Mountain biking Bonneville Shoreline Trail via City Creek
City Creek Canyon is one of the many ways to get onto the popular Bonneville Shoreline Trail above Salt Lake City. As a counterpart to the Dry Creek entrance further south, City Creek also gets a lot of traffic from bikers, hikers, trail runners and dog walkers. But any similarities end there as the ascent from City Creek is long, steep and rocky.
The entrance to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from City Creek Canyon.
The City Creek entrance is located at the start of City Creek Canyon Road, where Bonneville Drive curves as it heads south from The Avenues toward the Utah State Capitol. The beginning of the trail is signed as it obviously heads up and into a thick grove of scrub oak.
Pedaling up the City Creek side of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail can be a chore (depending on your fitness level) as it is a lot more work than taking the Dry Creek alternative. City Creek is longer, steeper, and has a few hairpin switchbacks. Any rider who likes the torture or is looking for a good cardio workout will ride up from City Creek. This section of trail is also very exposed with few places to find shade from direct sunlight. As a result, an afternoon ride in the middle of summer usually isn’t such a good idea here.
POV of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from the"flats" on the City Creek side.
After riding up through the oak trees and across open flats with views of downtown Salt Lake, the trail finally levels out and traverses the foothills. At this point, the biking is a fun cruiser with a few choices to get back down to civilization. For a quick loop, a ride down to Terrace Hills Drive will get you back to paved road, but the downhill is short and isn’t much fun. Bobsled is highly recommended with its famous curving sidewalls. Or you can continue on to Dry Creek for a more mellow, but fun, descent.
The Bonneville Shoreline Trail at the entrance of the Bobsled. Rider: Daniel Kovach.
The popularity of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail means you will run into a lot of people, including joggers, hikers, other bikers, and dogs. It’s a good idea to take it slow around tight corners because the threat of hitting and injuring someone is very real. The crowds and urban views ruin the ride for anyone seeking outdoor solitude, but for a quick workout in the mountains right in our own backyard, the City Creek Canyon section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail delivers the goods.
