If you ride in Utah County, the Alpine Loop is the ride. It is a narrow, winding mountain road that climbs from American Fork Canyon, crosses the shoulder of Mount Timpanogos, and drops down past Sundance into Provo Canyon. The road is seasonal and closes for winter, so every summer and fall ride counts.
In August 2020 I took my 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 up the Loop and filmed the whole thing. This is close to an hour of riding, start to finish, so put it on a big screen and ride along.
The Route
Up through American Fork Canyon
Over the summit near Mount Timpanogos
Past Sundance Mountain Resort, where I spend most of my winters on skis
Down into Provo Canyon
Tips for Riding the Alpine Loop
Expect tight switchbacks. Parts of the road are barely wider than one lane with no center line. Stay right on blind corners.
Go early or on a weekday. It fills up with cars and cyclists on summer weekends and during fall color season.
Watch for gravel and wildlife. Both show up in corners when you least expect them.
Check that it is open. The road closes in winter and opens again in late spring, depending on snow.
The Bike
I rode my 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 for this one. You can find more about this bike in the 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000 section.
If you like the Sundance area, I have several ski videos from there too: Sundance Skiing and Wrong Turn at Sundance Ski Resort.
More motorcycle posts: Ep. 1: Restoring a 1971 Honda CL175
