Your summer guide for cycling in SLC

Despite the scorching temperatures, cyclists are pulling up their lycra bibs and heading up Salt Lake City’s canyons this summer. It’s an intimidating sport for those of us who prefer to slowly cruise around town. But Desmond Jensen, the road captain for the Bonneville Cycling Club, has some advice for novice and experienced cyclists alike.

Beginner and intermediate-friendly rides

Salt Lake City’s big mountains are part of its appeal but sometimes a 5,000-foot elevation climb just sounds like too much.

Those looking for a nice flat recreational ride can go along a frontage road to the Salt Lake Marina.

“That’s about as flat as it gets,” Jensen said.

For a bit of a climb, Jensen recommends one of Salt Lake’s most popular rides: Emigration Canyon. It’s a little less than 8 miles from top to bottom and has a 1,297-foot elevation gain. There’s a wide shoulder and lots of fellow cyclists. Plus, if you do get tired, it’s all downhill on the way back. And riders can stop at Emigration Brewing or Ruth’s Diner on the way home.

Rose Canyon in Herriman is another option and “probably as easy as it gets,” Jensen said.

Challenging rides:

Mill Creek Canyon

Distance: 9 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,672 feet

Mill Creek Canyon is one of Jensen’s favorite rides because it’s well shaded (for the most part).

“In the summertime, it is probably the most glorious canyon, in my opinion,” Jensen said.

If you decide to start part way up or ride the trails, there’s a fee for driving up — $5.00 for the day, $3.00 if you’re a senior or $50.00 annually, $30.00 for an annual senior pass.

There are plans to widen this road starting next summer, so head up now because the upper portion of the road will be restricted for the 2-year construction period.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Distance: 16.9 miles

Elevation Gain: 4,992 feet

The traffic up the cottonwoods is heavy and cars tend to go fast around blind turns. The climb up to Guardsman is brutal. It could be a nice ride for those who say they “like type 2 fun.”

Little Cottonwood Canyon

Distance: 10.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 3,998 feet

Little Cottonwood Canyon is considered more difficult “because you don’t have a lull in it,” Jensen said. “It’s climbing pretty much all the way up.”

But the views are iconic and cooler temperatures prevail up in the Aspen forests.

Parts of Little Cottonwood Canyon road could close this summer as the Utah Department of Transportation installs new remote avalanche control systems.

City Creek Canyon

Distance: 5.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,307 feet

This is a short, steep ride and also parts of it are currently closed due to construction on a water treatment plant.

Butterfield Canyon

Distance: 6.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,213 feet

It’s in the mysterious Oquirrh Mountains and the pictures on Strava look breathtaking. One Salt Lake Tribune reader wrote in to give us the scoop:

“Never much traffic, the lower portion is wide and nicely paved. It gets steeper as you go up, very steep in a few spots, and the road gets really rough.”

Nick told The Tribune that while the Kennecott mine is visible the whole time “it doesn’t really detract from the scenery.”

Safety first

Before heading, Jensen recommended making sure that your tires and brakes are in good working order.

“Pace yourself going up,” Jensen said, “and don’t be a daredevil going down because you don’t get paid to ride that bike.”