Salt Lake City unveils new trailhead for easy access to foothills at Bonneville Boulevard — the first of many more

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Salt Lake City unveiled a brand new trailhead at Bonneville Boulevard, and it is the first milestone in the city’s 2020 Foothills plan that aims to expand trail networks and access. 

“This new trailhead and the incredible network of trails that it connects are the result of, really, years of passion, planning, and teamwork with Salt Lake City and with our community,” Mayor Erin Mendenhall said Wednesday morning at the unveiling.

The new trailhead offers new restrooms, dog waste bag stations, bike racks, updated signage, and more parking spaces, among other amenities for hikers. But this is just the beginning.

According to the city, three more trailheads are set to open this summer and will be located at the following locations:

• Popperton Park (360 N. Popperton Park Way),
• Victory Road (670 Victory Rd.)
• Emigration Canyon (2699 E. Sunnyside Ave.).

Also in the works are the trailhead on 11^th Avenue and 25 minor trail access points.

“It’s also about sustainability, it’s about connectivity and making sure that people can safely and more easily enjoy all of these trails,” Mayor Mendenhall said while touting the importance of these trailheads.

Another standout feature of the new trailheads is their commitment to local collaboration. Salt Lake City artists participated in creating the colorful, custom-designed bike racks in the trailheads.

“For me, it’s a really special thing because I have such a personal relationship with the trails. I painted about the plants that grow in the foothills in the spring,” said Caro Nilsson, a Salt Lake City artist.

These trailheads are backed by significant funding, including a $1.3 million grant from the Utah Department of Outdoor Recreation. The grant helped cover everything from plumbing new toilets to laying down fresh pavements.

“Salt Lake City (is) growing and evolving as a destination for living, for destination quality of life,” said Tyler Fonaro, the city’s trails and natural lands division director. He added that the value of providing access in a growing city like Salt Lake was immeasurable: “The access here is unprecedented. So that’s what makes it millions and millions of dollars worth.”