Utah trails are being modified; allowing more accessibility and inclusiveness
Oct 07, 2024 11:03AM ● By Jolene Croasmun
Adaptive bike riders enjoying riding on a modified trail. (Trails Utah website)
Trails Utah along with National Ability Center (NAC), Wasatch Adaptive Sports, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and board member, Wally Lee, who is also an adaptive bike rider, worked together to modify the Big Water Trail to Dog Lake in Millcreek Canyon for adaptive bikes.
The first part of the Big Water trail to Dog Lake project is completed and a grand opening event will happen in the next few months after the USFS officially designates the trail to be an accessible trail.
Additional modifications are scheduled to begin in 2025 which will modify the Great Western Trail from Big Water Trail to the Park City overlook.
“To improve the Big Water trail to Dog Lake and make it more accessible we removed roots, rocks, stumps and small trees that were obstacles for access. We widened the trail to about a four foot construction,” said John Knoblock, board chair of Trails Utah.
“There is an increasing demand by the forest service encouraging ranger districts around the nation for trails to be more inclusive and accessible for adaptive bike users,” Knoblock said.
“In our area, there are organizations that teach people how to use adaptive bikes like NAC and Wasatch Adaptive Sports,” added Knoblock.
“Many of the adaptive bikes are e-bikes which have vastly opened the terrain that adaptive bikes are accessible on. It was hard to ride an adaptive bike pedaling with your hands and steering at the same time plus going up a steep trail with corners took a lot more skill.”
“Now with the e-bike revolution, these bikes are e-assist and you can pedal with one hand and steer with the other hand. This has really opened up the potential to improve those accessible trails and the possibility of other trails in our canyons to be modified for adaptive bikes in the future,” Knoblock said.
Trails Utah has a strong relationship with the USFS in Millcreek Canyon and this is where the ongoing effort to expand trail access and create more diverse and inclusive trails has begun in our community.
Trails Utah recently completed preserving and restoring the Silver Lake Loop at Brighton Ski Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
“The Silver Lake Loop trail has been modified to meet the forest service accessibility standards. It is not classified as ADA but it still will allow this trail to be accessible by people with varied abilities. Wheelchairs will be able to utilize the Silver Lake Loop but bikes will not be permitted,” Knoblock said.
Silver Lake Loop trail is just under a mile with a minimal elevation gain of 55 feet and follows around the lake. There are picnic tables and fishing access points along the route. This trail is a pedestrian only trail.
A grand opening for the Silver Lake Loop trail is being held at the end of October. For more information on these projects and other trail projects visit www.trailsutah.org. λ