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Despite the low beginning altitude of 4850 feet, this is not an all-season trail. Because it hugs a steep northern slope, snow closes the trail by late October and remains until late April. During the summer, mid-day riding is blistering hot, so plan an early morning ride. The trail starts on the Provo River Parkway, between the Bridal Veil Park parking lot and Bridal Veil Falls. About 0.1 mile up the paved path, look for the Bonneville Shoreline sign and a singletrack on your right. It's a fairly steady climb, gaining about 500 feet over the first mile. After the initial climb, the trail intersects the southern pipeline. Here, the trail flattens and winds around the hillside, generally staying over or near the pipeline. Some short sections will be doubletrack. The trail is intersected by multiple ATV and doubletracks. When in doubt, look around for the most flat trail -- if you're making a stiff climb or descent at this point, you're off the pipeline trail. The sideslope is quite steep, and there are occasional rough sections that might make beginners nervous. During the climb, you'll be riding through gamble oak, maple, currant, oregon grape, and an occasional pine. As you come around the mountain onto the old Lake Bonneville gravel deposits, the scenery turns to dry grass, brush, and short scrub oak. Now you can look down towards Utah Valley, and up Provo Canyon. At around 2.5 miles, the new singletrack climbs up over the ridge to your left. Note the spot, but continue on the pipeline trail out to the viewpoint 1/2 mile later. Say "Oooh, Awww." Then if you want more riding, come back to the singletrack and climb. After crossing the ridge, the singletrack dumps onto an ATV trail with multiple branches. If you continue to select the most flat trail, you'll arrive on top of a buried water tank overlooking northern Provo's homes, stables, and corrals. Information provided by utahmountainbiking.com.
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The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is a series of trails along the slope of the Wasatch Mountains where the old shoreline of Lake Bonneville met the hills. Sections of trail are found from Ogden to Payson. The Provo Canyon section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail is an advanced-intermediate singletrack hill climb, followed by a fairly flat cruise out to a view over Utah Valley. Altitude gain is 500 feet, but feels like more. Out-and-back to the viewpoint is 6 miles.
