Course Directions

COURSE DIRECTIONS

Beginning in East Mountain Wilderness Park, Kaysville, the course runs on a dirt road to the north and connects with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) and continues north. At mile 3.58 it reaches Fernwood Picnic Grounds and at mile 4.63 it exits onto the Great Western Trail (GWT) on a rocky trail climbing mainly east up to the Chinscraper bowl. East Mountain Wilderness Park to the climb past Fernwood uses the BST. The GWT is dominant and overlaid on top of the Wasatch Front 100 course with few exceptions. Between the Francis Peak Maintenance sheds and Bountiful B no trail has been built yet and we use roads and rough deer trails. At Pence Point, 5 miles past Big Mountain, the trail diverts to Lamb's instead of Parley's Summit. From Millcreek(Upper Big Water to Brighton the trail diverts to Dog Lake before returning above Desolation Lake back onto the GWT. Finally, just prior to reaching the Alpine Loop Summit, the trail diverts off the GWT.

START TO FRANCIS PEAK (MILE 0 to MILE 18.76) Go past the green metal gate of East Mountain Wilderness Park and follow the dirt road 0.36 miles north to the Bonneville Shoreline junction, a blue fiber BST sign marks the junction. Head uphill east on the BST, which climbs to the 5200 to 5300 terrace level of the BS trail and go north. The trail crosses the South Holmes Creek on a wooden bridge in Webb Canyon at 0.7 miles. At 1.59 miles it crosses the wooden bridge over North Fork Holmes Creek in Adams Canyon. The trail skirts around a ridge and then above a flat graded gravel site. A new trail stays above this. Continue north staying up above the large home/ranch with pond at 2.4 miles. Find a rough dirt road heading north again just past the ranch and follow this north. Soon you go right off the road onto a smaller trail. This trail crosses Snow Creek at 2.93 miles and then the South Fork of Kays Creek at 3.39 miles. After the second stream crossing you drop into Fernwood Picnic grounds, mile 3.58. The trail runs northeast uphill just as you get to the parking lot and around a horse stable above the "Castle Mansion", meets a firebreak road and shortly diverts up Kays Creek gully. The trail continues heading northeast through oak brush and maple trees staying on the eastern side of the stream. After crossing the Middle Fork of Kays Creek and climbing up to a saddle you slightly descend then head back uphill again. At mile 4.70 you depart from the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (which continues north) by turning right, then climbing eastward on the Great Western Trail. At about mile 8 the long climb levels out and heads south traversing along the hill and reaches Cool Springs at mile 8.93. The trail heads through the brush southwards climbing through some tall fir trees into the steep "bowl" below the ridge. This is Chinscraper and is the correct way. Once entering the base of the bowl observe carefully the yellow and red flagging. There are many ways up the bowl to the top but the safest and most used route stays to the right (west) side.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO DISLODGE ROCKS AND SEND THEM TUMBLING BELOW ONTO THE OTHER RUNNERS

Please avoid climbing under other runners for this reason unless you are close enough to touch them. At mile 9.60 you reach the ridge summit. Once you have reached the ridge crest above the bowl look for a cairn marking the turn onto the traverse which heads downhill slightly and south. The trail heads south and generally maintains the same approximate altitude. Follow the ribbons on the faint trail until it joins the new trail that traverses along this west face of the mountain between 9,000 and 9,200 feet. It proceeds south to Landis Spring (10.58) and comes out onto a shoulder on the west slope of Thurston Peak. The faint sheep trail now turns hard left and climbs uphill to the east for about 200 yards and then turns right, southeast. The trail continues traversing on the western facing slope below the main ridge until it drops into the big saddle ahead and climbs up. It goes to the left of the next peak and through another saddle and off the eastern side of the next peak. The trail drops downhill here and ends up on the western slope and picks up the sheep trail again which climbs west of the next peak. At times you will see Francis Peak Radar Domes to the south appearing as a huge "golf ball" looming over the hill as you travel southwards. This trail eventually climbs up to the end of a 4-wheel drive road and Grobben's Corner at mile 13.35. There is usually water brought up this spot on race day. Stay on this rough, rocky road and follow it south past the junction sign that says "Baer Creek" and "North Fork Line Creek." The road passes to the east of the radar domes (14.63). This dirt road meets another much larger and smoother graveled road south of the domes. Go right downhill on this wide road several miles until you come to the road maintenance shed at 18.76 miles which is the Francis Peak Aid Station.

FRANCIS PEAK TO BIG MOUNTAIN PASS (Mile 18.76 to Mile 39.40) Upon leaving the maintenance-shed area, go southeast on the smaller dirt road, which follows the eastern side of the ridge. In about 0.75 miles this main dirt road gently climbs into a saddle and leaves the ridge continuing to the right (west) side of the Gold Peak ridge. (Note: do not take the recreation vehicle trail continuing straight ahead up the ridge). The dirt road continues south for about 1.4 miles where the road crosses a small stream (look out for large road ruts made by RV's) and junctions with a road that goes south. This is called Watershed junction. Continue straight westward for 0.2 mile to Charlie's Corner, a junction at Mile 21.06. Turn left and follow the rocky 4-wheel drive road to the south as it climbs up and descends across a meadow (4-wheel drive vehicles love to get their trucks muddy in the bog down in the meadow). Go down the road until it turns east towards the aspen trees. Just before the trees, the road heads east. Leave the road onto a rough trail straight ahead and down. The rough trail stays west of the intermittent stream drainage until it drops far enough down to cross the first stream in the Right Hand fork of Arthurs Fork. Cross below the beaver ponds; head south and stay to the right of the stream. You soon can step across another small tributary stream coming in from the west. Continue downstream until the trail climbs uphill and leaves the stream. The trail climbs steeply up and turns west for a few hundred yards and then heads across another stream. You actually have to walk upstream a few yards to find the trail. It then climbs steeply up the north face of a heavily forested area of tall fir and aspen trees. There are two other short but tough climbs through several meadows and then it finally climbs to Bountiful B, Skyline Road junction at mile 23.95.

From the checkpoint head south along Skyline Drive ridge road. This road goes through an open metal gate and drops to the east around the mountain. It runs out onto the top of the ridge with its large wide meadows. At times you will be able to see the valleys far below on either side of the ridge. It passes another RV trail that heads to the west. The road eventually passes under tall spruce trees, crosses under some telephone and power lines, and heads south through some meadows on the ridge. The road twists, dropping southeast through the trees. The road becomes much rougher dropping very steeply down a hillside. Follow the road as it drops and rises until you near some tall white firs at an old campsite. The Forest Service has intended this to be the end of the road for RV's but they haven't complied yet. This is the location of the "Sessions Lift-Off" Aid Station (28.23).

Continue south down the closed road, which levels out and heads west. Look for a Great Western Trail sign on the left. The trail climbs through aspen and pine until it comes to the ridge top of the Sessions Hills (29.46). Drop downhill eastward through the sagebrush on this very rocky trail to a big saddle between peaks and follow the faint rocky trail uphill to the east until the trail bends southeast becoming a better trail which stays mostly on the southwest facing sides. At the junction with the Grandview Peak trail, go left and eastward remaining on a trail crossing the ridge that divides the Salt Lake and Morgan County. Continue east until the trail suddenly drops steeply down to City Creek Pass (33.17). Head uphill east again 0.41 miles to the Brink. At the junction, veer northeast, left up the hill and follow the trail as it contours under Swallow Rocks. The trail encounters a jeep road at mile 34.91. This junction is the Swallow Rocks Aid Station location.

Go east on this loose rock road with small climbs. Do not take any roads off this main ridge road. Continue eastward and be aware there may be colored ribbons marking horse trails from the East Canyon Resort. In about a mile and a half or running on the ridge or slightly to the western side of the ridge, look for a sagebrush-covered hill ahead. The Great Western Trail goes off uphill at an angle climbing to the right. Leave the road. If you are looking at your feet at this point, you will get lost for a long time. Take this trail which climbs a short distance and swings east and then heads south on the western side of Big Mountain. It drops onto the eastern side of a wide ridge. Stay on this ridge trail as it crosses a meadow and passes through some aspen stands eventually coming out of the trees where you can see an exposed bare hill, local runners call it Inspiration Point, to the south. Follow the trail around the hill (mile 38.23) on the west side and then south side where it starts dropping generally southeast. The trail switchbacks and crosses Highway 65 to arrive at Big Mountain Pass, mile 39.40, the location of the Big Mountain Aid Station.

BIG MOUNTAIN TO LAMBS CANYON (Mile 39.40 to Mile 53.13) The trail begins on the eastern side of the parking lot. It climbs southeast eventually turning south on the ridge between Jeremy Ranch recreation area and Mountain Dell Canyon. Yellow painted splotches on trees and signs are posted which mean: NO TRESPASSING ! These markings are on your left side as you head south. Bald Mountain is at mile 42.92. Continue south paralleling a private road until you reach Pence Point at mile 44.44. The trail winds through the oak brush to the west along the ridge tops. As you head west you will find the trail to be steep with loose round rocks. Be careful. After many up and down hills crossing the ridge, you descend past a grassy buried pipeline route, head west briefly, and descend onto the Sheep Trail under the power lines (mile 47.44). On race day this is the location of the Alexander Ridge Aid Station. Head east down and up the grassy rolling hills to mile 48.39, Lower Alexander Springs, a wet boggy area with pipelines and several utility right-of-ways. There is drinkable water from a spring flowing out of a pipe a hundred yards south of the Sheep Trail road in this area. Continue uphill, east on this very grassy path to a fork and veer right. The old grassy road you are on will have metal posts marking right-of-way. Keep track of the power lines to the south of this road. When they cross to the north overhead, look for them to cross back over to the south of the trail. This is about 2 miles up from Alexander Springs.

Shortly thereafter before reaching Upper Alexander Springs keep an eye peeled for the trail taking a sharp, sudden turn, leaving the road and crossing under the power lines at mile 50. This section of the trail is through very heavy brush. Go over the top of the gentle ridge and drop south to the other side eventually coming to the railroad bed where you turn right. Follow it all the way down to the Parleys Creek causeway crossing over the stream. If you come to an oiled road, turn back and look for the trail and follow the old railroad bed. It drops gently on a long switch back down to Parleys Creek where it crosses an earthen causeway to the north side. The trail cuts to the right off the road and heads west down paralleling a frontage road but hid by thick oak brush. It follows under some power lines for awhile and cuts down abruptly crossing the small stream, and continues downstream on the northern side. Look for the sudden left turn across the stream again and climb up the hill onto the dirt road and go southward to the Lambs Canyon Checkpoint at mile 53.13.

LAMBS CANYON TO MILLCREEK(Upper Big Water) (Mile 53.13 to Mile 61.68) Go up the short dirt road leading to the freeway underpass (I- 80). Pass under the freeway and go 1.64 miles up Lambs Canyon, south, to the trailhead (54.77) to Millcreek Canyon. The trail is down, off the right side of the road, crossing the stream. If you come to some cabins, you've gone too far. The trail climbs southwest up the ridge between the two canyons taking a very big switchback before it reaches the top. When you cross over the top of the divide (Bear Bottom Pass, 56.88), continue downhill making several switchbacks and turn left at the Mount Aire Trail fork junction. In about a quarter mile you will come to the Millcreek Canyon paved road (mile 58.60). Go left, up the road for 3.1 miles to Millcreek(Upper Big Water) Trailhead/parking lot mile 61.68 Be careful of cars in this canyon, especially in the dark. The road is very narrow with many blind corners. This is the site of the Millcreek(Upper Big Water) aid station on race day.

MILLCREEK(Upper Big Water) TO BRIGHTON (Mile 61.68 to Mile 75.61) The trail to the Brighton Checkpoint leaves the Millcreek(Upper Big Water) Aid Station on a trail on the south side. In about 1/4 mile this trail joins the Big Water trail coming up from the Lower Big Water parking lot. At this intersection keep going uphill and follow this gently switching wide trail. In one mile is a wooden bridge, cross it and stay on the main trail. In about 2 miles is a trail junction. The trail leaves the Great Western Trail at this point on the older trail going right or straight ahead and continues towards Dog Lake. Stay on the main trail until you reach a trail sign indicating you are now on the Desolation Trail. Turn left, go downhill 0.1 mile to Dog Lake (64.55). Stay left of the lake and on the obvious trail heading downhill to the east. In 0.6 miles the trail divides at a junction locals call Blunder Fork. Take the left fork going back uphill directing you to Desolation Lake. In a couple of miles you cross over a ridge and descend into the bowl containing Desolation Lake (66.93). Just off the ridge is the site of the Desolation Lake Aid Station. After leaving Desolation Lake, follow the trail taking you to the main ridge of the Wasatch Range (9900 feet elevation) and continue southwards. Red Lovers Ridge is at mile 67.60. Follow the trail south as it climbs slightly staying mainly on the southwest side of the ridge until the trail becomes a primitive road. You will pass near some radio transmitting station buildings and the Scotts Peak Aid Station (70.79). The trail then traverses around a large hill (Scotts Peak) and steeply descends past a metal road gate to Scotts Pass (72.14). From Scotts Pass take the main dirt road continuing down to the west. The road laterals around on the northwestern side of the forested slope and in about a mile or after crossing through a metal gate across the road you arrive at Sleepy Hollow Junction and the paved Guardsman Pass road (72.86). Continue down this road staying on the pavement until you finally reach the main highway to Brighton (74.79). Turn left, uphill, and proceed the quarter mile up to the Brighton loop road. Go left against vehicle traffic at the bottom of the loop (where the Brighton Store is located) and follow the loop road around to its south end. Go south just before a maintenance shed into the large parking area and look for the gray Brighton community building/Alpine Rose complex. Just past the gray building on your left go through some large logs at the Lake Mary trailhead. Follow this woodchip trail up 100 feet until it turns to gravel. Turn right at the Lake Mary/Catherine Pass trail head sign and travel an additional 100 feet south to Molly Green's, go up the stairs to the Brighton Aid Station (75.61).

BRIGHTON TO POLE LINE PASS (Mile 75.61 to Mile 83.39) Coming out of the Brighton Aid Station, go back down the stairs and north back to the Lake Mary/Catherine Pass trail head sign and turn right (east). Follow this gravel trail uphill between the Brighton Snowboard and Ski School building and a Race headquarters shack until you come to a green gate with signs on either side that say, "No unauthorized motor vehicles beyond this point." Veer right of the green gate at this point and look for a break between the large logs. This is the start of a new trail completed in October of 2005. Take this trail as it heads southeast and climbs underneath the ski lifts in broad open meadows about 2/3rd mile and skirts around some granite boulders where it connects to the old trail/dirt road. Follow the brown fiberboard signs with: "US Forest Service" emblem at the top, hiker emblem below it, arrow designations below that, and the Great Western Trail logo under the arrows. You will travel between two knee-high granite boulders and reconnect with an older Lake Mary trail at mile 76.29. Continue south uphill to the Dog Lake Junction at mile 76.47 contininuing straight and over a wooden bridge just past the junction. The Twin Lakes junction is a couple of hundred feet past that. Continue straight here as the trail continues climbing on a very rocky trail with granite boulders. Climb up the trail to the damn just below Mary Lake and the lake edge (76.78), follow the path going left. Continue on this trail as it climbs south uphill past Lake Martha on your right (77.13). It switchbacks to an overlook above Dog Lake and continues up to the Lake Catherine trail junction at mile 77.75. Catherine Lake is out of sight from the trail until you get up to Catherine Pass at mile 78.19 and look back to the east. Follow the trail up to the ridge west and above Lake Catherine to Catherine Pass (mile 77.99). The trail splits here with one trail going northwest and going downhill to Albion Basin. Do not take this trail. Turn left and go uphill southward as it climbs and switchbacks onto a very sandy area (the "Beach") short of the crest of the range. At mile 78.46 you crest the highest point of the course, Point Supreme, Sunset Pass, or as locals like to call it: Dog Jaw Pass. The trail drops into the Dry Fork drainage just west of Sunset Peak through some firs on the south side of the range and proceeds in a southeast direction on a rocky trail. It is also marked "Great Western Trail." It then drops steeply, twisting through meadows on very rocky trails eventually dropping onto an excruciating steep jeep road with loose rocks at mile 80.07. The jeep road soon drops to the trail junction of trail #157 on your left. This is the location of the Ant Knolls aid station (80.27). Taking the trail east, climb 0.54 miles up the "grunt" at the top, turn right and head south. The trail traverses around the Ant Knolls peak through stands of aspen trees and connects onto a larger trail going south. A switch back pulls you back north, then east and cuts sharply off the trail that runs onto a jeep road. The trail runs down through a meadow becoming fainter until just before the trees and drops to Pole Line Pass, mile 83.39.

POLE LINE PASS TO ROCK SPRINGS (Mile 83.39 to Mile 87.39) Look for the trailhead sign for Trail 157 and head south on this trail. Stay on the trail until you come to Sandy Baker Pass (83.99) and the northern junction of the Pot Hollow-East Ridge Trail 38 with Trail 157. Head right on trail 157 going west. The trail then traverses for about 3/4 of a mile through a pine and fir forest, turns south, and climbs gently for another mile. You may see Forest Lake below you to the west and evidence of winter avalanche tree fall as you run along this section. The trail then passes the Forest Lake trail junction (85.71). Stay on trail 157 as it climbs steeply to mile 86.35, Point Contention, and circles back to the east climbing gently until it reaches the junction with Holman Trail 39. Go left and the trail drops through some aspen trees to Rock Springs, mile 87.39. There will be a small aid station here to verify numbers and provide water. Avoid the stinging nettles around this area and both sides of the trail. A small pipe on the left side of the trail with water running into a catch basin will usually have drinkable water.

ROCK SPRINGS TO POT BOTTOM (Mile 87.39 to Mile 93.13) One hundred feet east of the springs is the southern trail junction with East Ridge Trail 38. Take the East Ridge trail going uphill to the east and climb through the Aspen trees. This climbs up to Serenity Point, mile 87.82. Follow the trail on this old CCC terrace to the Dive at mile 88.13. The trail descends into a bowl, turns right and heads down on a steep and tricky trail descending about 600 feet in elevation. The trail swings up to the ridge climbing up to Limber Fir Corner, mile 88.85. At mile 89.08 the trail reaches the start of the Plunge (Lost Junction) and drops northeast out on a ridge, then down into a gully (another 600 foot decent) and has a tricky trail to find by a large old fallen log at mile 89.21. Turn a sharp left here heading uphill to the northeast. This trail climbs up through several fir and alpine meadows until "LETS BUCK" junction at mile 90.38. This is the name carved on a large Aspen tree south of the junction. Do not drop down right (east) on the steep ATV trail here. Continue north on a trail climbing up through more Aspen and White Fir forest. The trail continues northward becoming a bit more distinct in this section and descends more until it meets the Pot Hollow trail #37 at mile 91.68 where you turn right and drop east. The trail is steeper for about one-half mile to Ruminant Springs (92.05).. It swings back eastward down through the trees to the bottom of Pot Hollow, Pot Bottom, and an aid station.

POT BOTTOM TO FINISH AT THE HOMESTEAD (Mile 93.13 to Mile 100)

Leave the aid station by turning left (north) and go up this Deer Creek Valley road about a tenth of a mile where the road splits. Go right here across the stream. This climb is called the "grump" because a local Wasatch Alpine Strider got one of his feet wet here in the last stream crossing and was rather grumpy the rest of the day. Follow this road north and it crosses a little stream five more times until it turns east then south climbing up to the Crest Road in Wasatch Mountain State Park. The junction is called Lower Old Goat junction, mile 94.46. Turn left (north) here and proceed up the hill to mile 94.87 and go right (east) off the Crest road onto the Lime Canyon ATV road. This road goes north at first and then drops downhill to the east. Continue down this road descending all the way to a Y junction where you continue left downhill. Follow this firebreak road and go left at mile 96.88. This rocky road with black plastic pipe occasionally sticking up heads northeast until it comes to a junction where you go straight (not right) 100 feet and reach a gate at mile 97.41. Go around the gate and climb the road to a water tank at mile 97.57. Go past the water tank and the freshly cut road shortly turns east and descends along the ridge. Look for the Base trail cutting back northwest on your left. Blue flags mark this snowshoe trail. Drop down the trail 1/8th of a mile to a meadow and look for a trail cutting right through the Bit Tooth Maples. Follow this trail and in one-half mile it meets a junction. Continue downhill on this narrow footpath until it comes out into the open past a telephone pole to a dirt road at mile 99.26. Turn right and go 100 feet down to the Snake Creek Pass road. You will be close to the Wasatch Mountain State Park visitor center across the street, and on your right is the Blue Boar Inn. Continue running on the pavement to the east where the road curves back south becoming Homestead Road. It passes Cari Lane at mile 99.54 on the left. Proceed south up a slight hill and at mile 99.87 turn left on a new paved road heading east into the north part of Homestead. Immediately after turning look south for the finish. Head south out onto the broad lawn section and finish by a light pole close to the west fence. Go under the banner on race day!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!