Random Rambler: Deer Ridge Loop

The Deer Ridge Loop is a fun trail in Draper. It is a nice wide trail that features amazing views of the mountains, as well as the Salt Lake and Utah valleys. It is also an off leash dog park. Today was definitely the day of super happy and friendly doggos who wanted me to love on them. This is high enough that it is one of my go to trails to get up above the inversion as well. The inversion has been super gross for a while now so I definitely wanted to get above it.

Quick Details:

Length: About a 2 mile loop.
Trail Type: Loop.
Difficulty: There is a bit of a climb, but not too bad. DR3.
Elevation Gain: About 330 feet.
Restroom: Yes. Newly installed year round flush toilets.
Dogs? Yes, off-leash even.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Take exit 288 for 14600 So. Head east. Turn right on Traverse Ridge Rd, turn right on Deer Ridge Dr . Take that to the end. You will hike the old dirt road behind the gate.

Well poop. It looks like the inversion has blown out (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)). Well, actually, good, we don’t need to be breathing it anymore, but it is really neat to get up above it and see it below looking almost like the ghost of Lake Bonneville.

Steep Mountain (PSP).

Out west (PSP). I guess there is still some inversion.

Heading up Traverse Ridge (PSP). You can see Red Rock here.

Potato Hill (PSP).

Oh! There is definitely some inversion left, just not as bad as it was this past week (PSP). Yuck!

Continuing up Traverse Ridge Road (PSP). It is almost as steep and winding as some of our canyon roads. But without any ski traffic.

Old water tower (PSP).

The new fancy trailhead and parking. They put a lot of money and effort into upgrading this trailhead back in November 2023. It is amazing!

Trailhead sign, and the new fancy, year round restrooms.

The Trail:

Starting along the trail. I think the gate is new, and that kiosk is definitely new.

The new kiosk.

I have said it before, but I am going to say it again. I swear all my life, trailheads just... existed and never really changed. But suddenly in the last 5 years or so a lot of them are suddenly getting all sorts of improvements. It is fantastic, but I wonder what is driving that.

Well. This is a warning I have never seen at a trailhead before. It must be really bad to warrant a sign!

Entering the off leash area, with another poop fairy sign. I love the poop fairy signs. A whimsical reminder that no magical fairy will clean up your dogs poop, so make sure you do it!

The 2nd gate.

Porcupines are active in this area.

We have not seen one here yet. We have seen them elsewhere, but not here. But still, be aware. Those poor doggos!

Up the hill. Lots of snow up here, but not as much as there should be this time of year. This winter has been really, bizarrely warm and dry.

A couple small muddy spots, but nothing crazy.

The Salt Lake Valley with the thin layer of inversion smog. It kind of looks like the Lake Bonneville ghost I mentioned, but not super thick like last time.

The ridge between the hills. The wind is pretty nasty here at this low saddle between hills.

The Salt Lake Valley again.

Utah Valley.

Salt Lake Valley again.

We can see The Claw below.

They even added a sign at the top of the Telegraph Trail.

Beautiful blue skies.

Frozen boot print. I love when this happens.

Where the loop splits. Left is a bit more steep and rocky, so we generally prefer to go right, which is a little bit more of a gentle climb.

Huh. I have never noticed that trail before. It must be new. It looks like it is the Off the Beaten Path Trail. From what I can tell that trail goes around this ridge. It looks like I probably wouldn’t like it much being so exposed on a steep hill. But, hey I might still try one day.

The Salt Lake Valley.

The Claw again.

Panoramic.

Now, the climb.

Fire hydrant.

You will see lots of signs of development. The area was slated for it, and it was even started. But they wanted to stuff more houses in than Draper wanted. They threw a fit, even sued, but ultimately abandoned it. Last I checked, there is still the possibility of it being developed. However, Draper is set on having some open space here. They would not have put the money and effort into the trailhead improvements if they weren’t.

Electrical box.

The climb.

The Off the Beaten Path Trail again.

Scrub oaks.

A couple of patches of ice, but we didn’t need the micro spikes today.

Smog.

Blue skies.

More scrub oaks.

Into a little gully.

Last look at the valley for just a bit.

Mount Jordan behind us.

Continuing up.

Scrub oaks on the top of the hill.

More climbing.

More scrub oak.

The first big turn off on the right. I am not sure where it leads. The little map here says Deer Ridge Access. And the digital map says it then connects to the Mayor's Trail and Lehi's Dream Trail (bike only).

They even added a little map here too. Nice.

Little flat bit at the top for a minute.

Ruins of an old car.

Continuing along.

At just about a mile, you will reach the turn off for Alien Tower. That was the original plan for the day but, it was getting late and I kind of wanted to make it back to the car before it got dark for once haha. Okay, not for once, but for the first time in a minute. Have I mentioned how much I hate this time of year?

Little closer view of Alien Tower.

Fun clouds.

The Beware of Doug Trail, with accompanying Far Side cartoon. I still haven’t figured out what the deal is with these, but I guess someone in the Draper trails group is a Gary Larson fan.

Anyway, that loop appears to be about 1.23 miles and is multi-use. One of these days we might check it out.

Back to the main loop.

The Rex Maneuver Trail, with another accompanying Far Side comic. This one is a about a mile, and is foot traffic only. Again, one of these days we might check it out.

The SL Valley again.

With The Claw.

Another panoramic.

Mount Jordan.

Again.

The SL Valley again.

Clouds.

Huh. This fence is new as well.

The Rex Maneuver Trail again.

Well, the new fencing makes it a little easier to find the way back down. Just go to the end of it and hang a right. If you miss it, the trail dead ends just a little bit further along so it's pretty easy to just turn back.

Now the down starts. Oof. One quick little slip (just a woobidy woobidy, no fall), but otherwise we still didn’t need our micro spikes.

But they have fenced off the even more steep old road.

More down.

More scrub oak.

The SL Valley again.

Panoramic.

Mount Timpanogos above the scrub oak.

6 way trail split. The Rex Maneuver and Beware of Doug Trails criss-cross across the main trail here.

Short section where the trail is crumbling down a bit.

Box Elder Peak and Mount Timpanogos.

Panoramic.

Smoggy valley and houses on a ridge. I don’t think I could live on a ridge like that. o.O

More smog.

The last push down.

Connecting back to the main old road.

Back down.

Electrical box with… hipster Frankenstein? graffiti. I don't generally like graffiti, but if it is artistic it's a little less gross I guess. As long as it is not on nature.

Continuing down.

Reaching the low saddle again. The wind sure picks up here!

The SL Valley.

The other direction showing Mount Timpanogos.

The SL Valley again.

Utah Valley.

Lots of footprints.

The SL Valley again.

Another panoramic.

Continuing down.

Mount Jordan.

Down to the gates.

Trail counter. Not a camera, more like a digital turnstile. They use these to determine how much use areas get and use that data to possibly justify trail improvements like we can see here at this trailhead.

The lower gate and the fancy new trailhead.

The new restrooms are super fancy! Running water, flush toilets, and soap even! Please do your part to help keep these nice facilities by treating them like your own. Including not washing your muddy boots in the sink. Seriously, if you wouldn’t do it in your kitchen sink, don’t do it here!

Outside.

The neat water tower again (PSP).

The valley starting to light up for the night (PSP).

Potato Hill (PSP).

The valley again (PSP).

Again (PSP). You can see the strong line of i15.

The Claw again (PSP).

Well, that was a fun hike. I am glad most of the inversion blew out too, even if I didn’t get the cool above the funk shots I was after. But, it was still good to get up above it for a bit anyway. we passed a few people, but not a ton. Plus we had all the happy friendly doggos that wanted pets and loves from me haha. 9 out of 10 squirrels today.