Northbound on the H Loop, with downtown Salt Lake in the background. Photos and ride review by Bruce on November 22, 2021.
East Bench Preserve (H Trail)
The tiny East Bench Preserve lies in the eastern foothills at around 21st South. The trails here will likely be of interest only to those who live nearby. There's a traversing trail that crosses the hillside from north to south, joining two trailheads. On the lower slope is a loop of narrow technically-challenging singletrack that is probably not officially sanctioned.
The tiny East Bench Preserve lies in the eastern foothills at around 21st South. The trails here will likely be of interest only to those who live nearby. There's a traversing trail that crosses the hillside from north to south, joining two trailheads. On the lower slope is a loop of narrow technically-challenging singletrack that is probably not officially sanctioned.
There are three access points:
Devonshire Drive has a few parking spots in the circle at the end of the road. Here a paved path takes southbound you into the preserve.
Lakeline Drive has several parking spots at the end of the street. Here the wide cindered path enters the preserve northbound. This trailhead is just 1/10th mile uphill from the northern end of ">Parley's Pointe BST.
Scenic Drive's northern end has a trail angling north into the preserve. After 100 yards, this intersects bottom of the singletrack loop.
Devonshire Drive has a few parking spots in the circle at the end of the road. Here a paved path takes southbound you into the preserve.
Lakeline Drive has several parking spots at the end of the street. Here the wide cindered path enters the preserve northbound. This trailhead is just 1/10th mile uphill from the northern end of ">Parley's Pointe BST.
Scenic Drive's northern end has a trail angling north into the preserve. After 100 yards, this intersects bottom of the singletrack loop.
Parking at the end of Lakeline Drive.
Straight ahead is the Waterline trail, and angling off to the left is the narrow Devonshire singletrack.
Waterline Trail and Devonshire Trail.
From the south, a wide cindered trail sits on top of the water line. This trail heads north, contouring the hillside before ending just below the "H" on the mountain. As this trail reaches the northern end of fenced private property at mile 0.1, a narrow singletrack trail forks away downhill. This trail stays a bit below the Waterline trail. It will connect directly to the paved trail from Devonshire Drive. The combination of the Waterline and Devonshire trails is yields only 0.5 miles between the two trailheads.
From the south, a wide cindered trail sits on top of the water line. This trail heads north, contouring the hillside before ending just below the "H" on the mountain. As this trail reaches the northern end of fenced private property at mile 0.1, a narrow singletrack trail forks away downhill. This trail stays a bit below the Waterline trail. It will connect directly to the paved trail from Devonshire Drive. The combination of the Waterline and Devonshire trails is yields only 0.5 miles between the two trailheads.
H Trail DH
At mile 0.2, a DH trail originates on the Waterline trail and crosses the Devonshire trail. It will drop 100 vertical feet then loop around, with a zigzag climbing route to bring you back up to the northern side of the Devonshire trail. A loop down and back up (including the 0.2 miles of Devonshire to tie the two ends together) is exactly one mile.
At mile 0.2, a DH trail originates on the Waterline trail and crosses the Devonshire trail. It will drop 100 vertical feet then loop around, with a zigzag climbing route to bring you back up to the northern side of the Devonshire trail. A loop down and back up (including the 0.2 miles of Devonshire to tie the two ends together) is exactly one mile.
A few wiggles through sagebrush slope.
Rock garden.
The DH portion is only 0.2 miles, dropping 100 vertical feet through sage brush with occasional
rock gardens.
The DH portion of the trail then turns to the northwest and contours the hillside. Most of
this is gently downhill, with only an occasional rock or encroaching bit
of brush.
Crossing the bottom of the preserve between the steep downhill and the climbing trail.
At the bottom of the climbing trail. Fork uphill to the right on the little trail.
H Trail Climb
At mile 0.4, the H Trail reaches a broad trail that climbs from the end of Scenic Drive, visits a rock outcrop, then descends to Mohawk Way. Join the broad trail, then immediately fork to the right uphill on the narrower trail. This is the climbing route to the top.
At mile 0.4, the H Trail reaches a broad trail that climbs from the end of Scenic Drive, visits a rock outcrop, then descends to Mohawk Way. Join the broad trail, then immediately fork to the right uphill on the narrower trail. This is the climbing route to the top.
The narrow singletrack climbs through four turns back to the Devonshire trail. It's a bit under
200 vertical feet in 0.4 miles, but the twisty narrow track (and an embedded
rock or two) make
it feel like more. Turns are almost unrideably tight and there are a couple
of pedal-banger
rock squeezes. So I'm giving the loop and expert rating overall.
Northbound through a few wiggles on the climbing trail.
Map of the area trails.
Getting there:
East Bench Preserve Lakeline Drive TH: As above, turn off Foothill Drive onto 21st South. Turn right on Scenic Drive. Turn hard left to Lakeline Drive and continue uphill to the end of the road to park.
Devonshire Drive TH: From Foothill Blvd, take Skyline Drive uphill. Turn right at Eagle Way, then left onto Commanche Drive. Turn right when you hit Devonshire and proceed to the end of the road.
(The map of Parley's Pointe BST is used here in case you were including the climbing portion of the H Trail as a dirt route uphill to the BST.)
Bathrooms: none at either trailhead
Water: none
Repair kiosks: none
Riding resources for this trail:
GPS track files (right-click and "Save as..."):
Area GPX multi track file
Map of the area trails: View
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to northern SLC resources
GPS track files (right-click and "Save as..."):
Area GPX multi track file
Map of the area trails: View
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to northern SLC resources
