Dream Packer Trail Adventures: North Fork Bicentennial Trail, Utah

UPDATE: A lot has changed in the last few years. Here is a new map showing the trails:

"Horses are allowed on ALL trails at North Fork. With that in mind, the trails that don’t have a horse picture will most likely have a higher number of cyclists with many of them traveling at higher speeds. Specifically, Cutler’s Twist will have downhill cyclists going at very high speeds. If you use those trails, be alert and cautious so there aren’t any unfortunate wrecks.

The map and “trail signs” at North Fork do not have horse pictures on Cutler’s Twist, Pipeline, TMF, Trail 365 and Waterfall trails. I know that many equestrians use Pipeline and Trail 365 as connector trails to access trails on the other side of the park. Several years ago, I rode up the Waterfall trail a short distance and turned around fairly quick. I would not recommend any horses on that trail.

In a nutshell, please show consideration for all trail users at the park and be aware of what is around you. Most trail users are friendly and gladly pull off the side of the trail to let you go by. Let’s do what we can to share the trails and let the other users know that we appreciate their consideration. As usual, there will always be the few who ruin it for the rest." (quoted from Back Country Horsemen--Wasatch Front page)

Can be ridden from about mid-April whenever the snow is gone to October 31 when it closes. It is accessed through the Cutler Flats camp area part of North Fork Park, Weber County, Ogden Valley, Eden, Utah. This campground is not open to horses, but there is a parking area and corrals on the edge. The trail begins as the North Fork River Trail with a turn off for the Bicentennial. It goes through national forest and private property. A little bit of everything...some vista views, mountain views, amazing oak and maple forests, tall evergreens, open spot roadways for cantering, sagebrush fields, water features (reservoir, streams and even beaver dams). This is one of the trails accessible if you choose to camp at the North Fork Horse Campground. Our route usually encompassed the Bicentennial trail AND/Or the North River and Long Loop Trails. There is now a connector trail from Cutler Flats to the Mule Shoe Trail called the "Mule Back" or just "Short Cut to Cutler Flats". Here is the link to the post on that trail. Mule Ear/Mule Shoe Trail

Maps and more information can be found at:

http://www.co.weber.ut.us/parks/maps.php

http://www.mtbproject.com/trail/4181679

An interactive map of trails in Weber County is available here: http://www.co.weber.ut.us/gis/maps/gizmo/index.html?config=config_trails.xml (Be sure and use the Zoom feature to get close up on the map.)

(Click on any of the photos to open enlarged images.)

Heading out on the North River Trail. (Private property, but given hiking and riding privileges.)

Same place as photo above, but different year

There are now horse corrals on the east edge of this parking area.

There is plenty of parking. This area is East and North of the "East Bowery" at Cutler Flats, close to the Mule Back connector trail, which connects to the Mule Shoe trail.

Distance can be anywhere from 5-6 miles depending on which parts of the trail taken; Maximum elevation: 6,301 ft. Total ascent/descent is about 1,100 ft.; Trail conditions: 30% dirt, 40 % gravel-dirt road, 30% rocky...again depending on which part of the trail. The rockiest part of the trail as of 2015 is the Cutler Creek portion.

This is a view of the campground showing the trailer parking area in the background.

Trail access...around a private gate.

North River Trail

Optional stream crossing...good practice on the North River Trail

Another optional stream crossing on the North River Trail

Riding in Mid-October, Bicentennial Middle

Hidden "hut" just off the Long Loop trail.

Mid October Cutler Creek

Cutler Flats area campground

Heading out on the North River Trail

Bicentennial trail intersects North River Trail

View from Cutler Flat

Moose in Utaba Reservoir

Utaba Res at a low point, summer of 2012

Almost always see a moose on the Bicentennial trail

The autumn colors can be spectacular.

Bicentennial Middle

Tall evergreens and lush meadows, Long Loop trail

June 1, 2016, Long Loop

June 1, 2016, Love this part of the Long Loop trail

Ferns and sagebrush growing together, very rare. Usually ferns like some dampness and shade. Here they are in full sun. This is on the North River Trail.