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Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Provo Section
The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is a series of trails running the length of the Wasatch Front, roughly following the shoreline of prehistoric Lake Bonneville. Each city develops its own section as it sees fit. Provo's section is a broad all-weather track that can be tackled in rain or snow, and it's close to the city for an after-work or noonie bike ride. View north towards Mt. Timpanogos. Photos October 16, 2001 by Bruce Argyle. |
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| While most of the trail is suitable for beginners, there are some
steep loose sections where good balance and brake control are required. As
a 6.8 mile out-and-back from Rock Canyon to Slate Canyon, it's a nice
workout. That's the good news.
The bad news: Provo's version is -- except for a teensy stretch out of Rock Canyon -- an up-and-down jeep road. Much of the trail has been improved with a deep deposit of cinders, perfect for downhill bike-surfing and uphill trench-digging tire spinning. There are nice views over Provo, but the terrain is mostly grass with an occasional shrub. View up Rock Canyon at the trailhead. |
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In
mid-summer, you should ride the trail very early, as the hillside is
blistering hot by 10 am. Bikers who have done SLC's forested technical
singletrack version of the Bonneville Shoreline will be disappointed in
Provo's offering. Bottom line: If you don't live or work in Provo, bike this trail when the snow closes out
your favorites.
View of the trail on the short section of singletrack.
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| The trail begins at the Nature Center in Rock Canyon at
altitude 5200. The singletrack is lined with rocks. Head towards the
canyon, then follow the right fork around and cross the road. The trail
becomes narrow singletrack for about 100 yards as it curves out of the
canyon. Becoming gravel doubletrack, the trail gradually climbs about 250
feet in elevation. At 1.65 miles, it joins pavement briefly to reach the
"Y" trailhead at mile 1.75. At 3.4 miles, it drops down to the
bottom of Slate Canyon, losing 500 feet. (Out-and-back, you'll do about
1000 total vertical.)
View over Provo (BYU is in the center) from the trail. |
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To continue on the Springville section, follow the
doubletrack around, through the creek, then fork right downhill. Ignore
the tempting uphill tracks on your left -- they don't go anywhere.
Instead, roll all the way down to the power lines. Head southeast on the
doubletrack between the power lines. Hobble Creek is 8 miles that-a-way.
Mountain mahogany turns red in the October sunshine. |
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Getting there: Take the Orem 12th South or
Center Street exit and drive east to Provo's University Avenue. (If you're
on University Parkway, turn left -- north. If you took Center Street, turn
right -- south.) At 2330 North, turn east towards the mountain. When the
street starts turning right (south) about 0.6 miles from University,
immediately turn left on 2300 North, which becomes North Temple. When this
street also starts to turn right (south), go straight up into the Rock
Canyon parking area. The trail starts as singletrack at the gate, GPS N
40° 15.882' W 111° 37.787'.
For a single-page, printable trail guide, click here!
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