This featured ride is from the Moto-Maps® “Finding America” cross-country discovery tour and was created and reported by the company’s founder, Keith Myers.

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This ride starts and ends in Provo, Utah and makes a 170 mile loop around Utah Lake and through the mountains and canyons of the Uinta National Forest.  Provo’s outlying suburbs have undergone a great deal of commercial and retail growth.  However, the historic downtown area still offers quiet shopping and pleasant restaurants – a great place to start the ride after a good breakfast.

Heading out of Provo on Route 189, you quickly leave the urban clutter behind as you head into the Uinta National Forest.  After about 12 miles you turn left onto Route 92 which is part of the National Park Service and takes you through the heart of the forest as you climb and twist up the side of Timpanogos Mount. There is a small fee if you decide to stop for recreation along the roadside but if you ride right through they should waive the fee – ask the attendant at the gate.  The road is steep and twisty – and a joy to ride.  There is a fair amount of traffic on the road so don’t expect to set any land speed records.  Instead, take the time to enjoy the scenery.  The views as you ascend and descend the mountain are so spectacular that you’ll probably want to stop for some photos. The last half of this 27 mile stretch treats you to a nice “canyon run” before you eventually reach Interstate 15.

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Follow Interstate 15 for a quick five-mile ride south and then another 4.8 miles on Route 73 west. Use this portion to get fuel if you didn’t top-off before you started the ride. 

Turning left onto Route 68 brings back the scenic flavor of this ride – but instead of riding the mountain crests, you are deep in the valley tracing the wide curving arch of Utah Lake.  It’s a relaxing 33 mile run with low rolling hills and almost-constant lakeside views before reaching Route 6.  After 3 miles on Route 6, you turn right onto Goshen Canyon Road (it’s marked as S. Center St – so watch for signs).  Goshen Canyon road is one of those really cool roads.  There’s nothing inherently spectacular about it – but you feel good riding it.  The road is narrow and not heavily travelled and as you snake through the canyon, you feel like you’re in one of those old western films… you’re practically waiting for the ambush.  The spell is broken as you reach Route 91 and Route 132 which wrap around the southern portion of this loop – bringing you to Nebo Loop Road.

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Nebo Loop is a terrific stretch of road that brings you back into the Uinta National Forest and up Mt. Nebo.  The Mountain summits at 11,928 feet and the road peaks-out at well over nine-thousand feet in elevation. You’re up there!  As you climb Nebo Loop the terrain changes from the dry western prairie to lush evergreen forests and aspen groves.  The road is steep and twisty and yours to travel as you like – just watch out for the cows that wander the mountain tops – seriously.  After almost 37 miles of fantastic riding and scenic views, you descend from the mountain range and find yourself back in the valley in the town of Payson.

Route 198 – and then a very short stretch on Route 6 – brings you through the town of Payson to Route 89 north.  Route 89 is the final short leg of this loop and offers a quiet return to Provo as you follow the farms along the base of the mountains to the city’s downtown area where you started this morning.