A great winter and spring hike is the road connecting American Fork Canyon and Provo Canyon while it is closed to vehicles. Each year during the snowy months, beginning in October or November and going through May, the road is closed between the Pine Hollow Trailhead and the Aspen Grove Trailhead. During the summer and fall it is a gorgeous scenic drive. When the winter gate is closed it is a beautiful place to hike or mountain bike with winter tires.
These photos are from beginning at the Pine Hollow Trailhead and heading to the Salamander Flat Campground, but you can turn around at any point or continue over to the Aspen Grove Trailhead near Sundance Ski Resort.
Park at the Pine Hollow Trailhead. The Pine Hollow Loop trail is open year round. always check the avalanche report before winter hiking. if there has been recent snow, then you may need snow shoes. otherwise the road is popular enough to be packed down and you’ll only need microspikes for traction on the ice and snow.
Here are some of the beginning views
The road makes such a be trail all covered in snow!
About 1.5 miles up from the winter gate, there is a split. If you head right you will arrive shortly at Timpooneke Trailhead.
If you continue along beyond that toward the Timpooneke Campground, you will definitely need snowshoes.
To continue your hike longer along the road, I recommend turning left at the junction. The sign indicates this way for the Alpine Loop and Cascade Springs.
Shortly after you move beyond the pines and into the aspens.
You can see some tracks in the snow of the road. Make sure you bring snowshoes if you plan to depart the main road.
We chose to snowshoes off the trail for a bit near the Salamander Flat Campground.
We also brough sleds to sled back down. The bicycle tread marks in the snow gave us more traction than I expected, but we could still sled for parts of it.
Stats: Distance – 0-16 miles there and back or 8 miles one way
Approximate hiking time – 1-6 hours
Elevation gain – 0-1333 feet
Difficulty – Easy/Moderate
Trail- winter road covered with snow
Bathrooms – At the trailhead
Seasons to hike – October-May (microspikes or snowshoes)
Permits needed – $6 fee paid online or at ranger booth (or National Parks pass)
Pets allowed – Yes
Pine Hollow Trailhead
Aspen Grove Trailhead
For more winter hikes check out this post:
Other nearby hikes:
