Some Ensign Peak trails reopen after wildfire forced closures

At least two trails near the scene of a wildfire that sparked Saturday on Ensign Peak reopened late Tuesday ahead of the Pioneer Day holiday.

The Tunnel Springs trail within Tunnel Springs Park, as well as the Ensign Peak trail, both reopened at 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to Sierra Hellstrom, who has been monitoring the fire as a public information officer with the Northern Utah Type 3 Incident Management Team.

The Ensign Peak trail continues up to the top of a hill but does not stretch into the fire scar, which allowed for its reopening. “They’re just asked to stay on that trail and not go past it into the fire area,” Hellstrom said of hikers and trail runners.

Sections of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail near the still-burning wildfire’s perimeter however will remain closed for the foreseeable future, including the section that starts south of Tunnel Springs Park.

That’s why those who wish to access the Tunnel Springs trail within Tunnel Springs Park must for now stay within the confines of the park.

City Creek Canyon will also reopen Wednesday for the Pioneer Day holiday, though recreationists will only be able to access the canyon up to picnic site No. 16. Beyond that, the canyon will remain closed, Hellstrom said.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The trailhead to Ensign Peak has since reopened after it was temporarily closed because of the Sandhurst Fire near Ensign Peak, as noted by this earlier closure notice on Monday, July 22, 2024. (Francisco Kjolseth/)

The entire canyon will also close again to the public on Thursday, though that is because of construction on the City Creek Water Treatment plant and not related to the wildfire.

It’s unclear when the affected sections of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail may reopen to the public. Hellstrom said that likely won’t happen until at least the wildfire is considered 100% contained, though it’s more likely the trail sections will reopen once the wildfire is considered “controlled” in an effort to best protect the public.

In firefighting, “containment” refers to how much of a blaze’s perimeter is secured, not how much of a fire is still burning. “Control” is reached when flames are no longer present within a fire’s contained perimeter.

“Because it’s mostly lighter fuels, I anticipate control happening more quickly, probably within a week or so, just to knock down those dead spots,” Hellstrom said of the Ensign Peak fire, dubbed the Sandhurst Fire.

The Ensign Peak wildfire initially ignited on Saturday afternoon, sparking evacuations and threatening nearby homes, radio towers and monuments. By Sunday evening, all evacuation orders had been lifted.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the roughly 200-acre fire had reached 89% containment, according to Utah Fire Info. That’s in part thanks to lower temperature and higher humidity Monday as well as “good work by the resources on the line,” said Brian Trick, another public information officer for the Northern Utah Type 3 Incident Management Team.

The cause was officially considered “undetermined” as of Monday evening, officials announced.

The Salt Lake City Fire Department said in a statement Tuesday evening that investigators are confident that the fire “was not related to activities such as fireworks, homeless encampments or unattended campfires.” The statement added that the fire remains under investigation.

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Some Ensign Peak trails reopen after wildfire forced closures

Some Ensign Peak trails reopen after wildfire forced closures

Some Ensign Peak trails reopen after wildfire forced closures

Some Ensign Peak trails reopen after wildfire forced closures

Some Ensign Peak trails reopen after wildfire forced closures