Bruce descends through maples on Three Falls. Tracks, photos, and ride review July 17, 2017.
These two trails connect the Peakview Trailhead in Draper to northern Alpine. This page will discuss the route as far as the Three Falls area of Alpine. This section is 4.5 miles long. As an out-and-back it will require just over 1000 vertical feet of climbing. The trails from Fort Canyon and Alpine Cove (Schoolhouse Springs area) to the Draper Three Falls trail are discussed on a separate page.
The Peak View trail starts at the Peak View trailhead on the upper Corner Canyon road. This trail has replaced the old routes to Jacob's Ladder and Hog Hollow . The Peak View trail is the upper-elevation link between Draper and Alpine's trail system.
Looking east over the Peak View trailhead. The bike is heading toward the Peak View trail.
A gentle climbing grade on the new Peak View replaces some of the mean grunts on the old Jacob's connector.
The Peak View trail climbs gently through a couple of switchbacks before joining the old Alpine
Perimeter trail. At this point, the pitch increases for the next 3/4 mile. This older section
has been re-worked a bit to improve the riding and water drainage. You'll enjoy the much-needed
addition of trail signs to guide you through old doubletracks at the top.
Peak View is the access route from the Peak View trailhead to Porcupine, Peacemaker, Longview,
Hog Hollow, Jacob's Ladder, the Three Forks trail. It's 1.6 miles long. The trail climbs 400
vertical feet over the first 1.3 miles, then rolls a flat quarter mile further to the
Jacob's Ladder
trail fork.
Drone view looking east. Nice riding.
The left fork is Peak View.
The first trail fork is 0.7 miles from the trailhead. Keep left and uphill to continue on the
Peak View trail. The right fork is the
Porcupine
trail, extending downhill to Peacemaker then the Two Hollows trail (which connects to the bottom
of
Mercer Mountain
and
Hog
Hollow
).
On Peak View, you'll climb away from the Salt Lake Valley and cross to the Utah County side
of the mountain. On your way, you'll have some nice views in both directions.
Looking to the northwest coming back toward the trailhead.
Looking south with Utah Lake in the distance.
At mile 1.4, the trail threads through an area of branching doubletrack. At mile 1.6 it joins
doubletrack as it approaches a trail fork. The right (doubletrack) fork is the connector uphill
to Jacob's Ladder. To continue on to Three Falls, take the singletrack to the right -- not
the doubletrack on the far right.
The Draper portion of the Three Falls trail is 2.9 miles long. It begins at the end of the Peak View trail at the Jacob's connector fork. The east end is on the Fort Canyon road. Across the road, the trail continues as the Fort Canyon section of Three Falls.
The Three Falls trail is broad and easy to ride. I'd rate it easy-intermediate or experienced-beginner level, but there are a few dips where creeks cross that non-experts will walk.
Descending east through maple and oak. A bit of Lambert Park can be seen at the upper right.
Lone Peak can be seen in the upper right.
From west to east, Three Falls drops 500 vertical feet, then regains 100 feet as it skirts
the Three Falls subdivision at the top of Fort Canyon. (A connecting trail is anticipated at
this "low spot" once subdivision construction is complete.) After crossing the big ravine over
the creek, it drops again to fire road of the Alpine Perimeter route.
The rate of descent (and the climb for your return) are gentle and comfortable. There are a
four sharp dips through little creeks. I anticipate that a couple of these "water hits" will
be replaced by bridges.
Descending towards Alpine's Fort Canyon.
We're looking over Fort Canyon. My understanding is that a connector trail to Three Falls will be added once the road and infrastructure construction is complete.
While most of the trail is forested, there will be breakout areas where you'll have views south
into Utah Valley.
Shortly after the trail crosses a bridge over a sharp rock ravine, it descends to the road
(currently a construction zone) in the Three Falls subdivision. If you're doing the out-and-back,
the bridge is a good spot to turn around and begin your ride back out.
Last creek plunge. This one will probably knock you off your pedals. We're about 100 yards from the trail's temporary end.
Looking across the ravine. The bridge was completed in late April 2018.
Just after you begin your descent to the road, there's be a trail on your left. This is the
Forbidden trail. It will climb along the northern side of upper Fort Canyon before descending
to the Schoolhouse Springs area at Alpine Cove. A second option to reach Alpine is to keep
straight (right) and descend into Fort Canyon. Cross the subdivision road to find the continuing
Three Falls trail on the south side.
The Three Falls Fort Canyon trail will descend a bit, then climb 200 vertical feet to the ridgeline.
After 0.9 miles, there's a trail fork. Right descends via Three Falls to the Fort Canyon Ranch
Trailhead. If you go left on Bodily Harm, you'll arrive at Alpine Cove in another 1.8 miles.
More information on Forbidden and Bodily Harm (including other connecting trails) can be found on the Alpine Cove to Three Falls trail page.
Climbing up the switchbacks above Fort Canyon Creek.
You'll need to pedal from another trailhead to Three Peaks, as this trailhead is not currently
open to vehicle traffic. The closest auto parking is the Ghost Falls/Jacob's trailhead, one
mile lower on the Corner Canyon road. Potato Hill, the Draper Bike Park, and Coyote Hollow
are popular launching spots. See the
Corner Canyon
area page
.
Riding Resources:
GPS track files for download (Right-click and "Save as..."):
Peak View - Three Falls track
Larger Corner Canyon
area multi-track file
Load satellite map for printing:
View
map
Lodging, camping, shops:
Links to
southern SLC resources
Click for Corner Canyon area trails overview page latest update 2022
