Location: Bountiful, Utah (Starts near the Bountiful B Staging Area)
Difficulty: Advanced (Get ready to work for it!)
Required Gear: Mountain Bike, Protective Trail Helmet (Seriously, due to the technical rocks, wear your best lid!), Knee Pads
Looking for a trail that will test your legs, your lungs, and seriously sharpen your technical skills? Forget the crowds. We are diving into one of Bountiful’s best-kept secrets, starting near the "B" Staging Area. This ascent is an absolute blast, a scenic singletrack journey guaranteed to get your heart rate soaring.
The Lowdown: Starting the Grind
We kick off the journey right at the main Bountiful B Staging Area. First, you get a quick break: take the main road down, heading into Ward Canyon, shedding about 100 feet of elevation. Watch closely for a small hump on your left; that's your secret entry point!
Once you cross that hump, the work begins. The trail immediately throws you into a series of steep, punchy sections as we start tracking right alongside the picturesque Stone Creek. This area is super scenic. That steady murmur of the water flowing beside you is the perfect natural soundtrack for your heavy breathing! This singletrack isn't heavily traveled, but it’s incredibly fun and technical. Your heart rate will be pumping, guaranteed. Good news, though: it's easy to navigate since there’s only one trail up.
Rock Gardens, Bridges, and Finding Your Flow
The technical challenges ramp up fast. You’ll hit the first major obstacle: a rock garden with running water on the right. Heads up! You need to pick your line perfectly here. Trust me, you do not want an unexpected, cold swim.
Beyond the rock garden, the climbing gets even steeper, forcing you to maneuver around large embedded rocks. Keep pushing! Your reward is ahead: a beautiful wooden bridge. Huge thanks to the local trail builders for that one! Cross it and keep that ascent going.
As you pedal higher, the trees close in. You’ll be surrounded by fragrant pine trees with the constant, calming sound of water running down. This is where you find your flow. The trail has some seriously tricky, rocky sections, so don't sweat it if it takes a few visits to truly dial in your lines.
After conquering the final few big rocks, you'll hit a sharp switchback to the right. Stop here for one second.
The Intersection: Decisions, Decisions
As you start the climb up take in the views that open up over the Great Salt Lake, Bountiful, and the surrounding valley The views are absolutely stunning and totally worth the effort. About two miles into the climb, you get a small reward: a short, exhilarating descent. Look out for a trail sign marking a DH (Downhill) only trail. Don't take it yet! That's your finish line later on.
Continue riding for about 500 feet until you reach the crucial four-way trail intersection:
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Far Left (Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST)): The trail you just climbed.
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Middle (North Holbrook Trail): This one gets extremely steep near the top. It's usually reserved for E-Bikes or people who really hate their knees!
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The One You Want (Bellevue): This is your main route to keep moving up. (It’s a 2.2 mile climb with 585 feet of elevation gain.)
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Far Right (Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST)): This is a fun side trail that dips down into the gulch before climbing back out.
⛰️ Gaining Altitude on Bellevue
Alright, jump onto Bellevue and keep climbing! This section feels different; it’s a steady, smooth pedal with consistent views opening up to your right and left.
You'll hit about 9 switchbacks that keep the grade manageable, making this a relatively easy grind. It’s all about finding that rhythm now. Keep looking out for increasingly spectacular views!
Once you reach the top of Bellevue, you get an even bigger visual reward. Look down at the valley floor and try to spot the airport. From this height, it truly looks like a tiny pin! Enjoy this moment! You earned it, but remember, this isn't the tippy-top yet.
🚀 The Final Push: Higher Ground
From the top of Bellevue, the climb continues onto the peaceful singletrack of Higher Ground.
This trail takes you higher still: 1.4 miles with 426 feet of elevation gain.
Thankfully, it's a moderately easy climb with very little technical difficulty. Enjoy the break from the rocks! Higher Ground is incredibly quiet and peaceful. If you want solitude, this is it. You will navigate 7 smooth switchbacks before you arrive at the final major spot: the Twist intersection.
Take one last, deep breath, enjoy the highest views of the day, and get ready for a rowdy, fun, and exhilarating descent!
⬇️ The Reward: Rowdy Descents and Trail Choices
You’ve finally earned this! It’s time to point the bike downhill and let gravity take over.
Your first taste of speed is the thrilling descent known as Twist (DH Trail Only!). This trail is 1.2 miles long and drops 425 feet. It’s a short, intense burst of fun!
The entrance to Twist starts immediately with a small rock drop. It's easy, but definitely watch the tree on the right as it whips into a turn. Hold on tight, because you are about to have a ton of fun! We're talking rock gardens you can jump through, multiple perfectly sculpted berms, and tabletops. Keep that speed up and keep that smile locked in!
Twist finishes right near where you originally climbed Bellevue, and you have two more amazing downhill options to choose from:
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Option 1: Shoot to Thrill (Green Trail) (Right)
- Stats: 1.7 miles in length, drops 472 feet.
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Vibe: Awesome flow trail, super smooth and grin-inducing.
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Option 2: Shout (Straight Ahead)
- Stats: 1.4 miles in length, drops 560 feet.
- Vibe: Extremely fun and fast. Packed with jumps and berms. If you love speed and quick decision-making, this is your trail.
🔄 The Loop Closer: The Technical Finale
Once you blast to the bottom of either Shout or Shoot to Thrill, head right to hop back onto the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) and make your way back toward the gulch. You’ll have one last short climb before being rewarded with a fast, scenic descent that gives you more amazing views of the canyon below.
The fun isn't done! Get ready for a final, fast, technical, rocky descent. You absolutely have to pick your lines wisely here. You’ll go over that familiar wooden bridge, then you need proper speed (not too fast, not too slow) to clear the rock garden (the water will be on your left side now).
Keep riding and cruise back to the road where you will complete your massive loop by climbing out back to the Bountiful B Staging Area.
Your ride is complete. Well done!
Final Thoughts on Bountiful's Best
This is truly one of those rides you'll think about for days. You'll find yourself analyzing your lines, wondering what you could have done better to clear those tricky sections. This is the definition of a local gem: ride it a few times, know the lines, and you'll soon be clearing everything with no dabs.
Happy riding, everyone, and LET'S JUST RIDE!
