New trails are always welcome news, especially when they’re singletrack and mountain-bike friendly. So when Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation announced the opening of the Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park, I had to check it out.
The Opening of New Trails in Butterfield Canyon
Hosted by Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, Rio Tinto Kennecott, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 31 marked the grand opening of this trail park. Nestled in the southwest corner of Salt Lake County in Herriman, this trail network offers a whopping 16 miles of multi-use trails, catering to hikers, equestrians, trail runners, and, of course, us mountain bikers.
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson put it best at the press event when she said, “I had the opportunity to hike Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park several weeks ago. It was exhilarating to connect with the land and take in these breathtaking views.” I couldn’t agree more. This place is a great addition for mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. It’s a testament to our county’s commitment to open space and preserving the natural beauty that surrounds us.
How Are The Trails for Mountain Biking?
Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park is part of the Southwest Canyon Trails Network, covering a whopping 2,500 acres in Rose, Yellow Fork, and Butterfield canyons. The most recent addition, a glorious 16 acres in Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park, is the result of a lease agreement between Salt Lake County and Rio Tinto Kennecott, and it’s a game-changer for those who live in the southwest corner of the valley.
As for mountain biking, it’s pretty darn good. The trails are machine cut by an expert who knew what he was doing. The grades, berms, and climbs are well thought out and fun. To sample the new network, my friend, Adam Symonds and I parked at the temporary parking lot near the trailhead. From there, we chose to climb up Bingham, which was an easy ascent that connects to the Copper Rise trail for even more climbing (though a bit more steep than Bingham.)
At the top of Copper Rise, there is a short loop to the Rio Tino Observation Point where we could take in the massive operation that is the copper mine, which looms over the park and dominates the skyline. After checking out the view, we doubled back and started our descent on Sorta Shady. Navigation here was tricky as the signs pointed to a black diamond trail called Ridgeline where the blue Sorta Shady seemed to start, but we eventually found it and used it to connect with and descend Juniper to the bottom. Both trails proved to be really fun to go down on mountain bikes, especially Juniper and that trail features the biggest berms and even has a few purposeful jumps thrown into the mix.
For a second round, we rode Lucky Boy as an out-and-back. This trail, like the others, is more smooth singletrack with wide corners and lots of fun.
Overall Impressions
Overall the trails at Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park are non-technical. The singletrack is smooth with very few rocks or obstacles. Difficulty ratings on the signs I suppose refer to the steepness of the trails more than anything, as the intermediate blue trails do have some steep, punchy climbs what beginners might struggle to pedal up. The only black-rated trail, Ridgeline, looked to be an old, rocky jeep road that goes straight down the mountainside.
Trail construction began in the summer of 2022, and in addition to these multi-user trails, the regional park will boast a trailhead and parking lot, set to be completed in Fall 2023. Future plans include even more trails to be built as well, so keep checking back on this work in progress. For more information, visit slco.to/southwest-canyons.
*Article written with the help of ChatGPT
I agree that the signage is confusing…and glad it’s not just me!