Trail Overview
Mineral Basin Trail is a beautiful, scenic route that will take you into the Mineral Basin at Snowbird Resort. There are many springs and other sights to see, including the famous "Iron Bog". The trail, however, is no easy task, littered with rock gardens, steep climbs, and rock slabs. The trail begins with large, flexy whoops that are sure to lift a tire, followed by loose rock gardens with huge rocks sure to cause damage. Most major obstacles involve steep hill climbs with elevation gains of 30-40 feet and have go-arounds; however, some extremely technical sections do not. Hill climbs can reach up to 35 degrees, and long chunk sections in the latter half of the trail are accompanied by trees spilling out into the trail that will leave a mark on a full-size rig. Most sections are wet due to runoff and water from the countless natural springs. Large tires (33 inches or taller), rock sliders, and skids are recommended at a minimum.
Difficulty
This trail features rock climbs 30 feet or more, shark fin rocks, a high probability of body damage without protection, and rollovers if not careful. River crossings are very mellow, but the trail is mostly wet, which can cause some grip issues for less experienced drivers or unsuitable tires.
History
This trail was originally built as an access route to mining sites and tailings areas along American Fork Canyon. It served both mining reclamation projects and ski-area logistics near Snowbird and Alta.
