Welcome to Trail Talk, Trails Utah's new newsletter for all those interested in information and updates on trail projects we're involved in and relevant trail news from our partners.
Trails Utah is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to trails advocacy, planning, funding, sustainable design and construction in needed areas throughout Utah. Well-designed and constructed trails, and the open spaces they connect us to, are important for promoting our overall well-being and creating a sense of community, as well as protecting our natural resources.
We hope you find Trail Talk educational and even entertaining!
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Support the Trails You Love
Trails Utah is passionate about trails and believe they make our communities better places to live, work and play. But great trails don't just happen; we need your support to allow us to plan for, permit, design, fund and build great trails!
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT !
Millerberg Family Giving Fund is offering $30,000 in matching funds to help us reach our fundraising goals during giving season 2021. So whatever amount you can give will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $30,000. This offer is good through December 31.
For the coming year, in addition to some projects already in the works, we are focusing on accessibility, whether making trails more accessible for adaptive use, making them more inviting for marginalized communities, or creating trails that connect neighborhoods to regional trails. These efforts involve partnering with entities such as National Ability Center, Wasatch Adaptive Sports, local chapters of Outdoor Afro and Latino Outdoors, and neighborhood associations. We have big dreams for 2022 and need your support to realize them.
Become a Corporate Sponsor
If you are a business-owner, consider making a contribution that will support all the trails that make our communities great places to live, work and play. Your donation will be doubled!
Make a Donation
We welcome donations at any level. Your dollars will be consolidated and put to work to bring your trail dreams to life. Every dollar you give will be matched!
To make it even easier, just scan our QR code and you can pay via Venmo!
Get your year-end tax deduction and help us bring you The Greatest Trails on Earth(TM). Thank you!
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Trail Updates
What's new with our trails?
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In our first newsletter last month, we shared some of our past projects as well as projects in the works at various stages. This month, we'll start with updates on each of our trails currently under construction, let you know what's in the planning stage, and share what some of our trail partners are up to.
Rattlesnake Trail
This trail will be done in December - we are just finishing up the final connector to both the main Rattlesnake Gulch Trail and the Pipeline Trail. We are really excited to be so close to making this trail available to all who want to use it! The original trail will also remain open, mostly intended for downhill mountain bikers. The new trail is intended for hikers, runners and biker heading uphill. Find out more.
Parley's Pointe Trail
We have completed the upper 3.5-mile multi-use section of this trail system that starts at the end of Benchmark Drive and leads up to the Bonneveille Shoreline Trail (BST). We are still working on the lower 1-mile mountain biking trail that leads from Benchmark Dr down to old Hwy 40. This will eventually bridge the highway and connect with the neighborhood below, making access to the BST much easier and safer! Find out more.
Upper Millcreek / Great Western Trail
This trail is complete aside from the bridge over the creek at Elbow Fork. Access is from either the Dog Lake Parking lot or Alexander Basin Trail. This is a portion of the longer Great Western Trail, which Trails Utah continues to work to connect and extend for many miles of continuous trail exploration. Find out more.
Pine Valley Trails
This winter, we'll be getting started on one of two proposed trail systems in the Pine Valley Ranger District, in Southern Utah. Work will commence in Spring Hollow in early 2022, with Grass Valley coming subsequently. Design work has been completed by board member and trail designer Kevin Christopherson, and additional planning will start in early 2022. Find out more.
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Where have we been?
In addition to our ongoing work to plan, raise funds for and build our trails, we also like to get out into our communities, share who we are and what we are doing, and get feedback on what the public would like to see in future projects.
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Photo by Connor Shanklin
Partnerships for Accessible Trails
In November, Trails Utah met with National Ability Center, Wasatch Adaptive Sports, National Park Service and adaptive recreationists to start a partnership that will work towards adapting, designing, constructing, maintaining and advocating for more accessible trails in Salt Lake County and beyond. And this is only the beginning! We look forward to continuing to work with this team into the future.
As a resource, there is an app called Trail Forks that features a resource page for adaptive mountain biking trails in Moab, Park City and Draper, among others.
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Advocacy Updates
What are we doing to advocate for trails and the benefits they provide to all of us?
Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act
Trails Utah is heavily involved in passing this act that is intended to secure a future for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) as an outstanding shared or mixed-use recreational resource here along the Wasatch Front. Partners are IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association), NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association), and Bonneville Shoreline committee. Supporters include Outdoor Alliance, Trust for Public Lands, and others.
Proposed or existing trails in Wilderness cannot be built or maintained using mechanized equipment. We are seeking stand-alone Federal legislation that will adjust these boundaries in Salt Lake County so the BST can exist as a shared-use trail open to all users, including mountain bikes, as it was originally conceived.
The act was heard by a Congressional sub-committee on National Parks, US Forests, and Public Lands. Bill 2551 was originally introduced by Rep John Curtis. It will go to markup then to full house in early 2022. We'll keep you updated as things unfold!
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Other Trail News
News from our trail partners
Biden's $1.2 trillion Infrastructure bill passed
This bill will bring needed dollars to trail projects in Utah, including both trails and trail infrastructure. The House also made progress toward the passage of the Build Back Better Act, which is politically linked to the infrastructure bill and would provide funds for infrastructure programs that include trails and active transportation as eligible uses. Read more.
Jacob's Ladder Trail to Lone Peak Cirque
In partnership with The Salt Lake Ranger District and the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, Singletrack Trails, one of Trails Utah's frequent contractors, is working on “Jacob’s Ladder,” a high-traffic hiking and approach trail for world-class climbing in the Lone Peak Cirque. They are stabilizing and improving the sustainability of a portion of this part of the trail impacted by high use and erosion issues. This work will improve the access for hiking and high alpine climbing for locals and visitors alike. Find out more about this project.
Levitate Mountain Biking Trail is Open Again
Some new work has been done on this great mountain biking trail in Draper. Jumping is absolutely mandatory now. If you're comfortable with the Vertigo jumps, ANY mandatory gap will be super easy for you. Find out more.
Cache County Trails
Trails Cache, who promotes active transportation and trails stewardship in Cache Valley, recently met with their steering committee for the Wellsville Trails and Active Transportation Plan. This process begins by looking over maps and data and drawing tentative lines on the page. More news to come.
East Zion Bike Trail
A recent ribbon-cutting ceremony showcased the first 10 miles of East Zion Bike Trail, a publicly accessible mountain biking trail providing stellar views into Zion National Park. Find out more. There is also a new electric shuttle to these trails.
Trail building school on Nevada-Utah line would be US’ first
Nevada’s Great Basin Institute has been awarded a federal grant to begin planning the creation of what the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says is the nation’s first professional recreational trail-building school. Learn more.
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Seeking Feedback
Please take our Trails Utah Community Survey!
We are interested in finding out more about our trail users so that we can better serve you better into the future!
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THANK YOU!
Thanks to all of our newest supporters in November:
Millerberg Family Giving Fund
George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation
Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Dumke Foundation
Salt Lake Running Company
The MORE Group Real Estate
Scott Brady
Carlos Guerra
John & Stephanie Silverman
Colin Ferguson
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