Traverse Ridge Pipeline (Canyon Hollow Trail)
return via Ghost Falls Trail

This is a nice tough hill-climb that's open early in the season. It starts across from the Draper rodeo grounds and climbs to the top of Traverse Ridge. If you ride the loop at the top, then head straight down, it's 5.5 miles. Altitude gain is 1200 feet. There's singletrack much of the way, with the upper Corner Canyon road linking the two sides of the loop.

Fair warning: Most riders will prefer climbing to the top via Clarks Trail or Brocks Point Trail instead of the Pipeline/Canyon Hollow Trail. This stiff granny-gear climb is intended for skilled and very conditioned riders.

The creek breaks into Ghost Falls on the eastern side of the loop. All photos by Bruce Argyle, May 1, 2002.

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From the rodeo arena, climb south on the Lower Corner Canyon dirt road. At 0.9 mile, keep straight (left) asthe road forks (right goes to the race loop). Keep straight ahead whenever doubletracks branch off.  The trail alternates between doubletrack and singletrack. At mile 1.7, you may notice a singletrack coming in from the left. This will be your return loop.

Long-leaf phlox blooms on sunny hillsides of the Wasatch Front.

The trail becomes steeper, and turns right then back left. It arrives at the gravel Corner Canyon Road just below Traverse Ridge at mile 2.5. If you want to peek into Utah County, turn right and go 0.25 miles.

Looking up the singletrack, a cluster of Oregon Grape grows in the shade of the maples.

Go left downhill on the Corner Canyon Road about 1/2 mile. After the trail has turned out of a small canyon and is going back west, look for a broad parking area on your left. Drop over the far edge of the dirt-pile, and find the singletrack about 40 feet later on your right, heading downhill and north.

Leaving the dry oak and sage of South Mountain, the Traverse Ridge trail runs through maple and choke cherry. The ground is covered with Oregon Grape and Dwarf Waterleaf. This is a cooler, more moist ecosystem.

Looking north from the top of Traverse Ridge, the Salt Lake Valley fades into the distance.

Dwarf waterleaf blooms under the maples along the trail.

Stop at the falls for a photo. 0.75 miles from the Corner Canyon road, you'll rejoin the uphill track. After another 0.8 miles, you have the opportunity to turn left at the original fork in the road, which will take you onto the South Mountain Race Loop.

Getting there: Take the Bluffdale exit from I-15 and turn east towards the mountains. Continue straight through the stop sign, under the railroad, then continue east through the South Mountain development right to the end of the road. Park at the end of the road. On your left, you'll see a corral with a white fence. On the right, the Lower Corner Canyon road heads uphill (GPS N 40° 30.351' W 111° 50.721'). To reach the trailhead from the north (Sandy area), take 13th East southward until it ends at the stop sign just past the underpass. Turn left and drive 1/4 mile to the end of the road.
Riding Resources for this trail:
Single-page riding guides:
Standard loop or Clarks Ghost        Via Pipeline
See also:   Corner Canyon Winter Figure-8   Clarks Trail
       Ghost Falls      Draper Race Loop    Brocks Point

Topo map (includes Ghost Falls, Pipeline, Clarks, BST):  View  		GPS track files (right-click and "Save as...") Ghost Falls Loop:
   Garmin     GPX
GPS track files Clarks Ghost Loop:
   Garmin     GPX
GPS track files Draper Race Loop:
   Garmin   National Geographic   Google Earth    GPX
GPS Track files, entire Ghost Falls area:
   Garmin   National Geographic   Google Earth    GPX

For additional information, including nearby lodging, rentals, camping, and current conditions, may we suggest:
General info on visiting Salt Lake City:  http://www.slctravel.com/  http://www.go-utah.com/salt-lake-city 
Lodging in Salt Lake City:  http://www.utah.com/lodging/saltlakecity.htm
Utah outdoor activities:  http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/ 
Camping:  http://www.outdoorsinutah.com/camping.htm 
Ranger District (includes dog regulations, camping): http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/wcnf/unit/slrd/questions.shtml 
Bonneville Shoreline Trail website:  http://www.bonneville-trail.org/ 

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