Nestled At The Foot Of Utah's Wasatch Mountains Is A Cozy City With Nearby Trails And Ski Resorts

When it comes to outdoor adventure, Utah is hard to beat. From the stunning canyons of Zion National Park to the reality-bending visual spectacle of the Bonneville Salt Flats, the Beehive State boasts some truly incredible landscapes. With stunning mountain scenery, the picture-perfect mountain state is a bucket-list destination for hikers, climbers, and anyone who loves the great outdoors. One place to enjoy that scenery is Ogden, a charming city at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains.

One of the outdoor activities Utah is most famous for is skiing. There are stunning ski resorts across the state, from Park City Mountain to Solitude Mountain Resort, and Utah is considered to have some of the best powder and most diverse terrain in the world. As a bonus, some of Utah's best resorts are incredibly accessible, located less than an hour away from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Ogden serves as a convenient base for exploring nearby ski resorts and hiking trails. It is also a lovely place in its own right, filled with history, art, culture, and an excellent dining scene.

Ogden is located about 35 miles north of Salt Lake City, to the east of the Great Salt Lake, and just south of Brigham City, another delightful town in the Wasatch foothills. The city is around 35 minutes away from SLC by car and within a short drive of the resorts of Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, and Nordic Valley, making it a great choice as a base for powder hounds.

Ogden is known as the city where Utah started, as the area was home to the first permanent settlement by people of European descent in the state. Established by Miles Goodyear, a trapper, in 1846, Fort Buenaventura laid the foundations of what would become Ogden, now one of the largest cities in Utah. While the local ski resorts are probably its main attraction, the city has loads to offer beyond adrenaline-pumping thrills and outdoor escapes. Ogden wears its history on its sleeve, and it is a great place to discover more about the story of Utah, with the John M. Browning Firearms Museum and the Utah State Railroad Museum at Union Station particularly worth visiting. The city's historic 25th Street is a great place to immerse oneself in the spirit and color of the past, with its walkable blocks of historic storefronts, independent shops, and inviting cafes offering a change of pace.

Ogden boasts a proudly independent spirit that comes through strongest in its vibrant arts and cultural scene. Art lovers will be thrilled by the variety of galleries, including the Local Artisan Collective, the Maguire Gallery, Ogden Contemporary Arts, and Gallery 25, to name a few. The city also has theaters such as Peery's Egyptian Theater and The Ziegfeld Theater, as well as some amazing street art, including vast murals scattered around downtown, which are best experienced on a self-guided walking tour.

Ogden's nightlife, drinking, and dining scene is nothing to scoff at either, with some fantastic restaurants, bars, and breweries, largely concentrated around historic 25th Street. Tona Sushi Bar and Grill serves up excellent sushi, while anyone with a hankering for classic Italian will find plenty to enjoy at Rovali's and La Ferrovia. Roosters Brewing Co. is another popular spot for drinking and dining, while wine lovers can venture to nearby Pleasant View to discover Purple Sky Winery, which offers tastings on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Ogden lies beneath the looming bulk of Mount Ogden, within clear sight of Willard Peak and Thurston Peak, and just a stone's throw away from three of Utah's finest ski resorts. The closest, Snowbasin, was one of the host locations for the 2002 Olympic Games and is a popular choice for families. It offers more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain and over 3,000 vertical feet of skiing during the winter, as well as hiking and mountain biking during the summer. Nordic Valley is a great spot for beginners, just 20 minutes from downtown Ogden, with more than 500 skiable acres and 42 runs catering to a range of skill levels. Finally, Powder Mountain is the crown jewel of Ogden. One of the largest ski areas in North America, it boasts roughly 5,000 acres of publicly accessible terrain, with additional acres reserved for members of the private Powder Haven community.

Beyond the ski slopes, Ogden is an amazing hiking destination. Trails like the Birdsong Trail and the Ogden River Parkway offer a gentle introduction to Ogden's scenery, while Malan's Peak and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail bring a little more elevation and a little more effort to the mix. However, the real gem of Ogden's hiking offerings is Ben Lomond Peak. Rising to 9,712 feet, the mountain is said to have inspired the Paramount Pictures logo, although this remains a local legend. The hike to the summit is a serious challenge, with some routes stretching more than 15 miles round trip and requiring a full day to complete. The views from the top out over the Great Salt Lake more than make up for the trek, though!