Bonneville Shoreline Wild Rose to North Canyon

Heading north on the BST. Photos and ride review by Bruce on July 12, 2022.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail
Wild Rose to North Canyon

This section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) opened for riding in 2022. Additional miles are currently under construction this year, for example the segment from lower North Canyon to lower Mueller Park . The Wild Rose to North Canyon segment is 8.0 miles long and climbs as it progresses from west (and south) to east (and north).

The lower end of the trail can be reached on the Upper Viewpoint Trail of the Wild Rose System at 5580 feet elevation, with the top elevation at the North Canyon trail intersection at 6370 feet. The expected riding season will be late May through October.

Typical trail view on the BST, shortly after leaving the Viewpoint Trail to begin the BST heading northeast from Wild Rose.

In North Canyon, Bruce rolls through a turn on the BST heading back from a Rudy's Flat out-and-back.

The trail has a lot of up-and-down riding. So while it's "downhill" when riding from North Canyon to Wild Rose, you'll do a surprising amount of pedaling.

Trailheads and Connections

Wild Rose trailhead, looking southeast.

Wild Rose

The southwestern end of the trail can be intercepted by climbing from the Wild Rose trailhead (see below). Take the singletrack uphill from the trailhead. It's located just downhill from the bathroom and begins as a paved path. Turn right uphill at the fork in 50 feet. Continue uphill and join the trail from the top of the park at mile 0.1, turning left uphill.

At the next trail fork in another 1/10th mile, keep left as the downhill trail joins. Drop into the shallow ravine and turn right at the next intersection to begin climbing the Wild Rose Loop counterclockwise.

Pedal uphill above the ravine, keeping straight as a trail joins from the left uphill and the DH trail crosses. At a 5-way intersection with a bench 0.5 miles from the trailhead, turn to the right and take the Viewpoint Trail uphill. After you pass another bench, the trail will get steep and loose. You may need to hike a bit.

At mile 0.8, the BST crosses. Turn right. (The trail to the left ends after 100 yards in July 2022.)

Climbing the southern side of the Wild Rose loop toward the Viewpoint trail.

Looking uphill on the North Canyon trail near the junction with the BST from Wild Rose.

North Canyon

From the end of the pavement on Canyon Creek Road, pedal uphill 1.5 miles on North Canyon . Keep to the right as the new section of the BST forks uphill. (The section that crosses the hill to lower Mueller Park is not open yet.) Climb another 0.4 miles, then fork to the right on the BST. This intersection is not yet marked in July 2022.

Bruce rides the Mueller Park trail.

Mueller Park

From the Mueller Park trailhead at the end of Mueller Park Road, climb the Mueller Park trail 6.3 miles to Rudy's Flat, then descend North Canyon 1.9 miles. Make a hard left turn onto the BST. A BST segment linking lower Mueller Park (a bit over a mile uphill from the Mueller Park trailhead) to the North Canyon trail is under construction and should be completed during 2022.

Bonneville Shoreline Wild Rose to North Canyon Section

Mixed oak and maple forest. We're about 1/2 mile from Wild Rose heading east.

The Wild Rose to North Canyon section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) is 8.0 miles long. While it gains 800 vertical feet of elevation at it progresses east-northeast, up-and-down riding will bring the total climbing to 1150 feet.

Most riders will do this trail as an out-and-back from Wild Rose, climbing uphill to Rudy's Flat when they hit North Canyon. The round trip from the Wild Rose trailhead to Rudy's Flat and back is 21 miles with 2100 feet of overall climbing.

As the trail turns out of a cool drainage, we pass through a dry area with stunted gambel oak and grass. Looking north.

A bit further along, and a bit higher in elevation as we pass through mules ear, choke cherry, aspen, and maple.

The BST can be used as an alternate to lower North Canyon when riding a loop of Mueller Park. The connection between the Wild Rose and Mueller Park trailheads is around 5 miles by city streets.

As a descent, the BST is fun and fast. But you'll do a surprising amount of pedaling because of the up-and-down path of the trail in the flatter sections. You'll do 350 vertical feet of climbing in the downhill direction.

Hitting the sidewall as we head back toward Wild Rose.

A couple of miles from Wild Rose now.

From Wild Rose, the trail starts in scrub oak and grass terrain. But it quickly enters a cooler maple forest as it turns into the first small canyon. There will be around 20 of these drainages. On the north-facing slopes, the trail will be cool and shaded.

And as the trail hits the west-facing slopes near ridgelines as you ride around into the next drainage, the terrain will be dryer, with gambel oak groves and grass.
As you progress to the northeast, the forest becomes taller with larger trees, including mature fir trees and an occasional aspen grove.

Rolling around a ridge, we break out of the forest and again have views over the valley.

There will be frequent views to the west over Woods Cross, Bountiful, and the Great Salt Lake.

To the north, you can see Francis Peak, Ben Lomond and a bit of Ogden on a clear day.

Looking east into North Canyon as we hit the final stretch.

Climbing through fir forest on the BST in North Canyon.

Wide bench-cut, handlebar view. In this photo we're heading back downhill on the BST.

The trail surface is very smooth dirt with only an occasional section of embedded river-delta rock. The path is machine bench-cut with a wide riding surface. Slopes are very gentle and easy to manage.

At mile 8.0 from Wild Rose (8.8 miles from the trailhead), the BST hits the North Canyon trail. To continue north on the BST, keep straight and coast down North Canyon 0.4 miles before forking to the right on the continuing BST .

To climb to Rudy's Flat at the top of the Mueller Park trail, make a hard right turn uphill on North Canyon. It's 1.9 miles with around 650 vertical feet of climbing to Rudy's Flat.

Looking uphill at the intersection of the BST with North Canyon, as seen from the North Canyon trail. On the right is the BST, on the left the continuing North Canyon trail.

Rolling around a ridgeline on the downhill trip.

Bottom Line!
Very nice trail. Fun to ride and a great addition to the area. Lots of miles and views without too much work. Add on the newer BST section from North Canyon to Mueller Park Of course we need a new section at the southwest end to avoid the hike-a-bike on the Viewpoint Trail from Wild Rose. For now, my recommended ride is the out-and-back from Wild Rose to Rudy's Flat.

From Rudy's Flat to Wild Rose via the BST

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Bonneville Shoreline North Canyon to Mueller Park Section

View into North Canyon.

The northbound Bonneville Shoreline Trail to Mueller Park forks away from the North Canyon singletrack 0.1 mile below the junction of North Canyon with the BST from Wild Rose. It traverses west slightly uphill, crosses a low hill, then turns and descends gradually into the next canyon north to join the lower Mueller Park trail. (The continuing BST northbound after crossing the Mueller Park trail is under construction and was closed at the time of this review. The plan is that the BST will curve around Bountiful with over a dozen more miles of trail.)

Map of the area BST, Wild Rose to North Canyon.

Getting there, via Wild Rose Park:
On I-15 northbound, take exit 312 (US-89). Just after the exit at the first stop light, turn right on Eagle Ridge Drive. Keep on Eagle Ridge (straight) at the roundabout. Climb the hill for about two miles. Watch for Eaglepoint Drive on the right at N40 49.803 W111 53.771. (If you reach the golf course, you just missed it.) Drive 0.2 miles on Eaglepoint and turn left uphill on Sky Crest Lane. The parking lot is at the end of the road. From parking, find the singletrack on the left just below the bathroom. It connects to the uphill trail. Alternately, you can take sidewalk up through the park and find the uphill trail at the top of the grass, among several picnic-table spurs.

North Canyon: On I-15, take the 2600 south Bountiful/Woods Cross exit. Go east towards the mountains. The road will turn north and be renamed Orchard Drive. While heading north, turn right (east) on 1800 south. Just as you reach the bottom of a steep hill, turn right at the intersection. (This is about 0.6 miles before the Mueller Park trailhead. If you arrive there, backtrack.) After 1.7 miles, turn left on Canyon Creek and go uphill 0.7 miles to the end of the pavement. Start your ride by heading east (uphill) on the dirt road.

Mueller Park: On I-15, take the 2600 south Bountiful/Woods Cross exit. Go east towards the mountains. The road will turn north and be renamed Orchard Drive. While heading north, turn right (east) on 1800 south. This street takes you to the trailhead about 2 miles later, where you'll see parking places on the right side of the road. Go across the stream on the bridge to begin the ride.