Round Valley
Snyderville,
Utah
Overview
Round Valley is a popular hiking destination just outside Park City, Utah containing 50 miles of beginner and intermediate trails open to both hikers and mountain bikers. The trail system winds through 2,100 acres of high desert with views of the Wasatch Mountains. This particular hike provides an easy loop around the hill directly in front of the North Round Valley Trailhead. It starts off on the RV Connect Trail and merges into the Round Valley Express with the hill on your right. Take a right onto Rademan Ridge trail for a small amount of time, before getting off on the TM trail and gaining elevation, where you will find one of the more interesting sights of the hike, an old rusted out truck in a pit. Merge onto the Happy Gilmore trail to finish the loop.
Directions
Parking
Trip Reports
After dropping the kiddo off at camp at Trailside, my wife and I made the short drive over to North Round Valley trailhead. We had been walking the dogs around Jeremy Ranch where my parents live, and wanted to venture out somewhere new and figured Round Valley was perfect as it is right next to where my son is in camp.
A quick look at the map indicated we could do a loop around the hill from the North Round Valley Trailhead. After getting the dogs in their harnesses and leashes, we headed out on the RV Connect trail.
We cruised along the RV Connect trail and it eventually merged with the Round Valley Express trail. There were some wildflowers in bloom, and once on the Round Valley Express trail we saw some mountain bikers cruising by on nearby trails, but no bikers on our hiking trail.
The Round Valley Express trail brought us through the low point between two hills and then we veered off on the Rambler trail. I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going, but knew we needed to circle around the hill to our right to make it back to the parking lot.
Near the top of the hill we saw an old rusted truck in what looked like a pit. This must have been an old mining area. I’m curious as to how the truck ended up there; I’m sure there is an entertaining backstory.
I think we then took the Rademan Ridge trail and eventually the TM trail, however I wasn’t really paying attention to what specific trails we were on, rather making sure we hugged the hill and tracked in the general direction towards the parking lot.
As we rounded the hill, we caught a glimpse of the parking lot and started to descend. We had to pull over to let a group of young mountain bikers pass by - they were part of a camp and I was impressed at how well some of the younger kids were riding.
A nice place to get out and walk the dogs in the high desert, with decent views and not a ton of people (granted it was during the week).
