Photo: Scott Catron · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
When the transcontinental railroad was completed at nearby Promontory in 1869, Ogden became its junction city, and 25th Street, running up from Union Station, filled with saloons, hotels and brothels. Today the same brick blocks hold restaurants, bars, galleries and the Saturday farmers market.
Ogden Canyon climbs straight out of town to Pineview Reservoir and the Ogden Valley, where Snowbasin, the 2002 Olympic downhill venue, and Powder Mountain sit within about 45 minutes of downtown. The Ogden River Parkway and foothill trails make the city one of the most outdoorsy in Utah.
See and do
- Historic 25th StreetThree blocks of restored 19th-century buildings full of restaurants and shops.
- Union StationThe 1924 depot, now home to railroad, car and firearms museums, including the Browning Firearms Museum.
- SnowbasinThe 2002 Olympic downhill mountain, with big lodges and long groomers.
- Ogden Canyon and Pineview ReservoirA narrow canyon drive to a mountain reservoir with beaches and paddling.
- George S. Eccles Dinosaur ParkLife-size dinosaur models along the Ogden River, a hit with kids.
- Ogden River ParkwayA paved trail from the canyon mouth through the city along the river.
Eat and drink
- Beehive CheeseThe award-winning creamery behind Barely Buzzed, with a shop in Uintah at the mouth of Weber Canyon.
- 25th Street kitchensBrewpubs, bistros and late-night spots lined up within a few blocks of Union Station.
- Farmers marketSummer Saturdays on 25th Street bring Utah peaches, corn and pastries.
Through the year
- Ogden TwilightSummer: touring bands at the Ogden Amphitheater.
- Harvest Moon CelebrationSeptember: a street festival on 25th Street.
- Christmas VillageDecember: a free light display and holiday village in the municipal gardens.
Day trips from Ogden
- Golden Spike National Historical ParkAbout an hour northwest at Promontory, where the rails met in 1869.
- Hill Aerospace MuseumAbout 20 minutes south, beside Hill Air Force Base.
- Antelope IslandAbout 40 minutes southwest on the Great Salt Lake.
Good to know
- FrontRunner connects Ogden to Salt Lake City and Utah County on weekdays and Saturdays.
- Snowbasin and Powder Mountain are less crowded than the Cottonwood resorts on weekends.
- Ogden Canyon can close during storms; check UDOT before heading to the valley.
Parks in Northern Utah
More towns nearby
Logan
College town in a green farm valley, at the foot of Logan Canyon
Garden City (Bear Lake)
Raspberry shakes on the shore of a turquoise lake