Welcome to Trail Talk, Trails Utah's newsletter featuring updates on our trails and advocacy work, information from our partners, events, trail jobs and more.
Trails Utah is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to trails planning, funding, sustainable design and construction, and advocacy 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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Trails Utah wants to welcome Wally Lee to our board!
Wally’s goals with Trails Utah are to assess local existing and future trails, provide suggestions for improving accessibility, and increase community awareness of the expanding presence of disabled outdoor enthusiasts. Welcome, Wally - we are excited to have you join our team!
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Trail Updates
What's new with our trails, and with Trails Utah?
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In the News...
Trails Utah's Sarah Bennett was recently interviewed for a "Digital Exclusive" on ABC4 News' website, about how trails are created here in Utah. Check it out!
Pine Valley Ranger District - Spring Hollow Trails - Phase I
After years of planning, permitting and designing, construction has now started on this extensive new trail system on the southern end of the Pine Valley Mountains! This trail system is a partnership between Trails Utah, the Trail Alliance of Southern Utah, and Pine Valley Ranger District. Phase I is focusing on the first 15 miles of trail, located at between 5000-5800ft of elevation. Design work was done by Trails Utah board member and Trail Alliance of Southern Utah (TASU) President, Kevin Christopherson. NEPA studies have been conducted at the EA level and all approvals for construction have been made. This new trail system will have adaptive accessibility incorporated into the building process. Surface Trails is doing a great job building about a mile a week. The trail is not open and will likely not be completed and open until Fall or early winter. We ask that you please not go to the site until the trail is open. Find out more.
Nung 'wu Poa Trail - Phase II
Trails Utah is raising funds for a new multi-use trail to be built in partnership with Town of Springdale, the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah and Trail Alliance of Southern Utah. Town of Springdale continues to work with the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah on final alignment, interpretive signs, signage, etc. The project has been bumped up on Town of Springdale's priority list and they are now looking to get started on it in the 2022/2023 fiscal year. This is a team effort and we are thrilled to be a part of this exciting trail project! Read more, and stay tuned for more info...
Grandeur Peak Section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST)
The Grandeur Peak Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) segment will complete a 2-mile section of trail needed to connect the BST from Millcreek Canyon to Parleys Canyon. Trails Utah has completed the detailed trail design on the alignment that the Forest Service envisioned in their 2010 BST Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA determined that the BST will have no significant impact on environmental considerations. The alignment stays high on the mountainside to avoid disrupting existing neighborhood trails and animal habitats. The Forest Service and Trails Utah are field-verifying the environmental reviews of native and invasive plants and any potential cultural or historic relics. Trails Utah is working with the city of Millcreek on the excavation and Foothills and Canyons Overlay Zone permits. We anticipate approval of a State grant and will be reaching out to the community to raise money for the required match of $50,000. Our contracted trail builders, Nature Trails, will complete the project August-October of this year. Thanks to our partners at the US Forest Service, Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, Salt Lake County Open Space, Utah Open Lands, and City of Millcreek! See a map and more info.
Herriman Hills Trail System
In 2020 / 21, Trails Utah, Herriman City and Herriman Hills Trails Alliance completed several trails in the Herriman Hills, including the Hardlick Downhill Trail, the Rawhide Trail and the Stampede Trail, consisting of approximately 3.5 total trail miles. In 2022 we are planning to expand upon this system and build two new trail sections - a new 1-mile section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and a new 1-mile hiking-only loop. Trails Utah is currently in the fundraising stage. Find out more and make a donation to support this project!
TU Trails AxS (Access) Project: Millcreek Canyon
Trails Utah is partnering with Wasatch Adaptive Sports, National Ability Center, adaptive athletes and the US Forest Service on a project modifying existing trails to increase accessibility for hand-cyclists and adaptive runners. As a team, we have established a priority 2022 wish list of trails needing such work and are currently seeking financial support to carry them out. New trail-building methods often make trails wide enough for hand-cycles; however, the vast majority of trails in the Wasatch were built before these new methods were instituted. These are the trails we are focused on. We are truly excited about this collaboration and look forward to making our trails available to a wider segment of the community. We're getting started in Millcreek Canyon in early 2023.
Foothills Trail System
All trail construction for this project has been delayed until 2023. Salt Lake City is undertaking an environmental evaluation (cultural, land, plant and wildlife, scenic impacts) led by a local firm, SWCA. They are also looking to hire a Trail Design specialist (see JOBS section) to do a deeper evaluation of existing trails, recently constructed trails, and the trails plan itself. They will also add an addendum to the trails plan to include a trail maintenance plan and alignment and timing recommendations. Job posting will go up in April and they anticipate this work to be completed in the spring of 2023.
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We would love to hear what trails YOU would like to see in Utah. Please send your ideas and/or any feedback to info@trailsutah.org.
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Policy, Advocacy, Stewardship & Sustainability
Trails provide us with many benefits - health, community, connection with the natural world, economic support, and so much more. A lot goes into the realization, maintenance and advocacy of trails: policies and planning; stakeholder buy-in, awareness and education, and stewardship of trails. Trails Utah is dedicated not only to creating and maintaining sustainable trails, but also to affecting policy, creating awareness, educating trail users, and helping support trail etiquette practices. A team effort is ever more necessary as populations grow and trail use increases. We hope you will support Trails Utah in these efforts!
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POLICY
B.O.L.T. Act
A bill to promote biking on federal lands across the United States and bolster the outdoor recreation industry is awaiting approval by Congress. If passed, the Biking on Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act will identify at least 10 existing long-distance bike trails and identify at least 10 areas where there is opportunity to develop or complete such trails. IMBA has been working with its Local and industry partners and other like-minded organizations to get the BOLT Act passed. Find out more.
ADVOCACY
Threats to Trails
There is a perception that trails just exist. If we do not help our decision makers, investors, and citizens understand that trails are critical infrastructure requiring consistent, ongoing funding and maintenance, they will simply disappear or degrade over time. We must make it apparent that trails improve the quality of life for all Americans. Read more from American Trails.
STEWARDSHIP
Lake Mountain Trails Association (LMTA) - Volunteer Days
Every Tuesday night in May (except May 10) from 6-8pm
Trail Day - May 7 from 8:30am-Noon
LMTA is doing work on a new beginner trail system in Hickman Hill (Eagle Mountain). Feel free to join in! A number of NICA teams will be coming to help on May 7th. Find out more.
Protect the Past
In addition to taking us across beautiful landscapes, trails often take us back in time via archaeological sites - ruins, pictographs, petroglyphs and more. Thanks for remembering:
- Archaeological resources are a treasure for all citizens and should be left in place.
- Removing pot shards, arrowheads, and other artifacts removes them from the story to which they belong.
- Please leave all archaeological resources where you find them!
SUSTAINABILITY
We here at Trails Utah practice and advocate for sustainability around trails. What does this involve?
- Working with local and state government to maintain access and funds for sustainable trail infrastructure and usage
- Improving quality, access, and sustainability of Utah’s existing trail infrastructures
- Advocating for efforts such as Leave No Trace, to leave our trails and their environs in the best condition possible, for the benefit of all users, present and future.
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Trail Swag Bag Drops
April & May
Cache County
Spring is a great time to get outside and try a trail! The Trails Cache and the Bear River Health Department have partnered to do some swag bag drops leading up to the Adopt-A-Trail Kick-Off party on April 29 and throughout Bike Month in May. Follow The Trails Cache Facebook feed for updates!
Timp Trail Marathon
Saturday, May 21
6:00am - Marathon start
8:00am - Half Marathon start
Get off your asphalt, and come run with Ultimate Endurance Race Series in the beautiful Wasatch Mountains! Find out more. And to see additional trail races being held throughout Utah, go to https://www.backcountryrunner.com/trail-races/utah.phtml.
Trail Sisters - May Happenings
American Hiking Society's
National Trails Day
Saturday, June 4
Various locations
Taking place on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day® is a day of public events aimed at advocacy and trail service. Thousands of hikers, bikers, runners, horseback riders, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, land trusts, and businesses come together in partnership to advocate for, maintain, and clean up public lands and trails. We will post a link in late May to connect you with National Trails Day events happening throughout the state!
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Other Trail News
News from our trail partners
Hickman Hill Beginner Trails
Lake Mountain Trails Association (LMTA) is building a new beginner trail system in Eagle Mountain - just above (to the West) where the paved road ends above Hidden Hollow Elementary. They are working hard to get these trails open by June 1. The uphill trail is nearly complete, they are working to get the two roughed downhills done, and a third is still to be built. (check under Stewardship above for volunteer opportunities with this trail system!). Find out more.
Trails Foundation of Northern Utah's Work Season Has Begun
Check out a few highlights of what TFNU's crew has already accomplished!
Mining Banned in Wasatch Canyons and Foothills
Thanks so much to everyone who made their voice heard about the proposed mine in Parley's Canyon. Salt Lake County Council voted in April to ban mining in Wasatch canyons and foothills. The council amended an ordinance in response to a proposed limestone quarry in Parleys Canyon, which cuts through the Wasatch Mountains and connects Salt Lake and Summit Counties. Read the full story here. UPDATE: This ban is now facing legal challenges. Read more here.
Little Cottonwood Canyon Transportation System Updates
The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) began an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the spring of 2018 for Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) and Wasatch Boulevard in partnership with Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service regarding an integrated transportation system for those using S.R. 210. UDOT anticipates that the Final EIS will be released this summer and will include responses to comments made during public comment periods. Publication of the Final EIS begins a 30-day public review period. UDOT will issue a separate Record of Decision (ROD) that will identify the final selected alternative for implementation, anticipated to occur in the winter of 2022. Find out more.
New App for Trail Runners and Outdoor Enthusiasts
Utahn Forest Good and friends created www.pastimes.io, an app that makes it easy to connect with other outdoor and adventure enthusiasts who share your favorite pastimes (including trail running!). They launched a little over a year ago and have added a lot of new features. Meet new friends/partners and connect with your local outdoor community.
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Looking for employment in the trail world? Look no further...
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HELP US BRING YOUR TRAIL DREAMS TO LIFE!
We can't make trails happen without funding - your financial support is crucial to the work we do year-round to plan for, fund and build trails. The trails we build offer all of us better access to recreation, healthy living and opportunities to get into the outdoors!
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.
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.
To make it even easier, just scan our QR code and pay via Venmo!
Thank you!
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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 into the future!
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THANK YOU!
To our most recent supporters:
Adam Carpenter
Tyler Jacobsen
Mark Todd
Kevin Saechao
Tyler Howard
We are deeply appreciative!
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