Corner Canyon Loop, Draper

Corner Canyon (Lower)

Corner Canyon offers a low-altitude, off-season single-track that's a joy to ride. It's quick to ride and close to civilization. Perfect for an after-work ride in early spring or late fall, when other trails are still covered by snow.

A good quick winter loop ride is uphill on the Lower Corner Canyon trail, around the Silica Pit, and back down on the Creek View trail. It's doubletrack for some of the uphill and singletrack in the trees (trickier and snowier) on the downhill. The loop is about 2.8 miles. Elevation gain is 350 feet. Riding time depends on your skill level, but will be somewhere around 30 minutes. We usually run around the loop 2 or 3 times.

Matt Flygare posts a turn on the descent down South Mountain.
Dashing behind at 20 mph is Jackie, the UMB mascot.
Photo January 29, 2000

May 2007: There's still construction going on all around the Lower Corner Canyon trails. A pipeline has cut across the valley 1/2 mile from Highland Drive, and stakes are in place for more. For now, you can still get through, but the West LCC trail has a 5-foot deep gouge through it on a hillside that's almost too steep to walk. Draper now owns this land, and as things settle down, it will get better and better.

The Lower Corner Canyon Trail links to the Bonneville Shoreline (eastbound or westbound), to Ghost Falls, and to Clarks Trail. The Bonneville Shoreline heading northeast is relatively sun-exposed, and usually clears of snow quickly. Ghost Falls and Clarks Trail are excellent rides beginning in late April.

Steve Argyle controls the slide down the muddy trail through a grove of twisted gambel oak on the Creek View Trail. The tree trunks tilt downhill on this steep slope. Jackie functions as the official pace-dog. February 5, 2000.
This photo available as wallpaper.

Caliper brakes and steady balance.

The trail begins at the ballpark parking lot on Highland Drive in Draper. Drop off to the west and turn left under the road, riding in the tunnel. Find the LCC Trail at the end. (During periods of high runoff, you may have to go across the road.) The climb is pretty steady through the first 1.4 miles up Corner Canyon, but never steep.

UtahMountainBiking.com Chief Operations Officer Mike Engberson slams
into the creek in the bottom of Corner Canyon. As you'll note in the photos,
the terrain changes from snow to mud to hardpack rapidly from day to day!
February 1, 2000

NOTE: the Corner Canyon trail has a 70-second video introduction clip demonstrating winter biking. See our video section.

Although not technically a year-round trail, this loop is rideable in the winter. Go early in the morning while the ground is frozen cold. The downhill in the snow isn't as tricky as you'd think, but there are a couple of hard steep turns in the trees of the west side that require a bit of skill.

In the summer, you won't be satisfied with the tiny ride using LCC and Creek View trails. You'll want to add miles with the Draper Race Loop, Clark's Trail, Ghost Falls, or the mean hillclimb up Pipeline to Traverse Ridge.

Doc Argyle rolls down the snow-covered trail. This loop is easily rideable with 6 inches of snow. Photo by Mike Engberson, February 1, 2000.

Not hard, as long as you don't plan on stopping.

The figure-8 ride we describe here goes uphill on LCC, includes a small loop up the BST to the junction with Clarks Trail and down the Silica Pit trail, then some more-technical riding on the Creek View Trail looping back to LCC.

Looks a little different in May, doesn't it?

Riding notes, winter figure-8 loop:
0.0   Straight uphill on ST as it exits tunnel
0.4   Pass return ST on R, then join uphill ST
0.6   ST joins DT, continue uphill
0.9   Pass BST (on L), veer R
1.0   Keep R on DT at fork
        Becomes ST, follow either fork
1.3   Junction with Silica Pit Tr, fork L
        (R = Clarks Trailhead)
1.6   L on DT then keep straight
        (after 200 feet, back on uphill DT)
1.8   L on ST (climbs quickly)
2.4   Junction with LCC trail, hard L
2.8   Back at tunnel

We're plunging down through the Silica Pit.

Riding resources for this trail:
Single-page riding guide
Additional ride options:
   Ghost Falls and Clarks Ghost Loop    Draper Race Loop
GPS track files (right-click and "Save as...") Figure-8 loop:
   Garmin     GPX
GPS track files Draper Race Loop:
   Garmin   National Geographic   Google Earth    GPX
GPS Track files, including Ghost Falls area:
   Garmin   National Geographic   Google Earth    GPX
Topo map (includes Ghost Falls, Pipeline, Clarks, BST): View

Getting there: Take the Bluffdale exit from I-15 and turn east towards the mountains on Highland Drive. Go straight past the railroad underpass. Stay on Highland until you reach the parking area for the Lynn Ballard ball park on your left. To find the trail, go to the west end of the parking area near the trail kiosk. Drop down the hill and turn left into the tunnel under the road. After climbing out of the tunnel, turn left and climb back up. The uphill trail is directly across from the entrance into the parking area (GPS N 40° 30.351' W 111° 50.721'). To reach the trailhead from the north (Sandy area), take 13th East southward until it ends at the stop sign just past the underpass. Turn left and drive 1/4 mile to the ballpark parking.

For additional information, including nearby lodging, rentals, camping, and current conditions, may we suggest:
General info on visiting Salt Lake City: http://www.slctravel.com/ http://www.go-utah.com/salt-lake-city
Lodging in Salt Lake City: http://www.utah.com/lodging/saltlakecity.htm
Utah outdoor activities: http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/
Camping: http://www.outdoorsinutah.com/camping.htm
Ranger District (includes dog regulations, camping): http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/wcnf/unit/slrd/questions.shtml
Bonneville Shoreline Trail website: http://www.bonneville-trail.org/