Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Ogden

This hiking and biking path follows the foothill fire-road access above Ogden. Besides offering great views of the Great Salt Lake, this trail — with numerous side routes — also offers extremes, with some flat sections and some challenging spots.

Deseret News graphicBonneville shoreline trailRequires Adobe Acrobat.

The trail is also proof that calm and serene places, where motorized vehicles are rarely seen, exist just a few minutes from bustling urban areas.

Path rating: **

Scenic rating: ***

Distance: Seven miles

Elevation gain: The path starts at 4,300 feet, near Rainbow Gardens on the north, rises to 5,900 feet near Beus Canyon and ends at 5,200 feet.

Difficulty: Moderate to extreme, as rated by Gregg Bromka, author of "Mountain Biking Utah." From 22nd Street to Weber State University, there are some pretty level sections that are great for kids. The steepest section is from Strongs Canyon to Beus Canyon on the south end.

Directions to the trailhead: There are a variety of starting points. At the north end, you can park at the Ogden River Parkway, across the street from Rainbow Gardens, which is just west of the entrance to Ogden Canyon, off U-39 and Ogden's 12th Street. Look for a trail that heads south behind the parking lot of the gift shop/restaurant.

The other major starting point is Beus Canyon. To access this, turn off Harrison Boulevard onto 4600 South and go past the Dee Events Center to the top of the hill. Signs mark the trailhead and there is limited parking.

Trail description: Dirt, rock and sand.

Dangers: Be watchful of hikers and other bikers along the trail. Rattlesnakes are occasionally seen along these trails.

Bikers should also not go on the Indian Trail as it enters Ogden Canyon. That's a hiking trail only that leads to Coldwater Canyon.

Highlights: This is not a trail that you do once and you're done. With five different side trails, there's much more to experience than just the seven-mile main stretch.