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Bonneville Boulevard is a one way road that goes around Memory Grove and the bottom of City Creek Canyon. We were in the area recently, and I was reminded of Gravity Hill so I decided we should go check it out again. Plus, it is a nice little paved trail, which we turned into a loop returning via North Canyon Road (closed to vehicles).
Quick Details:
Length: Bonneville Boulevard is about 1.5 miles one way from B street and 11th Avenue to The Capitol. We did a 3.3 mile loop with a spur.
Trail Type: Loop with spur, there are a lot of other loop, or out and back options.
Difficulty: Bonneville Boulevard and North Canyon Road would be a DR2. The switchbacks up from Memory Grove make it a DR3.
Elevation Gain: We did about 360 feet.
Restroom: Yes, there are flush toilets in Memory Grove. I am not sure if they are seasonal or not, but they were open today.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info:
To Get Here:
We decided to start at the Utah State Capitol today.
Take i15 to the 6th south exit heading east. Turn left on State Street. Follow it north to The Capitol. Park at the northeast side, towards the top of Bonneville Boulevard.
You could also park at the Bonneville Boulevard trailhead, or if you really want I think there is street parking on 11th Avenue.
Downtown (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).
The Astra Tower (PSP). Salt Lakes new tallest building.
Eagle Gate Monument (PSP). I have never stopped to see what it is. I can see a plaque there on the right though. Eh, maybe sometime, not a high priority for me.
The State Capitol (PSP).
From the back.
The Trail:
Heading down Bonneville Boulevard. From what I have learned, it used to be a 2 way road, until the great flood of 1983 damaged it. Then it was turned into a one way road for vehicles, west bound only from 11th Avenue and B street to the State Capitol. But as a pedestrian we can go the ‘wrong’ way.
Continuing along.
The lower canyon below.
Continuing along.
North Canyon Road below.
The Salt Dome across the way.
The lower canyon.
The Lower City Creek Trail. We might check that out some time.
Across the canyon.
Down canyon, with downtown poking up beyond.
Upper City Creek Canyon.
The Salt Dome again.
Pretty foothills.
City Creek Canyon.
Lots of myrtle spurge. Which is an awful, noxious, invasive weed.
Looking back down.
Continuing around.
A lot more myrtle spurge.
So far, I see no reason why the road can’t be two way. But then Landis pointed out this lovely bike/pedestrian path would go away.
Little patch of balsamroot.
Across the canyon.
Downcanyon with The Capitol.
Random daffodils.
The top of North Canyon Road below.
Crosswalk. It looks like this is for the BST West City Creek.
Water coming out of the ground.
Memory Grove Pond.
Another crossing. This connects the lower canyon to the upper canyon. Access to the BST West City Creek and the Lower City Creek Loop.
City Creek Canyon.
Small parking lot. The BST East City Creek downhill bike only trail lets out here.
The top of North Canyon Road.
The Gravity Hill is right around here. It does appear we are heading uphill, but honestly it feels like we are walking on a flat part.
So a Gravity Hill (outside link) is a phenomenon where, due to the landscape, and an obscured horizon, it appears you are traveling uphill, when you are actually going downhill. Usually associated with cars being put in neutral and rolling "uphill".
I brought a tennis ball with me to play with the phenomenon. It should have rolled back to me based on what my eyes are seeing. But it stayed put. In hindsight, I should have also brought a level.
It still looks like we are heading uphill. This is not a unique phenomena. Gravity hills exist all over the country and world (outside link). There is another one out west in Copperton that I haven’t checked out yet, and even another one that I found where the creek (which I have yet to see flowing) would flow “uphill”. I don’t know if that one is officially a gravity hill, like I said, I just kind of stumbled upon it on a walk one day.
This particular Gravity Hill comes with a fun local Urban Legend. As it goes, a bus full of children was traveling through here. The driver put it in neutral and got out for some reason (I don’t remember that particular bit). The bus rolled backwards down the hill and crashed, killing all of the kids. So, as the story goes, if a car stops here, the ghosts of the kids are pushing you out of harms way.
Supposedly you could even coat the back of your car with baby powder, and you would see handprints. Though I never saw that myself.
Another fun thing about this urban legend is that it still persists, ever though you can no longer drive that way on this road. As I mentioned, the great flood of ‘83 damaged the road and it was made one way after that. So the couple of times various friends of mine, back in the 90’s before internet, only knew of what was passed down. And we always did it in the wrong spot, like middle on the other side. Maybe there is one on that side as well. But, from what I understand the main one is here and on the wrong way route. It’s funny how urban legends persist.
I have not found any news story regarding a bus crash in this area before 1983. So.. yeah. As much as I like a good spooky story, this one doesn't appear to have any evidence to hold it up. As always, I am completely open to any evidence I may have missed. So, if you have it, shoot it over to me.
I discovered a couple other stories I had never heard before including seeing a lady dressed in white after dark in the area.
I tried dropping the ball. It did seem to want to go “uphill” or off to the side. Never “downhill”.
Or just come to rest. Never rolling down the hill.
Still heading “uphill”. I really want to come back on a bike sometime to see if I can experience it.
My ball again not rolling downhill.
Quick video. I know this is super scientific haha.
Continuing along.
Oregon grape.
I love this time of year when everything starts greening up.
More balsamroot.
The salt dome. That is what it is labeled as on google maps. I am still not sure what it is exactly, but my best theory is somewhere to store salt melt in winter.
We made it to the Bonneville Boulevard Trailhead You can access the BST East City Creek trail and the Lower City Creek Canyon Loop here. I decided it would be our destination for the day. But, you can keep going about 2/10ths of a mile to 11th Avenue at the top to do the full boulevard and then come back. Or, you can go an additional 3/10ths of a mile (total half mile from here) to A street and 9th Avenue and hit the trail down into Memory Grove from there. (I noticed that after the fact). Anyway, we decided to head back.
Bike rack murals.
The BST East City Creek Trail.
Heading back down. You can see Ensign Peak poking up above the canyon to the left here.
Closer, you can see the monument on top of it.
The salt dome again.
Continuing down.
We ran into not one, but 2 separate vehicles that were driving the wrong way and had to tell them so. Luckily they heard us and did turn around. But not before looking at us like we were the assholes for being in the road LOL. But I get it, on this side of the canyon it looks like a regular 2 way road. Aside from all the One Way signs anyway.
View across the canyon.
More Oregon grape.
More myrtle spurge.
Back to the Gravity Hill.
Where North Canyon Road connects. We decided to return going that way.
The Memory Grove Pond again. With a guy fishing.
City Creek.
Heading down North Canyon Road. It’s a little prettier down here by the creek.
Really starting to green up in here.
Large bird nest.
Another spring. This one is pumping out quite a bit of water!
A lot of water!
More Oregon grape.
Some sort of flowering tree.
Lots of water running down the road from that spring, and possibly some others.
More Oregon grape.
Super pretty in here right now.
The last of the spring water crossing the road and making its way down to the creek.
More balsamroot.
More springs.
Lots of myrtle spurge.
City Creek.
Another spring or 2.
Closer.
One of several little waterfalls through here.
Bonneville Boulevard above.
The creek again.
Upper Bridge. This will take you to the Freedom Trail which will also take you down to Memory Grove, and is a much prettier, wilder path. We were just heading down so we stayed on North Canyon Road.
The canyon.
Lovely forest.
Continuing down.
A pipeline of some sort that crosses the creek. Oh, The sign says crude oil. Just what we need going across our creeks.
The creek.
Giant pipe emptying directly into the creek. I suspect it is a storm water drain.
The hill above.
A monument of some sort.
The “Witches Hut”. Its actually the foundation of an old home and mill from 1862.
Continuing down.
Another one of the little waterfalls.
Cute little purple flowers.
Closer. I think lilac. But, most of the blossoms haven't opened.
I love ivy, but it sucks that it kills the trees it climbs.
Little waterfall.
Gold Star Hill.
Down to Memory Grove.
The port-o-potties were here for the temporary art exhibit they did last week: A Symphony of Disappearing Sounds for the Great Salt Lake”. So I don’t think they are normally here. But, permanent restrooms are just to the right of them. North of Memorial House.
The restrooms. I am not sure if they are year round or not, but they were open today. They are tiny little closets with a toilet in them. Just a step above a port-o-potty. But hey, at least they flush and don't smell as bad.
And a sink on the outside.
Memorial House.
Memory Grove.
Some gorgeous purple iris’s.
The lower pond.
They took the Liberty Bell replica down for restoration. According to the sign, it should be back this spring.
This is where the art piece was.
The Rotary Steps. These lead to the switchbacks up to the Capitol.
The switchbacks. There is a light every 20 feet or so.
One of the pretty light posts.
Oregon grape and some white flowers as well.
Stairs at the elbow.
The next switchback. They really aren’t so bad.
Leftover signs from the art exhibit.
The 2nd one is where the switchbacks cross and you can go either way. Left goes toward the south, right to the north. I am not 100% sure, but I think the south route doesn't have any stairs... but I am not sure if it is really ADA compliant either. Plus you know, the Rotary Stairs at the bottom are absolutely not. I would not bring Ma down these switchbacks.
Next switchback.
Stairs at the next elbow.
The last switchback.
More ivy.
Another one of the light posts.
The final stairs.
Another leftover sign.
Looking back down the stairs. I do not like this set of stairs. I wish there was a railing.
View from the top.
The State Capitol.
Heading back up to the car along the top of the canyon.
Looking down into Memory Grove. Memorial House at the bottom.
Switchbacks on the other side of the canyon. They lead from the Austen Stairs to the top of A Street. That is another option to do a full loop.
Sycamore tree.
Memory Grove below.
The switchback on the other side again. They don’t look so bad, maybe I could do them.
Eventually the pavement ended.
The switchbacks on the other side again.
I’m not sure if this is a memorial of some sort, or just random Easter decorations.
Back to where we started. Phew!
The path we took today.
Some bonus content while we went to find something to eat.
The Capitol.
We can see the Great Salt Lake from behind the Capitol (PSP).
The old Sanctuary Building that was illegally partially demolished (PSP).
Hoodah (PSP).
Wait.. where is Kosmo? We went on a wild goose chase and didn’t find him. Well, that gives me the sads.
Well, while we had dinner I did a little bit of digging. According to this article (outside link) from last summer, that says Kosmo might be relocated 5 blocks to the west from his original spot.
The back of the Rio Grande (PSP).
We went in kind of a circuitous way due to 7th South not going across the train tracks.
We found the roundabout, but no Kosmo (PSP). Well poop. I guess I will keep looking. I highly doubt he was just destroyed.
Well, random side quest aside, that was a fun adventure! I am glad I got a chance to explore the Gravity Hill and well, explore Bonneville Boulevard at a slower pace. Its pretty busy but not too bad. 9 out of 10 squirrels.
As for difficulty, the roads are generally pretty easy going and paved, DR2 for that. But, bumping it up to a DR3 for the switchbacks with stairs.
