Summer is just around the corner, and that means trails for EVERYBODY. 

My name is Amanda Powell, and I’m passionate about getting outdoors and exploring trails with my family. Living with Cerebral Palsy has often come with a lot of barriers when it comes to accessibility in the outdoors. Over the years, I’ve worked to break down some of those barriers, not only for myself, but now for my husband and our two young girls as well. 

This is a list of hiking and biking trails throughout Utah that have helped our family experience the outdoors together. As we all know, access to the outdoors looks different for everyone, and the tools we use to get outside can look different too. Whether it’s hiking poles, wheelchairs, bikes, adaptive bikes, or other mobility equipment, we all have different ways of connecting with nature. 

These are trails that have helped make those experiences possible for our family. 

Hiking Trails

Two people strolling on a wooden boardwalk through a high mountain marsh with tall pine trees in the background

Silver Lake Nature Trail 

0.9 miles | 62 ft elevation gain | Loop | Big Cottonwood Canyon 

This is by far one of my absolute favorite trails in Utah, not only because it feels like a true accessible mountain trail, but because of how much the trail has evolved over the years. 

Trails Utah completed a major accessibility project here, helping make this trail more inclusive. I even had the opportunity to speak, as a nonprofit owner myself, about the impact accessible trails like this make on individuals and families. 

The site has three van-accessible parking spaces in the paved parking lot. The trail surface includes a wooden boardwalk and packed dirt paths that are wheelchair accessible. 

Paved Trail leading through trees with rocky canyon walls and high mountain peaks above them

Temple Quarry Trail 

0.3 miles | 22 ft elevation gain | Loop | Little Cottonwood Canyon 

This paved loop trail is perfect for families and little ones. Along the trail are informational posts sharing the history of the quarry, where granite was once mined for the construction of the Salt Lake Temple in the late 1800s. It’s an easy walk with a little piece of Utah history built right into the experience.

If you’re visiting during the fall, this trail is a must-see. The colors are gorgeous, and it remains one of my favorite summer and fall trails in Utah. 

Snowbird's red tram with summer mountains in the background

Snowbird Observation Point Trail 

1.0 mile | 82 ft elevation gain | Out-and-back | Little Cottonwood Canyon 

This trail is stunning during peak wildflower season. It’s a paved out-and-back trail with an amazing viewpoint that’s perfect for family and friend photos. Because it sits higher in the canyon, there’s also a good chance you’ll spot wildlife along the way. 

Mountain Biking Trails

Butterfield Canyon 

Butterfield Canyon mountain biking trails are the perfect place to ride for ALL bikes. These trails were built with adaptive mountain bikers in mind, making them wide enough for adaptive bikes while still offering fun, flowy dirt trails for everyone to enjoy. 

Gravel and dirt path through trees with a rocky mountain in the background

Little Cottonwood Canyon Trail 

5.5 miles | 1,013 ft elevation gain | Out-and-back 

This is a beautiful moderate dirt trail for mountain biking. The trail starts smooth and gradually becomes a little rockier as you climb higher. It’s wide enough for all bikes and is beautiful in the spring, summer, and fall. 

It also shares the same parking area as the wheelchair-accessible Temple Quarry Trail. 

Road & Paved Trails

Biking Jordan River Parkway

Jordan River Parkway Trail 

45.3 miles | 692 ft elevation gain | Point-to-point 

If you’re like me, sometimes you want to switch things up with paved riding and road biking. The Jordan River Parkway Trail is a great option for longer miles while still enjoying the outdoors. 

Mountain View Corridor Trail 

37.6 miles | 1,666 ft elevation gain | Out-and-back 

This is a great accessible trail for biking because of the gradual elevation profile. It’s the perfect spring trail to help keep you warm and makes for a great morning or evening ride since much of the trail is exposed to the sun. 

Oquirrh Lake Long Trail 

3.3 miles | 36 ft elevation gain | Loop | Daybreak 

Sections of this trail are great for biking, wheeling, and walking, making it a fun option for families and mixed mobility groups. 

Paved trail path with park and trees leading toward hills and mountains

Parley’s Trail 

11.4 miles | 1,154 ft elevation gain | Out-and-back 

This trail is fun to hop on from Sugar House while enjoying fresh air and spending time outdoors. It’s a great mix of city access and nature. 

Porter Rockwell Trail 

9.1 miles | 255 ft elevation gain 

You can jump on this trail at Draper Park, which has a great playground for families. Across from the parking lot is access to the trail. 

The first section is especially great for wheelchair accessibility and is shaded beautifully by trees. After that, the trail opens up into a wider path that makes for a fun bike ride with friends, family, or little ones. 

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon Trail 

1.8 miles | 200 ft elevation gain | Out-and-back 

This is a great bike path with a few short steep sections, so bring a buddy for a push if needed. I love riding this trail in the evenings or using it to get in a few laps for cycling training. 

Inclusive Outdoor Groups 

Everybody on Trails 

Everybody on Trails’ mission is to provide equitable access to gear, opportunities, and a supportive community through fundraising for adaptive equipment. The organization empowers individuals of all ages, with and without disabilities, to experience the joy of outdoor trails through inclusive meet-ups and community events. 

Utah Gravel Series 

Utah Gravel Series is an inclusive race series that encourages everybody to get on bikes. Their events are a great way to challenge yourself, explore Utah’s outdoors, and connect with the cycling community. 

Wasatch Adaptive Sports 

If you’re looking for support getting outdoors through adaptive sports like biking, skiing, and more, Wasatch Adaptive Sports is an incredible inclusive nonprofit helping people experience adventure without limits. 

Paved trail with dashed line down the middle. There are green trees and bushes on each side. There is a wheelchair going down it in the distance and a rider on a recumbent bicycle

Plan Your Visit

At the end of the day, the outdoors should be for EVERYBODY. Accessibility in the outdoors may look different for each person, but everyone deserves the opportunity to experience fresh air, movement, adventure, and connection with the people they love. 

I hope this list encourages more individuals and families to get outside and explore Salt Lake in whatever way works best for them. Whether that’s on foot, wheels, adaptive bikes, with hiking poles, or alongside a supportive community, there is a place for you on the trails. 

Some of my favorite memories with my husband and girls have been made outside, and I hope these trails help others create those same memories too. The more we continue building accessible spaces and inclusive communities, the more people will realize that the outdoors truly can be for everybody.