Guardsman Pass (Start)
From Salt Lake City, go up Big Cottonwood canyon. (Signed Brighton Ski Area, exit 6 off of I-215 on the east side of Salt Lake).

Just before Brighton, the signed Guardsman Pass road goes off on the left (north side). It is a paved 2 lane road, but comes in quickly and can be easy to miss. If you end up at Brighton, just backtrack a short distance. Follow the Gaurdsman Pass road. At about 2.2 miles is a sharp curve with a dirt road leaving the pavement. This is the Great Western Trail start. If starting from Guardsman proper, continue on to the top of the pass about 0.8 miles past the Great Western Trail start.

Millcreek Exit
Millcreek Canyon is on the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, just south of I-80 and Parleys Canyon. To get there, take I-215 South from I-80 and take exit 4 off of I-215 and go left (east) on 3900 South.

Turn left on Wasatch Blvd just after crossing under the highway, then the next right on Millcreek Canyon Road.

0.7 miles from the junction of Wasatch Blvd and Millcreek Canyon Road is the entrance to Millcreek Canyon and the pay booth.

Mileage below is from the pay booth.

• 0.7 miles - Pipeline Trailhead on the left (north).
• 2.4 miles - Church Fork Trailhead on the left (north).
• 2.5 miles - Desolation on the right (south).
• 3.4 miles - Porter Fork on the right (south).
• 3.5 miles - Burch Hollow Trailhead (north).
• 3.7 miles - Terraces Picnic Area / Trailhead (south).
• 3.8 miles - Winter Gate Closure
• 5.4 miles - Elbow Fork Trailhead (Mount Aire)
• 6.9 miles - Alexander Basin Trailhead
• 8.3 miles - Lower Big Water
• 8.4 miles - End of the road and Big/Little Water Trailhead. This is the trailhead for Murdock Peak.

Park City Exit
If exiting to Park City, park at Canyons Village/Park City Mountain resort. This is north of Park City proper on UT-224. Turn west on Canyons Resort Drive. At the first round-a-bout, there is a large parking area that works well as the endpoint. There is no overnight parking at this lot.

Guardsman Start to Puke Hill (1.4 miles)
From the parking area, cross the road and immediately go left on a signed single track for Scott's Bypass. This lovely section of trail lazily meanders down and around Scott's Hill before reaching a 4-way junction at the base of Puke Hill that is the road going uphill.

Great Western Trail Start to Puke Hill (0.7 miles)
Follow the road, passing through a gate quickly. Stay on the relatively steep road as it climbs to a 4-way junction at a saddle. The Guardsman Start joins here from the left. Go left here, up the road and Puke Hill.

Puke Hill To Desolation Lake (4.9 miles)
Bikers are likely to end up walking parts of Puke Hill. It is the biggest obstacle to reaching the ridge. One reaching the ridge, stay left. The roods soon give way to single track and enters National Forest land.

A little elevation gain is required to reach the top of Beartrap, where views of Desolation Lake come into view. The trail continues along the ridge and descends the rocky "spine" before reaching the trail junction to Desolation Lake. No shame in walking your bike down the spine if needed!

Desolation To Millcreek (2.4 miles)
From the Desolation Lake Junction, stay right. The trail climbs a bit again to reach the ridge above Millcreek Canyon. Stay straight and right at the two minor trail junctions along the way. The trail on the Millcreek ridge is smooth and a fast run/bike. A few small side trails go to overlooks into the Park City Valley.

Continue to a well-defined 4-way junction. The junction provides alternatives to descend to Millcreek Canyon or Park City.

Millcreek Exit (3.1 or 4.4)
Go left! The trail descends about a mile a junction. Either route will get you down to the Big Water Trailhead. Going left here is a bit over a mile longer than right, but more scenic in my opinion. Head downhill at all junctions, the trail is well signed.

Park City Exit (6.2 miles)
The trail system heading down to Park City is well marked, but a maze of different options. My route down:

• From the ridge, head down to the first trail junction. Go left on the Mid Mountain Connector trail. It lazily meanders downhill.
• At the junction with the Ridge Trail, go left on the now Mid Mountain Trail.
• The Mid Mountain Trail traverses and reaches the Ambush Connector. Take Ambush as it drops more steeply down. It joins Holly's Trail, stay left on Holly's.
• A side trail drops from Holly's to the dirt road in the bottom of the canyon. Follow this down to Park City Mountain Resort, or stay on Holly's for a bit longer descent to the resort.