Mary Ellen Gulch

Closed for the season! See you next year!

This trail is closed for the season! See you in 2022!

The updated difficulty to a 5 is definitely more appropriate, maybe even a 5-6. Mary Ellen's is GORGEOUS and a ton of fun for experienced drivers. We ran it in a modded 2015 4Runner TRD on 35s and Dobinson suspension, this is not a trail for stock vehicles. The vast majority of the trail is only wide enough for one vehicle, we did run into a few SxS drivers and a couple of other 4runners throughout the day but were able to figure out how to get past each other. Total I think it took us about 6 hours to get up and back down but we weren't in a hurry and stopped to see the cabin, mine/cave, and enjoy the views from the top (which backs up against Snowbird resort). Plan for a very bumpy ride and your line picking skills will be put to the test. A rear locker will serve you well for waypoints 7 & 8 if you have one. You will definitely know when you have reached the end of the trail, you'll be at the summit and there is a large gate blocking off the start of the Snowbird property on the other side of the mountain. There is plenty of room to turn around at the top where the gate is.

Due to multiple reviews and comments, this trail has been updated in difficulty to a 5-5 from a 3-3. This guide is priority for our writers to get back to and update the entire guide.

I’ve done a dozen or so trails listed on this site that are rated a 3, and let me tell you, this trail is not a 3. Possibly the trail has deteriorated significantly since it was last reviewed, but I’m confident in saying this trail guide needs to be updated. It’s not a “bumpy dirt road” as the guide says - far from it. There are long stretches of rock gardens beginning about 1/2 mile in, and most of the road is barely wide enough for one full-size vehicle. There are a few larger steps, deep ruts, and small boulders to be negotiated. It’s slow going and technical. I run 32s with sliders and a 2” lift, and I found tire placement was critical in about a half dozen places, and having a spotter was basically necessary. Even taking our time and being careful, the sliders took a couple of good scrapes, and there was pinstriping. We stopped at Waypoint 6 having had enough. It took 2.5 hrs to get that far. No other vehicles (thankfully otherwise it could have been really stressful to go backwards) except we encountered an ATV near the beginning of the trail that suggested we turn around. We should have listened to them. Instead, we decided to trust in our research on this site, but the guide was so misleading that by waypoint 6 we had low confidence in what lay ahead and what the fabled fins would be like. Beautiful scenery, but TrailsOffroad let us down on this one with a misleading rating.

Fun trail, might be suitable for a stock Wrangler but probably nothing else. I'm running a 2in lift and 33's and had multiple areas that I'm glad I had sliders. Used locker a few times as well. Pinstriping is possible due to overgrowth and narrow trail. Waypoint to the Yankee mine loop is no longer a loop it is closed at the top.

Waypoint to Yankee mines is not a loop, it is closed at the intersection with the globe mines road. Trail is not suitable for a stock vehicle, at least not long wheelbase. Ran it with a 2 inch lift and 33's and had some areas where bottom hit. Tire placement is critical in areas. Some pinstriping is possible. Overall fun trail, would do it again

My favorite Jeep trail up American Fork Canyon.

Fun Trail with amazing views. Starts out easy, a little rocky next to steep cliff, not once did I feel unsafe in a 4 door lifted jeep. 3/4 of the way up you run into bigger rocks and obstacles. View at the top is amazing, with a really cool mine shaft.

Trail was quite rocky and bumpy. Some parts or loose rock with large cliffs on the side of a narrow path, not for the faint of heart. I turned around mid way up along with some other Jeep drivers, all for the same reason - seemed a little too sketchy to continue on. My stock jl was making it without issue, difficulty was not our problem, it was the sketch loose rock path with cliffs on the side that made it a no-go for us.

This is a cool trail up AF canyon. It is usually less crowded that Forest Lake or Mineral Basin which is nice, but you will still likely run into somebody. Hopefully,​ it stays open with the change in ownership!

Mary Ellen Gulch is one of the best local Jeep challenges with wonderful rewards along the way. We've run this a number of times with our 2011 Jeep Rubicon and 2002 Jeep Wrangler - both running 32-inch tires and a bit of lift. And, yes, we did high center the '02 on one of the pictured rocks. It was an adventure getting it down. Good to see this is now a 5 - appropriate. It's a VERY rugged ride up the rocks to the high meadow, as noted in the original trail review. You for sure want to air down. And do not underestimate the rock coming out of the meadow. It looks very navigable but pay attention to your line. This is one of the most gorgeous drives in the Wasatch. I've backcountry skied here in the winter and it's just an impressive bowl at the top and some fabulous view lines. Get up to the gateway to Mineral Basin and go for some hikes along the ridgeline. Thanks for posting this one.