Pineview Trail

The Pineview trail is a nice little point to point trail (or out and back if you don’t have a shuttle) that follows the northwest section of Pineview Reservoir above Ogden Utah. It is a nice wooded trail that offers some great views of Pineview Reservoir with the possibility of seeing an Osprey or other birds (so the sign says, we didn’t see one today). The only major downside is that the trail is fairly close to the highway for the most part so it’s not as peaceful as most trails.

Quick Details:

Length: 3 miles out and back or 1.5 mile point to point with a .5 mile option to add The Nature Trail Loop.
Difficulty: DR3. Pretty mild elevation gain.
Elevation Gain: 446 feet for out and back.
Restroom: Yes, pit toilets at the North Arm Trailhead. None at the alternate.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.

To Get Here:

Head to the top of Ogden Canyon. Turn left to cross the dam for Pineview Reservoir. Drive about 3.5 miles and turn right into the North Arm Trailhead parking. Alternate TH is about 2.5 miles from the dam just after the yacht club.

That’s the easiest way to explain. You can also come over via Weber Canyon and across HW 167, which is what we ended up doing.

Some color along Weber Canyon (PSP).

View coming across UT167 (PSP).

Less snow on the peaks above Snowbasin than last week (PSP).

We stopped at Cemetery Point Beach at Pineview Reservoir.

Quick Panoramic.

Some nice color on the beach.

The Trail:

We eventually made our way to the North Arm Trailhead. We actually stopped here briefly 4 years ago on our Trappers Loop Fall Drive.

Unfortunately all the info signs are cracked and pretty faded. I did make out that you have a good chance of seeing Osprey here. Sweet!

And we’re off! Some nice color to see.

Some great color.

First little bridge.

Sensitive wildlife area for the ospreys.

Pretty view.

Into the woods!

Some great color!

New bridge being built. I heard the original bridge got washed away earlier this year, but I can’t find any information about it.

Luckily the creek is currently dry so at least right now, it was passable. If there is water, use your best judgement, however this looks near complete so I would imagine the bridge will be usable before run off season.

About 2/10’s of a mile you will come to a small trail split. left will take you to the Pineview Nature Trail, which seems to have been long forgotten forward will continue along the Pineview Trail.

Nice boardwalk section.

Some great color.

Red and yellow.

leaf shower.

More color.

After the boardwalk section the trail thins out and is along the hill above.

Aspens.

Looks like a not terribly old mountain lion kill.

Some more color.

First glimpse of Pineview Reservoir.

Thin trail.

More color.

View of the reservoir.

View of the mountains.

Mess of fallen leaves.

More aspens.

Into a twisted forest.

Window to the reservoir.

Another little bridge.

Lovely view here.

Even better view a little further down.

The worst climb on the trail. It wasn’t bad at all.

North Fork of the Ogden River meandering through the dry section of the low reservoir.

Eventually the trail levels out for a bit.

Some more color.

Here you can see just how close to the road the trail can be.

The reservoir again.

Little bird.

Another nice view.

Some golden aspens.

Little tree tunnel.

Some great reds.

The trail again.

The north shores of Pineview. A bunch of seagulls hanging out.

More color.

Narrow section through the bushes.

Pineview Reservoir.

Again.

Panoramic.

Better view.

The north shore.

Another panoramic.

Reached the other end. I actually just read the trail does continue a little further, but goes through the marina and next to the road, and is hard to follow at times, so I am good with this being the end.

Little parking lot on this end. There does not appear to be a restroom either.

Alright, about face, and back the way we came.

More color.

Another view of the reservoir and the color on the opposite shore.

Little trail split. Left goes the way we came. I think right goes down to the beach.

The north shore again.

The trail again.

The reservoir. It’s really calm right now.

weird hole in the ground.

More color.

Berries.

I like the shadows on the mountain.

Dried thistle.

Some great reds and oranges.

Some color in front of the reservoir.

Looks like there is a road across the dry area. Seems a little odd since I think the reservoir can be higher than that..

The seagulls have taken flight and are circling above the reservoir.

.

Forest.

Different shades of color.

Another shot to show how close to the highway we are.

Interesting orange plant growing in the dry section of the lake.

Tree tunnel.

Pretty little plant.

The red orange aspens again.

The trail through the woods.

Half turned, half dead leaves.

More pretty color.

North Fork Ogden River again.

The trail again.

Nice view through the trees.

Pretty tree.

The river in the dry bed with some of the orange colors again.

Another lovely view.

The little bridge again.

Looking up.

Forest again.

Tall aspens.

Back to the really colorful section.

Another trail split. Left heads up to the road, right goes back to the parking lot we are in.

Pretty color.

Back to the boardwalk.

The under construction bridge.

Pretty view.

Color.

Back to the trailhead.

Another look at the colorful trees.

View from the parking lot.

After our fun adventure we decided to head down Ogden Canyon.

Pineview Reservoir (PSP).

Heading across Pineview Dam (PSP).

When we did wheeler Creek I thought that was a cave up there, but now it just looks like an alcove (PSP).

Some great color coming down Ogden Canyon (PSP).

It still surprises me that humans managed to figure out how to get a road up some of these canyons (PSP).

Terrible shot of the waterfall at the mouth of the canyon(PSP). I have some better pictures from quite a few years ago

Well, that was a fun adventure. Nice little fall drive with a nice little fall hike. The trail is pretty easy, and offers some exceptional views! I enjoyed coming in and out of the forest as well. I think I like the way we did it best, nice walk ending with the better views. Not a whole lot of people either. However, with it being so close to the highway, it’s not the most peaceful hike we have done. So, I am going to take 2 squirrels away for that. 8 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, this one is super easy peasy. Some ups and downs and a couple thin segments but overall just a nice stroll in the woods.

Dogs are allowed, but need to be on a leash. Please clean up after your furry friends.