Salt Lake City by motorcycle
Most visiting riders land in Salt Lake City. The red rock is a day's ride south, but the mountains start at the edge of town: three paved canyon rides that make a good first or last day of a Utah trip.
Mountain rides from the city
All three climb high and close in winter. They are summer and early-fall rides.
| Ride | Road | Length | Top | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cottonwood and Guardsman Pass | SR-190 | about 20 miles, I-215 to the pass | Guardsman Pass | Pass closed in winter |
| Alpine Loop | SR-92 | 27 miles, Lehi to Provo Canyon | 8,000 ft crest | Typically closes Nov 1 |
| Mirror Lake Highway | SR-150 | 42 miles, Kamas to Wyoming | 10,715 ft, Bald Mountain Pass | Typically mid-May to mid-fall |
Big Cottonwood Canyon and Guardsman Pass (SR-190)
Starts at I-215 in Holladay and runs about 20 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon, past Solitude and round the Brighton loop, to the top of Guardsman Pass (Wikipedia). Above Brighton it becomes a narrower mountain road; over the pass, the road drops to Park City or Midway. That pass section is closed all winter (Wikipedia); in 2026 it reopened on May 11, and Utah's seasonal roads usually close again from November (KUTV).
The Alpine Loop (SR-92)
SR-92 runs 27 miles from I-15 in Lehi to US-189 in Provo Canyon, up American Fork Canyon, past Timpanogos Cave and round the east side of Mount Timpanogos by Sundance (Wikipedia). The loop climbs from 5,000 ft at the canyon mouth to an 8,000 ft crest (USDA Forest Service). - It is tight. Paved but narrow and twisty, with no centre line for most of the way and steep, blind curves (USDA Forest Service). Ride it slowly and expect cars on your side. - Fees: riding straight through is free. Park at a developed site and you need a recreation pass on display: $10 for 3 days, $20 for 7, $60 a year, or an America the Beautiful pass. Timpanogos Cave is a separate ticketed site (USDA Forest Service). - Season: typically closes November 1 (USDA Forest Service).
Mirror Lake Highway (SR-150)
42 miles from Kamas to the Wyoming line, over Bald Mountain Pass at 10,715 ft, which Visit Utah calls Utah's highest paved road. Stops include Provo River Falls, Mirror Lake and the Bear River Ranger Station (Visit Utah). - Season: closed in winter; typically open mid-May to mid-fall (Visit Utah). - Fees: riding the road is free. Stopping at a recreation area needs a pass: $10 for 3 days, $20 for 7, $60 a year; America the Beautiful passes are honoured (USDA Forest Service). - It is cold up there. Pack a warm layer even in July.
North to Bear Lake: US-89 through Logan Canyon to 7,828 ft and the Bear Lake overlook. Logan Canyon to Bear Lake.
South of Provo: the 38-mile Nebo Loop from Payson to Nephi, over 9,000 ft below Mount Nebo. Nebo Loop.
Northeast Utah: two days out via US-40 to Vernal, then US-191 over the Uintas to Flaming Gorge. Flaming Gorge.
Past the Wasatch: Wolf Creek Pass and the Provo Canyon Scenic Byway are on our Park City and Heber page.
Heading south
- To Moab and Arches: SLC to Moab, over Soldier Summit and through Green River. Then Moab by motorcycle.
- To Zion: I-15 south is the quick way. See Zion by motorcycle.
- The whole loop: Utah's Mighty 5 by motorcycle starts and ends here.
Before you ride
- Check UDOT's seasonal road status before any of the mountain rides, especially in May, October and November.
- Helmet law, eye protection and lane filtering (not on I-15 at speed): Riding in Utah.
Rent a bike
Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.