Up for skiing, hiking, and other outdoor escapades? The city of Ogden is the perfect place to add to your bucket list. It’s best known as an outdoor mountain town with beautiful sceneries, challenging trails, and gorgeous natural attractions. But this is only a slice of the pie, as Ogden has more to offer for every kind of visitor. Check out our list below:
1. Skyline Trail
One of my favorite things to do in Ogden, Utah, is to take advantage of the many hiking trails in the area. Of course, the Skyline Trail is one of my top choices. It’s a popular trail for cross-country skiing, hiking [1], and horseback riding, but you can still enjoy some seclusion during quieter times of the day.
The single-track trail winds through the Wasatch mountains and offers stunning views of the surrounding area. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
— Steve Morrow, Paddle About
2. Powder Mountain
When it comes to skiing and snowboarding, Ogden Valley is home to three top-notch ski resorts that rival the very best. With over 8,000 acres of terrain, Powder Mountain touts being the largest in North America, while Snowbasin offers diverse terrain for riders of all levels. Nordic Valley is one of Utah’s most affordable and largest night skiing areas.
— Hannah Sanderson, CEO & Founder, Clever Canadian
3. Ogden Kayak Park
The Ogden Kayak park is a perfect destination for those looking to beat the heat of the summer in nearly any water-fairing vehicle. Three separate waves with big, calm eddies between each make for plenty of room for those just looking to float in a tube, stand-up paddle boarders, or the more adventurous kayakers to splash, play, and better hone their white-water skills. Located just across the viaduct from downtown Ogden, and right next to Roosters Brew Pub and Restaurant – It’s both easy to get to, as well as conveniently located for post-activity drinks and eats.
— AJ Turner
4. Eccles Dinosaur Park
I have two dinosaur-obsessed kids, and we visited Ogden as a part of our dinosaur road trip through Utah. The main draw for us was the Eccles Dinosaur Park. A wonderful spot for families, the park is all about having fun with dinosaurs. From the animatronic T-Rex and Triceratops that greet you to the ability to observe model dinosaurs in a park-like atmosphere, this was a perfect way to cap our dinosaur-focused Utah experience. After a week of looking for and studying fossils, my four and six-year-olds welcomed the playground and playful atmosphere.
— Kristy Esparza, Founder, JJ & The Bug
The Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park is great fun in Utah! Prices are cheap and start as little as free and as much as $7.00 at this fun attraction. This dinosaur park allows you to hop around from one area to the other with information on dinosaurs as well as dinosaur bones and stories displayed throughout. If you’re looking for events, you’re in luck. This place often has events posted on its calendar, along with several educational opportunities.
— Brittany Mendez, Travel Expert & CMO, Florida Panhandle
5. Causey Reservoir
It’s located up Ogden Canyon, less than 40 minutes from town. Causey Reservoir is popular among paddle sport enthusiasts because there are no motorized boats, and the water remains glassy smooth all day long. It’s incredibly scenic and even boasts some red rock cliffs, which is unexpected for somewhere in northern Utah. This makes Causey an ideal destination for paddleboarding, kayaking, cliff jumping, and just lounging around with friends and family to beat the summer heat.
— JJ, JJ’s Paddleboards
Oh my heck! If you’ve never been to or heard of Causey Reservoir then you need to put it on your bucket list this summer. Aside from Utah’s best kayaking and paddle boarding destination, it offers loads of activities fit for a day trip or weekend excursion. From rope swings to cliff jumps to clear, calm waters, this place has it all. And it’s just a short drive up the canyon from the busy metropolis of Ogden, Utah.
— Marie Loveless, My Silly Squirts
6. Waterfall Canyon
Located in Waterfall Canyon, a three-mile roundtrip scenic route, you’ll find a 200-foot waterfall, gorgeous scenery, and a spot with great views over Ogden Valley. The hike is rated as moderately challenging with some portions of loose rocks and takes around two hours to complete.
There are a few trailheads, but the one in Ogden near the top of 29th Street is the one that gets the most traffic. Although there are many routes in the region, the one that leads to the waterfall is the busiest. It is accessible to hikers and bicyclists throughout the year.
— Jeana Adams, CEO & Founder, Best in Edmonton
7. Ogden Amphitheater
The Ogden Amphitheater is home to many summer events and festivals that feature musical groups and other stage performances. These events include but are not limited to Ogden Marathon, Ogden Twilight, Ogden Pride, and many other rentals throughout the year.
— Jennifer Jones, Founder, Beginner Guitar HQ
Ogden Amphitheater is in the heart of Ogden and hosts many events that are free to the public! We highly recommend taking in as many of those free shows as possible and even suggest paying for a few of their ticketed events, too! This summer, some big names in music take the stage there, including Modest Mouse, Diplo, Flume, and Chvrches! If you’re a fan of country music, you’ll certainly want to put on your cowboy hat and favorite pair of boots for the annual country concert put on by EnableUtah that helps raise funds for employment for individuals with disabilities.
— Zach, RateYourSeats
8. Ogden Contemporary Arts Center
A museum and art center that inspires local and regional artists through active involvement with the international contemporary art community. Visit the unique art exhibitions that are currently in the art center or OCA’s outdoor art park located in the Nine Rails Creative District that features one of their newest exhibitions: Paradboxes, a motion censored interactive exhibition. “Our hope is to build a nationally recognized art center that will engage our local artists with the wider contemporary art world.”
— Emily, Loud Marketing
9. Pineview Reservoir
Although Utah may not have the ocean, this hidden oasis with white sandy beaches and refreshing lake water will make you feel like you’ve made it to the coast. Tucked away behind the mountains of Ogden, Utah, Pineview Beach is the perfect stay-cation that you won’t soon forget. For under $20, you can bring the whole family for hours of fun. So bring your floaties, paddleboard, and beach towel because you’ll want to stay all day long.
— Marie Loveless, My Silly Squirts
10. Waterfall Hiking
One of our favorite things to do in Ogden is to hike the Waterfall Canyon Trail. The trailhead is just on the east side of town in South Ogden. The hike is about 2.5 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of1,105 feet. This out and back hike is a moderately difficult hike with beautiful wildflowers and scenic views of the Ogden Valley.
The waterfall will have the most water flowing in the spring and early summer. There is some loose gravel on the trail, so it’s a good idea to wear some sturdy hiking shoes and bring plenty of water.
— Candice Steele, CS Ginger
11. Axe Throwing
Social Axe Throwing has a few locations, one of them being Ogden. It’s perfect for those looking to have some fun, adventure, and adrenaline without any risk! They have coaches on hand to train and guide people in throwing the axes and can take large groups and individuals. Plus,\ they allow events to be held there too. It’s something that everyone should try as a fun experience. They sell food and refreshments, plus have a range of other activities and interesting knacks around the place.
— Chad Wyatt, Roamin’ Nomads
12. iFly Utah
Indoor wind tunnel that simulates the sensation of a skydiving freefall. Professional instructors teach the fundamentals, provide the equipment, and join participants in the air flow chamber to get them flying safely within minutes.
— Jennifer Jones, Founder, Beginner Guitar HQ
13. Hill Aerospace Museum
This museum is dedicated to the history of aviation and features over 75 aircraft on display. There are also interactive exhibits, a library, and a gift shop.
— Oberon Copeland, Owner, Very Informed
Hill Aerospace Museum is located in the United States. Air Force museum displaying aircraft, equipment, vehicles, and historical artifacts. The museum was founded in 1981, moved to its current location in 1991, and became the home of the Utah Aviation Hall of Fame in 1996. The extensive collection of over 90 aircraft covers the story of aviation and is organized into five exhibits: the Beginnings, World War II, the Dawn of the Jet Age, the Cold War, and Keeping the Peace.
— Ava Collins, CEO & Founder, Adelaide Examiner
14. Historic 25th Street
This street is lined with historic buildings, boutique shops, restaurants, and art galleries. stroll down the street and stop into some of the businesses for a unique Ogden experience.
— Oberon Copeland, Owner, Very Informed
Your tour wouldn’t be completed if you didn’t discover the history of Ogden. The 25thStreet District is famous for carrying the cultural heritage of Ogden. There are a bunch of galleries and historic monuments that will help you establish a connection with the city.
— Milan Bocan, Marketing Manager, Barbell Jobs
15. Lindquist Field
Lindquist Field is home to the Ogden Raptors minor league baseball team, and also boasts one of the most scenic backdrops in all of baseball – seriously, you have to see it! To us, baseball games are one of the best ways to spend a summer night and the Raptors have made that even better with their promotional schedule. On Saturday nights, they have a date night deal where you can buy one ticket and get one FREE, or, if you’re looking for some sweet new merch, head to the ballpark on a Friday night for Free Tee Friday! No matter when you go, a baseball game is always fun for the whole family!
— Zach, RateYourSeats
16. Peery’s Egyptian Theater
Peery’s Egyptian Theater is one of the best places to take in a live show in Ogden. It’s a bit cozier than some of the other venues you may find down the road in Salt Lake City since it has just 800 seats, but that doesn’t stop it from delivering on a grand stage! This year, their lineup of shows is stout, with shows like The Wizard of Oz, Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Nightmare Before Christmas, the Greatest Showman, and much more all lined up! As with many theaters, Peery’s gives guests the option to purchase a season ticket package, which is always a great idea for someone looking to get the best bang for their buck and see each show year in and year out, but don’t let that stop you from taking in a show even if you’re just in town for a few days!
— Zach, RateYourSeats
Final Thoughts
As you can see, Ogden packs a mean punch when it comes to adventure, history, and indoor activities as well. That means whether you’re traveling alone, with friends, or with family, everyone will have an enjoyable experience at this destination. Overall, Ogden is a definite must-see any day of the year.