Wheeler Creek Icebox Canyon Loop Trail

The Trail

This moderate loop trail is 5.25 miles long round trip with a 785 foot elevation change. This trail is popular among many groups of trail users including bicyclers and horseback riders, so watch out for others using the trail when hiking.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail starts at the Wheeler Creek Trailhead. The path here appears to be more of a dirt road that follows the creek through the picturesque canyon. There is not much shade through this portion of the trail.

Wheeler Creek Trailhead

Trail heading up the canyon

After continuing along this trail for 1.1 miles, a split in the trail allows you to continue left/straight up the Wheeler Creek Trail or to turn off to the right and descend down toward the creek. We headed right here to do the loop in a counter-clockwise direction.

Turn right here at the sign to go in a counter-clockwise
direction along the trail

Right after this turn-off, the trail crosses the creek over a bridge. Soon after that there is a camp area (as marked on the topographical map with the tent symbol). After the turn-off, the trail continues to follow the creek along a much narrower trail that is well shaded. This pleasant section of the trail is Icebox Canyon.

Bridge right after the trail split

After the third bridge, the trail leaves Icebox Canyon and ascends up a relatively steeper exposed hill and then comes to another junction (marked by the blue flag in the topographical map above). Turn left here to head toward the Art Nord Trailhead. Heading right will continue to take you along the Wheeler Creek Trail toward the Middle Fork Trail (which is the direction to go for anyone wishing to complete the Maples Loop).

Turn left (to go north) at this point

Sign marking the split

Soon after this point, the trail heads north east and crosses a bridge after which the path enters an open hilly meadow area.

Bridge leading to meadow

 

As you finish the ascent up the hill, there is a sign with a map and a bench under a tree (marked by the hiker symbol in the map above). This appears to be a trailhead of sorts, but there is no parking; it just goes directly out to Old Snowbasin Road. Just continue straight along the trail here. The path with switchback before it heads east and follows the road for a ways.

Trailhead map

Tree with bench at trailhead directly off Old Snowbasin Road

The trail crosses another bridge and heads north right before another trail split. Turning right here will take you to the Art Nord Trailhead. I believe there are supposed to be bathrooms there, but we didn't go that way. To continue the loop, head left/west on the trail into the canyon. Soon after this point there is a plaque on a rock honoring Art Nord.

Trail Split - right to Art Nord Trailhead, left to continue loop

Plaque honoring Art Nord

 

About 0.8 mile after the turn off for the Art Nord Trailhead, hikers will arrive back at the first trail split from which we went down into Icebox Canyon. From here, continue back to the trailhead.

 This trail is open to dogs and livestock. There are no bathrooms at the trailhead.

Directions

This trail is located in Weber County up Ogden Canyon near Ogden, Utah. The trailhead is across the street from the Pineview Reservoir Dam. To get there from I-15, take Exit 344 for 12th Street in Ogden. Continue straight, drive through the canyon, and turn right just before the reservoir onto the unmarked dirt road there. If there is space to do so, you can park at the bottom of the dirt road and hike from there. If it is full, you can park in the dirt area above this right to the side of the main road and walk the short distance to the trailhead. GPS Coordinates: N41° 15.197' W111° 50.588'

Turn-off for the trail