Skyline Trail

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The Skyline Trail starts from the Westgate parking lot off of Dallas Road. It generally runs the ridgeline of Badger Mountain until it meets the Sagebrush and Langdon Trail at the tripple junction on the east edge of the preserve. It is a 3 1/2 foot wide path paved with crushed rock and has an average 10% grade. The surface is mostly smooth but can be rough in places.

The trail leaves the parking lot next to the kiosk. For the first half mile, the trail climbs steadily in scattered sagebrush. At about the half mile point there is an intersection with the Langdon Trail branching off to the right. The Skyline Trail continues climbing crossing a service road and the landscape changes to mostly dryland grasses with numerous balsamroot in the spring.

At 1.3 miles, the trail crosses the service road again and switches to the south side of Badger Mountain. From here to the junction with the Canyon Trail at mile two, it follows the contours gaining slowly gaining elevation to its high point. Take a left onto the Canyon Trail for the last 40 feet elevation to the summit and best views (and radio towers) or continue straight ahead.

For the next 0.7 miles, the trail gradually descends to where it crosses the service road one final time. From here to the end it wanders through sagebrush until meeting the Langdon and Sagebrush Trail at just under 3 miles from the start.

The options are to either retrace your route, take the Langdon Trail back to the Westgate parking lot (about the same distance) or drop down the Sagebrush Trail and then climb up the Canyon Trail to meet back up with the Skyline Trail by the summit and then return to the parking lot.

The trail is wide and surfaced with gravel. Please stay on the trail and do not cut the curves. The trail is popular with mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers but there is ample room to allow passing without leaving the trail. There are no services such as restrooms or water available once you leave the parking lot.

The trail travels through sagebrush at both ends transitioning to dryland native grasses in the middle. There are numerous balsamroot and some purple sagebrush in the spring.