A River Runs Through It: Handcut Hollow Endures Massive Rainstorm

Six inches of rain in under two hours. High water lines approaching 5 ft above the normal flow height. Last week the Ozarks were hammered by a massive spring rainstorm and infrastructure, including trails, were put to the test.

The Slaughter Pen Trailhead turned into a temporary lake

The Handcut Hollow has required a fair amount of rockwork to reinforce the trail tread and for good reason. The project zone contains a high number of drainages that directly cross the trail, sometimes running in parallel with the fall line.

When designing, constructing, or repairing a trail it's important to understand the implications of stormwater on the surrounding terrain to properly reinforce sections of the trail that will encounter sustained water run-off. In addition, locating drains properly in low points ensures standing water does not collect on the tread, avoiding further trail damage and erosion.

Our crews in Bentonville have seen rain almost constantly for the last month. Coupled with an insane amount of rainfall in under two hours one day, the armored sections on the Handcut Hollow and drainage features we installed took a beating. Take a look at some of the photos below from the field to see how they held up, and if your trail project is in need of stormwater mitigation, schedule a consultation today.

Rock armor below culvert

Boulder moved by stormwater

Runoff perpendicular to armor

Bridge survives hill blowout

Sustained armor in runoff zone

Tread being prepped for armor

Rockwork reinforcing crossing

Storm carnage from high water

There's a trail here somewhere

Economic and Recreational Importance of Bonneville Shoreline Trail Reiterated

On March 30th of 2021, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) and Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) released additional statements of support, regarding the importance of continuing to advocate for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act. The bill is slated to be reintroduced during the 117th congress.

Singletrack Trails field crew rerouting a section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail near Salt Lake City, UT

The act, originally introduced in the summer of 2020, advocates for the construction of top priority sections of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST), to continue supporting high-quality, multi-use recreational opportunities for Utahns.

The legislation proposes to release 326 acres of wilderness along current sections of the trail to allow for the advancement of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail network, while simultaneously designating 326 acres of new wilderness that offsets any release to accommodate the BST.

Where is the Bonneville Shoreline Trail?

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail follows the eastern shoreline of ancient Lake Bonneville from the southern Idaho border to the town of Nephi, Utah. The trail follows a series of benches the lake cut as it slowly receded over thousands of years.

The trail follows the eastern shore of the once-massive Lake Bonneville

How Long is the Bonneville Shoreline Trail?

According to The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee, about 100 miles of the trail have been documented and officially designated. If completely connected as originally planned the route would contain over 280 miles of trail.

Is There a Trail Map of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail?

Due to the ongoing planning work to eventually finish the trail, at this time there does not appear to be a single source for a map of the entire trail in its current state. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee has regional maps for each current documented section.

Where Can I Access The Bonneville Shoreline Trail?

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee has curated access points with directions to trailheads for each of their region maps.

In addition, we've listed the most popular route segments below from trailforks.com that can assist in finding parking locations along with points of interest and preferred travel directions for each segment. The segments below start in northern Utah and show the progression of the trail as it heads south towards Springville, UT.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail Access Points

Hand-Cut Hollow Section Added to the Slaughter

Our Arkansas crew has been hard at work laying down classic handbuilt singletrack in Bentonville through the winter. Part of an 8-mile extension near the Slaughter Pen trails, The “Hand-Cut Hollow” was born out of a need to bring a more intimate riding experience to the greater network of trails in the Bentonville ecosystem.

Threading the needle thanks to hand tools and dedicated crew

The new trails are part of an 8-mile network of hand-built singletrack, connecting existing trail networks along the North Bentonville Trail with previously unexplored terrain east of Interstate 49. Trails in the system will travel through a variety of different zones, providing riders a unique backcountry-style riding experience.

Handcut. Just like Mom used to make.

We’re stoked to let everyone know that the first section of the trail is complete and is open to the public. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, you can find the entrance at the intersection of Berkeleys and Rocky Ridge South.

Handcut Hollow (blue) linking up with the Slaughter Pen Network

The work continues on the remaining sections of the trail as Spring brings better weather and longer days. If you see our crew out on the trails, let them know what you think!