The Alpine Loop by motorcycle
SR-92 leaves I-15 in Lehi, climbs American Fork Canyon past Timpanogos Cave, crosses the shoulder of Mount Timpanogos and drops past Sundance into Provo Canyon (Wikipedia). The Forest Service calls the mountain part the Alpine Scenic Loop Backway: paved, but narrow and windy, with steep grades, blind curves and no centre line for most of the way (USDA Forest Service).
The route at a glance
- Road: SR-92, paved state highway; narrow mountain road through the forest (USDA Forest Service).
- Start: I-15 exit 284, Lehi. End: US-189 in Provo Canyon near Wildwood (Wikipedia).
- Length: 27.3 miles by the mileposts, Ashton Boulevard in Lehi (0.0) to US-189 (27.3) (Wikipedia).
- Height: about 5,000 ft at the mouth of American Fork Canyon, 8,000 ft at the crest (USDA Forest Service).
- Season: closed in winter between about milepost 14 and 22.5 (Wikipedia). UDOT closes it around November 1 and reopens around Memorial Day, as late as June after a heavy winter (Daily Herald). Check UDOT before you go.
- Big vehicles: buses and vehicles over 30 ft are not allowed (NPS Timpanogos Cave), and trailers are prohibited (USDA Forest Service). On a bike that mostly means less traffic, but expect cars on your side of the road on the tight bends.
Fees
- Riding straight through is free, and so are gravel turnouts that are not part of a developed site (USDA Forest Service).
- Stop at a developed site (picnic area, campground, trailhead) and you need a recreation pass on display: $10 for 3 days, $20 for 7, $60 a year; America the Beautiful passes are accepted. Passes are sold at the information stations on the road, the Timpanogos Cave visitor center and the Pleasant Grove Ranger District office (USDA Forest Service).
- Timpanogos Cave is a separate ticketed site (USDA Forest Service). Visitors going only to the cave do not pay the canyon fee (Wikipedia).
Mileposts
| Milepost | Place |
|---|---|
| 0.0 | Ashton Boulevard, Lehi |
| 0.2 to 0.4 | I-15 / US-89, exit 284 |
| 5.8 | SR-74 (Alpine Highway) |
| 6.4 | SR-129 (North County Boulevard) |
| 7.6 | Canyon Road (old SR-146); American Fork Canyon ahead |
| 10.2 | Timpanogos Cave National Monument visitor center |
| 12.7 | SR-144 north to Tibble Fork |
| about 14 | Winter gate |
| 18.8 | Forest Road 114 east (Cascade Scenic Drive) |
| about 22.5 | Winter gate |
| 27.3 | US-189, Provo Canyon |
Mileposts from Wikipedia's junction list. Sundance has no milepost in our sources; it is on the east side of Timpanogos, between the summit and Provo Canyon.
American Fork Canyon
The canyon starts a few miles east of I-15. Timpanogos Cave's visitor center is about ten miles from the interstate (NPS Timpanogos Cave); the cave entrance is a steep hike up from it (USDA Forest Service). SR-144 branches north to Tibble Fork Reservoir, a summer camping and fishing spot (Wikipedia).
Over the top
Above the canyon the road narrows and loses its centre line. Near the 8,000 ft crest it runs through aspen groves with views of Mount Timpanogos, and trailheads lead into the Mount Timpanogos and Lone Peak wilderness areas (USDA Forest Service).
Cascade Springs side trip
At milepost 18.8, Forest Road 114 heads east to Cascade Springs (Wikipedia), and a paved road carries on from the springs to Midway (Wikipedia). That makes it a way through to Heber Valley without going down to Provo Canyon.
Sundance and down to Provo Canyon
SR-92 is the only road to Sundance Resort (Wikipedia), which is open all year (USDA Forest Service). Below it the road meets US-189 in Provo Canyon near Wildwood, east of the Provo Canyon tunnels (Wikipedia): turn right for Provo, left for Heber.
Before you ride
- Fuel: none of our sources list gas on the loop. Fill up in Lehi or American Fork, or in Provo or Heber at the other end.
- Water: no drinking water at the backway itself (USDA Forest Service).
- The road: narrow, steep and blind in places, with no centre line (USDA Forest Service). Keep right, keep it slow, and watch for cyclists and cars cutting corners.
- Fire rules: the Forest Service posts camping and campfire restrictions for American Fork Canyon and the loop; check the alert on its page before you camp (USDA Forest Service).
- Rules for visiting riders (helmets, eye protection, lane filtering): Riding in Utah.
Join it up
- From Salt Lake City: I-15 south to Lehi is the quickest way to the start. Salt Lake City by motorcycle.
- From Park City or Heber: down Provo Canyon, up the loop past Sundance and back, or out through Cascade Springs to Midway. Park City and Heber.
- More Wasatch mountain roads: the Nebo Loop to the south and the Mirror Lake Highway to the east.
Rent a bike
Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.