Great advice from the Friends of Ute Valley Park, a committee of the Trails and Open Space Coalition: Please avoid using social trails!
A social trail is defined as an informal, non-designated trail between two locations. Social trails often result in trampling stresses to sensitive vegetation types. They may also be known as rogue trails. As the definition implies creating and using a social trail increases the amount of vegetation that is trampled. Social trails are not laid out in a manner that is conducive to protecting the surrounding environment or taking into consideration drainage.
Guidelines for identifying a social trail include:  Travels straight up or down a hillside; few turns are present; visibly gouged by fast moving water; and logs, branches and rocks are in the way.
Please stay on the main trails!