Welcome to Trail Talk, Trails Utah's new newsletter for all those interested in information and updates on trail projects we're involved in - trails in process and on our wish list - as well as relevant trail news from our partners.
Trails Utah is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to trails advocacy, planning, funding and building in needed areas throughout Utah. Trails, and the open spaces they connect us to, are important for promoting our overall well-being and creating a sense of community. At Trails Utah, we are committed to connecting people to our state’s spectacular landscapes through enjoyable, sustainably built trails. We believe that trails enhance the quality of our lives and our communities and work to help better manage and protect our natural resources.
We hope you find Trail Talk educational and even entertaining!
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Past Trail Projects
Trail projects completed in the last year
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In its short lifespan of just 5 years, Trails Utah has succeeded in building, renovating, re-routing, and maintaining a range of trails throughout Salt Lake County and beyond. Whether your thing is trail running, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, walking your dog, or all of the above, there are trails for you. Some of these trails have been around but needed some major love and re-routing (Mormon Pioneer Trail); some are brand-spanking new (Hardlick Trails), and some are trails that connect two or more already-existent trails, to extend the experience (Bowman Fork). Click on "read more" to get to the Projects page on our website!
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Mormon Pioneer Trail
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This trail has long been a hidden gem but needed some subtle alignment changes as well as a couple of reroutes to make it more sustainable and enjoyable. One reroute now takes hikers and riders around Affleck Campground instead of through it. Another added a series of fun flowy swithcbacks to eliminate 2 steep fall-line sections, adding length to the trail and improving the experience for mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners.
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Hardlick Downhill Trails
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Trails Utah teamed up with Herriman City and the Herriman Hills Trails Alliance to help plan and fund a network of downhill trails and an uphill climbing trail, all part of the larger Herriman Trail System. The Hardlick Trail is designed for gravity-loving mountain bikers. An uphill climbing trail called the Rawhide Trail gets riders to the top of the ridge where they can access the Hardlick trail.
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Bowman Fork Connector
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Trails Utah worked to help resurrect this trail, a classic back-country hiking trail within the Mt. Olympus Wilderness Area that had fallen into disrepair over the years due to its remoteness and deferred maintenance. This is a truly stunning stretch of alpine trail that contours around through the upper basins and peaks of the Wasatch between Millcreek and Big Cottonwood Canyons.
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Trails In the Works
Trails currently under construction or in the planning phase
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At any point, Trails Utah is working on multiple trails in various stages of progress, whether community input, planning and design, fundraising, building, maintaining or promoting. Below are just a few of the trails that are on our slate for 2021 / 2022. We'll be including updates on these trails in coming newsletters and will be sure to let you know when they are ready to enjoy!
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We are working with the Herriman Hills Trails Alliance to assist in planning and funding two new trails in their trail system. One of the new trails will be a dedicated hiking trail about a mile long that will enable hikers, runners and dog walkers to create a loop with the busier Eric’s Trail. The other project is a new, almost 1.5 mile section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
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We are working with the Salt Lake Ranger District to plan a reroute of a portion of the Upper Mormon Pioneer Trail. This reroute is approximately half a mile long and will extend the trail across the drainage, contouring it through aspen groves until it rejoins the existing trail just above the bridge and before the switchbacks that gain Big Mountain summit.
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The Bonneville Shoreline Advancement Act has been introduced to the US Senate and Congress and will be taken up in the new year for consideration. It will likely be included with other land bills. Utah's entire delegation is supporting the bill. Find out more and read the bill here.
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We are passionate about trails and believe they make our communities better places to live, work and play. But we need your help to make great trails happen! Give a little or a lot and we will put your dollars to work making your trail dreams come true. We have multiple membership levels and some great swag, so...
Help create The Greatest Trails on Earth(TM) - thanks so much for your support!
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