HYDE PARK — Recently, a new portion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail was unveiled up Hyde Park Canyon. The 2.85 mile trail project was made possible by grants, tax dollars, and a partnership between Hyde Park city and a private landowner.
The following is a trail review:
If you are looking to get out and about by yourself, with friends, and/or family, this is a great beginner non-motorized trail to break in those shoes or bike tires.
The newest portion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail spans nearly three miles near the mouth of Hyde Park Canyon, but it is not a loop, so you can turn around whenever and go at whatever pace is necessary to enjoy the scenic view of the valley as the trail winds around the foothills.
Getting to the trailhead:
Drive up Hyde Park Canyon Road until the paved road ends and it becomes gravel. You will approach a series of cattle gates. It is important you close the gate behind you, as there are wild horses on the property. After going through the first gate, there will be one more several hundred yards later, then you can drive up to the trailhead and park. Make sure to shut and lock the cattle gates behind you … or that will be why we can’t have nice things.
Hiking the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST):
The trail is well marked, excavated and wide enough for several people to walk side-by-side. So if you are in an area that isn’t well maintained, you have probably found yourself on a mountain bike or cattle trail. It is a gentle up and down gravel path. There is about 400 feet of elevation gain. Plan on it taking about one hour to comfortably hike the trail.
It is not shaded at all on the northern segment of the trail, so hike in the evening or early morning to avoid grasshoppers and the relentless sun.
The fun thing about hiking any segment of the BST in Utah is you not only get a fantastic view of the valley below all the time (because the trail parallels the mountainside) but you’re also walking a historic path along what used to be Lake Bonneville thousands of years ago. It used to span 20,000 square miles from Red Rock Pass in Idaho and all the way southern Utah.
Future expansion of the trail is in the works with Hyde Park collaborating with Trails Cache, North Logan, and Smithfield cities.