Grizzly Gulch
(a.k.a. Alta-Brighton Trail)
Grizzly Gulch is yet another lung buster! If it seems like all the rides in Little Cottonwood Canyon are rated Advanced...it's because they are!! No where to go but up once you reach the town of Alta. This ride is different then the others in the canyon because it takes you right through the old mining town of Michigan City. And as most mining roads go, they go straight to the top! The miners of old didn't waste any time in getting to their claims! The ride starts out on a graded dirt road, then turns to a loose gravel road, after passing between to large tailings piles the road turns to doubletrack, then after a long, nasty, rocky climb it turns to singletrack until you reach the pass. You can continue on to Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Solitude Singletrack from the Twin Lakes Pass. As your making the climb, think of these guys in this picture from the Alta mines, circa 1870. They made and used the trail your riding on!
How to get there: From I-215, take Exit 6 (look for the signs for the ski areas). Head east to Wasatch Boulevard. Follow the signs for Alta and Snowbird Ski Resorts up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Park at the end of road, after passing through the town of Alta. (Just before the guard shack).
Length: 5.5 miles out and back (from the guard shack at the end of the road)
Trailhead Elevation: 8,500'
Highest Point: 9,993' Twin Lakes Pass
For a Topo click here: 
Click on the thumbnails below for a larger version:
These
two tailings piles are about 1/2 way, but from here on, the climbing gets tough!
Chance making the climb to the pass.
Heading
towards Michigan City.
Twin
Lakes from the Pass.
Looking
down on the trail.
To go back, click on me!
