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Potato Hill Trail With loops on Ann's Trail and B.S.T. The Potato Hill trail extends from Traverse Mountain Road to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) near Coyote Hollow. It's only 1/2 mile in length, but offers nice views and connections between trails to create new riding options. View west from the overlook on Potato Hill. Trail photos and GPS tracks August 17, 2011 by Bruce. |
| The trailhead, with parking for Potato Hill and Ann's
Trail,
was built in 2011. It's located on Traverse Mountain Road, about half-way
between Highland Drive and the Traverse Mountain summit. It provides a
nice start for riding the Draper Rim Loop (11.5 miles, 1500 vertical when
you include the Potato Hill trail downhill to the BST at the start of the
ride). For bigger miles, when you reach the top of Clarks, add a loop of
Rush-down, Canyon Hollow-up for a total 17 miles, 2300 vertical.
Here's the new trailhead, on the north side of Traverse Mountain Road, right by the wind tunnel balance test section. You roadies know what I mean. |
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From the trailhead, a trail extends a little bit northwest
to the ridge overlooking the Salt Lake Valley. (The master plan calls for
continuing trail that follows Traverse Mountain Road down to Mike Wier
drive, where it will connect to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.) For now,
this is an out-and-back.
View south from the overlook as Traverse Mountain Road climbs to Suncrest |
| The main trail turns east as you go through the gate. After
a short distance, the Potato Hill trail turns north. A short connector (passable,
but still being worked on in August 2011) continues east a few feet to
Ann's Trail as it enters/exits the underpass.
Heading northeast toward Corner Canyon as we descend the Potato Hill trail. |
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The Potato Hill trail descends a broad valley, turning
slowly east into Corner Canyon. It reaches the Bonneville Shoreline trail
about 1/2 mile from the junction with Clarks Trail.
The Potato Hill trail lets you create small eastern and western loops using the Bonneville Shoreline and Ann's trails. This creates shorter, less-brutal rides for early-intermediate riders. Exposed corner as we look north. |
| Eastern Potato Hill mini-loop, clockwise: 0.0 North through fence N40 29.305 W111 50.924 Go NW up to viewpoint N40 29.326 W111 50.968 Backtrack to fence, veer L (east) 0.2 L (North) downhill on Potato Hill N40 29.286 W111 50.845 0.7 Keep straight (east) on BST N40 29.479 W111 50.539 1.3 Straight (R) over bridge to Clarks N40 29.562 W111 50.220 2.6 Hard R onto Ann's N40 29.204 W111 49.380 4.6 R onto connector to Potato Hill N40 29.266 W111 50.815 4.8 Back at trailhead This is what we see climbing back uphill on Potato Hill, looking west. |
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Western Potato Hill mini-loop, clockwise: 0.0 North through fence N40 29.305 W111 50.924 Go NW up to viewpoint N40 29.326 W111 50.968 Backtrack to fence, veer L (east) 0.2 R (east) downhill toward Ann's N40 29.286 W111 50.845 R into underpass N40 29.270 W111 50.837 1.7 Straight as Maple Hollow joins from L N40 28.647 W111 51.340 1.7 L as Maple Hollow drops R N40 28.635 W111 51.343 3.7 2011: drop R down DT N40 28.880 W111 52.017 Arrive at paved street, L downhill At main road, L into gully, 180-R under street 4.1 Under road N40 29.054 W111 51.965 On exit, fork R on BST N40 29.075 W111 51.989 Continued... View up the broad valley as we
approach the trailhead again. |
| Western mini-loop continued... 5.0 Cross street, L uphill on ST N40 29.163 W111 51.645 5.4 Keep L uphill (R = down to TH) N40 29.295 W111 51.338 Then straight (180-R = Red Rock trail) 6.2 R uphill (L = to street) N40 29.540 W111 50.645 6.4 Hard R uphill on Potato Hill (L = continue BST) N40 29.478 W111 50.536 6.9 R toward TH N40 29.283 W111 50.846 7.1 Back at car On the western mini-loop, we've just passed the Maple Hollow DH trail and will be descending toward the valley. |
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Getting there: Take the Bluffdale exit from I-15 and turn
east towards the mountains on Highland Drive. At the light at the top of
the hill, turn right on Traverse Mountain Road. After one
mile, pass Mike Weir Drive on your left. Look for the Potato Hill TH on your left about mile 1.3 from the
light. Note: See the Ann's Trail page (or click link to topo map below) for overview of loop ride options described above. Bathrooms: None at the trailhead |
| Riding resources: Printable one-page guide to this trail GPS track files (right-click and select "Save Target as..."): Draper Area Trails GPX Potato Hill - Ann's - BST Loop Potato Hill-Ann's-BST Loop with Rush-Canyon Hollow Eastern Potato Hill mini-loop Western mini-loop Topo map for printing: View Lodging, camping, shops: Links to southern SLC resources |
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