The Great Western Trail system is a multi-use (motorized and non-motorized) grouping of paralleling and braided trails that runs over 4,455 miles. It crosses the states of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. It goes through the Western United States' most stunning geography, including dense forests, woodlands, deserts, canyons, plateaus, and alpine meadows. It joins together 18 National Forests, State, Indian, and Bureau of Land Management lands, and has a vast array of wildlife and vegetation.
Utah is host to 1,600 miles of the Great Western Trail, beginning at the Idaho border near Beaver Mountain west of Bear Lake, and ends in the state between Kanab and Page, Arizona. The Great Western Trail was named Utah's Centennial Trail as part of its Statehood Centennial celebration in 1996. The Great Western Trail is a boon for the state's outdoor enthusiasts, linking already-existing trails.
Near Salt Lake City, the Wasatch Crest Trail is the link on the Great Western Trail. At 20 miles long, it is one of the area's premiere mountain biking trails. Other multi-use hiking route segments include the Big Water Trailhead, Skyline Drive, Kays Creek Trail, Lamb's Canyon Trail, Miller Creek Road, and Guardsman Pass. These trailheads are all found in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
The U.S. Congress is currently studying the Great Western Trail to make it a part of the National Trails System. For more information on the Great Western Trail, write to the Great Western Trial Association at P.O. Box 41, Kaysville, UT 84037 or visit
www.gwt.org.
