• The easy riverside warm-up on the North Fork Scenic Byway Trail.
• Big views from the high-alpine meadows at the top of Soapstone Basin Road.
• Wildflowers or fall colors if you catch it at the right time: absolutely spectacular!
• A fast Rhodes Canyon descent through multiple ecosystems.
• Convenient riverside camp along the West Fork Duchesne.
• If U R inta fishin’, I’ve caught no less than five distinct species of trout in the area!
• The classic mountain bike descent on Bench Creek Trail.
• Post-ride food, a cold drink, and rooftop dining at The Notch in Samak.

When to go

• July through September is the most reliable window. Late June may still hold snow, mud, and downed trees on high roads. Hard freezes and early storms can arrive in fall.

What bike and gear

• Trail conditions and bike: Bench Creek and Pine Valley can collect deadfall, loose rock, and seasonal debris. A mountain bike with at least 2.35-inch tires is preferable.
• Fishing: A current Utah fishing license and knowledge of the applicable regulations are required.

Travel basics & logistics

• Access and closures: SR-35 and SR-150 are seasonal highways, and the 2024 Yellow Lake Fire continues to affect local conditions. Check UDOT and Forest Service alerts.
• Parking: Start near the intersection of Lower Provo Campground Road and the North Fork Scenic Byway Trail.
• Navigation: Download the track and offline maps. The Bench Creek turn is easy to miss, and cell service is unreliable.

Dangers & Annoyances

• Weather: Afternoon thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and sudden temperature drops are normal high-country hazards.
• Traffic: Expect cars, OHVs, livestock traffic, and dust on shared forest roads.
• Bears and food: This is bear country. Store food, trash, and scented items securely, and keep your camp clean.
• Water: Treat all water. Livestock and wildlife use these drainages, and the smaller crossings can be seasonal.

• West Fork Duchesne: Established primitive sites near the river make the most logical overnight stop, with shade and convenient filterable water. Use an existing site rather than creating a new one in a meadow or riparian area.
• Lower Provo River Campground: A useful before- or after-ride option when open. It is seasonal, and current Forest Service information says potable water is not available.
• Conditions: Expect cold nights, even in midsummer. Check current fire restrictions and do not build a fire where it is prohibited or where a legal ring is not already present.
• No on-route lodging: The route is designed around camping. Lodging and additional services are available back toward Heber or Park City.

• Food: Carry all meals and snacks from the start. There is no on-route food resupply.
• Early water: The Provo River is accessible before you head up Soapstone Basin; make sure you have enough water to make it to Wolf Creek if it’s later in the season. There are some streams and places to filter water in Soapstone, but it can dry up later in the season.
• Day one refill: Wolf Creek near the SR-35 approach may be usable when running, but the West Fork of the Duchesne is the first dependable major source.
• Day two: Fill up before leaving the West Fork. Smaller road crossings may be available depending on the year, but don’t rely on them as your only option.
• Treatment: Filter or purify all water, and avoid washing directly in streams.
• Post-ride: The Notch in Samak is a convenient stop for food and drinks. Check current hours before counting on it.

Suggested Itinerary

The route is best ridden clockwise as a two-day overnighter. Mileage and vert below are approximate.

locationLower Provo to West Fork Duchesne

Day 1 (30 mi, +3,589′)

The tidy little loop follows a satisfying rhythm, with steady climbs on non-technical roads rewarded with big mountain vistas and ripping descents that may incite hooping and/or hollering! Most of the route uses dirt roads and doubletrack, while the North Fork Scenic Byway, Bench Creek, and Pine Valley trails add some singletrack texture that keeps it from feeling like just some ol’ forest-road tour.

The ride warms up beside the Lower Provo River on the mellow North Fork Scenic Byway Trail, keeping you off Mirror Lake Highway, which is busy in the summer. River views, boardwalks, and easy grades make a welcoming first few miles before the route turns onto Soapstone Basin Road and immediately gains about 800 feet in two miles. You might find some weekend traffic and OHVs, but they thin out as Soapstone Basin Road climbs into the high alpine meadows, where you can find abundant wildflowers in the right season and great mountain views to the north. Rhodes Canyon Road then drops quickly from the high meadows through conifer and aspen before reaching drier brush near the east side of Wolf Creek Pass, compressing several ecosystems into about five fast “woohoo!” miles! The connection to the West Fork of the Duchesne can feel long in the afternoon sun, so make sure you’ve got water loaded up. You can filter from Wolf Creek once you cross the road.

Day one wraps up when you drop down to the West Fork of the Duchesne River, where multiple camp options make it a natural place to sleep smack-dab in the middle of the route. For fish lovers, the West Fork has some of the most vibrant native Colorado River cutthroat I’ve ever seen!

• Mi 0-5: North Fork Scenic Byway Trail. Flat, easy warm-up.
• Mi 5: Turn onto Soapstone Basin Road. About 800 feet of vert in two miles.
• Mi 9.5: Soapstone Creek: Filterable when running, unreliable late season.
• Mi 15: High point, 9,836 feet. Open meadows, great views, watch the weather.
• Mi 17.5: Rowdy Rhodes Canyon descent begins
• Mi 23: SR-35 and Wolf Creek. Paved connector; last water before camp.
• Mi 30: West Fork of the Duchesne. Established camp sites, dependable water.

locationWest Fork Duchesne to Lower Provo

Day 2 (30 mi, +3,384′)

Day two begins with the route’s most sustained work, climbing the West Fork road on surfaces that range from reasonable dirt to bumpy chonk that can be hard to catch a good pedal rhythm on if you don’t have any squish to your rig. My friends once took their dog on this in a bike-trailer, and now the dog won’t go near the trailer anymore. I think her bones are still rattled! It does get better, though, and eventually you reach a brief run of champagne gravel with great views back toward the Wasatch.

After the second high point, enjoy a short descent on smooth gravel before Heber Mountain Road returns to rougher forest riding leading onto Camp Hollow toward the Bench Creek Trail. Keep an eye out for the junction about 0.5 miles down Camp Hollow, because it is easy to miss. But if you blow it, Camp Hollow is pretty fun too! Just be ready for a bonus climb out: Bench Creek! This is classic singletrack, and I say it’s the route’s riding highlight. It’s a lonely trail where motos aren’t allowed, descending about 2,000 feet in five miles with some smooth, fast bits and a couple of technical sections (there’s one section in particular that may invite a quick dismount when loaded). Camp Hollow Ridge and Bench Creek roads then lead the loop back across the west side of Wolf Creek Pass to the Pine Valley Trail, the final ribbon of singletrack above the Provo River that carries you home.

• Mi 30–42: West Fork road climb. Chunky in stretches. Fill up water before leaving camp.
• Mi 42: Second high point, 9,537 feet, at the Currant Creek Road junction.
• Mi 42–47: Heber Mountain Road. Rough forest road riding.
• Mi 47: Camp Hollow Trail, then the Bench Creek junction about 0.5 miles down. Not hard to miss.
• Mi 48.5–53: Bench Creek Trail. Roughly 2,000 feet of descent in five miles, no motos, super fun!
• Mi 54: Cross the west side of Wolf Creek Pass.
• Mi 56: Pine Valley Trail, then home.

Route Options

• Camp Hollow alternate: If you miss the Bench Creek turn, Camp Hollow still provides enjoyable riding, but it changes the line and adds a climb to reconnect. Use the GPX rather than relying on signage alone.
• One-day option: Very fit riders can complete the loop in a long day, but doing so leaves little time for fishing, camp, or lingering in the landscape. The route is more rewarding as an overnighter.