowed on these trails.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Timpanooke to Provo Canyon
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Summary: Trail is well maked, and well used. One of the guys in our group was unable to switch to 1st, 2nd gears. 3rd gear was all he could manage, so we had to do a lot of waiting for him as he walked his bike up a couple of hills. Still, we were able to finish the entire route (described below) in 1 hour 40 minutes.
It can be a very fast trail. Leaving the 4-way intersection on Ridge Trail 157, Deer Creek South Fork drops into a deep forest and you're presented with a couple of switch-backs, and then a few roots and bumps, but after that, your speed really picks up! The trail is not steep, it's just smooth, and your bike keeps wanting to go faster, faster! I loved it! Do watch your speed though because I remember coming around a curve and seeing the large boulder that people use as a jump (as seen on www.utahmountainbiking.com) - if you're going too fast, that boulder could sneak up on you! Oouch!!!
Something I really loved about the trail was near the end, there is a rounded knoll dirt ramp that drops you sharply toward the highway. It kind-of reminded me of a roller-coaster, where you reach the peak of the ramp and roll down the other side! It was soo fun!
We found ourselves at the end of the trail saying, "Man! That was awesome!!! We've got to do that again!!!"
Great trail!
Ride it once and you'll see what I mean!
Recommended Route: We parked our vehicle in the small dirt turn-out at the end of the Deer Creek South Fork trail (located off of the Cascade Springs highway). Then, since some in our group wanted to get to start riding the trail quickly, we rode our bikes up the highway to the Cascade springs - Alpine Scenic Highway intersection where we found a small dirt trail directly in front of us. We took the dirt trail for what seemed like 1 city block where we saw a sign (Left: Aspen Grove, Right: Summit Paking Lot). We went right for 1 more city block on the dirt trail, and viola! We found Ridge Trail 157! That was easy. Started riding down the RT157, and found some hikers (so be careful), but the trail was very well marked.
Saw a sign at the intersection of Pine Hallow and Ridge Trail 157 (stay right), and another at the intersection of Mud Springs and Ridge Trail 157 (stay right, and climb up the hill), and then reached 4 way intersection (Tibble Fork, Ridge Trail 157, Deer Creek South Fork: turn right). Headed down Deer Creek South Fork and arrived back at our vehicle.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Mud Springs
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Review Date August 9, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 3 of 5
Technical Difficulty 2 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a month
Reviewed by: Cedar Hills Terry
,
Cross Country Rider
, from Cedar Hills, UT
Summary: This loop is a quick fun ride that most riders in decent shape can handle. It can be ridden in either direction and is fun both ways.
Recommended Route: If you are just going to ride the Southfork Loop, the park just off the Cascade Springs road at the low point (in elevation that is) of the trail. Climb in either direction (though from here I recommend climbing toward the Alpine Loop summit. Cross through the summit parking area and pick up Ridge 157. Stay on this until you reach a 4 way crossing. Hand a right and bomb back down to your car.
There are several other trails you can include in your ride to add variety, like the Pine Hollow trail (but don't take it all the way down, or you'll have a long road climb back to the car) The Salamander Flat trail, or even the Timpanooke trail. If you position a shuttle vehicle at Tibble fork reservoir, you can add Mud Springs, Tibble Fork or Mill Canyon (all fast and technical descents) to you list of choices.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Mud Springs, Tibble Fork, Mill Canyon, Julie Andrews Meadow to Bear Canyon (for major technical downhill), Grove Creek (for a near death experience with sheer drops of 150+ feet), Ridge 157, Great Wes
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Review Date November 19, 2001
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a month
Reviewed by: AF Biker
, from American Fork
Summary: I agree this is some of the best singletrack in the state. The descent down south fork is awesome, either direction. I can ride this loop in around an hour, making it a great quick dose of biking.
Recommended Route: As above. I usually ride from the Summit Parking lot north on Ridge 157, down South Fork, across the road and up the southern end of South Fork back to the Loop summit.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Tibble Fork
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Review Date October 9, 2001
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Every few months
Reviewed by: Big Al
, from Ogden, Utah
Summary: I guess with the big ride described above, we did most of the deer creek loop. Some people say it's better to descend from Trail 157 (easier climbing if you climb to the summit), but you would be miss jumping all the cool woop-de-doos descending from the Summit Parking Lot. I need to try it the other direction next time.
Recommended Route: We started at Tibble fork reservior, rode some pavement and went up Pine Hollow trail. Then rode the Summit trail to the Summit Parking lot. Then descended down to Deer Creek Trail and climbed back up to Ridge trail 157. Rode 157 west to the Mud Springs junction and rode to the Tibble Fork trail back to the car. About a 20+ mile ride. Really awesome!!!
Other recommended trails in the same area: Mill Canyon is also a pretty fun technical downhill. The Pine Hollow trail is a hellish climb, very steep. Ridge Trail 157 is pretty awesome and can be done on it's own. I love the all the MTBing in this area, it rocks!!!!
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4.83 of 5
5 of 5
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