Silver Lake to Ontario Loop

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This featured hike combines two enjoyable, foot-traffic-only trails into a loop with good views to the east and west. You'll see Jordanelle Reservoir, the Uinta Mountains and Deer Valley from this hike.

The Deer Valley and Park City areas can feel overrun with mountain bikers, but the Silver Lake to Ontario Loop is designated a foot-traffic only trail, so you're guaranteed more tranquility.

Begin this loop from the Silver Lake Village base area just east (left) of the Sterling Express chairlift on the Little Reb ski run. Head uphill on the wide dirt access road, first along the Nabob ski run before veering off to cross several ski runs in a southeasterly direction, popping in and out of strips of aspen and fir. The first chairlift you'll pass under is the Wasatch Express, then Sultan Express before reaching the top of the Mayflower lift. Here, turn sharply south and start contouring around the backside of Bald Mountain on a singletrack path across open the fields of Mayflower Bowl. Look behind to enjoy the views on this east side of Bald Mountain where you can see the Jordanelle Reservoir and, in the distance, the Uinta Mountains.

Upon reaching the wide service road at the top of Bald Mountain (also called the Homeward Bound ski run), follow signs for the Ontario Canyon Trail. There are a lot of other trails and many junctions in this open scrubby field. You'll have to travel on some switchbacking mountain bike trails (Naildriver or Homeward Bound are good options) initially to reach the start of the Ontario Canyon Trail.

Once on the Ontario Canyon Trail, you'll hike steeply downhill towards the snowmaking pond just west of the Bald Mountain summit and its numerous chairlift termini. Keep and eye out for interesting old silver mining equipment along the length of this trail. Pass along the pond's eastern edge and join the Homeward Bound ski run again briefly. Emerge from the forest into a valley clearing where the Ontario ski run diverges from the Homeward Bound ski run. Take the wide, sunny Ontario Canyon trail all the way downhill until just before a large set of ski area maintenance buildings appears ahead. Stay on the dirt road that skirts the right (east) side of this complex. The loop ends at the bottom of the Sterling Express chairlift at the Silver Lake Village base area.