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Traverse Traverse
The Traverse Traverse trail connects Ann's Trail of Draper's
Corner
Canyon trail system to the Mo-mentum trail of Lehi's Traverse Mountain
trail system. It's a great ride in its own right, with great mountain and
valley views. The trail is 3.4 miles long, but you'll need to take other trails to
get to Traverse Traverse at either end.
View over the top of Suncrest, with Box Elder Peak on the
left and a bit of Timpanogos on the right. Photos and ride review by Bruce
on May 28, 2021.
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| Most of the Traverse Traverse trail lies at around 5900 feet
elevation. The east side starts at 5500 feet on Ann's Trail and climbs shady Oak Hollow canyon.
The west end is on Mo-mentum of the Traverse Mountain system at 5700 feet.
The expected riding season is May through early
November. In the spring the trail in the trees of Oak Hollow will be muddy for several weeks
after the higher west section has dried out.
Traverse Traverse begins at this turn on the far
western side of Ann's Trail.
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While the trail is smooth and fairly easy to ride, it's
beyond the capabilities of most beginners because of the substantial
climbing -- and intermediate trails -- required to reach it. I'm
recommending this ride for intermediates and above.
Climbing from Draper, we're heading for the Oak Hollow draw. The gambel
oak will quickly give way to maples. |
| Traverse Traverse will be part of a longer ride. You can do
it as a pure out-and-back starting from several trailheads, or you can
incorporate loops at one end or the other before backtracking. For
example, when starting from the Draper side, you can loop around Mo-mentum
and northern Sensei before heading back. The shortest out-and-back is from
Oak Hollow and will be 9.8 miles.
Some turns are a bit tight, and many are off-camber.
When descending, you'll need to slow down and use a bit of caution.
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From Corner Canyon, you'll need to get on Ann's Trail. You
can head for Traverse Traverse from above (Maple Hollow or Potato Hill
trailheads) or below (Red Rock, Oak Hollow, or Equestrian Center
trailheads).
Cruising from turn to turn in the maples. |
Some distances to Traverse Traverse from the Draper side:
Maple Hollow TH: Ann's Connector and Ann's = 2.0 mi
Oak Hollow on Traverse Ridge Rd: BST and Ann's up = 1.5 mi
Potato Hill TH to Ann's uphill = 2.8 mi
Red Rock (Mike Weir) TH BST west to Ann's = 2.1 mi
The mountain views are impressive, and constantly
changing.
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Distances to Traverse Traverse from the Traverse Mountain
side:
Northern Sensei and Mo-mentum = 2.0 mi
Southern Sensei, Mo-mentum CCW = 4.3 mi
Southern Sensei to CW Mo-mentum = 4.5 mi
A cluster of arrowleaf balsamroot announces that it's
spring. |
| The Oak Hollow portion of Traverse Traverse lies mostly in tall maple
forest. When climbing the lower 3/4 mile, you'll wind back and forth through
16 turns, some of them a bit tight. Then the trail breaks out into exposed
age and oak slope as it continues gently climbing. You'll enjoy great views of the
Wasatch Range to the east. You'll also have long views north over the Salt
Lake valley.
Looking north into the Salt Lake Valley. The large
gray stripe is Interstate 15.
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At mile 1.3, you'll cross an old ridgeline dirt road. Your climbing from Ann's has
been 450 vertical feet. There's a tiny bit of further elevation gain as
you wind in and out of two canyons, then you begin a gentle descent toward
Lehi's Traverse Mountain trails.
At the ridgeline, we're looking east. That's the
Traverse Ridge Road on the left, and you can barely make out the Potato
Hill and Little Valley trailheads. |
| From the ridgeline, the trail drops 200 vertical feet over 2.1 miles before reaching Mo-mentum.
(Keeping straight at the trail fork takes you on the gravel pit side of Mo-mentum, where
you'll arrive at Sensei -- and city streets -- fairly quickly. A 180 turn
onto eastbound Mo-mentum descends into Fox Canyon where you'll hit Sensei in the
middle of Fox Canyon (see the map).
Early on Lehi's side of Traverse Traverse, heading
west through sage.
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This western portion of Traverse Traverse is wide open. On the
steep side-slope you find sage with an occasional stunted grove of oak. To the east, there are
constantly changing looks at the mountains. To the south are Utah Valley
and Utah Lake.
Riding southwest, with Utah Lake in the distance. |
| Traverse Traverse ends -- or begins, depending on which
direction you're riding -- at the highest point of Mo-mentum. Here Mo-mentum
crosses the ridgeline. To the north are views into the massive Geneva Rock
gravel pit, an impressive view all by itself.
At the western end of Traverse Traverse, we're
looking into the massive Geneva Rock quarry as we join Mo-mentum.
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Many riders who started in Draper will now choose to take
the loop consisting of Mo-mentum and a piece of northern Sensei before heading back. It's a fun little
ride that will add 2.6 miles and around 250 feet of climbing to your
outing.
The trail fork on the western end of Traverse
Traverse was not marked in May 2021. As you climb westbound on Mo-mentum,
the trail fork occurs right as you cross the ridgeline above the gravel pit.
Keep left and uphill for Traverse Traverse. |
| Bottom Line!
One of the nicest trails in the area, with varied riding surfaces and
changing character, plus some of the best views you'll find anywhere. Great for
intermediate riders or very determined beginners.
Coming from Traverse Mountain, we're seeing Lone Peak
on the left and Box Elder Peak on the right.
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Sensei Water Tank trailhead. From the Timpanogos Highway near
I-15, turn north onto Triumph Blvd. After 1/4 mile, turn left onto
Traverse Mountain Boulevard. Drive around 3/4 mile north, turning right
onto Chapel Ridge. At the roundabout, go north (left from the direction
you were going) on Morning View Road, then left when you reach Vialetto
Way. Just as Vialetto Way is coming to its highest elevation and is
curving left, turn right onto newly paved road in a construction area. In around 100 yards,
turn left uphill and follow this paved road uphill as far as you can. At
the circle at pavement's end, turn left and climb cindered road to the
gravel parking area at the water tank.
No water or bathrooms at Oak Hollow, Red Rock, or Sensei trailheads.
See the Traverse Mountain trail page for
info on Mo-mentum, Sensei, and Lolo's.
See the Corner Canyon overview page for
links to individual trails and trailhead info on the Draper side.
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Maple Hollow (Deer Ridge) 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. Bathrooms.
Oak Hollow (Traverse Mountain Road): Get on Highland Blvd in
Draper and turn south onto Traverse Ridge Road. About a mile uphill from
Highland Blvd, look for a fenced parking area on the north side of
Traverse Ridge road. The trail exits the east (uphill) side of the parking
lot and descends to the underpass where the BST crosses under Traverse
Ridge Road on it's way to Ann's Trail.
Red Rock (Mike Weir) 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 trailhead parking is on your
right, 1/2 mile later.
Potato Hill trailhead: 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 Ridge Road. After one mile, you'll
pass Mike Weir Drive on your left. Keep climbing up Traverse Ridge Road.
Look for the Potato Hill TH on your left about mile 1.3 from the light.
Bathrooms. |
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