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Print Friendly MapParley's Trail, when complete, will become the first true off-road transportation and recreation link spanning Salt Lake City from east to west. Much of the trail's route is already open for use, including a rail-with-trail stretch along the Utah Transit Authority's new S Line streetcar.
In the east, the trail begins south of Parley's Canyon, an extraordinarily scenic area despite containing two interstates within. The trail crosses an Interstate 215 ramp on a bridge shared with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, a planned 280-mile rustic route from Nephi, Utah, to the Idaho border, with long stretches already complete. Continue west on Parley's Trail to cross I-215's main alignment on another trail bridge.
The path soon enters Parley's Historic Nature Park, a 68-acre open space bisected by Parley's Creek. Immediately adjacent to the park is Tanner Park, through which the trail also runs. Take a rest or have a snack at one of the park's benches or picnic tables, although the spots may already be claimed by families watching Little League baseball during the warmer months.
A stretch of trail runs along the southern edge of Sugar House Park, a sprawling area framed by magnificent mountain views. Even those not yet tired from their trek will want to linger here, even if just for a short stroll around the park's pond. The beautiful area is historic, too: Sugar House Prison, Utah's first state prison, was built on the site in 1855, back when Utah was still a territory.
From the park, another new stretch of trail known as "The Draw" passes safely under E. 2100 S. and between two large buildings before emerging into Hidden Hollow Park. The park is hidden indeed, surrounded on all sides by the dense (and increasingly towering) development of Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighborhood. Opened in 1999 on the site of the original Sugar House Park, Hidden Hollow Park lies on both sides of Parley's Creek, offering a vital sense of solitude in the lively neighborhood.
A unique stretch of Parley's Trail begins just west of Hidden Hollow Park, after a short signed on-road route via Wilmington Avenue, Highland Drive and Sugarmont Drive. The trail shares a former Union Pacific corridor with the Utah Transit Authority's new S Line, the first streetcar run by the agency. The "S" refers to the two cities the route connects: Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake, as well as the former's Sugar House neighborhood.
Parley's Trail runs for approximately 1 mile along the streetcar, currently terminating at the South Salt Lake border. Appropriately, the streetcar, trail, kempt landscaping, public plazas and other amenities on the corridor are commonly known together as the S Line Greenway. Access to the streetcar is easy from the rail-with-trail, as it passes four stops on its short route. With the entire trail recently completed (October 2023), nearly the trail's entire route follows a paved route through south Salt Lake except for short on-road bike lane sections from 300 W to State St. and along Wilmington Ave. near Hidden Hollow Park.
At the trail's western endpoint, Parley's Trail connects with the Jordan River Parkway Trail via. an impressive bridge over the Jordan River.
Parking is available for the trail at Sugar House Park (1330 2100 S), Tanner Park (2660 Heritage Way), and Grandeur Peak (Face) Trailhead (2900 So Wasatch Blvd).
See TrailLink Map for detailed information.
Parley’s trail begins within the intersection of Interstates 80 and 215 BeltLoop as it T’s off the the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. It quickly drops down into Parley’s Nature Preserve - which is the only real piece of nature you’ll encounter along this Uber Urban trail. From there you’ll closely follow interstate 80 into Sugarhouse Park then after winding through Sugarhouse business district the trail becomes aligned with the UTA S-Line light rail east to South Salt Lake. From here the trail meanders with often poor signage along city streets until it joins year another UTA light rail line (Green Line) as it crosses rail yards, interstate exchanges and finally meets its end as it T’a into the Jordan River Trail.
The local media has been covering its completion so we went and checked it out. There are some obscure spots where better signage would have helped to navigate. We started on the east end, Grandeur Peak Trailhead. Going west you stay south of I-215 until 1700 East, where you cross to the north side of the freeway and follow the south and west edge of Sugarhouse Park where the trail goes under 1300 East. Just past the sugar beet statue, turn left out onto Wilmington Avenue.
Beautiful views
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