The Bonneville Shoreline Trail offers a unique outdoor experience for bikers, hikers, and trail runners alike, weaving through the beautiful foothills of the Wasatch Front.
Once the shore of ancient Lake Bonneville, this expansive trail connection spans over 170 miles, serving as a patchwork of trails maintained and developed by various communities along Utah’s eastern edge.
Grant Barnette, a professional trail runner, emphasizes the importance of accessibility, saying, “Accessibility, that‘s always been the name of the game for the Salt Lake City kind of trail scene around here.”
Though still incomplete, the trail has been steadily developing over the last three decades. With aspirations to eventually stretch around 400 miles, it aims to link communities from Nephi in Juab County all the way up to the northern Idaho border.
Carly Lansche, trails and planning program director for the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, notes a significant vision behind the trail’s continuity: connecting highly populated areas with a network of trails. “We have I-15 and our road corridors extending through our communities that connect us all, and our trails do the same thing in just a little bit of a different way,” she said.
The origins of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail trace back to 1989 when residents sought to establish a pathway for biking, jogging, and walking along the Emigration Canyon and Dry Canyon corridor.
A conflict arose in This Is The Place Heritage Park when park staff proposed fencing off an area critical to recreationalists. This motivated them to organize and push for the trail’s preservation, leading to a compromise that safeguarded it from restrictions and fees.
Brandon Plewe, a professor of geography at Brigham Young University, recalls this pivotal moment, stating, “Every time you see one of these things, there’s always some crisis that precipitates people getting involved and getting organized.”
With Salt Lake City first adopting the Bonneville Shoreline Trail as part of its official trail system in 1991, interest quickly spread to neighboring counties. By 1994, a collaborative commitment emerged among several county representatives, solidifying the goal for a continuous trail along the ancient lake’s shoreline.
Today, despite being a mix of well-maintained paths and unfinished sections that include old roads and unofficial trails, 170 miles of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail have been constructed across various counties.
Plewe’s journey into the trail began two decades ago when he aimed to create a street map of the Wasatch Front, quickly discovering the challenges in obtaining accurate information about the trail’s status.
“There’s a lot of question about this. And in my research, I’m always interested in uncertainty and things that are kind of in a weird state. And so I just kind of got interested in this,” Plewe remarked, emphasizing his dedication to mapping the trail.
As the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee operates with reduced activity, the responsibility for its maintenance and expansion has largely fallen to passionate individuals and communities like Charles Wheeler, who has played a significant role in developing sections within Cache Valley.
Despite reaching 170 miles in completed trails, gaps still remain that prevent a seamless experience. Jen Hollingsworth, a frequent user, expresses her excitement about the potential of having a trail stretching across Utah, describing it as a fantastic opportunity to connect communities.
In recent years, new sections of the trail have emerged as local initiatives expand the project. In 2023, for instance, a 6-mile stretch was added in the Herriman area, while new land was acquired in Pleasant Grove near Battle Creek Trail.
Similarly, Wheeler spearheaded completion on a nearly 2-mile section in Hyde Park, marking one of the largest single builds to date. Further phases in Cache Valley are planned, dependent on state funding assistance.
As Plewe continues to research the trail’s status, he launched his YouTube series in 2021 titled “State of the BST,” where he shares insights with viewers. His goal is to inform others about the trail’s past, present, and future while highlighting ongoing progression.
However, the path to expanding the Bonneville Shoreline Trail faces notable challenges, primarily centered around land ownership and private property rights. “Utah, we’re a private property rights oriented state, and so it‘s all about whether or not the trail’s on public land or if it is on private land,” said Lansche.
Consequently, building the trail often involves negotiating with landowners to attain access, which can complicate the expansion process. Lands protected under private ownership can hinder the vision of a connected trail.
Despite the difficulties, organizers see potential benefits for landowners who permit trail access. Additionally, the trail’s placement is critical, requiring thoughtful design to ensure pleasant surroundings while considering community homeowners’ privacy.
In March, Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis introduced the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Feasibility Study Act to evaluate the trail’s potential as a National Scenic Trail. Plewe indicates that such a designation could facilitate federal funding and structured organization for maintenance and volunteer efforts.
While this designation wouldn’t force property owners to open their lands for the trail, it would provide a clearer framework for expanding and maintaining the trail’s sections.
The vision established for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail emphasizes the rich history of Lake Bonneville, an ancient lake that once occupied much of the Great Basin during the late Pleistocene Period.
As the lake receded over millennia, it formed terraces — or benches — on which many modern Utah cities have developed, while the trail follows these upper benches.
Plewe acknowledges the complexities of following the ancient lake’s shoreline. Not every section can accurately reflect its original edge, but the ideal trail runs at the juncture of urban development and natural landscapes.
“The idea is to have a trail that‘s kind of at that lowest level, where it’s kind of the easiest possible trail that is still in the natural area,” Plewe said, highlighting the goal of accessibility for families and casual users.
Wheeler’s commitment to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail stems from a personal belief in the importance of outdoor spaces for families and individuals. “I’ve seen what these parks and trails can add to the quality of life for the people that, you know, are involved around them,” he asserted.
The state’s recognition of the benefits of outdoor recreation has translated to prioritization and support for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. It has become a valuable asset that contributes to Utah’s vibrant outdoor culture and economy.
As many locals have experienced, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail serves as an essential escape into nature. Barnette describes the ease of access to the trail from Salt Lake City, where urban dwellers can shift from their daily routines to enjoy the outdoors promptly.
“It just seems very easy, whether people are working full-time jobs or remote work, that you can quickly get out of your shift and get in a quick jog or really anything,” he said, underscoring its convenience to outdoor enthusiasts.
Hollingsworth further emphasizes the trail’s appeal in catering to various skill levels. “You can be a family with young kids and get out and walk a good portion of the flat section, but then you can go off trail and, you know, get some pretty steep terrain, and there are even technical sections for biking. So I think it offers something for everybody in every fitness level,” she stated.
In conclusion, the continued development of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail stands as a testament to community cooperation and the shared vision of connecting and enhancing Utah’s outdoor recreational landscape.
With ongoing efforts to expand and maintain the trail, it promises not only to enrich the lives of Utahns but also to solidify the state’s dedication to preserving its natural beauty for generations to come.
image source from：https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/05/24/bonneville-shoreline-trail-what-it-looks-like-today/
