Gib's Loop/Mt. Ogden Exercise Trail

The Trail

This easy loop trail is 3.1 miles long (round-trip) with about a 323 foot elevation change. We started this loop from the 36th Street Trailhead, but you can also start it from the trailhead at the end of 29th Street. The elevation graph reflects starting from 36th Street though.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

We started by heading up the side of the trail. There are a number of splits along this first part of the trail, but it is still easy to stay on the right trail since it is pretty clearly marked.We soon arrived at a bench situated on a bridge that crosses Strong Creek. Just before that point is a split in the trail. If you continue heading east instead of staying on Gib's Loop, you can access the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and Waterfall Canyon.

Strong Creek at the bridge

The trail moves in and out of shady areas. The east side of the trail is situated right above the golf course for much of the way.

Wild Flax

If you start from 36th Street and go the way we went, you will come to another trailhead to the north of the park past a condominium. To continue along Gib's Loop, you must walk to the end of the parking area and then turn down 29th Street. The distance along this section of trail between 36th Street and 29th Street is 1.4 miles. Keep going until you reach Taylor Avenue, then turn south and walk along this street.

After you reach the first playground area, you can turn into the parking lot next to it and pick up the trail running back toward the fence (shown in red on the maps above). Or, you can continue on to 33rd Street, where a sign clearly marks where the dirt trail picks up again. The distance from this sign to 36th Street is 0.8 mile.

Leashed dogs are permitted on this trail; just be sure to clean up after your dog.

Directions
This hike is located in Ogden, which is is Weber County, Utah. To get there from the south, take I-15 to Riverdale Road, exit 339. Turn right onto Riverdale Road and continue to 36th Street. Turn right onto 36th and continue until the road starts to turn into Skyline Dr. The parking area will be on your left.

If you are coming from the north, take exit 341 for 31st Street. Head east to Wall Avenue and turn right. Continue to 36th Street and turn left. Keep going as explained above to the trail head.

Alternatively, you can start this trail from the end of 29th Street.

Grove Creek Trail to Great Western/Timpanogos Perimeter Trail

The Trail
This moderate trail is about 3.4 miles (one way) from the trail head to the Great Western Trail/Timpanogos Perimeter Trail. However, if you continue south along the Great Western Trail to the junction shown in the maps below, it is 3.8 miles (one way) with about a 2500 foot elevation change.

Topographical Map

In the map above, the red flag marks a view point for the first waterfall (1.6 miles from the trailhead). The blue flag marks the second waterfall (roughly 2 miles from the trailhead). The black square marks the bridge, which is the point where the trail crosses over Grove Creek (about 2.2 miles from the trailhead). The tent and the water mark the Indian Campground (a primitive campground for backpackers) and the natural Grove Creek Spring (3.1 miles from the trailhead). The green dot marks a split in the trail. We went right, but I believe that going left will also take you up to the Great Western Trail, and this route probably follows the trail map shown on official maps of the area (such as the one pictured below found at the trailhead). The hiker symbol marks where the trail intersects with Trail 151, the Great Western Trail/Timpanogos Perimeter Trail (3.4 miles from the trailhead), and the green star marks a junction point between the Perimeter Trail and the Indian Trail Rd. The red portion of the trail goes along the road, which runs parallel to the Perimeter Trail for a ways.

Graph of Elevation (to junction)

Trail in Google Earth

 

Area Map Posted at the Trailhead

There are some other trails that go off in other directions at the beginning of the trail too. If you wish to go up Grove Creek Canyon, stay along the dirt road until there is an obvious split that appears to run parallel to the road for a ways but heads uphill. This first section will include some of the steeper areas of the trail as it climbs part way up the mountain along a couple switchbacks. As hikers continue toward the waterfalls, the trail is fairly exposed as it winds along this steep side of Mt. Mahogany.

Heading up the switchbacks near the start of the trail

Orange Globe Mallow

Trail winding through rocky areas

Firecracker Penstemon growing along trail

The first definite point of interest along the trail is the first waterfall. The trail does not go very close to this fall, but there is a nice view of it from on top of a rock that edges into the canyon. The view of the canyon and valley are nice from this point too.

View of first waterfall

A view of the second waterfall can be seen soon after passing by the first. The trail does continue on to pass close by to the fall as well, but does not go right up to it.

View of Second Waterfall from distance

This is as close as the trail gets to the second waterfall

Soon after the second fall, the trail crosses a small bridge. After this point, the trail cuts through some pleasant shaded forest areas interspersed with small meadows.

The next landmark hikers will reach is the Grove Creek Spring and Indian Campground. From there it is only a short distance to where the trail intersects with Trail 151 - the Timpanogos Perimeter Trail.

If you continue along the Great Western/Perimeter Trail going south, you will soon be hiking through a large open meadow.

Soon after that you will come to a sign marking the junction between the road and the trail.

The junction sign is at the red circle

Junction Sign

It would be easy to continue from this point to make a loop by continuing on and then heading down Battle Creek Canyon, or if you wanted an even longer hike,  you could head down Dry Creek Canyon (parts of both of these trails are detailed in this post).

Dogs, bicycles, and horses are permitted on this trail, however it is not recommended for horses or bicycles given the rocky exposed portions of the trail. Vault toilets are accessible at the trailhead.

Directions
This trail is located in Utah County in Pleasant Grove. To get there, take I-15 to Exit 275 in Pleasant Grove. Turn northeast onto Pleasant Grove Blvd., continue onto Center St., and then turn left on 100 East. Continue to 500 North/Grove Creek Dr. and turn right. Stay on this road until you reach the parking area for the Grove Creek Trail at its end.