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Orson Smith and Ralph's Trails
Orson Smith and Ralph's trails are very short routes extending up to
the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) along Draper's east foothills. These
trails have become popular as hiking and bike routes since the big
suspension bridge was completed at Bear Canyon. Strong riders can go
directly uphill, while intermediates should take a long
"ride-around" on the dirt Corner Canyon Road to the BST then
pick one of the trails to descend.
Looking north from the middle of upper Orson Smith.
Photos and trail review by Bruce on September 28, 2016.
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| You can reach this area from the north via the BST Hidden
Valley trailhead, or from the west via the Corner Canyon, Coyote Hollow,
Red Rock, or Potato Hill trailheads. This area is not as popular as
central Corner Canyon, but has a longer
riding season and dries quickly after storms.
For our featured ride we'll use the
Orson Smith Park trailhead right at the bottom of the trails. You have two options to get uphill: the Orson Smith trail, or the
gravel Corner Canyon Road.
Looking northeast in the parking lot. The Orson Smith
trail is to the left at the end of the sidewalk along the parking zone.
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Plan A...
The lower Orson Smith trail is a short span between the
Orson Smith park trailhead and the broad Aqueduct Trail that traverses the
hillside. The climb isn't too tough -- 0.3 miles climbing 140 vertical
feet for an average grade of 8.5%.(If you found lower Orson Smith to be brutal,
don't go all the way back down for Plan B. Instead, just go south 0.3
miles on
the Aqueduct Trail. Turn uphill onto the Corner Canyon Road for the 0.8
miles of climbing, and you'll be at the BST.)
Looking south on lower Orson Smith. You can see that
the trail surface is grainy, so it tends to break up during long dry
times. |
Plan B...
The Corner Canyon Road starts south from the entry into the
parking lot of Orson Smith Park. You'll pedal 400 vertical feet over 1.1
miles, a very tolerable rate of climb. It's boring -- and toasty on a warm
day -- but it's better than walking your bike uphill if Orson Smith is too
steep for you.Keep going as the Aqueduct Trail
crosses. It looks like a big dirt
road. Climb on up to the Corner Canyon Bonneville Shoreline
trailhead. The
trailhead is on the right (downhill) side. You'll go through the log fence
to your left on the uphill side and begin riding the northbound
BST toward Bear Canyon.
It's about a mile from here to the top of upper Orson Smith.
Looking north at the entry to the Bonneville
Shoreline Trail from the Corner Canyon Road. The bathroom, picnic tables,
and shade are across the gravel road, left of this photo.
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Back to Plan A...
So you climbed up lower Orson Smith, you're now on the Aqueduct Trail
at mile 0.3 from the trailhead. Pick your thigh-killer
climbing route. Upper Orson Smith is right there, a bit to the left as you
reach the top of lower Orson Smith. Ralph's is found by riding 0.4 miles
north on Aqueduct.
Orson Smith and Ralph's are about equally steep and both will have
loose sections. Orson Smith specializes in sand, while Ralph's has cobble.
One advantage to a climb on Ralph's is, you get a few minutes of flat
pedaling to recover before you make the next attack. And the grunt
will be only 80% as long.
Looking south from the Aqueduct Trail. |
| The bottom of upper Orson Smith is about 50 feet north on
Aqueduct from the top of the lower trail. Depending on horse traffic, the
sand may stop you at the first switchback. Most riders -- even elite
racers -- will fail to clean those first two switchbacks and following
loose 50 yards.
I didn't ride the switchbacks clean, and now I've
spun out as I climb through the churn along the
"idiot-containment" fence. Loser. I'll turn around and shoot a
photo downhill while I catch my breath.
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It gets much better as you go higher, and if you still have
leg enough to ride, you'll find a nice firm trail surface. Upper Orson
Smith rises 260 vertical feet in 0.5 miles, for an average 10% rate of climb.
Heading northeast uphill higher on Orson Smith. |
| There's an unmarked trail fork just before the top. Both go
to the BST. So go right if you're heading toward Corner Canyon, or left if
you're heading for the Bear Canyon bridge and Ralph's.
View downhill southwest from a corner near the top of
Orson Smith.
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Once on the BST northbound, whether via Orson Smith or the
Corner Canyon Road, enjoy a nice flattish cruise. There are pretty views of
the mountains to the northeast, and 180 degrees of valley to your left.
Heading toward the multiple 11,000-foot summits in
the Twin Peaks area on the BST. |
| The Bear Canyon suspension bridge has become a popular
hiking target. On the day of my ride, a gazillion school kids were heading
uphill on Ralph's trail. But by the time I returned from a lovely BST ride
to Hidden Valley, they'd crossed the bridge and hiked back down to their
busses.
Be careful when passing on the bridge. You might think it's wide enough
for two-way traffic, but it's easy to bang your handlebar on the metal
lattice -- or the other rider.
View from the approach to the south end of the
bridge.
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Just a bit after crossing the bridge comes the fork to
Ralph's Trail. If you're up for some fun (and more-technical riding), do
the BST as an out-and-back before returning to the trail fork. Ralph's is shorter than Orson
Smith by 0.1 mile. but the top end is at a slightly
lower altitude, so the pitch works out. Ralph's is 0.4 miles and 210 vertical feet, a slope of 10.1%
(compared to Orson Smith's 10.0%).
The Ralph's fork, looking northwest. |
| Drop down Ralph's, then turn left on the Aqueduct and go 0.4
miles to lower Orson Smith for the return back to the trailhead.
Coasting down Ralph's.
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Riding notes, up Orson Smith:
0.0 ST at N end of sidewalk
N40 31.336 W111 50.017
0.3 L on Aqueduct N40 31.306 W111 49.909
50 feet, then R uphill on Orson
Smith
0.7 Keep L (R = to southbound BST)
N40 31.216 W111 49.809
0.8 L on Bonneville Shoreline
N40 31.254 W111 49.765 |
1.1 Bear Canyon Bridge, cross
1.2 L downhill on Ralph's
N40 31.474 W111 49.568
1.6 L on Aqueduct
N40 31.598 W111 49.666
2.0 R on Orson Smith
N40 31.306 W111 49.909
2.3 Back at TH |
Riding notes, via Corner Canyon Road to
Ralph's:
0.0 Gravel road, south from park entry
N40 31.323 W111 50.053
0.3 Straight (Aqueduct trail crosses)
N40 31.096 W111 50.123
1.1 L on BST singletrack
N40 30.365 W111 50.090
2.1 Keep R (L = Orson Smith A)
N40 31.156 W111 49.824 |
2.3 Keep R (L = Orson Smith B)
N40 31.254 W111 49.765
2.6 Bear Canyon Bridge
2.7 L downhill on Ralph's
N40 31.474 W111 49.568
3.1 L on Aqueduct
N40 31.598 W111 49.666
3.5 R on Orson Smith N40 31.306 W111 49.909
3.8 Back at TH |
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Getting there, Orson Smith TH:
From 13th East, turn to the east on Pioneer Road and go to 2000 East. Turn
right (south) on Highland Drive.
From the Corner Canyon area, follow Highland Drive east, then north.
Turn east (toward the mountains) into the Orson Smith Park at 12625 South
Highland Drive. Find a parking spot. The lower singletrack trail starts at
the north end of the sidewalk between the parking lot and picnic pavilion.
To climb the road, backtrack to the parking lot entry and aim for the
gravel road heading south. Water and bathroom are at the park.
Bonneville Shoreline on Corner Canyon Road:
From Draper, take 123rd South to 13th East and turn south (right). At
the roundabout just down the hill, turn east (the equivalent of a left
turn at the roundabout) on Pioneer Road. Go around one mile to 20th East,
then turn right going south on Highland Drive. Turn left into Orson Smith
Park. Immediately turn right to the Corner Canyon gravel road. Go one mile
up Corner Canyon to the Bonneville Shoreline trailhead on your right (N 40°
30.364' W 111° 50.094'). The northbound BST is across the road from the
trailhead parking. There is a bathroom at this trailhead.
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Other nearby trailheads...
Lower Corner Canyon Trailhead (Equestrian Center): Take
the Bluffdale exit from I-15 and turn east towards the mountains. Continue
on Highland Drive until you reach the ballpark parking lot. Directly
across the street from the parking, the Lower Corner Canyon trail heads
uphill (GPS N 40° 30.351' W 111° 50.721'). To reach the trailhead from
the north (Sandy area), take 13th East southward until it ends at the stop
sign just past the underpass. Turn left and drive 1/4 mile, then turn left
into the paved parking area. Start riding by going under the street and
keeping left on the Corner Canyon Trail, connecting to Ghost Falls, Canyon
Hollow, or Clarks at mile 1.2. (Bathroom at this TH.)
Coyote Hollow trailhead: Take the Bluffdale exit from I-15 and turn
east towards the mountains. Climb the hill as above, but turn right at the
light on Traverse Mountain Road. After one mile, turn into Mike Weir Drive
on your left. Pass the Mike Weir trailhead 1/2 mile later and continue
another half mile until the road veers left downhill. Take the next right
turn, turn right again, then left. You should now be on Gray Fox Drive.
Take the next right into Coyote Hollow Court. The parking is on the right
at the end of the pavement. As you start riding, keep R uphill for Clarks,
left and slightly downhill on the Silica Pit trail to reach Canyon Hollow
or Ghost Falls.
Ghost Falls TH: If you drive a little further up the Corner
Canyon Road (see above), you'll reach the next trailhead, which is Ghost
Falls. (Bathroom at this TH.)
Peak View TH (Traverse Ridge): Head all the way up the Corner
Canyon Road (see above), whether by car -- if the gate is open -- or by
bike from either the BST or Ghost Falls trailheads. The fenced area on on
the right as you approach the summit is the trailhead.
Potato Hill TH: Take the Bluffdale exit from I-15 and turn east
towards the mountains on Highland Drive. At the light at the top of the
hill, turn right on Traverse Mountain Road. After one mile, pass Mike Weir
Drive on your left. Look for the Potato Hill TH on your left about mile
1.3 from the light. Start by riding through the fence, turn R immediately.
Next keep R as Potato Hill trail turns north. Connect to Ann's and turn
left. Climb Ann's to Clark's, and on to the Peak View trailhead.
Red Rock (Mike Wier) trailhead: Leave I-15 and climb the hill as
above, but turn right at the light on Traverse Mountain Road. After one
mile, turn left onto Mike Weir Drive. The Red Rock trailhead parking
is on your right, 1/2 mile later.
Sandy Hidden Valley Park BST trailhead: Take Wasatch Blvd to
Hidden Valley Park, about two miles south of Little Cottonwood Canyon on
the east side of the road. From I-15, take the 90th South exit, which will
turn into 94th south as it approaches the mountains. At the mouth of
Little Cottonwood, turn right on Wasatch. The park is located on a curve
in the road just past a large church on your left. From the parking area,
bike towards the mountain on the paved path. It will turn south. The first
dirt trail is a broad doubletrack to the upper BST. The next is a
singletrack that joins the upper BST at Little Willow Creek. The next
trail is the Hidden Valley singletrack, which will join the Aqueduct trail
after 0.6 miles. |
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