View to the west as we approach the northwest corner of the loop on a counterclockwise ride. Photos and trail review by Bruce on June 15, 2022.
Eden Sidewinder
The Eden Sidewinder trail is a loop located on the slopes of the eastern side of Ogden Valley near the road to Powder Mountain. The trail is fairly easy to ride, suitable for strong beginners but considered intermediate overall.
The Eden Sidewinder trail is a loop located on the slopes of the eastern side of Ogden Valley near the road to Powder Mountain. The trail is fairly easy to ride, suitable for strong beginners but considered intermediate overall.
There isn't a formal trailhead, nor trailhead parking at this time. Most riders are locals
who bike to the trail. For now, you can park at the homebuilder's office
at the intersection
of Bailey Lane with Seven Bridges Road.
The southern limb of the loop trail can be found on the western (valley) side of Seven Bridges Road, just past the entry bridge to the subdivision and 100 feet downhill from Bailey Lane. This will give you a clockwise ride.
The southern limb of the loop trail can be found on the western (valley) side of Seven Bridges Road, just past the entry bridge to the subdivision and 100 feet downhill from Bailey Lane. This will give you a clockwise ride.
View west from Seven Bridges Road. Entering here would take you clockwise around the loop.
View from the curb. The narrow trail by the sign is the entry to a counterclockwise loop.
For a counterclockwise ride, the trail can be found 100 yards uphill from Bailey Lane on the
right side of Seven Bridges Road. There's a gravel doubletrack, with the
narrow singletrack
forking away almost immediately after leaving the pavement.
The photos on this page will follow a counterclockwise ride.
The photos on this page will follow a counterclockwise ride.
The loop is 4.1 miles in length, with a bit over 0.1 miles of pavement linking the north and
south sides. There will be 500 vertical feet of climbing.
When riding counterclockwise, the first 200 feet of climbing will come in the first 0.4 miles as you angle uphill and north away from the homes.
When riding counterclockwise, the first 200 feet of climbing will come in the first 0.4 miles as you angle uphill and north away from the homes.
Cranking uphill heading north through grassy meadows on the higher hillside.
Looking back downhill at the subdivision.
The trail has a mix of terrain. There are a few small stands of maple trees, scrub oak and
tall serviceberry, but most of the ride is exposed. On the upper hillsides
there's grass and
sage, while on the lower western side you'll pass through mules ear meadows.
The riding surface is mostly smooth dirt. There are occasional spots with embedded rock. Cattle
graze in part of the land crossed by the trail, and those areas may occasionally
be rough from
hoofprints. In lower areas that are wet in the spring, parts of the trail
have been built up
to form a boulder "sidewalk." Beginners and kids with small tires may
have to walk these short
stretches.
Rolling a turn near the ride's highest point.
A long rock roll-over offers an optional line. There are a lot of these, if you're up for a minor challenge.
There are a few optional technical features built into the trail. I lost count of the number
of rock roll-overs.
Almost every turn is banked for a swooping downhill or power climbing.
There's a lot of up-and-down riding. The longest stretch of sustained slope is on the northern side. When done counterclockwise, you'll drop through twisty singletrack 250 vertical feet over 0.8 miles.
There's a lot of up-and-down riding. The longest stretch of sustained slope is on the northern side. When done counterclockwise, you'll drop through twisty singletrack 250 vertical feet over 0.8 miles.
Heading downhill on the northern side, the trail makes a banked turn among mules ear blossoms in a small grove of trees.
Touching the edge of the subdivision again as we coast downhill on the northern side.
On the far western side of the loop, there's a short spur to a dead-end street off 4150 East.
This is an alternate access to the trail. See below.
There's also a spot on the northern side where the trail crosses doubletrack as it skirts some construction. I believe this will be the continuation of Seven Bridges road as the subdivision fills in.
There's also a spot on the northern side where the trail crosses doubletrack as it skirts some construction. I believe this will be the continuation of Seven Bridges road as the subdivision fills in.
Two ways of handling wetness: There are multiple wooden bridges over small seasonal streams, especially on the north side of the loop.
On the eastern side of the loop, there are long stretches where the trail crosses bog areas. These are built up with rock and roadbase -- which is a bit bouncy to ride.
Views are almost constant. It's a pretty ride.
In June you'll be treated to a riot of Mules Ear and Wasatch Penstemmon.
In June you'll be treated to a riot of Mules Ear and Wasatch Penstemmon.
Looking west as we make yet another climb over a small knoll on the western side of the loop. The blue flowers are penstemmon, the yellow is mules ear.
Cruising through mules ear and sage -- with occasional berry bushes -- on the southern side of the loop.
The southern limb of the loop is a bit straighter with less-exciting riding. As it approaches
the subdivision, it will fall into a trail corridor between homes.
I should note that Sidewinder is a private trail for the subdivision, but is open for public riding. Please treat the trail (and the residents) with respect so that the trail continues to be available for riding by "outsiders."
I should note that Sidewinder is a private trail for the subdivision, but is open for public riding. Please treat the trail (and the residents) with respect so that the trail continues to be available for riding by "outsiders."
Bottom Line!
Very nice ride. A bit short to be a destination trail for hard-core riders, but you can always do the ride in both directions. I combined it with other riding nearby.
P.S. When talking about this trail, always use the full "Eden Sidewinder" name. There are several Sidewinder trails in Utah, with probably more to come!
Very nice ride. A bit short to be a destination trail for hard-core riders, but you can always do the ride in both directions. I combined it with other riding nearby.
P.S. When talking about this trail, always use the full "Eden Sidewinder" name. There are several Sidewinder trails in Utah, with probably more to come!
View from the top of a small rise on the western side of the loop. The notch in the hill is the Ogden Divide.
Map of Eden Sidewinder.
Getting there!
On Highway 159 (Powder Mountain Road), turn left into Fairways Drive around mile 2.4 from the intersection with route 162 and 166 in Eden. Turn right across the bridge to Seven Bridges Road. Find a parking spot. (For now, there's parking behind the signs at the builder's office on Bailey Lane.) The entries to the trail are just past the bridge on the west side, and around 0.1 mile uphill on the right side.
The west side of the loop can be reached by taking 4100 North eastbound in Liberty. Go left on 4000 East, then right on 4325 North, which will veer left to become 4150 East. Turn right at the dead-end street and park at the end.
Riding resources for this trail:
GPS track files (right-click, "Save as..."):
Sidewinder Loop GPX Track
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to Ogden area resources
GPS track files (right-click, "Save as..."):
Sidewinder Loop GPX Track
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to Ogden area resources
