Looking up at the mountains, an unfinished marker post will guide riders past a connector trail. Original review 2006. Photos and updated ride descriptions by Bruce on April 25, 2012 for south of the Nature Center and June 9, 2015 for the new trailcut north through Coldwater Canyon.
North Ogden Bonneville Shoreline TrailThe Bonneville Shoreline Trail is a series of trails along the slope of
the Wasatch Mountains where the old shoreline of Lake Bonneville met the
hills. Sections
of trail are found from Brigham City to Payson. This section is 10.5 miles
from
Ogden Canyon to North Ogden Canyon. See the main
Ogden
BST
page for southbound BST information from Ogden Canyon, and the
Pleasant
View BST
page for northbound from the North Ogden Divide Road.
The main trail connections are to the BST northbound (
Pleasant
View
) and southbound (
Ogden
), and to the North Ogden Divide (via Parallel Canyon Rd aka Old North Ogden Pioneer Rd) trailhead
for
Northern Skyline
and
Lewis
Peak
trails. There are several connectors to trailheads and neighborhood roads along Harrison Blvd,
which becomes North Mountain Road. See big topo map.
The Paved Ogden River Trail passes under highway 39 directly to the trailhead. This invites pavement-plus-dirt loops for the locals. If you work south of the Rainbow Gardens parking, you'll find the southbound Ogden BST.
Just getting started. We're climbing north away from the trailhead.
Originally, I considered this trail advanced technical because of steep hillsides with narrow
trail plus gnarly rock gardens on the singletrack north of North Jumpoff.
With some reworking
of these older sections in 2015, I can now recommend the ride for intermediate
riders. You
can skip some of the more technical trail by taking the lower trail northbound
from the Nature
Center, see below.
Stronger riders can do the entire thing out-and-back, or one-way with a road return. Most riders
will do either the northern or southern half, so this page will be split
into two parts: south
and north.
Part 1: Southern Half, Ogden Canyon to Ogden
Nature Center trailhead
From the south end, the ride begins at a new paved parking area on the north side of Highway
39, right across from Rainbow Gardens. There's a bathroom at the trailhead.
The trail is on
the eastern end of the pavement. It immediately begins seriously climbing
the hill.
As we rise on the mountain, we spot dirt jumps in the old gravel pit.
It's a bit of a smoggy day. We're looking northwest across the wildlife refuge at the northern end of the Great Salt Lake.
Keep right at the first fork 1/2 mile up the mountain. The left fork takes you to a subdivision
road above the gravel pit. Climb on up.
The terrain has a mix of rough granite, gneiss, and quartzite. These rocks are Precambrian
-- some of the oldest rocks in Utah.
As you reach the gravel road, turn left to find the continuing singletrack on the uphill side.
(If you want a look up Ogden Canyon, pedal south on the gravel road as
it turns around into
the canyon. Then clamber up the cement stairs to the viewpoint. Return
to the trail crossing
to continue your ride.)
The canal road provides another riding option. It's an easy cruise northbound. After about
1/3 mile, there's a gated fence between two rock outcrops. This gate is
sometimes locked. Real
bikers do NOT ride the canal doubletrack.
We're about to get into some crunchy rough rock, as we pass outcrops of granite intruding under the quartzite.
A rider climbs up and over the ridge at the southern half's high point.
The trail will climb up and over a ridge, with plenty of views over the Ogden Valley. When
wind clears out the valley smog, you can see a long way out over the western
desert. For the
ride from Ogden Canyon to the Nature Center, altitude gain is 500 feet,
with about 800 vertical
feet of total climbing each way.
The next connector trail is at mile 1.4, just as the trail turns into a small canyon. Keep
uphill and to the right. There will be bailouts to the canal road and
to subdivisions below
it periodically along the trail.
Arrowleaf balsamroot blooms in the April sunshine. Balsamroot looks a lot like the mule's ear you see at upper altitude. But balsamroot has only flower per stem and the leaves are large, arrow-shaped and fuzzy. Mule's ear has branched blossoms and spear-shaped shiny smaller darker leaves.
The trail is pretty well marked for the first four miles. Here the Superfly rests against a marker for a subdivision connector trail.
The trail descends back to the level of the canal before climbing away from it again. Keep
generally to the right and uphill as you pass the Douglas Trail and Polk
Trail.
The next connectors will be South Jumpoff and North Jumpoff, which will join lower in Jumpoff
Canyon and connect to a subdivision trailhead. Beyond North Jumpoff, the
trail gets significantly
more technical, with some bumpy rock gardens and tight derailleur-killing
squeezes.
After coming around Jumpoff Canyon, we see Ben Lomond in the north. Our destination is the broad area at the base of the mountain, where we can continue on the BST past North Ogden Canyon.
Ahhh... I really miss those truly nasty sections of bike-breaking quartzite. This is nothing.
Intermediate riders can make a loop around the Jumpoff Trails (North then climbing back up
on South) to head back. Or you can drop down to the Nature Center for
a road return. If you're
headed northbound, you can take the nature either descend to just east
of the Nature Center
parking and take a northbound trail for a less-techy ride. But as of 2015,
the challenging
tech rock just north of the Nature Center connector has been blown up
and beaten down to an
intermediate level.
If you're planning a road return from the Nature Center, it's 3.5 miles back via North Mountain
Road (Harrison Blvd) then Highway 39.
Northbound riders who want to skip the big climb around Coldwater Canyon can bail onto the
canal road at mile 4.7, which will take you to North Mountain Road just
south of the Pit (Coldwater
Canyon) trailhead. (At this point, if you're not "done" you can climb
up and finish the BST
northbound, or bushwhack 1/2 mile through some complex trails to the Divide
road TH, or head
west a bit on 2750 North until you reach a northbound 1050 East which
will take you to 3100
North -- the Divide road.).
Heading back southbound, Mount Ogden sits on the skyline.
Riding notes, Ogden Canyon to Nature
Center:
0.0 Trail at east end of parking area
N41 14.211 W111 55.682
0.5 Fork R (L = to subdivision)
N41 14.530 W111 55.712
0.7 L across dirt road to ST, head north
N41 14.419 W111 55.575
1.4 Keep R uphill (L = down to canal DT)
N41 14.943 W111 55.822
2.1 Intersect canal route, keep R and uphill on ST
N41 15.318 W111 56.088
2.2 Keep R (L = to Douglas TH)
N41 15.389 W111 56.149
2.9 Keep R (L = Polk)
N41 15.838 W111 56.574
3.2 Keep R (L = South Jumpoff)
N41 15.998 W111 56.595
3.7 Straight (L = North Jumpoff)
N41 16.370 W111 56.698
4.0 Keep R uphill (L = Telephone Tr)
N41 16.584 W111 56.841
4.2 Fork L = to Nature Ctr
N41 16.702 W111 56.847
(Keep R if doing entire BST,
Nature Center trail reconnects
at 4.7.
Keep uphill on ST there.)
4.3 Keep working downhill and westbound
4.4 Nature Center Trailhead on Harrison/North Mountain Road
Part 2: Northern Half, North Ogden Canyon (Divide) Road to Ogden
Nature Center trailhead
View from around mile 0.8, as we've crossed the broad trail heading from the Pit trailhead up to the top of the pass. These photos June 9, 2015.
The trail starts on the south (downhill) side of the North
Ogden Canyon (Divide) Road. There's parking space for 5 to 6 vehicles
but
no other trailhead stuff. (Across the street and a bit uphill is the
northbound
BST
.) Drop downhill, keeping straight as you pass the connector to the
Old Pioneer trail. The trail will descend a bit as it heads east into
North Ogden Canyon, before crossing the broad trail in the bottom of the
canyon. This trail is known as Parallel Road, North Ogden Divide Trail,
and Old North Ogden Pioneer Road. (If you want a mean climb, head uphill
on this trail. It ends at the
Northern Skyline
and
Southern Skyline
trail parking.
The trail will climb gently as it heads back to the west out of North Ogden Canyon. As it rounds
the corner to turn southbound above the valley, there's a trail fork (unmarked
June 2015).
Keep left and uphill for the BST.
The right fork is a connector that descends 1.1 miles to the Pit trailhead. It's also known
as the Coldwater Canyon trail. Locals use this trailhead to access the
BST. (By parking along
the Divide road, you marked yourself as a tourist. How embarrassing.)
A loop from Pit trailhead
to the Nature Center with a road return (see below) is already a favorite.
View showing the layout of the area around the Pit trailhead. If you need a bathroom, it's just inside the fence of the Equestrian Park, 1/10th mile south on North Mountain Road.
Typical bermed turn.
Kudos to the trail crews for their work on the turns. Switchbacks are well-placed with plenty
of turning radius and beautiful berm. I really liked this northern section
of trail and the
Pit Trailhead connector.
The trail continues to climb southbound. As the trail gains altitude, it runs into an occasional
rock outcrop requiring a steeper pitch. Feather the pedals to get the
legs rested, then spin
up some velocity and attack.
If you aren't able to clean these first few pitches, you'll be hating life when you reach the
south side of Coldwater Canyon.
The Superfly rests against a rock after zooming up a short pitch.
View west at the turn into Coldwater Canyon.
The reaches a temporary high point of elevation (5650 feet, 1000 higher than the Pit trailhead)
as it turns east into Coldwater Canyon. Take a minute to look around and
recover. The trail
just before the viewpoint has a tough sustained pitch, but it's very do-able.
You're at mile
2 from the Divide Road.
After a smooth long descent (with an occasional roller) the trail veers back to the west on
the fir-covered southern side of Coldwater.
View to the east up Coldwater Canyon. Nice.
Beginning the climb out of Coldwater.
The trail now enters a fir forest on north-facing slope as you climb to the southwest on the
southern side of Coldwater Canyon. At first, it's a mellow climb. You've
got 200 vertical feet
to climb in the next 1/2 mile. Doesn't sound tough, but save some leg
because there are some
steep spots coming up.
As the trail reaches areas of rock and small cliffs while traversing the steep hillside, the
trailbuilders were forced to make some tough pitches. In these spots the
tread is a bit narrower.
Most can be cleaned by strong riders with appropriate gearing if the trail
surface is packed.
But will be painful. I failed on three spots, once because of loose surface
and twice because
the legs wouldn't do it.
If you're heading northbound, instead of southbound per this narrative, there's one brutal
loose pitch just outside the canyon. I couldn't clean it (uphill). But
the south-to-north route
is good otherwise. So if a few 50 foot hike-a-bikes will ruin your day,
ride south-to-north
and you'll have only one.
A sample pitch near the top as we head southbound, about 60 feet of 15-20% slope but firm tread.
More of those beautiful swooping turns. Ben Lomond is hiding behind the dead tree in the background.
The trail now begins the work of descending from 5750 feet elevation. There will be one series
of S turns that are buffed nicely and should be easy even for early-intermediate
riders.
The trail now descends through long straight sections to get back to the actual historic Bonneville
shoreline zone. When the trail hits the older sections, there will be
the occasional rock outcrop
and narrower spots where the vegetation has grown in. In spots the 2015
trailwork has substituted
new broad trail for tricky tight tree-dodging.
Heading southbound, with quite a bit of descending to go.
Old narrow trail meets a new trailcut as it hits the trees.
At mile 5.8, you'll reach a bulldozed area. Keep to the left and uphill on singletrack. At
this spot, the Nature Center trail joins the open area from the south
on the downhill side,
and doubletrack goes north along the canal.
You'll reach the turnoff to the Ogden Nature Center
at mile 6.3 from the Divide Road. Just drop downhill and westbound to
North Mountain Road.
A road return will be 2.4 miles to the Pit trailhead.
And by the way, a road return for the
entire 10.5-mile North Ogden BST (Divide Road to Ogden Canyon Road) will
be 6.8 miles.
Shortcut dirt routes between the Pit TH and Divide Road...
Some riders shortcut via dirt between the Pit (Coldwater) trailhead and the
Divide road. It's easy to get lost here. I'll help you (get lost). It's
a
bit over half a mile.
West route -- may not be available in the future, as home development is starting in the orchard
this route crosses. Near the entry into the Pit parking, north side, find ST eastbound.
Go R on DT then at forks go L, then R (turns back southeast). Hard L on DT
then veer R on ST. Hard R on DT again eastbound uphill (narrows) then hard L
on ST to climb to road.
East route. Go around gate and cross creek eastbound on Sunrise. At the fork
in the doubletrack, go L on the broad Parallel Road trail. Keep L where a
smaller trail cuts R uphill. As the trail turns east, fork L to continue
north. Keep straight 1/10 mile, then veer R on ST. At the two-track, make a
hard R. At the BST, fork hard L and climb to the road.
What was formerly an incredible boulder-bang is now yo mama's cruise.
Riding Notes, Pit (Coldwater) TH to Nature
Center, road return:
0.0 Ride around gate at east end, cross creek
N41 18.596 W111 56.089
0.1 Keep R at DT fork N41 18.595 W111 55.997
then fork R onto ST N41 18.589
W111 55.975
1.1 Fork hard R onto BST and climb
N41 18.636 W111 55.715
2.1 Temporary high, turn into canyon
2.6 Cross creek and follow trail back west
N41 17.903 W111 55.225
3.3 Exit canyon, high spot of ride
5.2 Keep straight (old trail on R)
N41 17.453 W111 56.360
5.3 Straight (R = steep down to canal DT)
N41 17.408 W111 56.393
5.9 Keep L and uphill on ST
N41 17.067 W111 56.648
(Nature Ctr and canal DT below)
6.4 Fork R to Nature Ctr N41 16.736 W111 56.836
(Stay on main broad trail,
westbound and downhill)
Keep R (L = back up to BST)
N41 16.685 W111 56.871
6.5 Keep L (R = Nature Trail)
N41 16.720 W111 56.877
6.7 R on paved North Canyon Rd
N41 16.689 W111 56.997
9.1 R into TH and parking
Map of the northern Ogden BST
Getting there, trailheads listed north to south:
North Ogden Canyon (Divide) Road TH: Exit I-15 eastbound
at the 2700 North (Highway 134) exit. Continue to 1050 East and turn left.
At 3000 North, turn right toward the North Ogden Divide. After leaving the
homes behind, climb about 1/3 mile uphill to a parking area on the right
side of the road N41 18.926 W111 55.908 right where the big power line
crosses the road. The BST is about 100 feet uphill from parking on the
left (opposite) side of the road. (Note: the trail that drops
southeast from the road connects to the North Ogden Divide trail -- which
climbs east up to the Northern Skyline trailhead.)
Pit (Coldwater Canyon) Trailhead: If northbound, stay on
Harrison Blvd until it becomes North Canyon Road. At 4.8 miles, you'll
reach a T intersection on 2750 North. Turn right and park. Take the broad
trail (Sunrise) east, keeping straight (right) at the fork, then
veer R on ST. Climb 1.1 miles to the BST.
From the north, take the 2700 (Highway 134) exit and just keep going east.
The road will narrow and veer a bit south to become 2600. At the T
intersection on North Mountain Road, turn left and go just over 1/10 mile
north then at the T of 2750 North turn right and park.
Nature Center Trailhead: Northbound on Harrison Blvd, go
to mile 2.6 from Highway 39 and turn right into the paved parking. Keep R
at the first trail fork and climb 0.3 miles on the main path to the BST,
ignoring some old connector trails.
Southbound, take 2700 N (becomes 2600) to the T intersection of North
Canyon Road. From here, drive 2 miles south and turn left into the
trailhead.
Jumpoff Trailhead: At Highway 39 (12th street), go north
on Harrison Blvd. Just past 400 North, 1.8 miles from 39, turn right into
a small parking area and find the Jumpoff Canyon trail eastbound. The
trail will split. Take either one to reach the BST 0.7 miles from the
trailhead.
Rainbow Gardens (Ogden Canyon Road) TH: From the
north, take the 12th Street exit off I-15 and drive towards Ogden Canyon
on Highway 39. Just before you'll enter the canyon, as you see Rainbow
Gardens on your right, turn left into a small paved parking area with a
bathroom.
From the south, get off I-15 in Farmington on US-89 and head north. A
couple of miles after you pass under I-84, turn right onto Harrison Blvd,
just as US-89 turns westward to enter Ogden.) Drive north a few miles on
Harrison until you reach highway 39 for Ogden Canyon. Turn right and drive
about 1/4 mile to the paved parking area on your left, just before
entering the canyon.
The trail starts at the eastern end of the parking lot.
In North Ogden Canyon, the BST connects to the Pleasant
View BST just across and uphill on the Divide road. The North Ogden Divide Trail
aka Parallel or Old Pioneer just downhill from the Divide road TH (see multi-track
GPS file) connects to the Southern Skyline and Northern
Skyline trails. At the south end, it connects under the road to the paved Ogden River
Trail and the Ogden BST.
Bathrooms and water: Equestrian Park just south of
the Pit (Coldwater) trailhead; Nature Center; Ogden Canyon (Highway 39)
trailhead.
