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Eagle Crest
The Eagle Crest trail is a key part of Draper's excellent trail system. It runs
2.6 miles east-to-west just below
the southern edge of Traverse Mountain, and is the key to riding the
trails on the south slope. Eagle Crest extends from the Maple Hollow (Deer
Ridge) trailhead to Suncrest Drive near the
Traverse Ridge saddle. While not actually in Corner Canyon,
it's part of that trail system.
From the top of Maple Hollow on the western end of
the trail, we're looking east at
Mount Timpanogos. Original ride review by Bruce
in 2008 with latest update April 26, 2022.
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From the western end of Eagle Crest, the Ann's
Connector trail descends to western Ann's
Trail. At the Maple Hollow trailhead you can also connect directly to
the Maple Hollow DH.
The middle of Eagle Crest hits the Eagle Crest Trailhead on Traverse
Ridge Road.
And on the eastern end, the Edelweiss trail
connects Eagle Crest to eastern Ann's. This
creates a continuous 8.4-mile loop of singletrack around Traverse Mountain
with Eagle Crest, Edelweiss, Ann's Trail, and Ann's Connector
(counterclockwise). At this eastern end of Eagle Crest you can also connect
to the Mercer Hollow and Mercer
Mountain trails.
View south toward Utah Lake riding westbound on Eagle
Crest. |
| Eagle Crest is a nice ride by itself. But most riders are
here only because of what Eagle Crest connects to. Eagle Crest is the link
to the top of four downhill flow trails when riding
loops on the south side of Traverse Mountain.
We've just exited the underpass on a west-to-east
ride. Straight ahead is
Maple Hollow South. Eagle Crest goes left (eastbound) here. |
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The western end of Eagle Crest is 200 feet higher than the eastern,
with about 350 vertical feet of climbing when done east-to-west. The top
altitude is around 6000 feet. The usual riding season will be late April through
November.
View southwest at Utah Lake as we skirt Maple Hollow
in this 2013 photo. |
| The Eagle Crest trail is early-intermediate with no significant tech challenges. The base is broad,
although trailside weeds may encroach at some times of the season. Over
the years, a few rocks are beginning to appear on the riding surface.
Riding eastbound toward the Eagle Crest trailhead, we've
got a view of Timpanogos (middle) and Cascade Mountain (right).
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Eagle Crest is
easy aerobically, with steady gentle pitches on climbing and descents. It
rides equally well in either direction, but is very slightly more work
when done east to west.
View of Lone Peak (left) and Box Elder (right) from
Eagle Crest as we approach Suncrest Drive. |
| The terrain is a mixture of grass meadows and stands of gambel oak with
occasional maples. There are almost-constant expansive views of Utah
Valley to the south. A nice shady stretch of trail.
Most of the trail is exposed with views to the south, but there is some
forest riding.
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The trail can be done from the Maple Hollow trailhead on Deer Ridge
Road (see
below) as an out-and-back of 5 miles with 450 vertical feet of climbing. You
can also access the trail from its midpoint at the Eagle Crest Trailhead
for a ride in either direction. (Just west of the Eagle Crest trailhead,
the new Vertigo and Levitate downhill trails
branch off of the Eagle Crest trail.)
Looking west, we see Eagle Crest meandering along the
slope heading for the underpass that leads to the Maple Hollow trailhead. |
| There are many loop options using Eagle Crest. See the Edelweiss
trail page for an 8.4 mile loop around the mountain using Ann's
Trail. The most popular loops however, use the downhill flow trails.
Riders climb Woods Hollow or Maple
Hollow to Eagle Crest, traverse a bit, then plunge down their choice
of Rattle and Hum, Vertigo,
Levitate, or Zooropa. Another nice loop is to combine Mercer Hollow
with westbound Fango and connect back to Eagle
Crest via Woods Hollow.
Little Rocky leans on a trail sign as we head
eastbound. To the right is the connector to Maple Hollow South, 1/2 mile
from the trailhead. From here, we'll pedal east on Eagle Crest toward the
downhill flow trails.
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When Eagle Crest ends on Suncrest Drive, bikers can find their way
to the Peak View trailhead area via the Edelweiss trail. Popular options
from the Peak View trailhead include Rush, Ann's,
Brock's Point and Canyon Hollow. The Peak
View and Three Falls trails can take you all the way to Alpine. On the
south slope, there are the Mercer Hollow and Mercer
Mountain trails, just across the road from Eagle Crest.
Here Eagle Crest drops to the sidewalk. While
Edelweiss is just across the road here, it's recommended that you pedal up
the sidewalk to the formal crossing (with the lights across the road) at
Edge Road. |
| West to East
From the Maple Hollow (Deer Crest) Trailhead parking, turn left downhill (south) just after leaving the
sidewalk. Descend through the tunnel. Turn left (east) as Maple
Hollow South forks downhill. In 0.3 miles, keep straight as a
trail from the road joins. At 0.5 miles, again keep straight and level as
the Maple Hollow South Connector forks right downhill.
Zipping westbound through gambel oak on the eastern side of the
trail in this older photo. The current trail has a much broader path
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At mile 0.9 you'll reach the first of the DH flow trails, Zooropa.
Next at mile 1.0 are the entries to Vertigo and Levitate. The second right-hand trail, a 180-degree turn, is Levitate,
an expert-level jumping trail.
At mile 1.2, approach the fence of the Eagle Crest trailhead, but turn
right and ride around the fence to the south side.
Looking southwest. Here the trail hugs grassy
"rehab" hillsides below the homes of Suncrest. |
| Ride past the entry to the two-way Woods
Hollow trail at mile 1.7.
At mile 2.5, you're riding north along Suncrest Drive (the road to Traverse Ridge from
Utah County). For the loop ride, continue on sidewalk to the light and
cross. For Mercer Hollow cross and go to
the south side of Canyon Pointe Drive.
Beginning the final descent to Suncrest Drive,
looking southwest in this 2013 photo.
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Getting there...
From I-15
in Salt Lake City, take the Bluffdale exit and head east on Highland Drive
toward the mountains. As you reach the traffic light at the top of the
hill, about 3/4 mile after leaving the freeway, turn right on Traverse
Ridge Road. Drive about two miles up to the top of the mountain to the
stop sign.
From Utah County, get on the Timpanogos Highway. At the Lehi-Highland
border, go north on Highland Blvd at the big stop light east of Smiths.
This will become Suncrest Drive as it enters Draper. Climb to the stop
sign at the top of the hill.
Deer Ridge (Maple Hollow) trailhead: At the
stop sign in Suncrest, get on Deer Ridge Drive (right turn from SLC,
straight from Utah Co). Go 0.9 miles.
Just before the road crosses a bridge, turn right onto Elk Glen Drive and
immediately turn left to park at the small picnic area.
Eagle Crest trailhead: From the hill-top stop sign above, go
south on Traverse Ridge Road (straight from SLC, left turn from Utah Co).
To to the end of the road and park. |
Peak View trailhead (access via Ann's plus Edelweiss): On Suncrest Drive, turn onto
Canyon Pointe Drive. Keep straight until you find yourself on the narrower
paved trailhead road. It's 0.7 miles from Suncrest Drive to Peak View.
This trailhead has bathrooms, water, and repair facilities.
Angel Gate at Spring Hollow (access via Hog Hollow, Fango, and Woods
Hollow): On Westfield Road in Alpine or Highland, turn uphill (north) on Beacon Hill Blvd. Drive 0.5 miles, then as
Beacon Hill turns to the right (east), turn left on Lighthouse Drive to
continue straight north uphill. Lighthouse will become Angel Gate. Keep
straight until you pass the irrigation facility, then park. At the
northeast corner of the fence, a doubletrack descends east across the
hollow. Immediately after crossing the creek, turn left on Hog Hollow.
Suncrest Drive (access via Mercer Hollow or Fango/Woods Hollow): There's room for 3 or 4 cars at the bottom of the doubletrack portion of
the Mercer Hollow on Suncrest Drive. |
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