I've been on this peak several times, and the best routes are the Taylor Canyon and Buess Canyon routes. The Snowbasin trails are too easy and don't offer much of a challenge. Heck, it's a road! From the SLC Airport, it's about a 40 min drive north on I-15. Take the 31st street exit eastbound and then head straight east until you reach Harrison Blvd. Then turn right then make a left on to 26th street and follow it to the end, this is the trail head for Taylor Canyon. The trail is well used all the way to Maylan's basin, then your on your own, straight up the west face. It's pretty steep and rugged, but not rocky. The west face is barren, with very few trees. The Buess trail is further south, same side of the mountain, and alot better. Trails pretty good all the way to the top of the ridge, then it's a scamper to the north to reach the peak. Can't remember the street address though for the trailhead. It's forest land, camping allowed, but not very many good places. If hiking in mid-summer watch out for rattlers!!
Made this trek on 7-29-05. The Beus Canyon trail is the most scenic of the routes to Mt. Ogden. The trail is now easy to follow all the way to the top. I would recommend wearing pants as the low-lying oakbrush encroaches on the trail and wreaks havoc on unprotected shins! The roundtrip hike can be completed in much less than the stated "all-day" time allotment. I made the ascent in 2 hours (picking up the pace at times with light running), and the descent in 1:16. The scenery is beautiful along the way, and the trail is in the shade for the first half or so. Taking a bicycle would be next to impossible in my opinion, unless you like to carry your bike most of the time and get on and off constantly. I encountered one other person on the lower portion of the trail, otherwise it was strictly a solo trek (left 46th street trailhead at 4 pm to start summit hike). Great hike overall.
We hiked to the peak this morning starting at 7:15 and made it to the peak by 10:00 a.m. I didn’t have my watch with me, so I don’t know exact mileage. We followed the service road up from Snow Basin and followed the directions in the Snow Basin route. It says you’ll come to a fork and the left side will take you to the Needles Lodge, so stay to the right. About 1/2 mile past that point, we approached another fork and went left up to the saddle. It looks like there is another lodge being built to the north of Needles Lodge. If you followed the road to the right, it looked like it would take you to that new lodge, and you wouldn’t be able to make it to the summit. It was an awesome hike, and we rode the Gondola from Needles Lodge down for free!
We hiked to the peak this morning starting at 7:15 and made it to the peak by 10:00 a.m. I didn’t have my watch with me, so I don’t know exact mileage. We followed the service road up from Snow Basin and followed the directions in the Snow Basin route. It says you’ll come to a fork and the left side will take you to the Needles Lodge, so stay to the right. About 1/2 mile past that point, we approached another fork and went left up to the saddle. It looks like there is another lodge being built to the north of Needles Lodge. If you followed the road to the right, it looked like it would take you to that new lodge, and you wouldn’t be able to make it to the summit. It was an awesome hike, and we rode the Gondola from Needles Lodge down for free!
imontop - Dec 19, 2003 9:52 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentI've been on this peak several times, and the best routes are the Taylor Canyon and Buess Canyon routes. The Snowbasin trails are too easy and don't offer much of a challenge. Heck, it's a road! From the SLC Airport, it's about a 40 min drive north on I-15. Take the 31st street exit eastbound and then head straight east until you reach Harrison Blvd. Then turn right then make a left on to 26th street and follow it to the end, this is the trail head for Taylor Canyon. The trail is well used all the way to Maylan's basin, then your on your own, straight up the west face. It's pretty steep and rugged, but not rocky. The west face is barren, with very few trees. The Buess trail is further south, same side of the mountain, and alot better. Trails pretty good all the way to the top of the ridge, then it's a scamper to the north to reach the peak. Can't remember the street address though for the trailhead. It's forest land, camping allowed, but not very many good places. If hiking in mid-summer watch out for rattlers!!
oregonrpa - Jul 31, 2005 2:28 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentMade this trek on 7-29-05. The Beus Canyon trail is the most scenic of the routes to Mt. Ogden. The trail is now easy to follow all the way to the top. I would recommend wearing pants as the low-lying oakbrush encroaches on the trail and wreaks havoc on unprotected shins! The roundtrip hike can be completed in much less than the stated "all-day" time allotment. I made the ascent in 2 hours (picking up the pace at times with light running), and the descent in 1:16. The scenery is beautiful along the way, and the trail is in the shade for the first half or so. Taking a bicycle would be next to impossible in my opinion, unless you like to carry your bike most of the time and get on and off constantly. I encountered one other person on the lower portion of the trail, otherwise it was strictly a solo trek (left 46th street trailhead at 4 pm to start summit hike). Great hike overall.
cjparker12 - Aug 31, 2019 1:54 pm - Hasn't voted
Mt. Ogden tripWe hiked to the peak this morning starting at 7:15 and made it to the peak by 10:00 a.m. I didn’t have my watch with me, so I don’t know exact mileage. We followed the service road up from Snow Basin and followed the directions in the Snow Basin route. It says you’ll come to a fork and the left side will take you to the Needles Lodge, so stay to the right. About 1/2 mile past that point, we approached another fork and went left up to the saddle. It looks like there is another lodge being built to the north of Needles Lodge. If you followed the road to the right, it looked like it would take you to that new lodge, and you wouldn’t be able to make it to the summit. It was an awesome hike, and we rode the Gondola from Needles Lodge down for free!
cjparker12 - Aug 31, 2019 1:54 pm - Hasn't voted
Mt. Ogden tripWe hiked to the peak this morning starting at 7:15 and made it to the peak by 10:00 a.m. I didn’t have my watch with me, so I don’t know exact mileage. We followed the service road up from Snow Basin and followed the directions in the Snow Basin route. It says you’ll come to a fork and the left side will take you to the Needles Lodge, so stay to the right. About 1/2 mile past that point, we approached another fork and went left up to the saddle. It looks like there is another lodge being built to the north of Needles Lodge. If you followed the road to the right, it looked like it would take you to that new lodge, and you wouldn’t be able to make it to the summit. It was an awesome hike, and we rode the Gondola from Needles Lodge down for free!