Trails Utah continues to advocate for improving the Mormon Pioneer Trail where it begins at Little Dell Reservoir and Recreation Area and climbs up to Big Mountain Pass on the border of Salt Lake and Morgan Counties.
This historic stretch of trail, open to mountain biking, needed several reroutes, turns, and grade reversals to shed channeling water along straight-away sections.
Many improvements were made along the two lower sections in 2017, thanks to Salt Lake City Watershed and the State Parks Recreational Trails Program.
Over the last year Trails Utah has been working with the Salt Lake Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and Salt Lake City Watershed to plan for an additional reroute on the section above the second road crossing. The existing trail extending from the road crossing up to the bridge is steep and rocky, exceeding 25% grade in places.
We are proposing a new trail option that would cross the gully heading south, below the start of the steep section, and climb into the aspens on the north face of the drainage. This new trail section would gain elevation making several switchbacks, and climb heading east, rejoining the main trail just above the bridge.
Trails Utah is grateful to work with our partners at Salt Lake City Watershed and the Forest Service to plan for trails that can improve trails while helping celebrate and protect this beautiful and historically important area.
Access to the trailhead is at the Little Dell Reservoir parking area. Heading down the first part of the trail, you come to a fork. To access the new portion of this trail, go left at the fork.
While grants cover some costs, donations and membership dollars are crucial for ongoing planning and environmental reviews. Consider supporting Trails Utah through donations or becoming a sustaining member.
