A pleasant hiking trail in Utah has been turned into a deadly hurdle of hunting traps.

A U.S. Forest Service officer discovered the dangerous contraptions in Provo Canyon after spotting a trip wire.

Here, snapping the wire releases a spiked ball that swings across the path.

The rock at its centre weighs nearly 20 pounds.

Two suspects were arrested Saturday and will likely face reckless endangerment charges.

21-year-old Kai Matthew Christensen and 19-year-old Benjamen Steven Rutkowski say they were trying to catch wild animals with the traps.

Residents are shocked.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MELISSA LEE, LOCAL RESIDENT SAYING:

"It makes me sad that some people choose to do things that will hurt other people."

(SOUNDBITE) (English) (Kade Miller, LOCAL Resident SAYING:

"It definitely irritates me that someone would be trying to cause trouble and hurt people who are just trying to have a good time."

Relieved local authorities say there have been no reports of injuries.

Lindsey Parietti, Reuters.