Mountain Biking the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

May 7, 12:53 PMSalt Lake City Outdoor Recreation ExaminerJared Hargrave

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How lucky are mountain bikers who live in Salt Lake City to have a network of trails right next to downtown? The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is a fun, intermediate ride that sits just above the north end of the Salt Lake Valley, with trailheads that start right in the city center. The trail is named after the ancient Lake Bonneville, as the trail was built where the shoreline used to be.

Most people who first get into mountain biking tend to tackle the Bonneville Shoreline right away due to its easy access, buffed singletrack, and moderate hills. There are several different ways to ride the trail, depending on where you want to start and end the ride. My personal favorite route is start at the Dry Creek trailhead in Federal Heights, ride up Dry Gulch, cruise west on the Shoreline Trail, then exit by bombing down the curving side-walls of Bobsled.

Other variations include starting at City Creek Canyon and descending down Bobsled or Dry Creek, or continuing on south above the University of Utah to the Emigration Canyon Trailhead. You can also start at the entrance to Red Butte Gardens or This is the Place Monument to create a different experience each time you ride.

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail also has sections all along the Wasatch Front from Payson to Ogden, and the hope is to one day link all the sections together to create one super-long mega trail.

The popularity of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail means you will run into a lot of people, including joggers, hikers, other bikers, and dogs. It's a good idea to take it slow around tight corners because the threat of hitting and injuring someone is very real. The crowds and urban views ruin the ride for anyone seeking outdoor solitude, but for a quick workout in the mountains right in our own backyard, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail delivers the goods.