Bruce cruises downhill on the upper segment called "Wild Rick." Trail review May 2, 2024.
Bruce cruises downhill on the upper segment called "Wild Rick." Trail review May 2, 2024.
Lower Wild Rose Trail

The Wild Rose lower trail extends from Lakeside Drive just off US-89 up to the Wild Rose trailhead. It is two-way, providing a non-pavement way for local riders to climb to the Wild Rose trail system, and a downhill for riders coming from Wild Rose. For out-of-towners, the trail is a final fling as they descend 2.3 miles and 850 vertical feet -- while the guy who drew the short straw drives the car down the hill.

The trail combines forested riding in maples and oak with open sage meadows that have great views over the valley. The trail will cross three city streets on the way. The crossings are marked with trail signs.
Looking north as the trail makes long traverses through meadows.
Looking north as the trail makes long traverses through meadows.
Almost to the bottom of the trail, looking southwest.
Almost to the bottom of the trail, looking southwest.
The bottom of the trail is almost at lake level at 4400 feet elevation. Top elevation (at the Wild Rose trailhead) is 5180, with 850 feet of climbing/descending between them. The expected riding season is mid-April through November.
Trailheads and Access
Looking east from the trailhead parking.
Looking east from the trailhead parking.
Wild Rose trailhead
From US-89, turn east on Eagle Ridge Drive. Stay on Eagle Ridge (straight) at the roundabout. Climb the hill for about two miles. Watch for Eaglepoint Drive on the right at N40 49.803 W111 53.771. (If you reach the golf course, you just missed it.) Drive 0.2 miles on Eaglepoint and turn left uphill on Sky Crest Lane. The parking lot is at the end of the road. Find the paved path to the left of the bathroom. When it hits a T intersection with dirt trail, turn left downhill.
Entry to the bottom of Wild Rose at Lakeside Drive.
Entry to the bottom of Wild Rose at Lakeside Drive.
Lakeside Drive (bottom of trail)
Turn off US-89 at Eaglegate Drive. Keep straight at the roundabout. The road will veer left behind the apartments to become Lakeside Drive. Watch for the trail sign on your right. There's an indent in the curb for your car.
Parking spots on Edge Crest Lane. The trail is just to our right as we face downhill.
Parking spots on Edge Crest Lane. The trail is just to our right as we face downhill.
Mid-way access points
There are dedicated parking spots alongside the trail as it crosses Edge Crest Lane and at the top of Winter Lane as it meets Parkway Drive (where the uphill trail continues).

You can also turn onto the trail from the asphalt extension of the lower Bonneville Shoreline Trail on Eaglepoint Drive if you're coming from the BST trailhead.

The Lower Wild Rose trail
Looking downhill through maple forest.
Looking downhill through maple forest.

The lower Wild Rose trail is divided into three segments on the Trailforks app. The upper section starts at the trailhead, crosses Eagle Pointe Drive, and ends as you reach Parkway Drive. It's called "Wild Rick" and is 0.9 miles in length if you include the first stretch between the trailhead and Eagle Pointe.

At the top is 0.5 miles of forested riding through maples and oak, then you'll break out onto a hillside of grass and sage. Here your descent is temporarily interrupted as you climb for 1/4 mile around the hill, gaining almost 100 feet of elevation before resuming the downhill.
Bruce breaks out of forest onto the hillside meadows.
Bruce breaks out of forest onto the hillside meadows.
Looking uphill from Parkway Drive, where Wild Rick and Wild Kai meet.
Looking uphill from Parkway Drive, where Wild Rick and Wild Kai meet.
The middle section of lower Wild Rose is called "Wild Kai." This uphill end of this section starts on Winter Lane (reached by keeping straight and a bit left as you reach Parkway Drive. This section is a sun-exposed meadow strip between the homes of the subdivision. At Edge Crest Lane, cross over to begin the bottom stretch of Wild Rose. As you leave the strip between homes 1/2 mile later, the trail becomes the "Eagle Ridge" section.
The bottom section of lower Wild Rose, called "Eagle Ridge" on Trailforks, is 0.9 miles in length. (The transition point between Wild Kai and Eagle Ridge is not marked.) Here the trail rolls back and forth through long traverses on the hillside, ending at Lakeside Drive behind the apartment complex.
Descending Eagle Ridge. Refineries and the Oquirrh Mountains are our backdrop.
Descending Eagle Ridge. Refineries and the Oquirrh Mountains are our backdrop.
A mud seep just above the final switchback.
A mud seep just above the final switchback.
One switchback from the bottom, the trail passes through an area with several seeps. Even in early May, these springs were active. Some areas have been reinforced with wood and others with gravel -- but you may find yourself wallowing in slime here during the early season.

Downhill on Wild Rose

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Bottom Line
Nice climbing route for locals headed for the Wild Rose trail system or the Bountiful/Ensign Peak BST. For those who've driven to the trailhead, it's a decent downhill to top off your day.
Climbing uphill from Lakeside.
Climbing uphill from Lakeside.
Map of the lower Wild Rose trail.
Map of the lower Wild Rose trail.
Getting there, Wild Rose trailhead:
From US-89, turn east on Eagle Ridge Drive. Stay on Eagle Ridge (straight) at the roundabout. Climb the hill for about two miles. Watch for Eaglepoint Drive on the right at N40 49.803 W111 53.771. (If you reach the golf course, you just missed it.) Drive 0.2 miles on Eaglepoint and turn left uphill on Sky Crest Lane. The parking lot is at the end of the road. Find the paved path to the left of the bathroom. When it hits a T intersection with dirt trail, turn left downhill.

Lakeside Drive:
On US-89 just south of Eagle Ridge Drive, turn east at Eaglegate Drive. Keep straight at the roundabout. The road will veer left behind the apartments to become Lakeside Drive. Watch for the trail sign on your right. There's an indent in the curb for your car.