AF Canyon Tour route

Only thing that makes this trail suck are the motorcycles. One of the best rides around. Offers tech, flow, climbing and oooh the views of Timp are phenomenal. But seriously, motos have got to go somewhere else.

Only thing that makes this trail suck are the motorcycles. One of the best rides around. Offers tech, flow, climbing and oooh the views of Timp are phenomenal. But seriously, motos have got to go somewhere else.

Only thing that makes this trail suck are the motorcycles. One of the best rides around. Offers tech, flow, climbing and oooh the views of Timp are phenomenal. But seriously, motos have got to go somewhere else.

Only thing that makes this trail suck are the motorcycles. One of the best rides around. Offers tech, flow, climbing and oooh the views of Timp are phenomenal. But seriously, motos have got to go somewhere else.

Only thing that makes this trail suck are the motorcycles. One of the best rides around. Offers tech, flow, climbing and oooh the views of Timp are phenomenal. But seriously, motos have got to go somewhere else.

I never rode it (because I’m normally exhausted when I reach Mud Springs) but today I did. The first part is flowy. It gets technical when you reach the rocky, gnarly part. But you will be rewarded on the way back. The views of American Fork Canyon are really amazing.

Lots of dirt bikers, trail is in rough shape in spots, will make you a better techy rider.

Lots of dirt bikers, trail is in rough shape in spots, will make you a better techy rider.

Easy trail up. Very little tree cover for most of the trail, be careful if it’s hot out.

Easy trail up. Very little tree cover for most of the trail, be careful if it’s hot out.

Such an amazing trail and the views!! Do the ride just for the views, timp is amazing.

Such an amazing trail and the views!! Do the ride just for the views, timp is amazing.

Such an amazing trail and the views!! Do the ride just for the views, timp is amazing.

Such an amazing trail and the views!! Do the ride just for the views, timp is amazing.

Such an amazing trail and the views!! Do the ride just for the views, timp is amazing.

To answer your question about the jumps, I've done this trail 4 or 5 times and have never seen any of the jumps in the pictures.

I don't understand why this trail is getting so much hate. This is a fun trail. The climbs are not too difficult. There is a good mix of smooth flow and rocky tech.

I don't understand why this trail is getting so much hate. This is a fun trail. The climbs are not too difficult. There is a good mix of smooth flow and rocky tech.

I don't understand why this trail is getting so much hate. This is a fun trail. The climbs are not too difficult. There is a good mix of smooth flow and rocky tech.

I don't understand why this trail is getting so much hate. This is a fun trail. The climbs are not too difficult. There is a good mix of smooth flow and rocky tech.

I don't understand why this trail is getting so much hate. This is a fun trail. The climbs are not too difficult. There is a good mix of smooth flow and rocky tech.

The lower mud springs trail is the best descent in the canyon.

The lower mud springs trail is the best descent in the canyon.

The lower mud springs trail is the best descent in the canyon.

Shit show. This used to be a good trail but now it's all big chunky loose and rutty. f*ckin' motorcycles have chewed it to garbage.
Probably this one should live on in memory only.

Shit show. This used to be a good trail but now it's all big chunky loose and rutty. f*ckin' motorcycles have chewed it to garbage.
Probably this one should live on in memory only.

Shit show. This used to be a good trail but now it's all big chunky loose and rutty. f*ckin' motorcycles have chewed it to garbage.
Probably this one should live on in memory only.

Shit show. This used to be a good trail but now it's all big chunky loose and rutty. f*ckin' motorcycles have chewed it to garbage.
Probably this one should live on in memory only.

Shit show. This used to be a good trail but now it's all big chunky loose and rutty. f*ckin' motorcycles have chewed it to garbage.
Probably this one should live on in memory only.

Are the photos wrong for this trail or is there actually jumps up there? Curious because you can see the road in one of the photos and theres not a road any where near this trail.

The switchbacks are amazing on a dirtbike! Yield to mountain bikes, you’ll probably find some coming down. Ditto on the PNW comment above. One of my favorites.

Really fun climb on a dirtbike, technical but not overwhelming. There’s a decent climb around a quarter mile in but it’s fairly smooth. Try not to spin out on this part—it’s been rutted out from that.

Easy and fun on a dirtbike! Tight and twisty through the trees so take your time.

Easy and fun on a dirtbike! Tight and twisty through the trees so take your time.

This ones fun and easy on a dirtbike! Make sure to watch out for and be courteous to mountain bikes and hikers which you will inevitably come across.

This ones fun and easy on a dirtbike! Make sure to watch out for and be courteous to mountain bikes and hikers which you will inevitably come across.

really fun on an ebike. not sure i would classify it as a double black though, maybe a double black climb?

I'm going with a thumbs down on this. We took the little deer creek decent from the parking lot. Great trail! The ridge not so much. Lots of big sharp rocks, big roots, lose big rocks. Steep, rough, technical ascent. Not fun for me but if you are an animal you might dig it.

I'm going with a thumbs down on this. We took the little deer creek decent from the parking lot. Great trail! The ridge not so much. Lots of big sharp rocks, big roots, lose big rocks. Steep, rough, technical ascent. Not fun for me but if you are an animal you might dig it.

I'm going with a thumbs down on this. We took the little deer creek decent from the parking lot. Great trail! The ridge not so much. Lots of big sharp rocks, big roots, lose big rocks. Steep, rough, technical ascent. Not fun for me but if you are an animal you might dig it.

I'm going with a thumbs down on this. We took the little deer creek decent from the parking lot. Great trail! The ridge not so much. Lots of big sharp rocks, big roots, lose big rocks. Steep, rough, technical ascent. Not fun for me but if you are an animal you might dig it.

I'm going with a thumbs down on this. We took the little deer creek decent from the parking lot. Great trail! The ridge not so much. Lots of big sharp rocks, big roots, lose big rocks. Steep, rough, technical ascent. Not fun for me but if you are an animal you might dig it.

Absolutely amazing decent. Fast, smooth, great flow. Slam it and send it!!!!

I feel like the section from 157 to overlook should be its own segment

I feel like the section from 157 to overlook should be its own segment

I feel like the section from 157 to overlook should be its own segment

One of my favorites its an absolute blast going down

This trail is absolutely brutal, but if your in good shape it is a lot of fun, would recommend going up and then going down little deer creek trail

This trail is absolutely brutal, but if your in good shape it is a lot of fun, would recommend going up and then going down little deer creek trail

This trail is absolutely brutal, but if your in good shape it is a lot of fun, would recommend going up and then going down little deer creek trail

This trail is absolutely brutal, but if your in good shape it is a lot of fun, would recommend going up and then going down little deer creek trail

This trail is absolutely brutal, but if your in good shape it is a lot of fun, would recommend going up and then going down little deer creek trail

One of, if not the best view of the entire canyon.

This is THEE way down to the resevoir from Ridge 157. Tibble Fork is fun, this is two times better! Such a fun trail to ride.

This is THEE way down to the resevoir from Ridge 157. Tibble Fork is fun, this is two times better! Such a fun trail to ride.

This is THEE way down to the resevoir from Ridge 157. Tibble Fork is fun, this is two times better! Such a fun trail to ride.

Fast, flowy with some small jumps, my favorite trail on a dirtbike. Period.

Fast, flowy with some small jumps, my favorite trail on a dirtbike. Period.

An insanely fun flowy shaded downhill

Beautiful views, some good technical but not too crazy

One of my favorite trails, the switchbacks are beautiful, shaded, almost feels like the PNW

Great trail! Makes for a fun loop back to the parking lot.

Great trail! Makes for a fun loop back to the parking lot.

Watch out for the MOOSE! We had to detour to the west and circle back around on the willow trail because they wouldn’t move.????

Watch out for the MOOSE! We had to detour to the west and circle back around on the willow trail because they wouldn’t move.????

Watch out for the MOOSE! We had to detour to the west and circle back around on the willow trail because they wouldn’t move.????

Watch out for the MOOSE! We had to detour to the west and circle back around on the willow trail because they wouldn’t move.????

Watch out for the MOOSE! We had to detour to the west and circle back around on the willow trail because they wouldn’t move.????

So before you embark on a ride in American Fork Canyon, here's a few things to know:

1. This area is a moto playground. Be prepared for massive ruts, huge acceleration/braking bumps, trails that get tilled up and climbs in spots that are down right sadistic. To these points, the trails are and will continue to be cut in by motos, so they are going to flow and cater to them.

2. For all the reasons above, if it rains, avoid for at least a week after the last day of rain. The lower half is well canopied and very slow to dry. Long, massive mud holes form with all the moisture and they are cupped so bad that you will continually slide off the sides into the center.

3. Many of the trails are very loose in spots. Be prepared to encounter anything from ball-bearing mixed loose surfaces to scree fields to volleyball sized boulders that are usually in the middle of the trail at the most inopportune times.

4. If you go on a weekend, be prepared to pull over semi-regularly for the moto trains. Not saying they do not have a right to be there - you just need to be prepared and off-trail because they can move in a pack pretty fast. Early weekdays may be the lightest for trail traffic.

5. The day fee to ride here is $6 - there is a pay station at the reservoir.

For all of these reasons above, if you have both a moto and a MTB, 11 times out of 10 I would choose to moto these trails. There are so many better trails to ride around this area, and the work that you do to access the good stuff isn't simply worth any of the hassle you deal with. To date, it ranks as one of the worst MTB trail networks I've ridden.

Zero stars as a network of MTB trails, 4 as a network of moto trails.

Again with this old guy above, the ridge trail is super fun! All of the loose sections have ridden lines in them and the root drops are real fun. Stop hating on Moto’s, they do even more trail work than bikers.

Again with this old guy above, the ridge trail is super fun! All of the loose sections have ridden lines in them and the root drops are real fun. Stop hating on Moto’s, they do even more trail work than bikers.

Again with this old guy above, the ridge trail is super fun! All of the loose sections have ridden lines in them and the root drops are real fun. Stop hating on Moto’s, they do even more trail work than bikers.

Again with this old guy above, the ridge trail is super fun! All of the loose sections have ridden lines in them and the root drops are real fun. Stop hating on Moto’s, they do even more trail work than bikers.

Again with this old guy above, the ridge trail is super fun! All of the loose sections have ridden lines in them and the root drops are real fun. Stop hating on Moto’s, they do even more trail work than bikers.

Not sure what the dude above is talking about, it’s still flown and fast. All of the root sections on the descent are super fun and don’t slow you down at all. I guess if you’re looking for more garbage super smooth machine built trail then you’re let down but this trail is super fun singletrack!

This used to be a favorite ride for me when I lived close by about 6-10 years ago using the ridge and South Fork Little Deer Creek for a fun loop. Was really disappointed to find out how bad the motorcycles have ripped this section up. The ruts have gotten deeper but the baseball sized rock issue makes me not want to return.

This used to be a favorite ride for me when I lived close by about 6-10 years ago using the ridge and South Fork Little Deer Creek for a fun loop. Was really disappointed to find out how bad the motorcycles have ripped this section up. The ruts have gotten deeper but the baseball sized rock issue makes me not want to return.

This used to be a favorite ride for me when I lived close by about 6-10 years ago using the ridge and South Fork Little Deer Creek for a fun loop. Was really disappointed to find out how bad the motorcycles have ripped this section up. The ruts have gotten deeper but the baseball sized rock issue makes me not want to return.

This used to be a favorite ride for me when I lived close by about 6-10 years ago using the ridge and South Fork Little Deer Creek for a fun loop. Was really disappointed to find out how bad the motorcycles have ripped this section up. The ruts have gotten deeper but the baseball sized rock issue makes me not want to return.

This used to be a favorite ride for me when I lived close by about 6-10 years ago using the ridge and South Fork Little Deer Creek for a fun loop. Was really disappointed to find out how bad the motorcycles have ripped this section up. The ruts have gotten deeper but the baseball sized rock issue makes me not want to return.

This used to be one of my favorite trails and I rode it often over the last decade when I lived close by. This was my 1st visit in about 5 years. I went up and did the same loop of the Ridge trail to here and was really sad to see how much motor cycles have ripped up this section. It used to be quite flowy and smooth but now is still ride able but lots of ruts, big exposed root and silty, sandy sections. Won't be coming back here for a while

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One of my favorites!

PS I stumbled on this AF Canyon map that shows steepness from above: www.interactiveatvtrails.com/american-fork-and-mill-canyon-ohv-system-map.html

Big tree down blocking the trail

One of the most fun trails in the area. Mostly smooth, fast, not too technical.

We did it this week with a group of 16-17 year-old boys, anticipating that we would have to walk down most of it, but there were only a few spots requiring dismount. Some spots were muddy; the end of the trail was great fun for boys because it had 3 stream crossings at the end.

if you're dropping from Summit, I think Ridge is a lot more fun (albeit more difficult and with more climbing)

if you're dropping from Summit, I think Ridge is a lot more fun (albeit more difficult and with more climbing)

Right, this trail starts out great, then suddenly becomes a motorcross dug out rock garden. a couple extended sections you have to hike. But I totally agree, that it is worth the few hikes to get to the upper half. You quickly gain a lot of altitude and riding down Mud Springs and Tibble Fork is way fun.

Pretty fun descent. Just enough tech to make it interesting without being too crazy. Only 1 or 2 tricky spots for upper intermediate riders

is this really a double-black? can an intermediate rider climb this without too many dismounts?