New trails are being cut in Salt Lake City, and some of them are open and ready to ride. A network of singletrack at Popperton Park in the foothills above the city is complete, and it’s a Shangri-la for beginner mountain bikers and kids. In total, there are three new mountain bike routes, as well as a hiking-only trail.
South Popperton Loop
The shortest and easiest of these new trails is the South Popperton Loop, located right behind Shriner’s Hospital on Popperton Park Way. This little loop features small whoop-de-dos, berms, and even a tiny rock garden to test those bike-handling skills. The grade is not steep, with a mellow, swooping descent, followed by a mild climb back to the trailhead. A tight switchback on a steeper part of the ascent can be challenging for short legs, but children can easily dismount here and hike-a-bike. At a length of only 0.3 mile, beginners and kids can easily do multiple laps.
On a weekend morning, the South Popperton Loop is a quite the scene as dozens of small riders are often enjoying the trail as parents ride alongside or watch from the road. So if you’ve got kids ready to tackle some singletrack, or want to show a first-time mountain biker the ropes, the South Popperton Loop is a perfect venue.
Popperton Mountain Bike Flow Trails
As the kids grow up (and get geared mountain bikes) or beginners improve, it’s time to go up the hill for some flow-trail action. On the north side of Popperton Park Way there are two new downhill-only flow trails, called Big Pop and Lil Pop. Both are accessed by an uphill-only trail called Hop on Pop.
Hop on Pop is an easy climb with gentle switchbacks and a not-to-steep grade. Experienced mountain bikers can make quick work of it. But kids or beginners will definitely get a serious thigh-burning test, so a geared bike is needed. The route is well-signed and has no technical features for smooth sailing.
At the top, there are two downhill options: Lil Pop and Big Pop. Lil Pop (as the name implies) is a shorter 0.17-mile trail that features nice berms, a few rollers, and good speed. It interescts with Big Pop at the bottom where riders can rejoin Hop on Pop for another lap.
Big Pop is much the same, only longer at 0.32 mile. The singletrack meanders through the hills with larger banked turns and tons of flow thanks to pump rollers and a few jumps. Both trails are great for lapping and increasing downhill mountain hike skills before tackling more intermediate terrain. Even seasoned rider like myself enjoy doing a few laps as a warm up before pedaling up Dry Creek to hit Bobsled.
Getting There
If you’d like to ride the new trails at Popperton Park, the place is easy to find. In Salt Lake City, simply drive to the northeast corner of the city in the Avenues neighborhood by going east on South Temple to Virginia Street. Turn left (north) on Virginia as it goes up into the neighborhood. As you pass Shriner’s Hospital on the right, turn right on Popperton Park Way. There is lots of parking on the left. The trailhead are located a quarter-mile further up the street.
Further Reading
Beginner Mountain Bike Trails in Park City
Summer Mountain Biking at Solitude
“Mountain Bike: Park City” Guidebook Features Utah’s Best Singletrack