Beus Canyon Trail to Mount Ogden Peak

The Trail

This strenuous trail is about 5.4 miles long (one way) with a 4453 foot elevation change. Hikers traversing the full length of the trail will go up the west face of Mount Ogden and arrive at the top of Ogden Peak. The climb is fairly steep and steady most of the way, but right before the peak, it levels off a bit before climbing dramatically to the top.

Topographical Map (red=Bonneville Shoreline;
blue=Beus Canyon)

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The first part of this trail is fairly shady. Stay to the right at all forks to stay on the Beus Canyon Trail; otherwise you will end up on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. As the trail continues up, the shade becomes more sparse and then disappears altogether. The path became increasingly overgrown, but the trail remained clear. Near the top there are also a series of rock cairns along the trail, but the path remains clear all the way to the top even without them. At the saddle, the trail hits a steep road that continues up toward the peak. There is another "trail" turn off from the road near the top, but it mostly turns into a scramble up the rocks at the very tip. The mountain peak is capped by transmitting towers and a helicopter pad.

There are great views of the valley, the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island, and the surrounding mountains all along the trail.

Leashed dogs are permitted on the trail.

View of the valley and Antelope Island from the trail

Looking back along the trail and up towards
De Moisy Peak

Wildflowers on the slopes

Looking up toward Ogden Peak

Helicopter landing pad at the peak

View of The Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island from peak

View of Pineview Reservoir from the peak

Road in the bottom right corner is what we followed down to find tram

Going Down on the Tram

Before starting our hike, we parked a car at Snowbasin with the plan to ride the tram down the mountain after reaching the top. We were not completely sure where the top was in relation to the tram, but the light blue line below is the path we followed from the peak down to the tram. The light green line is the path of the tram.

Topographical Map (light blue=path to tram; green=tram ride down)

Graph of Elevation (Hiking path only - does not include tram ride)

Trails in Google Earth

Basically, we followed the dirt road down from the peak and along the east side of the mountain. We turned off onto the next road we came to, which was a much rougher dirt road going more south. We soon hit a better maintained section of road and passed under the tram. Shortly after that we found the Needles Trail, which we then followed back up to the tram station. This path to the tram was just over two miles.

Looking up at Mount Ogden from the tram

Riding the tram down the mountain

If you plan on riding down the tram, it would be wise to check before your hike to make sure you know what the tram's schedule is for the day. (We ended up having to do some running to the tram station since some helpful hikers informed us that the tram was closing early on the day we went.) There is a whole web of trails and roads snaking along the east side of the mountain though, leaving open a number of options for hiking up or down from the Snowbasin parking lot.

Directions

The Beus Canyon Trail is located in Weber County. The trail head is on the end of 46th Street. To get there from I-15, take Exit 341 for 31st Street and turn right. Turn right onto Wall Street, and then follow the road to the left at 40th Street. Continue to Harrison Blvd. and turn right. Then continue to 4600 S. and turn left. Continue east toward the mountains. The parking lot for the trail is right at the curve at the end of the road.

Vasquez Rocks Short Loop

The Trail

This easy 1.2 mile loop has a 116 foot elevation change is located in Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park. The trail starts along the Pacific Crest Trail and runs along the north side of the Vasquez Rocks. At the end of the rock formations, we looped around and followed the road back to the trail head.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The Vasquez Rocks are a popular spot for the filming scenes in a number of movies such as Star Trek, Holes, Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, and many more. Visitors are welcome to climb on the rocks and explore the area. This trail is also opened to leashed dogs and horseback riders.

The Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park itself covers 932 acres and can be very hot. However, no drinking water is available there, so bring plenty of water with you when you visit. For those looking for a longer hike, there are a number of other trails in this area. Picnic areas are also available here. There is no entry fee to the park, but the park does enforce strict hours. For current park hours, please check here.

Directions

This trail is located in Los Angeles, California near Santa Clarita. Specifically, the trail is found in Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park in Agua Dulce. To get there from Santa Clarita, take CA-14 north towards Palmdale. Take exit 15 for Agua Dulce Canyon Rd. Turn left and continue to Pacific Crest Trail. Turn right and continue to the park, which will be on the right. The trail as shown on the maps above starts from the first parking lot.

Goosenecks Overlook & Sunset Point

The Trail

This easy jaunt is under a mile long (round trip) with a 61 foot elevation change when both trails are done in succession. Here we started by going up the short Goosenecks Overlook Trail, which leads to a view point for the U-shaped bends of the canyon below. For more adventuresome hikers, this slot canyon can also be accessed and hiked via that Sulphur Creek Route from the Chimney Rock Trail head.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation (doing the Goosenecks Overlook Trail first)

Trail in Google Earth

View of Goosenecks from Goosenecks Overlook

Another View of Goosenecks from Overlook

After coming down from the Goosenecks Overlook, we headed up to Sunset Point. This point is aptly named; it is a beautiful place to be as the sun sets. The sun radiates off the rock faces across the surrounding canyons, causing them to glow brightly. Unfortunately, the clouds blocked the sun while we were there, so we didn't get to see this effect. Even the brief sunset itself was muted in the cloudy sky. It would have been better could we have been there on a less cloudy night. Despite this, we still found the view from Sunset Point enjoyable.

View from Sunset Point during cloudy evening

Another section of the deep gorge cradling Sulphur Creek is also visible from the south side of Sunset Point.

Sulphur Creek from Sunset Point

Directions

This trail is located in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah. The trail is off of UT-24. To get there from I-15, take Exit 188 to get onto US-50. Get off US-50 at UT-260. From there get onto UT-24 and continue to Capitol Reef. The turn off for these trails will be before the Visitor's Center. Take the Panorama Point/Sunset Point turn off to the right. Stay left where the road splits and continue up the dirt road to the parking area and trail head.

Grand Wash Trail

The Trail

This is a very easy 2.3 mile (one way) trail with a 235 foot elevation change. There isn't really an actual trail; hikers just walk along the dry wash as it weaves through bottom of the canyon.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation (starting from UT-24)

Trail in Google Earth

There are trail heads at both ends of the canyon, so hiking groups with multiple vehicles have the option of hiking from one end to the other.

The narrows are in the middle section of the trail and are only about a half a mile in length. Although they are dry, there is still the possibility of flash floods in this area, so be sure to verify the danger level before you hike.

There are plenty of beautiful rock formations and cliffs to view outside the narrows area as well. Bear canyon is a little side canyon that can be viewed branching off from the main wash.

Heading into the Narrows Section

In the Narrows Section

Looking up Bear Canyon

Looking up the sheer walls of the narrows section

Directions

This trail is located in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah. There are parking areas at both ends of the wash. One end of the trail heads is right off UT-24. To get there from I-15, take Exit 188 to get onto US-50. Get off US-50 at UT-260. From there get onto UT-24 and continue to Capitol Reef and the turn out for the trail head, will be on the right.

To start at the other side of the wash, continue along UT-24 to Capitol Reef. Turn off at the Visitor's Center and continue along the "Scenic Drive" until reaching the turnoff for Grand Wash on the left. Go up this dirt road until reaching the parking area and trail head at the end.

Lower Calf Creek Falls

The Trail

This popular trail is a moderate 3 miles (one way). There is only a 170 foot elevation change, but the trail goes up and down a fair amount within that. The trail also has a lot of sections of deep sand, which can be tiring to hike through. The more weight you are carrying, the more strenuous these sections are to hike through.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The trail actually starts down a road for a campground but quickly heads off from there as a dirt and sand path. There isn't a great deal of shade on the trail, but the amount can vary depending on the time you go.

There is plenty to see of interest along the trail, from the beautifully formed rocks and canyon walls streaked with desert varnish, to the bright wildflowers and plant life. There are beaver dams, some Indian petroglyphs (view point for those marked by green dot on the topographical map), ancient granaries built into the canyon walls, and a variety of birds (making the area popular for bird watching). Hikers can pick up a trail guide available at the beginning of the trail that will point out some of these things along the way.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Petroglyphs on canyon wall across from the trail

Desert Varnish streaked on
canyon walls

The trail flattens out some right before hikers reach the waterfall. Before arriving at its base, the top of the waterfall is visible above the trees.

First view of waterfall from trail

The waterfall itself cascades down a 126 foot drop, and its path is highlighted by bright green algae growing on the rocks. The cold calm water filling the pool below the falls creates a popular swimming spot. There is a small sandy beach area around the pool surrounded by a number of trees that provide shade on the sidelines.

Lower Calf Creek Falls

Note: When we did this trail, we found the parking lot for it was not made well and can be very messy when it is hot. When it heats up, there are patches of sticky tar all over that gets stuck on the bottom of your shoes.

Alcove near falls

Directions

This trail is located in Garfield County in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The trail is right off UT-12. To get there from I-15, take Exit 188 to get onto US-50. Get off US-50 at UT-260. From there get onto UT-24 and continue to UT-12. Turn right onto UT-12 and continue 48 miles to the "Calf Creek recreation Area." Turn right to drive down into the parking lot. There is a small fee to park here and use the area ($2.00 as of 2012 for day use).