Suncrest Loop Trail

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Suncrest Loop Trail

The Suncrest Loop Trail contours the slopes on the southern side of Traverse Mountain. The trail is just under 3 miles long. East to west, there's 300 feet of elevation change with total climbing of 500 feet. The trail can be ridden as an out-and-back, or combined with pavement on Deer Ridge Drive and Suncrest Drive for a 4.5-mile loop. Stronger riders use this trail as part of a long and tough all-dirt loop starting in Draper or Alpine. When you hear "Suncrest Loop" this is what most riders are talking about, not just the short trail on the mountaintop. [Note: until the Maple Hollow trail is re-opened, don't do this big loop.]

Typical riding scene about half-way along the loop trail, with low scrub oak along a fairly buff trail surface. Photos by Bruce, September 12, 2008.

The actual Suncrest Loop Trail starts at the Deer Ridge trailhead on the west end of the mountaintop Suncrest subdivision. A short section of cindered path leads to an underpass, after which the trail is narrow singletrack. The riding is intermediate technical, slopes are fairly gentle. A couple of rocky creek-crossings (dry most of the year) may force you hop off the bike. At 2.8 miles from the trailhead, the trail dumps onto Suncrest Drive, where you either head back, or go for your loop ride of choice.

View over Suncrest Drive near the eastern end of the trail. We're looking southeast.

The trail landscape alternates between scrub oak forest and areas of "fill" with handlebar-high grasses. These fill areas are replanted steep transition zones from the leveling of the residential areas on the mountainside above you. In these spots, watch for weeds winding around your rear cogs and jamming your rear derailleur.

Typical revegetation area. Grasses are handlebar high.

About 0.5 miles from the trailhead (heading east), a trail forks downhill. Stay left and uphill. (The forking singletrack heads 1/2 mile down the south-side Maple Hollow and dumps onto dirt road. The road connects to a subdivision low on the mountain, which sports a "no mountain biking" sign at the entrance to the road. It's on Draper's official trail map, so the actual "trespass" status is unclear. See the note below.)

On the western end of the trail, the oaks are bigger and there are a few small maples here and there.

At 0.8 miles, fork right to continue on the Loop Trail. (Left takes you 0.3 miles back up to Deer Ridge Drive.) At 1.4 miles, as the trail hits a dirt road, go uphill about 50 feet and find continuing trail on your right behind the tiny flood-control pond. It's easy to miss! If you hit pavement a little later, go right and find the trail straight off the end of the parking area. From here, navigation should be straight-forward. At the eastern end, turn left and ride up Suncrest Drive to the stop sign. Go straight into Deer Ridge Drive and head back to the trailhead.

This is a view up Clarks Trail, which is the climbing route if you choose to do the 10-mile epic loop.

The 10.4-mile loop ride descends from the Deer Ridge trailhead to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and turns east, climbs Clarks Trail then uses a short section of the Corner Canyon-Hog Hollow road to reach the Suncrest Loop Trail, then runs the trail east-to-west. Absolute elevation change is 1200, with a high of 6200. Total climbing is just over 2000 (plus whatever it took to get you to the loop).

For the epic rides, most bikers chose to start in the valley. Popular trailheads include Coyote Hollow, close to the start of Clarks Trail, and Oak Hollow where parking is available at the pool.

View up the Oak Hollow trail, a popular route to reach the BST and the epic loop.

For a real epic, Utah County riders start in Alpine and climb Hog Hollow. (You'll climb the mountain twice -- once on each side.) There's no parking lot where dirt meets pavement, however. You'll need to pick your parking spot, then ride to the Hog Hollow road. Off-street public parking is available in Burgess Park (see below). Add 1000 feet of vertical, 3.7 miles of dirt (each way), and a mile of city streets for this option. That's 20 miles with 3K climbing.

View eastward on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

Note September 2008: Watch our forum for information on trail closures! The old Maple Hollow trail (which followed the pipeline corridor down the hill) is being replaced by a DH-only trail. The DH trail reaches the bottom, but it's currently closed while work continues. The new bi-directional trail to the west is still under construction. For now, the big loop cannot be done. And when the trails between Deer Ridge and the BST are finished, be sure to obey seasonal trail closures. Clarks Trail and the Maple Hollow DH trail will be closed in early spring and late fall when the trail surface is muddy.

View on the DH trail in the northern Maple Hollow (there's a Maple Hollow on both sides of the mountain). This is a gap jump, with a "B-line" route around it.

Note #2: Legality of the southern Maple Hollow trail. Draper City's official trail map shows a singletrack and dirt road extending south downhill from the west end of the Suncrest Loop Trail. There's some erosion-control work going on around that singletrack, with recent trail reroutes and improvements, so there doesn't seem to be any plan to abandon this route. But at the bottom of the dirt road where it enters the subdivision, there's this sign. Notice it doesn't say "By Order of Draper City" -- it's probably a Homeowners Association or developer thingy. I doubt you can be successfully prosecuted for riding a trail that's shown on the official map as a public trail, but if you park here and somebody tows or boots your car, it could be very inconvenient. So I don't suggest using that lower subdivision as your "trailhead."

Riding Guide to loop, from Alpine:
0.0   Parking in Burgess Park
        Head back (south) to Canyon Crest
0.1   R on Canyon Crest
0.4   L on Long Drive
0.6   R on Ranch Drive
0.9   Cross Westfield Road onto DT
        N40 26.924 W111 47.706
1.1   Fork R
        N40 27.017 W111 47.839
1.8   Straight then veer L uphill
        N40 27.616 W111 47.866

2.2   Rejoin old HH Road, straight
        N40 27.904 W111 48.241
4.1   Veer L
        N40 28.992 W111 49.300
4.2   L on Corner Canyon Rd
4.3   Fork L (leave old CC road)
        N40 28.942 W111 49.573
4.4   Fork R
        N40 28.868 W111 49.563
4.5   Suncrest Drive, L downhill
        N40 28.760 W111 49.508
4.6   Cross street to ST on R, you're there...
        N40 28.688 W111 49.408

Epic Loop Clockwise, from Suncrest Drive:
0.0   Uphill southwest from sidewalk
        N40 28.688 W111 49.408
        Suncrest Loop Trail
0.3   Keep L
        N40 28.453 W111 49.537
1.3   Parking area, go up road 100 feet
        N40 28.326 W111 50.167
        Find ST on L
        N40 28.453 W111 49.537
1.4   Ride around small pond, L on DT
        N40 28.355 W111 50.243
        50 feet down, find ST on R
        N40 28.350 W111 50.260
2.0   Fork L (R = up to road)
        N40 28.395 W111 50.721
2.2   Straight R (L = down Maple Hollow)
        N40 28.361 W111 50.713
2.8   Pass under road, up to Deer Ridge TH
        Find ST trail on L
        N40 28.537 W111 51.066
        DH trail
3.1   Cross DT
        N40 28.593 W111 51.156
3.3   Go either way (L = to "drop-in")
        N40 28.634 W111 51.343

4.7   R (straight = old Maple Hollow)
5.0   Traverse Ridge Rd, L (alt=R)
        N40 29.081 W111 51.856
        Find BST, head east
        Bonneville Shoreline
5.8   Cross Mike Wier
        N40 29.173 W111 51.657
6.8   Keep uphill (down = Spring Hollow)
8.0   Straight (L = Coyote Hollow)
        N40 29.572 W111 50.251
        Clarks Trail
9.6   Top of Clarks, R on CC road
        N40 29.314 W111 49.218
        DT (May change with development)
9.8   Keep R at Hog Hollow
10    Keep R
10.1 Fork L (leave old CC road)
        N40 28.942 W111 49.573
10.2 Fork R (toward Suncrest)
        N40 28.868 W111 49.563
10.3 L downhill along Suncrest
        N40 28.760 W111 49.508
10.4 Cross street to ST on R
        N40 28.688 W111 49.408

Getting there, Deer Ridge trailhead: From I-15 in Salt Lake City, take the Bluffdale exit and head east on Highland Drive toward the mountains. As you reach the traffic light at the top of the hill, about 3/4 mile after leaving the freeway, turn right on Traverse Ridge Road. Drive about two miles up to the top of the mountain. At the stop sign in Suncrest, turn right on Deer Ridge Drive and go 0.9 miles. Just before the road crosses a bridge, turn right onto Elk Glen Drive and immediately turn left to park at the small picnic area. The Suncrest Loop Trail starts with the cinder path on your left. The Maple Hollow DH trail is straight ahead and veers to the right toward the Salt Lake valley.

Oak Hollow (pool) trailhead: Exit I-15 as above and head uphill to the traffic light at the top of the hill. Go straight, then take the next right turn at Vestry Drive in 0.5 mile. Roll around the roundabout to go left, then turn into the pool parking. To start the ride, head back to the roundabout and find the trail on the uphill-southwest side.
Mike Weir (BST) trailhead: Leave I-15 and climb the hill as above, but turn right at the light on Traverse Mountain Road. After one mile, watch for Mike Weir Drive on your left. The trailhead is on your right, 1/2 mile later.
Coyote Hollow (Clarks) trailhead: Take the Bluffdale exit from I-15 and turn east towards the mountains. Climb the hill as above, but turn right at the light on Traverse Mountain Road. After one mile, turn into Mike Weir Drive on your left. Pass the Mike Weir trailhead 1/2 mile later and continue another half mile until the road veers left downhill. Take the next right turn, turn right again, then left. You should now be on Gray Fox Drive. Take the next right into Coyote Hollow Court. The parking is on the right at the end of the pavement.
Burgess Park (Alpine): Head to main street in Alpine. At the traffic circle, turn left on Canyon Crest Road. When you see the park on your right, turn and find a parking spot. On your bike, head back to Canyon Crest, turn left on Long Drive, then right onto the paved bike lane in front of the homes on Ranch Drive. At the top of Ranch Drive where it ends on Westfield Road, the trail is just across the street.

Riding Resources:
Single-page riding guide
GPS Files, incl. Draper trails (Right-click and "Save as..."):
    Garmin      GPX
Track files including route from Alpine:
    Garmin      GPX
Large-format topo map:      Download

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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/