An ultrarunning alternative in the Wasatch Range - Salt Lake City, UT
Back in 2015 I’d planned a 100 mile (160k) mountain bike ride in Utah over a long weekend. However, just a month before the trip, I seriously sprained my ankle on a run near Salt Lake City on a trail to Sundial Peak so I needed an alternative plan.
After much googling of adventure options, I came across a place that rents Polaris RZRs. I then rented a large pickup at the airport and a trailer from Mountain West Trailers to haul the RZR. Since this trip was at the very end of the season, it wasn’t a problem finding anything to rent on such short notice.
There is a very large system of trails in the Wasatch Mountain State Park and Uinta National Forest areas that can be used with Off-Highway vehicles. This activity was perfect for me since I was still mobile with an ankle brace and tightly laced boots.
I took the RZR out early on Saturday and Sunday morning. The trails vary from smooth dirt roads to nearly inaccessible passages with large rocks. You need to be careful where you go since these vehicles can still get damaged or stuck, and you are responsible for any accidents. The sign at the desk where I checked in said, “Days since a rollover! 6”. Kind of says it all, you still need to be aware of the vehicle’s limits.
I spent two days in the area, along with a trip into Park City for dinner. Since November was between seasons the AirBnb was very reasonable. While I enjoy running or biking more than the RZR, it was still an awesome experience traveling in the isolation offered by the Wasatch Range. There is no shortage of ultrarunning opportunities in the area, as well as amazing skiing in three different areas, so no matter the season or your fitness level there is always something to do in nature around the Salt Lake City area.
