On a recent trip to Park City, Utah, I got in late and wanted to do a quick hike before sunset. I remembered about the amazing hiking so close to town and was able to make to the Bonanza Flats and take a hike on the Hoss and Little Joe Loop just before the sun went down. The trail system includes some mountain lakes and it is only a few minute from downtown Park City. It is a great place to explore all summer long and the Hoss and Little Joe Loop was a perfect evening hike with some wonderful views.
Getting Started – Hoss Trail
The Hoss Trailhead is the first parking lot after clearing the pass from the Winter Park side of Guardsman Pass. There are some really great views from the lot and in the early summer the countryside was a bright green. The Hoss trail starts from the parking lot and then connects to several trails in the complex. It starts on the west side of the parking lot.
Hoss trail takes you down the hill a bit with some short switchbacks. The downhill is gradual and never gets above a 6% grade and will cross a road and end up at the start of the Little Joe Loop after a half mile. This portion of the trail is great. Heading to the west with a large Aspen grove and ridgeline in front of you to look at before you connect with Little Joe.
Little Joe Loop
The Little Joe Loop has two option when you arrive at it. You can head uphill towards the road or head straight ahead towards the Aspen Grove. I headed up towards the road first and this is where most of the incline of the hike is. Even at its most the incline is only a 7% grade so not too much of a challenge for most people. As you approach the road the trail will swing back to the west before turning south and connecting to the creek.
In mid-June the creek was full but still on a few inches deep. The water was amazing while it was reflecting the setting sun and surrounded by Aspen trees. It was such a pretty spot! As you head to the south you will follow the creek for about a third of a mile and have to do a couple of crossings depending on how high the water is. The second crossing is in the middle of Aspen grove. At that point you can continue to the south for another trail or cross and head through the trees to finish the loop.
After crossing the shallow river there is about 200 yards in the aspen’s and a third of the mile before you reconnect with the Hoss trail that you can take to finish the loop. This is a pretty short and easy loop but really enjoyable with all of the views.
Views
Mile for mile, this might be one of the nicest hikes around. I don’t think I ever looked down at the trail because my eyes were glued on the amazing elements around. There is a ridgeline and a series of 10,000 foot peaks surrounding the horizon. All covered with a mix of green trees and some late season snow.
In the further distance the rocky peaks of the Wasatch Mountains (I think, I don’t know Park City Mountains as well as I should!) A bit closer, tall Aspens are grouped together all over the area and the creek running through the trail really is like the icing on the cake.
This was one of the prettiest hikes I have done in a long time. While it was short, there was a lot packed into it and I think it is a hike that a lot of skill levels will be able to really enjoy. Plus, it is really easy to get to from Park City. Some more challenging hikes, like Bloods Lake, are in the area but this is a great one for those who just want a really nice stroll with great views.
Video of the Hoss and Little Joe Loop
I have created a time-lapsed video of the Bloods Lake Trail to give you a feel for what it is like. I call these time lapsed versions of the hikes my hikers edits. If you enjoy the video, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest updates.
Distance and Elevation
If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 1.93 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 240 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 8,927 feet. I was also moving for a total of 45 minutes.
I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.
Effort
The Hoss and Little Joe Loop in Park City is a really nice and mostly easy trail. There is a little bit of elevation gain but it is spread out over around two miles. The views throughout the hike also do a really nice job of distracting from any challenges. These loops also connect to several other trails that get more difficult so the rating of easy is only for the loop.
Terrain
The trail at Hoss and Little Joe is pretty well defined and there are signs leading to where you need to go so it is pretty easy to follow. The path can get narrow at times but other times it is as wide as a service road. It is located up on a ridgeline and is mostly exposed to the elements so be aware of that when planning your trip.
Access to the Hoss and Little Joe Loop
The Bonanza Flat Trailhead is at the top of Guardsman Pass in Park City. The trailhead is first one you will come to after the overlook if you are coming from the Park City side. There was room for about 20 cars and there was a pit toilet in the parking lot.
Wrap up of the Hoss and Little Joe Loop
I have one word to say about the Hoss and Little Joe Loop. Wow! This trail is pretty easy but the views are just spectacular. Every part of the hike has something new to look at. Ridgelines, mountain peaks, aspens, and even a creek. It was just stunning. I think even more so because I hiked it around sunset.
I also really loved the proximity to Park City. I was staying there for a conference so to be able to hit this trail system at night was amazing. Hoss and Little Joe should be available for most skill levels to enjoy. And I think anyone who hikes it will definitely enjoy it!
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