Moose Loop Trail(s)

Snowbasin Resort

Welcome to the trail!

Bonus! This week I’m going to share two trails in one! The Moose Loop Trail is actually a set of short, easy loops that wind through shady trees with lots of wildflowers and insects to keep your tykes’ eyes busy. With two distance options in this scenic area, you’re sure to find one (or both) will fit your family’s hiking vibe.

How to get there

Drive to Snowbasin Resort and follow the road past the main parking lots and lodges and park here, near the yurts, along the south side of the road in the angled parking. Cross the road and walk up the hill a short way till you see the Moose Loop Trailhead sign on your left. Parking is plentiful and bathrooms are available in the learning center in the base area of the resort (when it is open).

Trail at a glance

Total distance: 0.6 miles round trip (Inner Loop) or 1.2 miles round trip (Outer Loop)

Elevation gain: 20 feet (Inner Loop) or 55 feet (Outer Loop)

Destination: shady loops through a variety of trees and wildflowers; Outer Loop goes by a picnic table near a huge spool of ski lift cable (Inner Loop can get there, too, with an optional detour)

Tyke perks: shade, insects, log “benches”, giant spool, views of Snowbasin, stick lean-to, playground across the street (which is currently not open, but is actually my kids’ favorite part of hiking in the area!)

Notable flora: wildflowers (bluebell, blue flax, houndstongue, wild alium, salsify, dandelion, penstemon, larkspur, aster, mules ear, arrowleaf balsamroot), trees (scrub oak, maple, Douglas fir, aspen), mushroom

Fascinating fauna: potato bugs, bumblebees, butterflies, caterpillars, garter snake, deer, birds

Watch out for: bikers (this is a popular spot for beginners to practice on a “real” trail, and sometimes they even hold kids races here, so be aware and watch for signs that it may be closed for an event)

While you’re hiking

First I’ll walk you through the 0.6 mile Inner Loop: As you enter the trees from the road at the trailhead sign, you’ll see three trail options. To take the Inner Loop route, stay straight on the middle trail. In a few more feet you’ll come to another fork; this is where the Inner Trail meets back on itself. You can go either direction; we went to the right.

In about a quarter mile you’ll see a little trail go off to the right. This side trail takes you to the big spool of ski lift cable lying in the trees in 0.04 miles (it is only a minute or two of tyke-speed walking to get there). There is a picnic table next to it, which would make for a lovely little rest stop. After you’ve had your snacks, follow the shortcut you just walked on back to the Inner Loop and keep following it back around.

At mile 0.5 you’ll see the Inner Loop parallels the Outer Loop and some people cross from one to the other at this point. Stay straight on the upper trail to complete the loop. At mile 0.6 you’ll be back at the Inner Loop fork and at mile 0.62 you’ll be back to the first fork and the road beyond. You’re done!

Look up the hill across the street from where you’re standing: there’s the playground that is such a highlight (i.e. reward) for your smallest hikers for finishing the loop(s)! (Unfortunately, as of June 15th, the playground is closed. Cross your fingers it will be playable soon!)

Now it’s time to check out the 1.2 mile Outer Loop: As you enter the trees from the road at the trailhead sign, you’ll see three trail options. To take the Outer Loop route, you can hike on either the left or right trails. We started out to the left this time. As you’re walking along this first stretch of the loop, you can see the Maples parking area and the finish area for the 2002 Olympic Downhill races.

At mile 0.1, the Outer Loop and the Inner Loop almost meet (and some people seem to cross from one to the other at this point); stay on the lower/left trail and continue switchbacking down toward the parking lot. At mile 0.2 you’ll see a fork to the left that goes down the hill to the parking area; stay straight. As you walk along the Outer Loop, you’ll come across downed logs on the side of the trail that make for great resting benches or balance beams.

You should also be hearing running water down below you through the trees and shrubs. You won’t see the stream until about mile 0.6 when you enter a sunny section and the creek appears through the trees below the road off to your left. Here you’ll also see the resort entrance flags, and may even hear the bell-like sound of their ropes clanking against the poles.

You’ll pass another shady log and then an actual memorial bench with a view of the gondola and Smokey the Bear at about the 3/4 mile mark. At mile 0.85 there is a short fork to the left that heads to the main road into the parking area; stay right here to finish the loop. At about mile 0.9 is when you’ll come to the giant spool of cable. The kids will likely love to stop here to climb on and marvel at the size of the thing, and perhaps you’ll all want a break at the picnic table for a snack. (The trail you see here in front of the spool is a shortcut to/from the Inner Loop to this picnic area.)

After your rest, return to the main trail. Keep your eyes peeled to your left in about 0.2 miles to spy the stick lean-to built up around the trunk of a big tree. At mile 1.13 you’ll be back at the crossroads where you started the loop and mile 1.17 you’ll be back at the road. You did it!

Look up the hill across the street from where you’re standing: there’s the playground that is such a highlight (i.e. reward) for your smallest hikers for finishing the loop(s)!

Happy hikers

I hope you’re still hiking and I hope you’re still happy, even if I didn’t get any photos from readers this week. (I still would love to hear from you, so hit reply and send me a snap of you and your tykes on the trails!)

I thought I’d share some “Happy Hikers of Tyke Hikes Past” in this spot today. Below is our group on the Moose Loop Trail in 2019, and playing at the playground after a Snowbasin-area hike in 2018. Hi friends! And happy trails!