Salt Lake MSA Development Thread

[(Eco)nomy_404]

I recently biked the Jordan River trailway and I must say it was most excellent! I took my bike on TRAX and got off at the River Trail station on the Green line just west of I-15. I biked all the way down to Gardener Village to take the Red line back home. It was about a 10 mile ride with fairly easily navigable paved trails - It looks like there are other small trail systems as well as parks that have split offs that might through you off if you're a first timer. I think if I did it again I would find my way just fine. It`s nice because you are surrounded by trees, water, and residential areas so you don`t have to breathe in car fumes. I never once had to cross a busy street (there are either bridges or underpasses along the trail). There are no major hills - just an occasional up or down. Really, I was impressed! It looks like its part of a quite extensive paved trail network. Does anyone know if it goes from lake-to-lake yet? How far would that be? 60 miles? I remember passing the 34-mile mark somewhere just before Gardener Village, which I would imagine is about the half-way point.

[livedowntown]

Originally Posted by (Eco)nomy_404

I recently biked the Jordan River trailway and I must say it was most excellent! I took my bike on TRAX and got off at the River Trail station on the Green line just west of I-15. I biked all the way down to Gardener Village to take the Red line back home. It was about a 10 mile ride with fairly easily navigable paved trails - It looks like there are other small trail systems as well as parks that have split offs that might through you off if you're a first timer. I think if I did it again I would find my way just fine. It`s nice because you are surrounded by trees, water, and residential areas so you don`t have to breathe in car fumes. I never once had to cross a busy street (there are either bridges or underpasses along the trail). There are no major hills - just an occasional up or down. Really, I was impressed! It looks like its part of a quite extensive paved trail network. Does anyone know if it goes from lake-to-lake yet? How far would that be? 60 miles? I remember passing the 34-mile mark somewhere just before Gardener Village, which I would imagine is about the half-way point.

This makes me really excited. I have never really used the JRT because I didn't want to just ride far away and then just turn around and ride back. Until you said this I never realized that now I can return on Trax! Thanks.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by (Eco)nomy_404

I recently biked the Jordan River trailway and I must say it was most excellent! I took my bike on TRAX and got off at the River Trail station on the Green line just west of I-15. I biked all the way down to Gardener Village to take the Red line back home. It was about a 10 mile ride with fairly easily navigable paved trails - It looks like there are other small trail systems as well as parks that have split offs that might through you off if you're a first timer. I think if I did it again I would find my way just fine. It`s nice because you are surrounded by trees, water, and residential areas so you don`t have to breathe in car fumes. I never once had to cross a busy street (there are either bridges or underpasses along the trail). There are no major hills - just an occasional up or down. Really, I was impressed! It looks like its part of a quite extensive paved trail network. Does anyone know if it goes from lake-to-lake yet? How far would that be? 60 miles? I remember passing the 34-mile mark somewhere just before Gardener Village, which I would imagine is about the half-way point.

It's about 50 miles. See: http://g.co/maps/wqmru

[arkhitektor]

I rode this route on my bike earlier this summer, it was exactly 60 miles:



Layton and Farmington completed their sections of the Denver and Rio Grande Rail Trail this spring, and since the connection between the Legacy Parkway trail and the Jordan River Trail was completed last year, you can ride on a continuous trail from Bluffdale to Roy. There are two small missing sections of the Jordan River Trail in SL county, one in Sandy and another through the power plant property where the river goes under I-80 near the Fairpark, but there are easy, on street detours around both. The trail ends when it hits Bluffdale, you have to ride along Redwood Rd. for several miles through the Camp Williams area, but it eventually starts again in Utah Co. and continues to Utah Lake.

It's also cool to know that the TRAX bridge built over the Roper rail yard for the West Valley Line was built wide enough for a trail to be added in the future so that the Jordan River Trail can be connected to the Parley's trail network and the tunnel that is currently being built under 1300 E. @ Sugarhouse Park.

[tygr]

That's awesome!

Like your signature says. "Now we're getting somewhere."

[Cornhusker]

Big deal....

2 summers ago, me and two other buddies biked from Pioneer Square in Portland, Oregon to Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington-in 1 day.

Come talk to me, when you do something bigger than 60 miles.

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

Big deal....

2 summers ago, me and two other buddies biked from Pioneer Square in Portland, Oregon to Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington-in 1 day.

Come talk to me, when you do something bigger than 60 miles.

Cornhusker...he was commenting on the trail system expanding in Utah not bragging about that he rode that far.

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

Big deal....

2 summers ago, me and two other buddies biked from Pioneer Square in Portland, Oregon to Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington-in 1 day.

Come talk to me, when you do something bigger than 60 miles.

Oh Portland Dude, this recent incarnation of yours will be short. Thanks for always keeping me on my xenophobic toes.

It's probably best that you say your goodbyes while you still can.

[livedowntown]

What are the services like along the trail? Are there areas where restrooms could be found (I know you could get off the trail and find a gas station or something but I mean close to the trail) and close restaurant districts and such. In other words has anyone made a big day of this trail stopping along the way to enjoy things? I guess there's Gardner Village as was already mentioned but what else? Has anyone made a dedicated, well designed map of the trail showing stuff?

[livedowntown]

Ok sorry about the map question I see Stenar posted a link and the map is good but it's the rest of the stuff I'm wondering about

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by livedowntown

What are the services like along the trail? Are there areas where restrooms could be found (I know you could get off the trail and find a gas station or something but I mean close to the trail) and close restaurant districts and such. In other words has anyone made a big day of this trail stopping along the way to enjoy things? I guess there's Gardner Village as was already mentioned but what else? Has anyone made a dedicated, well designed map of the trail showing stuff?

Try this link which has a Google Earth map that you can download showing parking, bathrooms, and points of interest nearby.

[livedowntown]

Originally Posted by jtrent77

Try this link which has a Google Earth map that you can download showing parking, bathrooms, and points of interest nearby.

Wow, thanks that is exactly the kind of info I wanted. Looks like after the Friday/Saturday storms I have one last activity before the snow flies.

[Cornhusker]

Originally Posted by s.p.hansen

Oh Portland Dude, this recent incarnation of yours will be short. Thanks for always keeping me on my xenophobic toes.

It's probably best that you say your goodbyes while you still can.

I'm good, I plan on being here a while. Why would I have to leave??

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

I'm good, I plan on being here a while. Why would I have to leave??

Because we don't tolerate sock puppets of banned trolls. Especially obvious trolls who are obvious.

Greensboro -> Portland Dude -> Rao -> Cornhusker -> (to be continued)

[Cornhusker]

sorry to rain on your parade, but I'm none of those people.

like i said, i plan on being here a while, see you around s.p. hansen!

[tygr]

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

sorry to rain on your parade, but I'm none of those people.

like i said, i plan on being here a while, see you around s.p. hansen!

Everyone who wants to join the forum is welcome here, as long as they are polite. Let's be civil and respectful of others... no matter what we do, someone else can always say they've done it better, faster, etc. It's alright to have respectful disagreements, but when one ridicules another, a line is crossed.

There's no need to belittle anyone to make oneself appear superior.

And, no matter what, let's stay on topic.

[Cornhusker]

Agreed!

[SLCdude]

While we're on the topic of the Jordan River Trail, the first section of the 9 Line trail is opening tomorrow! The first section runs parallel to 900 S from I-15 to the Jordan River. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony starting at noon tomorrow.

http://slcworkshop.com/projects/nine...nine_line.html

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by livedowntown

What are the services like along the trail? Are there areas where restrooms could be found (I know you could get off the trail and find a gas station or something but I mean close to the trail) and close restaurant districts and such. In other words has anyone made a big day of this trail stopping along the way to enjoy things? I guess there's Gardner Village as was already mentioned but what else? Has anyone made a dedicated, well designed map of the trail showing stuff?

There are restrooms all along the trail. I've walked and biked the trail dozens, if not hundreds, of times. There are parks along the trail that have restrooms about every mile or so.

[(Eco)nomy_404]

Originally Posted by livedowntown

This makes me really excited. I have never really used the JRT because I didn't want to just ride far away and then just turn around and ride back. Until you said this I never realized that now I can return on Trax! Thanks.

It`s awesome! I definitely recommend it!! You can catch the trail at 200 S. around Redwood Rd. and take it south to just past Gardener Village. It`s a 14 mile ride from end to end - I took about 9-10 miles of the route. If you`re too tired to ride back, you can catch TRAX at Gardener Village or at 2300 South in West Valley - both stations are adjacent to the trail. I imagine the new airport line will have a station close to the trail as well - that means you will be able to catch TRAX at North Temple in Salt Lake, 2300 S. in West Valley, and 7800 S. in West Jordan along the trail. It`s nice to have 3 access points so that if you get too tired to come back, you can just hope on a train at one of the multiple points up and down the trail.

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I rode this route on my bike earlier this summer, it was exactly 60 miles:



Layton and Farmington completed their sections of the Denver and Rio Grande Rail Trail this spring, and since the connection between the Legacy Parkway trail and the Jordan River Trail was completed last year, you can ride on a continuous trail from Bluffdale to Roy. There are two small missing sections of the Jordan River Trail in SL county, one in Sandy and another through the power plant property where the river goes under I-80 near the Fairpark, but there are easy, on street detours around both. The trail ends when it hits Bluffdale, you have to ride along Redwood Rd. for several miles through the Camp Williams area, but it eventually starts again in Utah Co. and continues to Utah Lake.

It's also cool to know that the TRAX bridge built over the Roper rail yard for the West Valley Line was built wide enough for a trail to be added in the future so that the Jordan River Trail can be connected to the Parley's trail network and the tunnel that is currently being built under 1300 E. @ Sugarhouse Park.

I`ll definitely look into that! Sounds like a long enough journey.