This resort, which features great skiing, has some excellent mountain-biking opportunities, too.
Located just 10 miles east of Provo/Orem, Sundance sits at the base of Mount Timpanogos, one of the highest peaks in the Wasatch Mountains. With a "Matterhorn" look and the autumn leaves changing color early this year, this area makes for a great biking getaway.
Path rating: ***
Scenic rating: ****
Distance: Variable, depending on the route taken. There are 25 miles of trails available.
Elevation gain: Variable but goes from almost nothing if you take a lift up to the top or about 1,050 feet if you pass on the chairlift.
Directions to the trailhead: From I-15, take exit 275 in Utah County and go east about four miles on 800 North in Orem to Provo Canyon and U-189 (call ahead on current road construction details for Provo Canyon). Go up Provo Canyon about seven miles and turn left on U-92. Sundance is about 2.5 miles farther.
Trail description: Primarily dirt and gravel.
There are seven trails to choose from — Sunnyside ride (three miles, easy); Ray's Ride (3.5 miles, easy); Ray's With a Twist (3.2 miles, moderate); Boneyard Loop (four miles, moderate); Scott's Pond (2.2 miles, moderate); Uphill Route (3.5 miles, strenuous) and a new trail — "Archie's Loop Trail" (no rating — it's so new it is not even on the resort's map yet!).
Season of use: Generally late May through mid-October, weather permitting.
Fees: All use here has a charge, even if you choose not to use a ski lift. Prices are $8 for a trails-only pass, and that includes one ride on Ray's Lift. Area-use fees (unlimited lift use)are $15 for a full day and $12 for a half-day (from 2:30 p.m. on) or $8 for a twilight pass (available after 4:30 p.m.).
A season pass is $160, and a trails-only season pass is $100.
Helmets can be rented for $3, and bicycle rentals are $40 for a full day.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Bikers should call and double-check hours before heading to Sundance since the lift closes earlier in the fall.
Cautions: Helmets are required here, and bikers can only use designated trails. Special trails separate hikers, bikers and equestrian users. Intersections are numbered, and you have to refer to a map to know what the numbers mean.
The area is patrolled by the Sundance Mountain Bike Patrol.
Highlights: The scenery, especially in fall, is great. The trails here have great variety and cater to beginners and moderate users.
For more information: Call Sundance at 801-223-4849 or visit it on the Web at www.sundanceresort.com/mtn/
Also, consult "Mountain Biking in Utah," a Falcon Guide by Gregg Bromka.