New Utah Trail Network Would Allow Car-Free Access to Bikepacking Routes

Announced last week, the proposed Utah Trail Network is a 3,100-mile system of paved paths that spans the state’s major cities and national parks. Said to come within one mile of 95 percent of Utahns once completed, the network is a massive public works project that will provide car-free access to tons of recreational riding spots, including most of the routes we’ve established and maintain in the state. The trail system will eventually connect to 208 Utah towns and cities, 33 universities and community colleges, 74 high-capacity transit stations, six national parks, and 25 state parks.

At the time of writing, only about 500 miles of the network have been constructed and depend on funding allocated through legislation passed in 2023, which allows no more than $45 million per year to the project. That said, other funding has been provided for gap trail systems. For example, earlier this year, the Utah Transportation Commission approved nearly $95 million in funding to build and plan 19 new paved trails or complete existing trail gaps across the state. Several are scheduled to start construction next spring, pending contractor schedules, supply availability, and other factors, including weather.

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) worked closely with communities and planning partners across the state in selecting paved trails for the master plan map—an interactive resource that will be updated every four years. For more on the Utah Trail Network and to view the map, visit Udot.Utah.Gov.

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