So far this is my favorite hike. Not too long, not too short, not too hard. Just enough...well, for…read moreme. It located just south of Pineview dam. This is the Wheeler Canyon trail that follows Wheeler Creek. The trail is wide and heavily traveled. Great for hiking, biking, horseback riding, skiing and snowshoeing. I did the loop, it took me 2.5 hours and 5.73 miles. That was stopping frequently to take pictures because it's so pretty all over. From the beginning it's gorgeous. You're surrounded by towering, rocky mountains and the sound of the river below. As you get farther on the trail, the leaves are gold, red, and orange. One day we took our toddler to walk up the trail and explore a bit. It was easy and fun for her. Lots of birds, butterflies and caterpillars to check out. That's when I knew I had to come back and take a hike. After Wheeler Canyon there's a fork that takes you to Ice Box Canyon on the right or Art Nord trailhead to the left. I read about this trail and many prefer to go counterclockwise and go through Ice Box first. I also recommend going this route. It's a steady climb, not hard and shaded the entire way until you get to the south slope meadows. Ice Box Canyon was magical. The birds were singing, the sound of the water was hypnotic, and the red leaves blanketed the trail like a celebrity red carpet, minus the paparazzi and a little less narcissism. I had to stop and take pictures every second. I couldn't help it. If you're doing the loop, you'll run into another fork (on the south slope) once you're out of Ice Box Canyon. The sign is missing off the post. Go left. That will take you down through some meadows across a couple of bridges and then uphilll to the Art Nord Drive/trailhead. You will see Snowbasin Road on the right as you approach a trail map kiosk. Keep following the trail. You will descend on a windy trail towards a parking area. Keep going and you'll soon be back in Wheeler Canyon. I think about .65 miles. Take a jacket and plenty of water. When I went it started pouring the last quarter mile and the wind was awful tunneling through that canyon. It about knocked me over. I came out of the canyon only to find out there were 2 freaking tornadoes taht touched down. I'm not sure of the odds of that happening again but just be prepared for the weather. This would be a great hike for a family. Do the loop, go check out Ice Box Canyon, or just go up a little and back. No matter what you choose I think you'll enjoy it!

This hike was fantastic! I hadn't been on a hike in over two years, so it felt extremely…read morerefreshing. Most of the hike is at an upward incline. There are a few steep drop offs that were a little scary to me, but not a problem as long as you're paying attention. Quite a ways down the trail you'll come to a fork in the road. The left side is a continuation of the Coldwater Canyon Trail while the right side turns into the Indian trail. We went up the Indian Trail for a shorts ways until we reached the makeshift teepee. After that, we turned around and headed back.

Full sun for most of the trail. Nice sandy trail. Made it to the water which made my 6yo grandson…read morehappy.

How has no one reviewed such a great little trail?! Birdsong Trailhead is a part of the Rainbow…read moreTrail - to access, park in the back lot at Rainbow Gardens (quite possibly the most eclectic shop I've ever stepped in) and follow signs. There was literally not another soul on this trail today and being terrified of hiking alone, I was a little skeptical. No need, Nervous Nellie, this easy 1 mile walk is a piece of cake. Would be perfect for kids. Or someone who is trying to avoid work for an hour, let's say. Lots of shade, breezy and no treacherous aspects. Wooded in parts, little streams, flocks of dragonflies. Lizards. Ants. Very well maintained and safe. I went farther than the trail indicated, but not far enough to see if anything really amazing was at the end, before I realized I needed to be in a meeting and high tailed it back to my vehicle. Oops. A few other trails here that looked great too - nice views of the surrounding mountains and valley.

I am visiting from Texas and was thankful for the previous review. This hike was great for kids…read more Partially shaded and a great view. We saw a deer and lots of beautiful foliage. Again great walk for kids.

Indian Trail is a perfect lil' easy to moderate hike in Ogden. You've got a couple options, either…read morestarting at one end and tracing your steps back to the beginning (8ish miles), or parking a car at the preferred exit and halving your efforts. My dad put together a sister's hiking trip last weekend, and we began at the 22nd street entrance. This is just in a neighborhood, but there is plenty of street parking. If I were to repeat the hike, I would do it just the same, as you conquer the steepest part immediately, and then it is easy going from there. That same section is the only very exposed portion, after which the trail is tree covered, with pines and aspens and other glorious protectors from the sun. That means this is a great option even for mid-day hiking! You also escape the sounds of cars and people quite quickly, and find yourself in gorgeous mountain silence. Aaaaah. The peak rewards with a view out across Ogden over to the Spiral Jetty and Golden Spike Historical Park. A small wooden shack resides there, too: a pleasant spot for rest or a picnic. After we stopped to take in the scenery here, we continued on the trail toward the Coldwater Canyon Trailhead (where we'd left a car to return us home). The remainder of the hike featured many more aspens, still with autumn's golden leaves winking in the breeze, a babbling stream, and two teepees formed of fallen branches. What a fun surprise! Deep dips in the trail felt noticeably cooler. This was in October, but between that and the forest coverage, I imagine this would make a pleasant, not-too-hot summer hike. Our adventure took only 1 1/2 hours at a leisurely to moderate pace. It was very easy, and we only felt a smidge winded at the very beginning steep portion. We met a few other groups, more as we neared lunchtime, and one mountain biker. It is dog friendly with a leash, though we saw some without.

Probably my second most favorite hike here local. There are some fantastic views of O'town and the…read morewaterfall. Seeing the face of the canyon to the north is absolutely mesmerizing also. In the spring/summer the fauna is fantastic. In the winter, the views are even better due to the lack of foliage, just bring some crampons because there are some steep drop offs! GO HIKE THIS TRAIL!

This place might be the most underrated visitor center in all of Ogden. Located on 12th Street…read moreand pretty much right next to I-15 you most likely have passed it once or twenty times. Upon entering you feel like your miles away from the city! Parking is free and admission is $5 per adult. The visitor center is a charming little building with a quaint little gift shop filled with local products and a Discovery room that showcases various reptiles. The staff member gives you a rundown of the trails and hands you a nifty little map. And off you go to explore! There are plenty of things to see including but not limited to: Birds of Prey area, Observation Towers, picnic areas, ponds, etc. So it's much more than just brush and trees. Bring a pair of binoculars and you might see some native wildlife. Soak in the sunshine and enjoy the bird calls and sounds if wildlife! In late March the trees are still bare this year so I can only imagine what it looks like when all the foliage comes in. Definitely a great way to spend a warm, sunny morning on a solo walk or with friends and famiy. And on the cheap.

The Ogden Nature Center is a 152 acre nature preserve and education center located in Ogden, Utah…read moreoff of 12th street. Although it is located within eyeshot of the freeway in some spots, you actually forget you are in the middle of town and I am consistently impressed by the gorgeous views of our mountains surrounding Ogden. The nature center is a fabulous year round retreat that we can spend an hour, or a whole day exploring. The only complaint I have about the nature center is the hours, it closes at 5pm - which is truly too early for my family, my son gets off school at 3:00; by the time we make it to the center and park- its 3:20 and we are left with only 90 minutes or so to explore and walk around. Saturdays are 9-4, Sundays they are closed altogether. I understand closing early in the winter but I would like to see longer summer hours- however I also know its volunteer run, so longer hours may be out of the question. Our first stop when we visit the nature center, after walking the short birdhouse trail to the visitor center, is to sign in and visit the animals in the visitor center. Gizmo the owl is a huge hit with our family. Right outside are the birds of prey; and this is our favorite part of the nature center. From Chitters the great horned owl to a funny and brilliant raven, a giant golden eagle and an injured bald eagle; there are amazing birds here to learn from. The birds here are well cared for by volunteers and all are there having been nursed back to health but for one reason or another were not able to be released back into the wild. While walking around the nature center we have seen quite a few beautiful animals, we always see deer and it's not a good visit without peeking out the bird blinds and trying to find some tadpoles or frogs. Our favorite place to play is the treehouse in the northwest corner. The kids love running up and down and peeking out from the top, it is also a great place to stop and have lunch or a snack. Created in 1975, it was Utah's first nature center. The center includes live animal exhibits, walking trails, ponds, bird blinds, observation towers, tree houses, gardens featuring drought resistant plants, and protected areas for wildlife. It offers nature-based classes and activities for children and adults. It is fun year round, we have visited while it was snowing, and while it was 100 degrees- it was fun either way and the shaded areas make it a nice place to hang out in the summer. With memberships starting at $30 for an individual and $45 for a family, it is worth every penny to me to have a safe and fun place for my kids to explore, run, walk, and enjoy the beauty of our town. There are student discounts, you can certainly make larger contributions, and volunteer opportunities. My favorite thing about the nature center is that I almost always see someone out working on something, whether it's tending to the birds, cleaning up a trail, or maintaining a pond- people are actively working to keep this beautiful reserve pristine for years to come. The Nature Center even offers summer camps, ranging from week-long camps to day camps for kids of all ages.

Causey Reservoir is one of my favorite places to go paddle boarding in Utah! I love this reservoir…read moreso much, it's so beautiful. No motorized boats are allowed on this reservoir, so it's the perfect place to kayak, canoe, paddle board, or just bring a floaty and float around. There's also a bunch of cliff jumping. There's no beach, so the main activity here is being in the water. The water is a beautiful color, the scenery is gorgeous. I just love this place so much! I would definitely recommend getting here early, especially on the weekend, as the parking lot fills up quickly, and the reservoir gets crowded. We got here around 9am and it was the perfect time. By the time we left around 1pm, the parking lot was completely full and there were a ton of people out on the reservoir. Even with the volume of people on the water, it never feels too crowded. There's no overnight camping here, and it's completely free to access this reservoir, which is one of the reasons its so popular. A beautiful place to spend the day!

Kayaking at Causey Reservoir near Huntsville, Utah, was an absolute blast! The crystal-clear waters…read moreare perfect for a peaceful paddle or a day full of adventure. https://youtube.com/shorts/J-ih7Wbg-pY We loved exploring the hidden coves and taking in the stunning mountain scenery. The reservoir offers a little bit of everything--cliff diving, rope swings, and even some fantastic fishing spots. It's an outdoor lover's paradise, and the serenity of the area is unbeatable. Whether you're looking for excitement or just want to relax on the water, Causey Reservoir is the place to be. Can't wait to return!

South Ogden is covered in trails and parks but my favorites are the ones along the mountain…read more There's tennis courts, a golf course, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a series of trails that provide a vreen escape from the bustle of the city.

Loved the Gibb loop trail leading from this park! Super easy, despite the sign at the trailhead…read moredescribing it as "sometimes strenuous". I made it a loop by walking down 29th to Taylor back to the 32nd Street trailhead. Despite this last part being in a neighborhood, it was quiet and pretty and I enjoyed it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this trail when I realized it was mostly around a golf course. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of the time, the trail was in a wooded area and I couldn't see the golf course at all. There were lots of birds and butterflies to see. The trail also crossed the water a few times. Bring your hat and sunscreen, there were several long stretches without shade.

The staff here was super kind and super knowledgeable. I have always been a huge dinosaur nerd, so…read morewhen I was visiting the area for my nursing school clinicals I had to stop in! The price is reasonable and the many displays were a treat! You could even purchase a geode for them to cut open then and there for you as well as some minor fossils and minerals in the gift shop! Will definitely visit again if I am ever in the area!

Rawr! Did I scare you? If so, beware of this dinosaur park in Ogden. While the dinos on display are…read morenot alive, they are life-like and some of the them move and make noise. Possibly a little too scary for some audiences-usually those that are shorter than a yardstick. The indoor area of the museum is very well done with lots of displays and exhibits that educate guests on the different pre-historic beings. There were far more than I could have named on my own with my basic "Land Before Time" dinosaur knowledge. Upstairs, you'll find rocks and gems, which is well done although maybe less interesting to some folks. However, take a peek at the dinner rocks-there's a whole display of rocks that are in the shape of food. I got a kick out of that. Outside, there's lots of wide open space with paths that wander throughout the trees. There are dinos dispersed throughout the property, and a few benches to sit on. Lots of the grounds were covered in weeds, which may have been what the dinosaurs preferred to eat. However, in modern day, it just looks unkempt. For a kiddo-or adult-that has a fascination with dinosaurs, this could be a fun place to spend an afternoon. For the rest of us, an hour or two is probably plenty.

My favorite of the 3 (22nd, 27th and 29th) Ogden east bench trailheads. Approximately 30 parking…read morespaces. A great starting point to access Indian trail. Walking north, the main road leads to a place overlooking the mouth of Ogden canyon. As with all trailheads, I recommend taking all valuables with you and not leaving anything within sight. Not a particularly crime-prone area - just best practice.

We rented out the beach for a birthday party only to have them not let anyone in. Staff was super…read morerude and would not even have a conversation to help remedy the situation; "should have gotten here earlier". Huge bust. So many other lakes in Utah, go to one of them.

Extremely crowded both on the beach and on the water. People managing the area are very hostile…read morequick to threaten tickets and expulsion for any misstep. But what do they care. Just a numbers game.