See the sights of Salt Lake City by bicycle!
This 13.5-mile loop features downtown Salt Lake City and several historical sites along the way. The ride is a perfect half-day bike tour for visitors and residents alike.
Route signs mark the way, and face the preferred direction to ride the loop.
How to follow the route:
- Download 8.5×11 printable bike map.
- Download our geo-PDF of the route, viewable on a PDF map reader on your smart phone (search your app store for “Geo PDF” or “PDF Map” to find this type of app).
- Simply follow the special “Cycle the City” street signs along the road and paths.
About the route:
The route uses Salt Lake City bike lanes and multi-use paths, where possible, along with some other city streets. The route is suitable for bicyclists who are generally comfortable riding on urban streets with bike lanes. It does include one uphill on a multi-use trail along City Creek Canyon. The hill is gradual but is just over a mile long — and you will be richly rewarded with great views of the city from Bonneville Boulevard. Other than the fun downhill back into the valley, the rest of the route is flat.
Highlights of the route:
The start/end point of the ride, Pioneer Park, hosts the Twilight Concerts (Thursday evenings) and the SLC Farmers’ Market (Saturday mornings) in the summer. From Pioneer Park, head into the heart of downtown and past Temple Square, then follow a path through City Creek Park and into Memory Grove. Follow the roadway (closed to cars) up along the banks of City Creek to Bonneville Boulevard, where you will turn left onto a wide dedicated bicycle and pedestrian lane. Enjoy the views of the city and Utah State Capitol Building.
Descending down the hill into the valley, you’ll pass the McCune Mansion and arrive at Temple Square, one of Utah’s most popular tourist destinations. You must dismount and walk your bike through the square itself. Situated in the heart of downtown, Temple Square is open to the public and features a temple, gardens, and the world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Heading south out of downtown, you’ll come to the City / County Building, a 19th century architectural gem currently serving as Salt Lake’s city hall, and proceed through Library Plaza past the modern and innovative Salt Lake City Main Library and The Leonardo Science Museum. You’ll proceed south to Liberty Park, a classic urban park with a central tree-lined promenade. Heading west, you’ll take bike lanes on 800 South to the new 9 Line Trail, ultimately ending up at the International Peace Gardens. The peace gardens, conceived in 1939 and dedicated in 1952, feature 28 national gardens with plantings, garden architecture, and statues of world peace leaders typical of each nation and its culture.
Continuing north along the Jordan River Trail, you’ll pass the Fisher Mansion and then head back into town on 200 South, returning again to Pioneer Park.
Bicycle Rentals
Bicycle rentals are available at several bike shops in the downtown area.
GREENbike, the SLC bike share system, may be suitable for the downtown portions of the route. However, you may appreciate a lighter bike for the pedal up Memory Grove.