New acreage protected along Bonneville Shoreline Trail

PLEASANT GROVE, Utah — 132 acres of land along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail recently received new protections, securing Utah County hiking and mountain biking access. 

Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit, referred to the area as Battle Creek. The area ensures access to the trail, as well as three additional hikes: Big Baldy, the “G” hike, and Battle Creek Falls. 

The nonprofit has worked on 20 Bonneville Shoreline Trail-related land acquisition projects since 2000. In 2023, the organization achieved protection of North Canyon Junction, a four-acre area that provides access to the trail and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. 

120 acres of the newly protected land will be integrated into the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service will manage a half-mile stretch of the trail. 

Pleasant Grove acquired 2.5 acres and will maintain responsibility for that portion of the newly protected land. Trust for Public Land said they will maintain the area as a trailhead. 

The remaining 10 acres will be owned and managed by the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy. They will maintain the Salt Lake Aqueduct and public access to the trail. 

“By protecting this land, we’re not only safeguarding a piece of Utah’s rich natural heritage but also ensuring that families, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts can connect with these incredible landscapes for generations to come,” Jim Petterson, Trust for Public Land’s mountain west region vice president said.

According to Petterson, the trail is not just a path. It’s a “lifeline to nature” for Utahns and visitors.  

Efforts to recognize Bonneville Shoreline Trail

Utah Sen. John Curtis echoed Petterson’s sentiment, calling it a “vital recreational resource.” 

Recently, Curtis and Sen. Mike Lee introduced a bill aiming to name the Bonneville Shoreline Trail as a National Scenic Trail. 

Curtis told KSL.com “Utahns love this trail.” The bill was designed to make it eligible for federal resources to protect the landscape and public access. 

In a press release announcing the protected land at Battle Creek, Trust for Public Land applauded Lee and Curtis’ bill. 

“This legislation is a crucial step in recognizing the Bonneville Shoreline Trail’s significance as a national treasure,” Petterson said. “National Scenic Trail designation would bring increased federal support, additional conservation resources, and heightened recognition to this iconic trail, ensuring its protection and enhancement for future generations.” 

Working to expand the trail 

Currently, the trail is just over 100 miles, according to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail website. The route follows the former shoreline of ancient Lake Bonneville. 

The trail project began in 1990 with a section between Emigration Canyon and Dry Canyon. As the years went on, cities and counties adopted segments. Nowadays, it’s comprised of several trailheads, allowing hikers and mountain bikers to travel as far as they would like. 

“The trail skirts the developed areas of the Wasatch Front, often forming the boundary between urban subdivisions and National Forest Wilderness,” according to the BST website. 

Now, proponents hope to see the trail eventually reach from southern Idaho to Nephi, Utah. If completed, the entire trail would span 280 miles. 

“This latest addition expands the trail for Pleasant Grove residents and preserves the natural beauty we all cherish,” Curtis said of the recently acquired land in Utah County. 

The acquisition isn’t the only recent step toward the completion of the trail. In July 2024, a new segment opened in Hyde Park Canyon, which is near Logan. 

Cache County was also awarded funding to add to the trail in Feb. 2025. The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation provided the northern Utah county with $570,000. 

More from KSL NewsRadio: Bonneville Shoreline Trail to expand with new funding