Utah Open Lands, Park City Municipal and Mountain Trails Foundation announced Tuesday the grand opening of the multi-use Bonanza Loop trail on Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. near the Bonanza Flat parking lot.
According to the groups, the trail offers some of the scenery and views of Bonanza Flat, a “unique hiking experience” and opportunities for targeted mountain biking. Participants can complete the loop trail by bike or on foot after the short ceremony.
“One of the key factors the City Council considered in making careful decisions about the route was balance,” said Tana Toly, Park City Councilwoman and trail and open space liaison. “We considered many important inputs from the community and relied on the expertise of our partners at Utah Open Lands and Mountain Trails Foundation.”
The Bonanza Flat Adaptive Management and Stewardship Plan was officially adopted in 2020, and this – the concept of providing a directed multi-use trail as part of the sustainable recreation experience in the Bonanza Flat Conservation Area – was always part of the plan, according to the groups.
“From the outset, conservation of the Bonanza Flat Conservation Area has included restoring dysfunctional and unsustainable social pathways and disturbances for the benefit of both wildlife conservation and recreational use,” a press release said.
“There is no question that a well-designed trail enhances the recreational experience. What many don’t consider is that a well-designed trail also takes into account other conservation values of the land,” said Wendy Fisher, executive director of Utah Open Lands. “It is always a pleasure to work with the team at Mountain Trails Foundation, and their willingness to plan and develop the alignment of this trail with us was incredible.”
The new multi-use trail has some limitations for several important reasons, the groups said: Heavy wildlife use, sensitive life cycles such as calving and parturition, and the goal of minimizing wildlife-human interaction required limiting the trail’s seasonality and banning dogs, according to the group. The habitat of moose, deer, elk, bear and cougars, as well as the nesting and fledging seasons of raptors and owls such as the blazing owl, were all part of the decision-making process when the routing was finalized, the groups said.
“This trail is a shining example of how collaboration between nonprofits benefits the public and the ecosystem,” said Lora Anthony, executive director of the Mountain Trails Foundation.
