Ann’s Trail, located in Corner Canyon in Draper, is a fairly new trail that was cut in 2011. The path traverses Traverse Ridge toward Point of the Mountain, and for mountain bikers, it’s a fast and fun addition to the growing network of singletrack in Draper.
The trail was originally going to be named the Draper Rim Trail, but that was changed to Ann’s Trail for Ann Parr, a Draper planning commissioner who tirelessly advocated for trails in Corner Canyon, and is largely the one to thank for all the great mountain biking in the area. Although Ann’s Trail has been rideable for almost a year now, it wasn’t “officially” opened until May 2012 when city and county leaders christened the new tunnel that goes under Traverse Ridge Road.
The great thing about Ann’s Trail, is that it provides a whole bunch of more options for loop riding in Corner Canyon. No longer are mountain bikers limited to the typical Clarks-Ghost Falls/Brocks/Rush loops. With Ann’s now in the mix, you can add considerable mileage to your day by adding it as an out-and-back, or connecting it to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail or Potato Hill.
Ann’s Trail is approximately 5 miles long from where it starts near the top of Clark’s Trail to its terminus at the water tanks. As for the riding, it’s surprisingly fun for a flat, traversing trail. Riding it from east to west, the trail is pretty fast and made fun with rollers and a few tight corners here and there that pose no threat to intermediate riders, but may be challenging for beginners. Also, the views of the south side of the Salt Lake Valley are ever present, and force you to stop and gaze, especially as the sun sets over the mountains.
Once at the end of Ann’s Trail, where giant water tanks sit above a neighborhood, you can continue on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail to return to Corner Canyon, or simply turn around and ride back the way you came. There is a bit of an uphill going west-to-east, but it’s a good way to go if you want to connect back at the top of Clarks’s Trail for a blazing descent on Brock’s or Rush Trail. You can also head back on Ann’s and take Potato Hill just after going through the tunnel for a speedy ride to Bonneville Shoreline where it meets up with the lower Clark’s Trail.
There are so many ways to ride Ann’s Trail in relation to the rest of the singletrack in Corner Canyon, and it’s really up to you how to tackle it. Depending on how many miles you want to do, how much climbing your legs can handle, and how much time you have, you can tailor an epic mountain bike ride and not roll over the same trail twice. So next time you’re riding in Corner Canyon, take a spin on Ann’s Trail, and thank Ann Parr for making it possible for you to be there on your bike.