Tour of Ogden

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Ogden, UT, US

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Route Overview

Unpaved

28 mi.

1,791 ft.

This 28 mile joyride includes everything from mountain singletrack to city streets. It offers a glimpse of this bicycle friendly city nestled at the base of the soaring Wasatch Mountains.

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Route Details

The Tour of Ogden is a 28 mile loop around this northern Utah city.  It includes everything from rugged mountain singletrack to city streets.  For the most part, it's relatively easy but there are some intermediate sections.  There's also a lot of climbing and some mountain areas offer exposure.  It's best to ride this route between late April and early November as parts are impassable once the snows come.  Choose a bicycle capable of dealing with varied terrain.

If you're local to Ogden, you can pick this loop up from just about anywhere in town. If you're from out of town, I recommend starting at Rainbow Gardens.  There's plenty of trailhead parking here, and there are also gift shops and a restaurant for when you finish up.

The first decision to make relates to climbing.  If you prefer to save the climbs until the end, ride counterclockwise by heading west on the Ogden River Parkway.  If you want to get the climbs out of the way early and save the nice cruising for later, ride this route in a clockwise manner.

Since most people would rather climb first, that's how I will describe the route.  From the parking lot at @poi[Rainbow Gardens](2145560), look for the sign that says Rainbow Trail and pass under it and then stay left to pick up the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  You'll start climbing almost immediately and you will keep on climbing for the first three miles, gaining over 900 feet and culminating at the @poi[Ogden Overlook](2145558).  Along the way, you'll get a peek at @poi[Mt. Ogden](2145559), one of the city's two sentinel peaks.

From the Ogden Overlook, follow the Bonneville Shoreline Trail to @poi[Beus Canyon](2145545).  It's well signed, and you shouldn't have a problem following the route.  You'll descend Beus and pick up city streets that will eventually pass under US 89.  You'll lose elevation quickly here, so be sure your brakes work well before descending.

Once you cross under US 89, the hardest riding is behind you.  There are a number of @poi[restaurants](2145546) to choose from here and this is a great opportunity to stop for food if you're hungry.  You won't have another easy chance for fifteen or so miles.

From here you'll want to pick up the Bonneville Shoreline Trail again for the (mostly) gentle descent into the Weber River valley.  The best place to access it is directly behind the Washington Heights Church.  Look for the marker board and follow the trail from there. After crossing under the UPRR tracks at the bottom of the descent, you'll pick up rural roads and head west to the Weber River Parkway trail just before Adams Avenue.  The @poi[trailhead](2145547) is on the right side of the road as it starts to climb to the Interstate 84 interchange with Adams Avenue.

Once on the trail, it's a gentle ride along Ogden's two rivers (Weber and Ogden) all the way back to Rainbow Gardens.  Along the way, you can stop at @poi[Fort Buenaventura Park ](2145548)and use the picnic facilities and restrooms.  You can also take the Grant Avenue Promenade and explore Ogden's vibrant @poi[downtown](2145549) including the Junction and Historic 25th Street.  From there, it's just a few gentle miles back to the trailhead.

# More resources

Ogden is a vibrant city of 83,000 with a laid back outdoor vibe.  There's a lot to do here and if you have the time you'll want to take some side trips.  Check out [Weber Pathways](https://www.facebook.com/weberpathways/) for more information about where to ride, and be sure to use the [Visit Ogden](http://www.visitogden.com/) website and app to see what else is going on around town.

# Important Reminders

Twenty seven miles may not seem like all that much but this is a fairly challenging ride.  There are a number of climbs, some of which are quite steep.  There's exposure on some of the mountain faces.  Weather changes quickly and can go from quite hot to chilly in a matter of minutes.  If you're riding early or late in the season, trails can go from dry to icy instantly.  The mountainsides along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail have numerous rattlesnakes, though snakebites are very rare. Bright sunshine and heat are bigger problems in the summer months as there is very little shade on the mountainside.  None of this should discourage you from taking this amazing journey, but it should serve as a reminder to plan ahead and be ready to cut the trip short if conditions dicate doing so.

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Tour of Ogden

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