Looking northeast at Lone Peak as we climb toward Traverse Ridge. Photos and track by Bruce on September 3, 2017. Page updated July 14, 2019.
Woods Hollow
with Rattle and Hum downhill trail
with Rattle and Hum downhill trail
is an easy 1.8-mile two-way trail that joins the South Maple Hollow trailhead (and the bottom of the Zooropa, Vertigo, Levitate and Rattle and Hum downhill-only trails) to the Eagle Crest trail near the top of Traverse Mountain. It is also the route to the Fango connector trail to hit the Mercer Hollow and Hog Hollow area. is a 1.5-mile beginner-level downhill flow trail that begins and ends on the Woods Hollow trail.
The most frequent "customers" of Woods Hollow will be riders climbing up to Eagle Crest in
order to ride downhill on one of the four dowhill flow trails. As a route to the top, Woods
Hollow is an easier climb than
South Maple
Hollow
, both aerobically and technically. Beginners will enjoy Woods Hollow all by itself as an out-and-back,
or as a loop with Rattle and Hum.
New Maple Hollow trailhead in 2019. To get to Woods Hollow, go east from the trailhead. Aim for the right side of the log fence where the one-way trails come into the trailhead area.
Rolling a turn on Rattle and Hum in July 2019.
Rattle and Hum is a downhill flow trail suitable for true beginners. The trail has been constructed
in a way that it will remain a "dirt sidewalk" without technical challenges. Beginning riders
will want to start from the South Maple Hollow trailhead, climb uphill on Woods Hollow, then
descend Rattle and Hum for an easy 3.4-mile loop.
Woods Hollow
Woods Hollow is 1.8 miles long (from the South Maple Hollow trailhead to Eagle Crest) with
450 feet of elevation gain. The newer Rattle and Hum trail forks away at the last uphill turn
before Woods Hollow reaches Eagle Crest, 0.1 miles from the top.
The Woods Hollow trail starts in South Maple Hollow, forking away from the combined Vertigo and Levitate trails about 100 yards before they hit the trailhead on Brookside Drive. As you head east from the trailhead area, keep to the right of the log fence to start uphill on Woods Hollow. The first fork is the return from Rattle and Hum (do not enter). The second fork is the Fango connector trail, about 1/2 mile uphill from the trailhead.
Climbing Woods Hollow as the sun rises. While much of the hillside is low oak scrub, Woods Hollow does spend some time in tall maple and oak forest.
Just getting started. We're riding east parallel to Brookside Drive.
The Woods Hollow trail lies to the east of the Levitate and Rattle and Hum trails. From an
altitude of 5400 feet it heads east over a low rise and passes through Woods Hollow. Then it
crosses a ridge into Broadleaf Hollow where it continues toward the Eagle Crest Trail near
the top of Traverse Mountain. It reaches Eagle Crest about 1/2 mile east of the Eagle Crest
trailhead. The altitude gain is just under 500 feet over 1.8 miles, at a fairly gentle and
constant climbing pace.
The trail surface is smooth and broad with no major technical obstacles. It's very suitable
for beginning riders. Turns are mostly smooth and gradual. There's one shorter-radius 180-degree
turn near the top, but the cut is still generous enough that most beginners can easily crank
right around.
Most of the terrain is groves of gambel oak. This is a short stretch of maple forest.
Looking southwest toward Utah Lake.
The Rattle and Hum trail is at the last turn before Woods Hollow reaches the Eagle Crest trail.
Keep straight to descend Rattle and Hum, or turn hard right to continue climbing to Eagle Crest.
At Eagle Crest, riders can continue east to Suncrest Drive near the top of the Mercer Hollow trail. Or, you can do a hard left turn to go westbound toward the Eagle Crest trailhead. This section of Eagle Crest also climbs gently uphill. Just past the trailhead are drop-ins to Vertigo, then Levitate, then Zooropa. These trails are downhill-only.
A loop that descends Vertigo will be exactly 4.0 miles with 550 vertical feet of climbing.
A loop with Rattle and Hum is a bit easier at 3.4 miles with 450 feet of climbing. Beginner
and early-intermediate riders may find a single lap to be enough. Experts will crank around
again and again.
As a two-way trail, you can simply descend back down Woods Hollow. This is a more interesting and "natural" feeling ride than Rattle and Hum.
Southeast, with Cascade Mountain in the middle. Suncrest Drive is far enough below that I don't hear the traffic.
Another loop option is to continue west on Eagle Crest and descend South Maple Hollow. This
is another good option for beginners or early-intermediates -- or for any rider who isn't ready
to take air on Levitate and doesn't want to maintain the high speeds expected on Vertigo.
Rattle and Hum
Rattle and Hum is a 1.5-mile downhill flow trail that begins on upper Woods Hollow and ends
on lower Woods Hollow. There's 375 feet of elevation loss over the length of the trail, with
a gentle and fairly constant slope.
Looking northwest on Rattle and Hum. On the left, you can make out the edge of Levitate on the slope above. This section is typical -- broad flat trail with gentle rollers to break up the descent.
Coming around a turn with Lone Peak rising above Traverse Ridge in the background.
Rattle and Hum is a beginner-level trail. New riders will find this trail to be a friendly
downhill coast. The trail has gentle rollers in the straight sections. Turns are banked with
a very generous turning radius. There are super-long sight lines. No surprises.
The trail is specially constructed to maintain its beginner "dirt sidewalk" character. So far,
it's the only trail of its kind that I've encountered in Utah. The riding surface is broad
and smooth -- and here's what is different -- it's elevated above the surrounding terrain so
that it can remain free of roots and rocks.
Almost the entire length of the trail has an uphill trench to collect water, so the riding surface will remain unaffected by spring runoff. And it will dry quickly.
Rolling into a turn. Again, notice the deep trench on the uphill side of the trail.
Rather than allowing water to "sheet" across the trail, Rattle and Hum has been built with
a trench on the uphill side to collect water. There are periodic tunnel drains to take the
water underneath the trail. So the trail surface should stay flat. The trench-and-elevated-trail
design will also resist encroachment by oak brush.
At the bottom of Rattle and Hum, the trail falls onto the 2017 trail-cut for Woods Hollow.
(A short section of Woods Hollow was moved downhill to make room for Rattle and Hum.) Then
it joins Woods Hollow about 1/10th mile from the Levitate/Vertigo trail fork.
Looking southeast from the trail at the mountains of Utah Valley's Wasatch Front.
Almost there on Woods Hollow. We'll join Eagle Crest just below the homes.
Bottom Line!
Woods Hollow and Rattle and Hum are a very nice additions to Draper's trail system. They provide a much-needed beginner option for the south side of Traverse Mountain. Although Woods Hollow is not as scenic as South Maple Hollow, it's an easier climb -- and although it's slightly longer it's probably faster for most riders. Rattle and Hum is a good choice for true beginner mountain bikers.
Woods Hollow and Rattle and Hum are a very nice additions to Draper's trail system. They provide a much-needed beginner option for the south side of Traverse Mountain. Although Woods Hollow is not as scenic as South Maple Hollow, it's an easier climb -- and although it's slightly longer it's probably faster for most riders. Rattle and Hum is a good choice for true beginner mountain bikers.
Loop ride, descending Vertigo:
0.0 Find spur on north side of Brookside Drive
N40 27.695 W111 50.157
50 feet to Vertigo/Levitate, then fork R
1.7 Hard L on Eagle Crest
N40 28.201 W111 49.700
2.2 Curve around trailhead parking
N40 28.317 W111 50.164
0.0 Find spur on north side of Brookside Drive
N40 27.695 W111 50.157
50 feet to Vertigo/Levitate, then fork R
1.7 Hard L on Eagle Crest
N40 28.201 W111 49.700
2.2 Curve around trailhead parking
N40 28.317 W111 50.164
2.3 L on Vertigo
N40 28.353 W111 50.250
3.9 Join Levitate
N40 27.740 W111 50.113
4.0 L for another climb
N40 27.716 W111 50.145
Straight for Brookside Drive
N40 28.353 W111 50.250
3.9 Join Levitate
N40 27.740 W111 50.113
4.0 L for another climb
N40 27.716 W111 50.145
Straight for Brookside Drive
Map of the south Maple Hollow area.
Getting there: 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 to the
stop sign.
From Utah County, get on the Timpanogos Highway. At the Lehi-Highland border, go north on Highland Blvd at the big stop light east of Smiths. This will become Suncrest Drive as it enters Draper. Climb to the stop sign at the top of the hill.
Deer Ridge (Maple Hollow) trailhead: At the stop sign in Suncrest, get on Deer Ridge Drive (right turn from SLC, straight from Utah Co). 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.
From Utah County, get on the Timpanogos Highway. At the Lehi-Highland border, go north on Highland Blvd at the big stop light east of Smiths. This will become Suncrest Drive as it enters Draper. Climb to the stop sign at the top of the hill.
Deer Ridge (Maple Hollow) trailhead: At the stop sign in Suncrest, get on Deer Ridge Drive (right turn from SLC, straight from Utah Co). 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.
Eagle Crest trailhead: From the hill-top stop sign above, go
south on Traverse Ridge Road (straight from SLC, left turn from Utah Co).
To to the end of the road and park. Vertigo is about 1/10 mile west of the
trailhead on the Eagle Crest trail.
Brookside Drive Trailhead (South Maple Hollow): Brookside Drive turns to the west off Suncrest Drive, just uphill from the Maple Hollow subdivision. This is about a mile uphill from Utah Valley. Drive past the homes and uphill to the end of the road. The South Maple Hollow trail is on the west side of the road. It will take you uphill, where you can connect to the Eagle Crest trail then continue east to Vertigo.
Top of Mercer Hollow: There is some roadside parking off Suncrest Drive near the top of the trail, on the east side of the road 1/2 mile downhill from the four-way stop in Suncrest. But there are some cautions. In 2016 this is an active construction area, so be sure you're not in an access-point or work zone!
Bottom of Mercer Hollow: There's room for 3 or 4 cars at the bottom of the doubletrack portion of Mercer Hollow on Suncrest Drive.
Brookside Drive Trailhead (South Maple Hollow): Brookside Drive turns to the west off Suncrest Drive, just uphill from the Maple Hollow subdivision. This is about a mile uphill from Utah Valley. Drive past the homes and uphill to the end of the road. The South Maple Hollow trail is on the west side of the road. It will take you uphill, where you can connect to the Eagle Crest trail then continue east to Vertigo.
Top of Mercer Hollow: There is some roadside parking off Suncrest Drive near the top of the trail, on the east side of the road 1/2 mile downhill from the four-way stop in Suncrest. But there are some cautions. In 2016 this is an active construction area, so be sure you're not in an access-point or work zone!
Bottom of Mercer Hollow: There's room for 3 or 4 cars at the bottom of the doubletrack portion of Mercer Hollow on Suncrest Drive.
Riding Resources:
Single-page riding guide
GPS track files for download (Right-click and "Save as..."):
Woods Hollow track only
Loop with Vertigo
Draper Traverse Ridge area multi-track file
Larger Corner Canyon area multi-track file
Higher-res satellite map for printing: View map
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to southern SLC resources
Single-page riding guide
GPS track files for download (Right-click and "Save as..."):
Woods Hollow track only
Loop with Vertigo
Draper Traverse Ridge area multi-track file
Larger Corner Canyon area multi-track file
Higher-res satellite map for printing: View map
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to southern SLC resources
