Park City and Heber by motorcycle

Park City and the Heber Valley sit just over the Wasatch from Salt Lake City. In summer they are the base for Utah's high mountain roads: forest passes, reservoirs and canyon byways, with cooler air than the desert parks down south.

Wolf Creek Pass (SR-35)

The route: SR-35 leaves SR-32 at Francis, next to Kamas, and runs 62 miles east over the mountains toward Duchesne (Wikipedia SR-35). Locals call it a favorite day ride (Wikipedia SR-35).
The climb: from Kamas at 6,495 ft to the summit at 9,493 ft, about 21 miles out. It starts gently and steepens, with stretches averaging 6 to 7 percent (Cycling West).
Light traffic: fewer than about 500 vehicles a day near Woodland (Cycling West).
Seasonal: UDOT closes Wolf Creek Summit, east of Francis to west of Hanna, through the winter, typically November to May or June (UDOT seasonal roads). Expect snow patches near the top early in the season (Cycling West).
Turn around at the summit or the lakes below it, or carry on east to Hanna and Duchesne for a longer day.

Provo Canyon Scenic Byway (US-189)

The route: US-189 runs about 29 miles from I-15 in Provo up Provo Canyon to US-40 in Heber City. The canyon section is the state's Provo Canyon Scenic Byway (Wikipedia US-189).
On the way: it follows the Provo River past Bridal Veil Falls and Deer Creek Reservoir into the Heber Valley (Utah.com). Deer Creek Reservoir State Park is at the top of the canyon (Utah.com).
Open year-round (Utah.com), so it is the one mountain road here you can ride in early spring and late fall, weather allowing.
The Alpine Loop (SR-92) branches off in Provo Canyon past Sundance (Utah.com). Details and its season are on our Salt Lake City page.

Other roads from here

Guardsman Pass links Park City and Midway with Big Cottonwood Canyon (summer only): see Salt Lake City.
Mirror Lake Highway (SR-150) starts in Kamas and climbs above 10,000 feet into the Uintas (Utah.com Heber): see Salt Lake City.
Heading south: US-40 and US-6 lead toward Moab; see Salt Lake City to Moab.

Ways to ride it

Canyon loop: Heber, down Provo Canyon, up the Alpine Loop past Sundance, back up Provo Canyon to Heber (estimate: half a day; summer and early fall only, when the Alpine Loop is open).
Pass day: Park City to Kamas, Wolf Creek Pass to the summit and back, lunch in Kamas or Heber (estimate: half a day).
Big mountain day: Wolf Creek Pass in the morning, Mirror Lake Highway in the afternoon, both from Kamas (estimate: a full day).
Keep heading east: US-40 runs on to Vernal and the Flaming Gorge byway (a two-day trip).

Before you ride

Mountain weather: these roads climb past 9,000 ft. Bring a warm layer and rain gear, even in July.
Seasonal roads open and close with the snow. UDOT keeps a current status list (UDOT seasonal roads).
Rules for visiting riders (helmets, eye protection, lane filtering): Riding in Utah.

Rent a bike

Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.