But they'll have to look both ways when they cross the street.

Instead of allowing a contiguous path along the canyon's northern ridge, the Emigration Township Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday to cut out a 3.9-mile stretch and re-route the "trail" across the road to link up with Perkins Flat on the south side of the canyon.

"We're just putting a big new gash through a large part of the canyon," argued Commissioner John Morris.

The move was a concession to Emigration Oaks homeowners, who worry a new trail across public land near their mountain subdivision could increase crime and fire danger and decrease property values.

At the same time, the panel vowed to revisit the notion of a ridgeline trail along the crest of Emigration's northern slope - despite U.S. Forest Service objections based on its proximity to the Red Butte Research Natural Area.

"We thought that was off the table," said Hilary Silberman, co-chairwoman of the Emigration Canyon Community Council. "It's a great idea."

Still, critics say the decision to rejigger the recreation route was a knee-jerk reaction based on fears often dispelled once trails are carved.

"The reality is property values go up [with trails]," Troy Duffin, a Mountain Trails Foundation board member, said minutes after the vote.

A steward of the 300 miles of trails - 99 percent are located on private land - in the greater Park City area, Duffin says it is frustrating to watch Emigration planners scale back a trail network due to "red herrings" like fire.

"A trail hiker, a mountain biker - they don't smoke cigarettes," Duffin added. "There has never been a fire report that I know of from a nonmotorized trail."

Sarah Bennett Alley, a canyon resident who helped organize support for a sprawling trail plan, was equally disappointed.

"Basically, you've eviscerated the trails proposal," she said. "You're dumping out all kinds of trail users onto the road."

Bennett Alley is intrigued by the ridgeline idea, but says a path cut lower makes more sense.

Parties on both sides of the master-plan debate worked for about 18 months to address questions about wildlife, watershed and whether to allow horses and mountain bikes. (Usage will be determined by the County Council, which gets the final say.) Grass-roots groups formed, a study was commissioned and public hearings were crowded and intense.

The goal, according to Salt Lake County project manager Lynn Larsen, is to provide recreation connections to well-known regional routes, including the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Great Western Trail, Mormon Pioneer Trail, Donner-Reed Trail and the Pony Express Trail. Once built, the scenic system also could connect Salt Lake and Summit counties.

Commission Chairman Jim Karkut expressed little sympathy over trails devaluing property or posing risks to private owners - "that's a problem up and down the Wasatch Front," he said - but conceded steep drainages along the northern slope present practical problems.

"As a hiker and mountain biker, some of these trails are longer and more arduous than you think and may need a practical exit," Commissioner Lynn Hales agreed. "It's one thing to put them on a map on a contour line. It's another thing to make them a reality."

The modified master plan map should be complete by next month. At that point, stakeholders may begin raising money.

Estimated trail cost: $25,000 per mile.

djensen@sltrib.com