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Bonneville Shoreline Trail
Bountiful North Canyon to Mueller Park
This segment has not officially opened as of September
12, 2022 but there are multiple riders daily and the trail crew said
they're OK with it. This section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST)
links the North Canyon trail to the Mueller Park trail. The BST north from
Mueller Park is under construction and is closed as of this writing. It's
exactly 4 miles from North Canyon to Mueller, but you'll need to climb
other trails to reach the BST.
Looking north from the BST as we roll into Mill Creek
Canyon. Initial photos and trail review by Bruce
on September 12, 2022.
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| This trail is popular as an out-and-back, usually from the
Mueller Park trailhead. It's also nice as a loop ride (in either
direction) when combined with Mueller Park and the upper 2 miles of North
Canyon.
The expected riding season for this trail would be late May through
October. Top elevation of the trail is 6500 feet.
View uphill as we head gently uphill from the BST
after leaving North Canyon.
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On its southern end, this section of the BST can be reached
via the North Canyon trail, or via the BST
from Wild Rose. From the end of paved road in North Canyon, it's 1.5
miles uphill to the BST.
On the northern end, you can climb 1.3 miles up the Mueller Park trail
to intersect the BST as it crosses the Mueller Park trail. (Only
the southbound -- uphill -- portion of the BST can be ridden at this
time!)
The trail leaves maple forest for stunted scrub oak
as we hit a west-facing slope with a view over the valley. |
Trailheads and Connections |
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North Canyon
At the uphill end of Canyon Creek Road in Bountiful (reached via
Bountiful Blvd), you can find roadside parking and begin pedaling uphill.
You'll have the option of gravel service road or a singletrack trail on
the right (south) side of the road 100 feet uphill from the gate.
It will be 1.5 relatively steep miles to the trail fork, where you'll keep
left for the BST. (The southbound BST is 0.2 miles further uphill on the North
Canyon trail.)
NOTE: There's a plan for a road and formal trailhead for access to
North Canyon, with construction likely starting in 2023. For now, these
instructions are accurate.
End of Canyon Creek Road. The singletrack begins on
your right 100 feet uphill. |
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Mueller Park
The Mueller Park trailhead is reached by the
Mueller Park road, which is a continuation of 1800 South Street in
Bountiful. This is popular trailhead and will be crowded on weekends.
Pedal uphill on Mueller Park for 1.3 miles to the spot where the BST
crosses the Mueller Park trail. Turn hard right uphill on the BST. (The
trail to the left is the continuing BST, which is still under construction
in September 2022.)
Cruising through the tall maples of lower Mueller
Park. |
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Via the BST from Wild Rose
For now (September 2022) you'll need to climb uphill from the Wild Rose
trailhead in Woods Cross. (See the Wild Rose trail
page.) Take the Wild
Rose Overlook trail up the ravine, then hard right at the 5-way trail
intersection and up to the ridgeline. At mile 0.8 the BST crosses. Turn
left. (The southbound BST to the right dead-ends at this time.) It will
now be 8 miles to the North Canyon trail, where you'll keep straight and
descend 0.2 miles, then make a hard right turn onto the BST uphill just
after crossing North Canyon Creek.
Wild Rose trailhead. The trail starts alongside the
toilet. |
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On the southern end, this section of the BST begins on the
North Canyon trail. When heading uphill, it will be 1.5 miles from the end
of the Canyon Creek Road and 0.5 miles from the National Forest border.
Keep straight as the North Canyon trail veers to the right to cross North
Canyon Creek.
From the Woods Cross (Wild Rose) section of the
BST, this trail fork is
0.2 miles downhill from where the BST merges into the North Canyon trail.
Looking uphill from the North Canyon trail. My bike
is sitting on the BST, as the North Canyon trail veers to the right across
the bridge. |
| From the North Canyon trail to the Mueller Park trail, it
will be 4.0 miles. There will be 175 feet of initial climbing, then 750
feet of descent. The trail is a wide bench-cut with modern design features
and a very gentle rate of elevation change.
View on a typical stretch of maple-shaded trail as we
climb up from North Canyon.
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At the North Canyon trail fork, you're at 6350 feet
elevation. You'll climb gently to 6500 feet before beginning a long and
continuous descent toward Mueller Park. At the Mueller Park cross-over,
you'll be at 5775 feet.
Looking ahead as the trail traverses a west-facing
slope near the ride's highest point.
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| After a short stretch in fir forest, the trail lies in tall
maple forest. There will be occasional breakouts into sun-exposed oak
scrub, where the air temperature will increase significantly.
Typical trail view: Maples and an occasional fir,
with a smattering of oak brush.
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There will be views over the valley when the trail reaches
west-facing slopes, and an occasional look up North Canyon or Mueller
Park's canyon.
Looking north at Bountiful. The big white building is
the Bountiful Temple.
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| There's very little rock on this stretch of the BST. At this
time the trail is a ribbon of smooth dirt. The rate of climbing and the
trail surface are very suitable for beginning riders. (Beginners should
start from Mueller Park, as the climb up lower North Canyon is brutal.)
Trail view on the Mueller Park side.
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There are two popular loop ride possibilities using the BST:
(1) Start at Mueller Park and ride the BST southbound, descending North
Canyon. Return via city streets. (2) Do a lariat loop ride from either
trailhead. First climb uphill to Rudy's Flat. Continue across the summit
for a couple of descending miles, then turn onto the the BST to return to
your original climbing trail. This loop is most popular from the Mueller
Park side.
Looking uphill at Cave Peak from Mill Creek Canyon
near Mueller Park.
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| When planning a loop ride, remember that the lower mile
North Canyon is steep and not really suitable for beginners. (A beginner
with good control could surf the loose doubletrack, but either of
the singletracks would be beyond their skill and/or climbing strength.)
A stretch of cool fir forest as we descend toward
North Canyon on the southbound ride.
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At the Mueller Park end of this trail segment, the BST
crosses the Mueller Park trail. The downhill portion of the BST is still
under construction but may open in late fall 2022. For now, you'll need to
turn onto the Mueller Park trail.
Here's the trail crossover of the BST with Mueller
Park, seen from uphill on the Mueller Park trail. To the left and uphill
is the BST, straight ahead and downhill goes to the Mueller Park
trailhead.
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| Bottom Line:
Excellent trail that opens a world of new ride possibilities above
Bountiful. Yes it will make Mueller Park even more crowded, but I expect
it will take some pressure off the two-way traffic on the upper mountain
by putting more riders onto a clockwise loop path rather than up-and-back.
Well constructed and easy to ride; suitable for beginning riders from the
Mueller Park side.
A typical stretch of buff BST.
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North Canyon: On I-15, take the 2600
south Bountiful/Woods Cross exit. Go east towards the mountains. The road
will turn north and be renamed Orchard Drive. While heading north, turn
right (east) on 1800 south. Just as you reach the bottom of a steep hill,
turn right at the intersection. (This is about 0.6 miles before the
Mueller Park trailhead. If you arrive there, backtrack.) After 1.7 miles,
turn left on Canyon Creek and go uphill 0.7 miles to the end of the
pavement. Start your ride by heading east (uphill) on the dirt road.
Mueller Park: On I-15, take the 2600 south
Bountiful/Woods Cross exit. Go east towards the mountains. The road will turn north and be
renamed Orchard Drive. While heading north, turn right (east) on 1800 south. This street
takes you to the trailhead about 2 miles later, where you'll see parking places on the
right side of the road. Go across the stream on the bridge to begin the ride. |
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