Mayors Trail
with Lehi's Dream DH and Draper Connector
with Lehi's Dream DH and Draper Connector
Mayors Trail is a higher-elevation route at the western ridgeline of Traverse Mountain. It has created some nice new loop riding options through its connections to Lolo's Loop, Traverse Traverse, a new DH (under construction), and a road plus doubletrack connection to the upper Maple Hollow trailhead.
Note that, until the Lehi's Dream DH is legally open for riding, I won't be telling you how to find it or showing any photos. Sorry.
View northwest (with the Bingham Canyon mine seen
just above the trail). Review by Bruce on July 21, 2024.
The Mayors trail is 2.2 miles long, running from the top of the
Lolo's loop on the south to the Traverse Traverse trail on the ridgeline between
Draper and Traverse Mountain.
The top elevation of Mayors is 6400 feet. Much of the Mayors trail lies on a north-facing slope, so the expected riding season will be late May through October.
Climbing from the southern end of the Mayors trail.
The riding is non-technical on a broad bench-cut engineered
trail. Turns have nice berms. When riding from the south, the trail climbs
straight east toward the Draper connector doubletrack, then turns to the north and descends steadily.
There are several sets of turns on the northern side of the trail as you lose elevation to 6000 feet.
Looking north from the trail.
If you haven't been to Traverse Mountain's system for a
while, be aware that things changed drastically in 2024. You can no longer
access Sensei (your route to the upper trails such as Mayors trail) from
the northwest end. A subdivision is underway and there's no connection.
Consider Sensei closed from the Mo-mentum western trail fork downhill.
The water tank trailhead on the southwest corner of Sensei is also affected. You can't get onto the system there. You'd need to use a neighborhood connector such as Broadband. But there's no dedicated public parking for Broadband or Dial-up.
For now, you should use the plush paved trailhead at the top of the Fox Canyon road.
Looking west down at the new trailhead from Sensei.
Trailhead and connections
Fox Canyon trailhead
The main access point for those who drive to the Traverse Mountain trails is the new paved trailhead in Fox Canyon. Turn onto the Fox Canyon road and drive to the top of the pavement. There's parking for around 20 vehicles, with a toilet and other amenities planned. The trail entry is on the northern wing of the parking complex. At the northwest corner, find a paved strip leading uphill to a dirt doubletrack (which then turns to the right uphill). Follow the dirt road 100 yards uphill to where the Sensei trail crosses. Depending on your ride plan, you can reach Mayors trail in either direction by connecting north via Sensei then Mo-mentum and Traverse Traverse, or south via Sensei to Lolo's.
The main access point for those who drive to the Traverse Mountain trails is the new paved trailhead in Fox Canyon. Turn onto the Fox Canyon road and drive to the top of the pavement. There's parking for around 20 vehicles, with a toilet and other amenities planned. The trail entry is on the northern wing of the parking complex. At the northwest corner, find a paved strip leading uphill to a dirt doubletrack (which then turns to the right uphill). Follow the dirt road 100 yards uphill to where the Sensei trail crosses. Depending on your ride plan, you can reach Mayors trail in either direction by connecting north via Sensei then Mo-mentum and Traverse Traverse, or south via Sensei to Lolo's.
Looking north in the trailhead parking lot. The trail
entry is just to the right of my bike.
Via Mo-mentum
You can take Mo-mentum either direction to reach Traverse Traverse, which will then take you to Mayors trail. Both put you at the bottom (north) end of Mayors trail for a clockwise loop.
(1) Western route (clockwise on Mo-mentum): On the dirt road above the Fox Canyon trailhead, turn left on the singletrack Sensei trail. When you reach Mo-mentum at mile 1.2, turn right. At the next trail fork at 1.8, keep left uphill on Traverse Traverse and pedal 2.1 miles. Turn right on Mayors at 3.9 miles from the trailhead.
(2) Eastern route (counterclockwise on Mo-mentum): Climb the dirt road from the Fox Canyon trailhead, but turn right on Sensei. After 0.1 mile, turn left uphill on Mo-mentum. Climb 1.8 miles, then make a hard right turn onto Traverse Traverse heading east. Go another 2.1 miles to Mayors trail at the ridgeline.
You can take Mo-mentum either direction to reach Traverse Traverse, which will then take you to Mayors trail. Both put you at the bottom (north) end of Mayors trail for a clockwise loop.
(1) Western route (clockwise on Mo-mentum): On the dirt road above the Fox Canyon trailhead, turn left on the singletrack Sensei trail. When you reach Mo-mentum at mile 1.2, turn right. At the next trail fork at 1.8, keep left uphill on Traverse Traverse and pedal 2.1 miles. Turn right on Mayors at 3.9 miles from the trailhead.
(2) Eastern route (counterclockwise on Mo-mentum): Climb the dirt road from the Fox Canyon trailhead, but turn right on Sensei. After 0.1 mile, turn left uphill on Mo-mentum. Climb 1.8 miles, then make a hard right turn onto Traverse Traverse heading east. Go another 2.1 miles to Mayors trail at the ridgeline.
Trail fork between Mo-mentum and Traverse Traverse,
looking east.
Via Lolo's
You can reach the southern end of Mayors trail by riding Lolo's in either direction. From the Fox Canyon trailhead, turn to the right from the doubletrack on Sensei. Climb 1.3 miles, then make a hard left onto Lolo's eastern end. Continue the climb for another 1.4 miles to Lolo's highest point, then make another hard left turn onto Mayors trail.
To climb up on the western half of Lolo's, continue another 0.2 miles west on Sensei then fork left uphill on Lolo's. This side of Lolo's has 1.3 miles from Sensei to Mayors trail.
You can reach the southern end of Mayors trail by riding Lolo's in either direction. From the Fox Canyon trailhead, turn to the right from the doubletrack on Sensei. Climb 1.3 miles, then make a hard left onto Lolo's eastern end. Continue the climb for another 1.4 miles to Lolo's highest point, then make another hard left turn onto Mayors trail.
To climb up on the western half of Lolo's, continue another 0.2 miles west on Sensei then fork left uphill on Lolo's. This side of Lolo's has 1.3 miles from Sensei to Mayors trail.
Eastbound on Lolo's Loop.
From Corner Canyon
ST route: On western Ann's trail above Draper, go to the trail fork for Traverse Traverse. This is found 1.2 miles above the western (bottom) end of Ann's, or 0.9 miles west of the fork between Ann's and the Maple Hollow TH connector trail. (If you started at the Maple Hollow trailhead, it's 2.0 miles to Traverse Traverse.
Turn uphill and ride the "wiggles" uphill then continue to the top of the ridge. At mile 1.3 from the trail fork, you'll reach a doubletrack on a ridgeline. Cross over, then turn left onto Mayors trail.
Road and DT route: A second option is to connect via paved and dirt road from the Maple Hollow trailhead. From Elk Glenn, go back out to Deer Ridge drive and go west uphill. At the saddle, turn right on a dirt road, which will take you up to Mayors trail. The connection is at mile 0.6 from the southern end of Mayors trail.
ST route: On western Ann's trail above Draper, go to the trail fork for Traverse Traverse. This is found 1.2 miles above the western (bottom) end of Ann's, or 0.9 miles west of the fork between Ann's and the Maple Hollow TH connector trail. (If you started at the Maple Hollow trailhead, it's 2.0 miles to Traverse Traverse.
Turn uphill and ride the "wiggles" uphill then continue to the top of the ridge. At mile 1.3 from the trail fork, you'll reach a doubletrack on a ridgeline. Cross over, then turn left onto Mayors trail.
Road and DT route: A second option is to connect via paved and dirt road from the Maple Hollow trailhead. From Elk Glenn, go back out to Deer Ridge drive and go west uphill. At the saddle, turn right on a dirt road, which will take you up to Mayors trail. The connection is at mile 0.6 from the southern end of Mayors trail.
On Ann's Trail at the fork where Traverse Traverse
climbs up to the ridge to the west.
Mayors Trail
The Mayors trail, or Mayors Loop, is named for the two
mayors who worked to make it happen. It is the highest-elevation trail in
the Traverse Mountain system, with a high of 6400 and a low of 6000 feet
elevation.
It's a two-way trail, although I suspect most riders will want to do it in the south-to-north direction for a counterclockwise loop.
Just getting started. There's a bit of climbing
before you get to go downhill.
The trail offers views over the southern Salt Lake Valley to
the north and northern Utah County to the west. The oak forest breaks open
frequently, so you'll have the views from varying angles and elevations.
You will, of course, need to use at least two other trails to get uphill from the Fox Canyon trailhead to Mayors Trail. (See the access instructions above.) So your minimum loop ride will be 9.5 miles. While technically easy, the length and amount of uphill riding will be too much for unconditioned beginning riders.
Looking down Fox Canyon from Mayors trail.
On the south, the trail begins at the highest point of
Lolo's Loop. From there, it heads northeast, with some climbing and
descending. In 0.6 miles, it arrives at the top of a hiking trail (heading
downhill on your left) and a doubletrack (on your right) at 6400 feet.
(The northbound doubletrack parallels Mayors, with ruts and steep slopes, to arrive at the junction between Traverse Traverse and Mayors. No reason to go north on the DT. The singletrack is so much nicer. To the east, the doubletrack descends over a saddle to intersect paved road. This offers a connection to the Maple Hollow area trails.)
For a brand-new trail, the surface is pretty solid.
Just a tad dusty.
The trail is an engineered bench-cut. There are a lot of
up-and-down wiggles to help the trail shed water. While there are some
straight sections, most of the trail moves around to dodge trees.
Heading into a banked turn
After passing the Maple Hollow DT connector and the DH trail
entry, Mayors trail descends steadily, with only a tiny bit of gentle
climbing. You'll roll through a series of banked turns in the oak brush as
you drop down a north-facing slope.
Bruce rolls down Mayors Trail.
As you approach Traverse Traverse, the trail flattens out,
and you'll actually need to pedal a little. At mile 2.2 of Mayors trail,
it ends Traverse Traverse right on the ridgeline where it comes across
from Draper.
Getting close to Traverse Traverse, ahead at the
notch in the hill.
New Traverse Mountain DH
A DH route, tentatively called Lehi's Dream, is under
construction. It will run from the top of Mayors Trail down to the Fox
Canyon trailhead. I'll post information as soon as it's legal for you to
ride it. Meantime, if you find the DH, stay off it while the trail crew
does the work.
Bottom Line!
Mayors Trail is a great addition to the Traverse Mountain system. Well-constructed and fun to ride. Opens up some very nice longer loop options for both Traverse Mountain and Draper riders. The route I rode was about as short a loop as you can make, at 9.5 miles and just under 1000 feet of overall climbing. Good views.
Mayors Trail is a great addition to the Traverse Mountain system. Well-constructed and fun to ride. Opens up some very nice longer loop options for both Traverse Mountain and Draper riders. The route I rode was about as short a loop as you can make, at 9.5 miles and just under 1000 feet of overall climbing. Good views.
Heading north downhill after passing the trail
junctions at the Draper connector DT.
Getting there!
Fox Canyon trailhead. The main access point for those who drive to the Traverse Mountain trails is the new paved trailhead in Fox Canyon. There's parking for around 20 vehicles, with a toilet and other amenities planned. The trail entry is on the northern wing of the parking complex. At the northwest corner, find a paved strip leading uphill to a dirt doubletrack (which then turns to the right uphill). Follow the dirt road 100 yards uphill to where the Sensei trail crosses. Depending on your ride plan, you can reach Mayors trail in either direction. For the northern end, take Sensei to wither end of Mo-mentum climb to Traverse Traverse. For the southern end of the Mayors trail, take Sensei south and westbound to Lolo's.
Fox Canyon trailhead. The main access point for those who drive to the Traverse Mountain trails is the new paved trailhead in Fox Canyon. There's parking for around 20 vehicles, with a toilet and other amenities planned. The trail entry is on the northern wing of the parking complex. At the northwest corner, find a paved strip leading uphill to a dirt doubletrack (which then turns to the right uphill). Follow the dirt road 100 yards uphill to where the Sensei trail crosses. Depending on your ride plan, you can reach Mayors trail in either direction. For the northern end, take Sensei to wither end of Mo-mentum climb to Traverse Traverse. For the southern end of the Mayors trail, take Sensei south and westbound to Lolo's.
