Situated between the Great Salt Lake and scenic Wasatch Mountain Range, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Rail Trail crosses Davis and Weber counties and numerous cities, including Layton. The trail essentially parallels I-15 and takes a mostly suburban route within a developed corridor. The trail is used by runners, walkers, cyclists, rollerblade enthusiasts and more. It features a rural feel with occasional fields, industrial parks and wooded patches. The beautiful Wasatch Mountains are visible along the eastern horizon and the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area edges the southern segment of the trail.
The Denver and Rio Grande Western Rail Trail extends north from West Bountiful and passes through the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, where it joins the Legacy Parkway Trail. Continuing north, the trail travels through Farmington, Kaysville, Layton, Clearfield and Clinton to Hinckley Drive on the border of Roy and West Haven. Both trails are also part of the Golden Spoke network, which offers more than 100 miles of connected, paved trails stretching from Ogden to Provo.
The 23.5-mile rail-trail features an asphalt surface and sits on the bed of the former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The route was most recently used by the Union Pacific Railroad. The trail corridor is now owned by the Utah Transit Authority. Since 2003, the various cities the trail links have agreements with the rail agency to maintain the trail.
The trail may not be appropriate for smaller children as there are frequent street crossings, some with gates, along the route; most of the crossings are in residential areas with a few busy exceptions. In Layton, you can access the midpoint of the trail, after parking at Ellison Park (750 N Cold Creek Way) on the western side of the trail. Layton City is proud to provide multiple trails within its municipal boundary. Over 24 miles of trails are located and growing in Layton, and most of them are improved for persons of all ages and abilities to enjoy.