I told you about Cassi on this thread in Wright Brother’s NM in NC. Now Teddy is launching in Yellowstone.
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Which one of the trails were you on? I parked at Big Mountain Pass and hiked the trail that heads north, towards the Skyline Drive road that is on the top of the mountain above Bountiful.
One of my favorite rides goes from Little Dell Resv to Big Mtn Pass. There were a ton of riders in that parking lot when I passed, it must have been one of the high school mountain bike teams. The trail I hiked is a great bike ride, from the dirt road above Bountiful to the pass. Biking to the north from the pass is steep for the first 1.5 miles.
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I did that hike last year. Big Mountain Pass north to Holbrook Canyon, above Bountiful. About 13 miles on the zig-zag, 7 miles direct. I saw a few people near Big Mountain, then a few at the end, otherwise it was pure solitude. Nice hike, especially in September when you don’t have to haul so much water.
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Big Mountain Pass to Holbrook sounds great. I’m going to have to put that on my list.
One of my favorite hike is Cape Royal on the North Rim. More solitude, since it is at the end of the road less travelled on the North Rim. Beautiful hike, and I could sit out on the point all day and take in the views.
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I rode the same trail you hiked. It was my first time up there, and yes, the first ~1.25 miles were a hump - I continued on to about 4 miles out, turned around and came back to Big Mountain pass.
I’m planning to ride the trail from above Bountiful to Big Mountain pass later in the year, but will start by exploring from each end, out and back, for a little training, and to get a feel for the whole trip.
I’ll take your advice and try the Little Dell Resv to Big Mtn Pass trail as well. I ride that stretch on my road bike often, but have just started mountain biking again after not having done much of it for years. I’m very surprised at how the trails have expanded in the years since I rode more often.
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Make sure you plan it out on Google Earth or whatever, and take a GPS. Most places the trail is pretty distinct, but there are places in the middle where it’s unclear, the top of City Creek where it dips down into a saddle with more foliage, a low pass between City Creek & canyons east on the Morgan side. (This part is not the most traveled trail on the Wasatch, that’s for sure.)
The main thing is to locate Lookout Peak (coming from Big Mountain pass) and then Grandview Peak - which will be west of the route on most of the trail (except near Holbrook trailhead, when GrandView is pretty much directly south).
When the trail thins out in the middle of the route, just push through. It’s not a major bush-whack endeavor, not crazy amounts of foliage, but take plenty of water. In some places you just head in a direction if the trail peters out, keep Grand View & Lookout Peak in site, I would stay up high on the ridges as much as you can… on or near the trail, of course.
Coming from the Holbrook side, the trail is very distinct, and starts with some switchbacks in pine forest, has a short stretch in thick aspen, and when it breaks out to the south/SE , you see Grandview and the upper basin of Millcreek / Mueller Park canyon in plain sight. Quite a view of SLC from there, too.
Holbrook is about 8200 feet, Big Mountain Pass is about 7400 feet, so not too crazy on the net vertical, but you’ll go up & down a bit. I got up to 9000 feet on some ridges east of Grandview.
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Great advice, and thanks for it. I think you were kind enougn to give me info on this ride a couple of years ago, but I didn’t get started on the mountain bike last year…
Part of the reason I’m riding out and back from both directions is to become familiar with the terrain, having been told you can get lost easily in a couple of sections, (plus - it id just beautiful up there). I tried a new GPS app on my phone this trip and it was very accurate and helpful.
I’ll email you directly on the topic when I’m not on my phone - don’t want to hijack the “pictures” thread anymore 
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Thanks!
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Yeah, that middle section is really overgrown. Even coming downhill (when riding from north to south) it’s so overgrown you still have to walk your bike. Most of the trail is obvious, just that headwater of City Creek can be hard to follow.
Just back from Maui. We have a few hundred pictures but thought this one was pretty cool. Sunset from near Kaanapali Beach.
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Seeing these sunset photos from the islands answers an age old riddle people in northern climes asked about some of their people who’d left to explore: "Why didn’t they come back?"
(That’s the story of the grandfather of my Tongan cousins, who left Sweden with his brother, in what ended up being a one-way trip. It’s how I’m related to the Johansson family, in case you see them coming around SLC looking to replace driveways or do yardwork.)
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Any spots you say are a must hit? I am staying there for a week next May.
Oh man… SO many fun things! One thing I’d suggest (if you plan on exploring the island) is downloading the GyPSy Guide app. Every time we got in the car we’d simply turn it on and we’d get a history of Hawaii/Maui and a tour guide for anywhere we were driving. It’s GPS driven ($9.99) and worth every penny.
Road to Hana is a must (all-day trek). I’d go on a weekday as almost every interesting spot was overrun with locals.
Haleakala Crater was very cool (and cold!). Great for sunrise or sunset (bring a jacket, it’s at 10,000’).
Check out the surf town of Paia for lunch/dinner (Paia Fish Market or Milagro’s Food Co for Burgers/Mexican) and then grab a Shave ice across the street.
Ho’okipa to watch or participate in surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing.
Lahaina is a cool little town with a lot of fun shops and restaurants and the world’s largest Banyan tree.
Nakalele Blow hole (another trek) out to the sticks but pretty cool (take sturdy hiking sandals if you want to get close).
Iao Monument is a quick 15 minute drive from the airport. 2nd wettest place on earth.
There’s lot’s of snorkling all over and many companies to take you.
Plan ahead. Many sites require reservations ahead of time.
We explored almost every inch of the island and hardly got in the water! Next time we’re going to a nice hotel in Kaanapali and just going to surf/board, lay on the beach and sip fancy drinks. 
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Have to say “Road to Hana” was not so popular with my wife who is prone to carsickness and anxiety. I had done some strength training the morning before and it was interesting to see how my arms were exhausted twisting left and right on the road. We loved the black sand beach though, definitely pull over for that one.
We ran out of time but I drove halfway up to the crater before turning around and heading to the airport, and enjoyed that drive too.
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Excellent. Yeah, I have a few of these already planned but def need to jump on others. We’re in Maui a week and O’ahu. I thought about jumping over to Lanai for a day trip. My wife’s been before but this will conclude my 12 year old’s 50 states and funny enough mine. I somehow was the only one growing up that missed Hawaii trips due to wrestling tournaments.
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If you don’t mind waiting an hour and a half there’s a little seaside restaurant north of Kaanapali (at Napili Shores Condos) called The Gazebo. I like the Corned Beef Hash and Eggs.
