Mountain views from historic 25th Street in downtown Ogden, Utah.
Wake and Wander Media
In today’s super connected world of travel updates and social media, discovering something completely new is harder than ever. Sometimes it feels like everything has already been put on the map and there is nothing left to discover.
But sometimes it’s less about discovering a brand new place and more about finding a place at the end of a transition. That said, experiencing a place with an outdated reputation just as it turns the corner after doing the hard work of reinventing it, but before the masses know that it is a cool place now.
Just an hour north of Salt Lake City, Ogden fits that bill perfectly. When you visit today you might wonder why no one seems to be talking about it. The town of around 90,000 residents is right on the edge of the mountains and has hiking and biking trails that depart from town, riverside breweries, a university, and easy access to two world-class ski areas.
Visit Ogden’s Director of Marketing and Communications Colt Jarvis said that even people who live in the area, like Salt Lake City or Provo, only notice how much his city has changed.
“Many people [from Salt Lake] I’m just beginning to discover that Ogden is no longer what it used to be, ”said Jarvis.
With that in mind, here is an overview of what is going on in Ogden.
Ogden, once a die-hard train town, has smoothed its edges.
Ogden’s history is rich. The area was once home to a large number of Indian tribes and later became a Mormon settlement. In the middle of the 19th century it became a hub for the industrial railway. Historic 25th Street has become a rebellious and often noisy hangout for railroad workers and passers-by.
“The city quickly became known for its harsh and stormy character, a place to experience gambling, prostitution, drug sales, robbery, rape and even murder,” Ogden’s own historical description reads.
Fortunately times have changed. While railroad history is kept at Union Station – where events often take place – 25th Street is now a more enjoyable experience.
It still has a fair share of pubs – much to the delight of college students and skiers – but it has also rounded off its offering to include local restaurants (Tona Sushi), breweries (Taps), and even trendy underground nightlife spots (Unspoken).
Every first Friday of the month, the city offers a guided walking tour of 25th Street to learn more about its history. On this tour you will have the opportunity to see very closely how it used to be and what has changed.
The elegant vermilion at Earl’s Lodge in the Snowbasin Ski Resort.
Wake and Wander Media
It is the hub for two huge ski areas.
From almost anywhere in the city, you can look east and see the tall peaks of the Wasatch Range soaring high above. A short 30-minute drive through the canyon takes you out of town to the higher elevations, where you’ll find two world-class, complementary ski areas, Snowbasin Resort and Powder Mountain.
The Snowbasin Resort is best known for hosting some of the 2002 Olympic events, including the alpine ski races for men and women – courses that you can (leisurely) ride yourself on your visit today. The resort is owned and operated by the Holding Family, which also owns the infamous Sun Valley Resort in Idaho.
If you’re looking for a skiing experience that combines Olympic terrain and tasteful ski culture, Snowbasin is excellent in both areas. For the latter, you don’t have to look any further than to his collection of elegant and grandiose mountain huts with large windows, light wood construction and chandeliers made of colored glass. Needles Lodge, John Paul Lodge, and Earl’s Lodge (Cinnabar) should all be admired with a meal and cocktail.
You can find a bit of everything on the slopes. The family-friendly Needles Gondola welcomes you to the base and provides easy (and warm) access to much of the mountain’s foreland terrain, a mix of green, blue, and black. The Allen Peak Tram serves the high altitude terrain for experienced skiers looking for extreme thrills, and the Strawberry Gondola provides access to endless high alpine and back country terrain and offers the longest runs on the mountain.
Powder Mountain is unique in both its design and how it works. It dispenses with a unique floor space for several, each with small, modest lodges and its own parking spaces, creating a multitude of access points to the mountain (but all are connected by elevators and cat trails). Powder is also unique in that, even before the pandemic, it limited the number of lift tickets sold daily.
The result is a mountain that feels very spacious and open, and offers plenty of space on powder days to find fresh tracks. Powder Mountain is a playground and a true, down-to-earth mountain of the locals. However, you can expect the new Overlook Neighborhood in development to add a luxury component in the years to come.
Once you’ve explored these two mountains, there’s another, smaller ski area called Nordic Valley to explore as well.
The Shooting Star Saloon in Huntsville is a must for pub lovers.
Wake and Wander Media
You can have one foot in the city and one in the country.
Ogden sure is a city, but those who live there would not consider themselves city dwellers. Indeed, the quick mountain access mentioned above is part of the draw.
You can stay in one of the many hotels in town or on historic 25th Street, which is within easy walking distance of bars, restaurants and shops. But it is also possible to stay out in the country, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and still have access to it.
Huntsville is east of Ogden, a 20-minute drive through a winding, beautiful gorge. There, condominium complexes like Escape at Edgewater offer upscale mountain living with mountain views and direct access to nature. Many condos are three or four bedrooms, with hot tubs, pool tables, table tennis, garage, and much more – ideal for a family or group getaway.
In the country you will find a different charm that goes well with Ogden’s urban vibe. Make sure to stop by for a beer and a burger at the Shooting Star Saloon, a local, historic pub that you won’t soon forget.
Summer could at some point be cooler than winter.
In the past, a large part of Ogden’s appeal was due to its proximity to the ski resorts. But on the flip side, it can be assumed that the summer could be an equally big draw.
That year, Ogden River Brewing opened next to the Ogden River and the Ogden River Parkway. The outdoor deck overlooks the water and the riverside walking path. While there is no shortage of breweries in Ogden, the opening shows how the city intends to incorporate nature into city life.
Hiking and mountain biking trails are popping up everywhere, and it’s a good sign when businesses sneak in along these routes, cementing them as meeting places, and encouraging everyone to enjoy the city’s natural offerings.
The Ogden River is also home to fly fishing opportunities within the city limits. There are many climbing routes in the nearby gorge. Snowbasin and Powder Mountain offer downhill mountain bike trails with lift access in the summer months.
Pizza and beer at the new Ogden River Brewing in Ogden, Utah.
Wake and Wander Media
It’s perfect for inclusion on a road trip or regional trip.
Ogden has certainly turned a corner and there’s no sign of it slowing down anytime soon, but it’s understandable when people aren’t ready to dive head first. Ogden’s blessings are also a curse: while now a travel destination in its own right, it lives close enough to Salt Lake City and Park City to be both a complement and a competitor.
Our suggestion is that you see with the earlier mentality. Whether you’re on the road or just want to broaden your horizons, Ogden can be included in a regional trip that allows you to explore more established places like Salt Lake City and Park City while trying something completely new in Ogden.
Together, these three destinations, just an hour apart, provide a wonderful glimpse into what makes Utah’s mountains so enjoyable.
Comments are closed.