Restoration & Repair
Begins April 9, 2024
Duration
The restoration project will last about three to four weeks, depending on the weather.
Location
The bike access at the bottom of BST West City Creek will be completed as well as approximately 1.5 miles of the BST Hell Canyon and BST West City Creek trail above North Cove HOA, Ensign Peak, and Hell Canyon.
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Background
The initial 13 miles of Bonneville Shoreline Trail was built to connect existing utility roads and social trails with newly constructed trail segments to create one contiguous, non-motorized, trail for hikers and bikers, accommodating two-way traffic across the Salt Lake City Foothills. After years of use and minimal maintenance, SLC Public Lands plans to update the trail to meet its intended goals using best practices for modern trail restoration design.
Why work on the trail now?
The uppermost section of the West City Creek trail (the highest switchbacks just north of the lookout above Ensign Peak) is getting worn down by water flowing down the trail, which is deepening the groove over time. (Refer to the pictures below) This part of the trail will need to be realigned in the future as part of the plans to improve recreation and restore the natural environment in the Foothills Open Space Zone.
Project Benefits
- ENHANCE TRAIL SAFETY: Return the trail corridor to 42″ – 48″ to reduce the risk of collision or injury.
- IMPROVE TRAIL SUSTAINABILITY: Regrade the trail tread to disperse water runoff and minimize erosion for a longer-lasting trail and less frequent maintenance. See the 2020 Foothills Trail System plan to learn about trail and ecological best practices.
- CREATE BETTER RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES: Restore and maintain the trail to provide 13 miles of contiguous, non-motorized, recreational trails for two-way traffic. The addition of rock steps provides alternate access for bikes, enhancing the trail and accommodating more traffic.
- PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: Minimize disturbance (e.g.– avoiding machine trail improvements on segments in relatively good condition) to preserve the natural environment and maintain it’s beauty and ecological integrity
- FUTURE PLANNING INTEGRATION: Align future recreation and restoration needs with land use and conservation goals from the 2020 Foothills Trail System Plan
Learn more about the SLC Foothills Trail System Plan!
What work will be completed?
In 2023, one mile of BST in West City Creek was restored, and rock steps were added to 300 feet of trail where water runoff had dug out the trail. The alternate access for bikes (around the rock steps) was opened up and will be finished in 2024.
In 2024, the bike access at the bottom of BST West City Creek will be completed, as well as approximately 1.5 miles of the BST Hell Canyon and BST West City Creek trail above North Cove HOA, Ensign Peak, and Hell Canyon. The switchbacks and retaining walls along the western slope of City Creek are in relatively good condition and will not receive any machine trail improvements to minimize disturbance.
