Dream Packer Trail Adventures: North Ogden, Canal Road-Bonneville Trail

In spring and early summer, wildflowers abound. Mid-summer is hot and dry with riding best in the early morning or late evening to catch a spectacular sunset. Riding in the autumn provides some gorgeous color from the maples and oak.

Keep in mind that most of these trails go through private property and the land owners have allowed access and right of way for the Bonneville shoreline trail. National forest doesn't begin until further up the hillside above the power lines. Recommend parking at the equestrian park and riding along Mountain Rd. accessing through private property at 2200 N. Mountain Rd.

The following photos were taken over many years and seasons. Click on any photo for enlarged images.

(This trail now connects to a new portion which goes from "Pioneer" Trail up the mountain and crosses Coldwater Canyon. The portion crossing Coldwater IS NOT RECOMMENDED for horses. There are portions of the trail that are extremely narrow with steep, unforgiving drop offs. No place to pass safely or even dismount or turn around. You can ride up from Mountain Road access for about 2.5 miles until it begins its treacherous descent into Coldwater. Recommend going back down the way you come up at that point.)

Spectacular view of Ben Lomond in the spring with Arrowleaf Balsamroot in the foreground. Photo courtesy of Teisha Preece.

GPS tracks of one of our rides....Total mileage approximately 4.3 miles. Trail conditions depend on which route you take. You can ride 80% on hard packed gravel road or you can ride the upper trails, which include the Bonneville shoreline. Trails are about 75% dirt, 25% rocky.

The lighter blue track shows where the ride may be extended to connect with the shoreline trail that comes out of the Nature Center trailhead. I have never ridden all the way through because of the terrain and low hanging trees. I have ridden the light blue track.

View from part of the new Connector Trail in One Horse Canyon, March 2015

New Connector Trail in One Horse Canyon, March 2015

View from the "Power Line" Trail

Typical of the canal road where the canal is covered.

Typical of the canal road where the canal is uncovered.

Trail going up the hillside from the canal road, which connects to the shoreline trail.

This is the same trail in the above photo, but in spring. Photo courtesy of Tristan Nelson.

Typical of the shoreline trail in autumn.

Where the shoreline trail loops into Garner canyon. Going into Garner from the north has some low hanging branches. We hope to get up there to do some trail maintenance. There is also poison ivy right along the trail, so beware! There is a wooden bridge.

Just after crossing the bridge in Garner Canyon.

Just about to Steep Canyon. This section of the trail used to be almost impassible by horseback, but it has been improved now to make it ride-able.

Switchback trail going north from Steep Canyon

Looking toward the north at the base of Steep Canyon

Riding the canal road in late November.

I call this the "Powerline" trail. It basically just parallels the canal road, but higher up. Lovely views and some places for cantering.

Riding the shoreline trail south after coming out of Garner Canyon. Left of the sign is a trail that goes higher up heading south, but dead ends for horses. The canyon there was at one time named Coldwater; locals also called it Garner, but Garner is actually the canyon just to the north. There are two other Coldwater Canyons in the area, so it could be confusing. I just call the canyon "Steep". But, to make it even more confusing, there is a cave up Steep Canyon that is called Garner Cave.

Shoreline trail between Garner and Steep canyons.

Canal road looking at "Steep" Canyon. Keep riding down to the right and it connects again with the shoreline trail that goes to the Ogden North Nature Center trailhead.