Utah’s vast and diverse landscapes offer endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Whether you’re hiking, biking, riding horseback, or exploring with your pup, every trail user plays a role in keeping our trails safe, enjoyable, and sustainable.
This guide brings together the Four C’s of Trail Etiquette, Leave No Trace principles, right-of-way rules, and best practices by user type—so everyone can enjoy the journey while protecting the places we love.
🥾 Hikers & Runners
🚴 Mountain Bikers
🐾 Dog Owners
Leave No Trace (LNT) principles guide responsible recreation:
On Utah’s trails, that also means:
Knowing who yields to whom—and how to behave based on your activity—keeps trail traffic flowing and helps everyone feel welcome.
Yielding isn’t about who’s more important—it’s about safety, momentum, and respect. Slow down, make eye contact, and communicate when passing others. A friendly “Hey there!” can go a long way.
The Four C’s offer a simple way to remember what good trail behavior looks like:
Whether you’re out for solitude, fitness, or fun, trail etiquette is about creating a better experience for everyone. Respect nature. Respect others. And enjoy the journey.
📍 Want to give back? Volunteer or donate to help maintain Utah’s trails
Additional resources
Trails Utah partnered with the US Forest Service (USFS), Town of Brighton, Salt Lake County, and Utah Department of Outdoor Recreation to revamp the Silver Lake Loop Trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon, located in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This trail is the most visited point of interest in the Wasatch Mountains.
While the USFS worked on replacing the boardwalk section of the loop, Trails Utah refurbished the natural surface sections on the southern and eastern segments and assisted with the final section of boardwalk. Project work included replacing disintegrating handrails and wooden retaining walls with stacked rock.
The Silver Lake Loop is designed to accommodate wheelchairs and other adaptive modes of non-motorized transport. This makes it the only ADA-accessible trail in the Wasatch Mountains.
A ribbon cutting and grand opening for the Silver Lake Loop took place on October 11th, 2024.
Silver Lake Loop is located 15 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton, Utah. The area features an accessible boardwalk with interpretive signs around a picturesque natural lake. The boardwalk is accessible from May to October, weather permitting, and is managed by the Solitude Nordic Center for cross-country skiing during the winter. This area is part of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and is accessible via UT 190.
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.
