CITY GUIDE 2017 

Page 3 of 20

Bike On!
SLC and its environs abound with spots for two-wheeled fun.
By Dylan Woolf Harris

With its unique proximity to pristine wind-swept deserts, gorgeous mountain peaks and a network of trails, Salt Lake City is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape urban cement-and-concrete. You can head south to the Slick Rock Mars-scape surrounding Moab, have a go at the demanding Jardine Juniper Trail in Logan Canyon or explore Gooseberry Mesa in the St. George area. Like your bike treks with breathtaking views? Then the unrivaled trail system in Summit County is for you.

"Within half a day's drive of Salt Lake City, you've got some of the best mountain biking anywhere in the world," Brent Hulme, owner of Salt Lake City Bicycle Co., says. "Southern Utah, western Colorado, southern Idaho and the Wasatch Front when it's not winter. There's not very many places in the United States where you could be so close to so many really, really good trails."

But cyclists—whether proficient or newbies—don't have to leave the valley to access killer trails. Hugging the Wasatch Range, mountain-bike routes cut through the stunning fir, spruce and quaking aspen forests. Speedier paths have been paved on the open, flat valley floor. And insane jump parks can be found on the edges of the city.

• ut.gov

Bonneville Shoreline Trail
Outdoor enthusiasts have long gravitated to the remnant shoreline path created by Lake Bonneville, the prehistoric body of water that filled the Great Basin. A stretch of trail from City Creek Canyon to the Hogle Zoo area in Emigration Canyon is particularly traveled by city dwellers looking for a quick escape. City Creek Canyon is a great starting point, though it's a fairly steep climb to the trail.

Once on the trail, it doesn't follow the ancient shoreline exactly. It navigates through various features or property lines but essentially maintains elevation. Depending on where you access the Bonneville Shoreline—there are several points of ingress—you can find auxiliary trails if you want to stray from the path.

• Jesse Coss

The Bobsled
From the shoreline trail, riders can access the Bobsled, an offshoot line. It's a sought-after downhill, freeride trail, maybe one of the most popular in an urban interface. Steep berms hug the turns along segments of this dirt-and-rock path, resembling its namesake.

Juxtaposing the natural landscape, a few rusted-out cars sit mid-trail. These have been repurposed as jump features. Confident bikers have been known to hit the ramps and sail—from bumper to bumper—over the abandoned vehicles.

For the quickest route to the Bobsled, go right on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail above Terrace Hills for about half a mile.

• John Shafer

Wasatch Crest Trail
The Wasatch Crest Trail is a favored intermediate-to-advanced ride, and an exceptional way to experience the ridgeline of the Wasatch Mountains. Riders have abundant options. Try the route that starts near Guardsman Pass up Big Cottonwood Canyon, drops past Desolation Lake and continues to the mouth of Millcreek Canyon. Shuttle companies can arrange drop-off or pick-up.

• Cody Gessel

Jump Parks
If you follow I Street above the north slope of Salt Lake City, the road changes names as it loops through a neighborhood, and finally becomes 18th Avenue. After you pass an LDS chapel, look to the left for a trailhead to the Bonneville Shoreline that bypasses a water tank. Behind the tank is a riding space with 50 to 60 bike jumps catering to all experience levels.

BMX riders will feel in their element at Tanner Park (pictured below). Armed with shovels, rakes and buckets of water, a posse of friends molded this park by the sweat of their brows. The park, located at Heritage Way and 2700 East, is the premier jump park. It contains a line of gap jumps that wind past deciduous trees. The bike trails can be found on the south side of Parleys Creek.

• Jacob Hutchins

Corner Canyon
Ask the mountain-bike community for route suggestions, and you're bound to be pointed some 18 miles from downtown to Draper. A network of bike trails in Corner Canyon have become a mountain-biking mecca in the valley and the state. The trails are well maintained and can take you to the top of the hill where you can peer over into Utah County. This network extends through the foothills above Draper.

Pathways
Motorized vehicles pose the biggest danger to bicycle riders, so anytime a cyclist can find a path that is detached from the road, it puts drivers of both cars and bikes at ease. Around the Salt Lake City area, several paths serve as great scenic escapes.

• rachel scott

The Jordan River Trail (pictured below) is a hard-surface series of trails that connect Provo to Ogden. For the most part, this multi-use path is segregated from cars. Sitting at the bottom of the valley, the trail is fairly level and perfect for a quick cruise on a road bike. It passes through nature areas along the Jordan River.

Riders can hop on the Legacy Parkway Trail by pedaling down North Temple near the Utah State Fair Park. This trail is clean, and not as overrun by goathead weeds—the obnoxious plants that produce tire-destroying thorns.

Between Interstate 80 and the Great Salt Lake runs a frontage path popular with road bikers. It can be accessed near the south side of the Salt Lake City International Airport. On one section, riders are asked not to stop for security reasons. The route travels through an industrial area west of the airport, continues to hug the lakeshore, passes Saltair and continues to the marina.

Where to go for gear, tuneups or new set of wheels:

Whether you're ready for a new bike, need a general tuneup or are seeking that one replacement part, Salt Lake City and the surrounding area is home to numerous shops that have the selection and staff with the know-how to get you back on the streets or trails.

Bicycle Center
As well as full-service maintenance packages, you'll also find à la carte services—like derailleur adjustments and hydraulic brake bleeds.
2200 S. 700 East, SLC,
801-484-5275,
bicyclecenter.com

Bingham Cyclery
A staple in the Salt Lake, Ogden, Sandy and Sunset communities since the shop's inception in 1962.
Multiple locations,
binghamcyclery.com

Canyon Bicycles
Along with a commitment with high school mountain bike leagues, Canyon also provides free use of Cyclocross bikes to junior riders.
Multiple locations,
canyonbicycles.com

Contender Bicycles
A hearty stock is complemented by a blog that's a bastion of bike-related info—from reviews on the latest road shoes to season-specific riding condition prep.
989 E. 900 South, SLC,
801-364-0344,
contenderbicycles.com

Crank SLC
The urban cyclist's one-stop shop in the heart of downtown.
749 S. State, SLC,
385-528-1158,
crankslc.com

Go-Ride
Want to try before you buy? Go-Ride's demo program will help you find the perfect bike, Goldilocks-style.
3232 S. 400 East, SLC, 801-474-0081;
12288 S. 900 East, Draper, 801-474-0082,
go-ride.com

Guthrie Bicycle Co.
This SLC O.G. traces its roots back to 1888 when the Meredith Brothers started manufacturing bicycles in downtown Salt Lake City.
803 E. 2100 South, SLC,
801-484-0404,
guthriebike.com

Hyland Cyclery
Whether you're looking for BMX, mountain or road bikes, H.C. has got you covered.
3040 S. Highland Drive, SLC,
801-467-0914,
hylandcyclery.com

Salt Lake City Bicycle Co.
"Bikes are a clean and simple solution to many of life's complex problems" is the philosophy here.
247 S. 500 East, SLC,
801-746-8366,
slcbike.com

Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective
Along with providing a space for DIY fixes, this co-op has helped launch an admirable "Bikes for Tykes" program that gifts kids their first bike.
2312 S. West Temple, SLC,
801-328-2453,
bicyclecollective.org

Wild Rose Mountain Sports
Visiting SLC and left your bike back home? Wild Rose rents dual-suspension bicycles for $40-$75 a day.
702 Third Ave.,SLC,
801-533-8671,
wildrosesports.com