BIG WATER TRAIL TO DOG LAKE | AxS (Access) Trail

Adaptive riders on Big Water Trail to Dog Lake

Trails Utah is has developed a partnership with Wasatch Adaptive Sports along with board member and adaptive rider Wally Lee, and the US Forest Service (USFS) to modify existing trails, making them accessible for Off Road Hand Cycles.

The first trail we are working on is the Big Water Trail to Dog Lake, in Millcreek Canyon. We plan to make modifications such as removing large rocks, adjusting camber, trimming shrubs, and widening turns. The community of adaptive athletes in this area continues to grow, and they are seeking out more challenging opportunities to get out on trails.

Adaptive mountain bike technology is making huge strides, allowing more people with spinal cord and other injuries to get out on trails, something they may not have imagined possible even just 5-10 years ago. It is Trails Utah’s hope to continue this trend by adapting trails to handle the increasing physical and technical capabilities of modern-day adaptive athletes.

We have a wonderful partnership with the US Forest Service in Millcreek Canyon, so that is where we are starting this ongoing effort to expand trail access and create a more diverse and inclusive user base. The trails we’ll be starting with are the Dog Lake Trail, from Big Water Trail to Dog Lake, and the section of Great Western Trail from Big Water Trail to the Park City overlook.

Our contractor, Nature Trails, completed one mile of trail in the fall of 2023 before the freeze came, and we have just completed the remainder of the Phase I (as of July 25th, 2024)! Phase II, which will focus on a loop option from Dog Lake, will begin some time in 2025.

Project work for Phase I and II focuses on making the trail ABA compliant. (ABA refers to the Architectural Barriers Act, which details scoping and technical requirements for accessibility to recreational sites by individuals with disabilities).

Special thanks to the Craig H. Neilson Foundation, Sorenson Legacy Foundation, George S. & Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, Athletic Brewing, Walmart Community Grant, Maverik / The Call Foundation, and Kennecott Utah Copper Charitable Foundation.