Waterfall Canyon - Partial

 Waterfall Canyon in a nice trail located in Ogden that features a narrow canyon with a stream, and a 200 foot waterfall. It’s fairly short, but is quite steep! So you will definitely get your exercise. This is one of our favorite trails, and even a winter favorite. I went back and forth about posting todays adventure. Unfortunately today with the specific conditions, our equipment just proved not to be satisfactory so we decided to play it safe and turn back. Well, I guess I just want to prove that there is no shame in turning back when that happens. It is always better to be safe than to be the next news story.

Quick Details:

Length: 2.8 miles out and back. We did about 1.76
Trail Type: Out and back
Difficulty: DR5
Elevation Gain: About 1100 feet, we did about 600.
Restroom: Yes, but they are closed in the winter.
Dogs? Yes, leashed. Be sure to clean up after your furry friend.
Other Info: Micro spikes or better strongly recommended in winter. It is steep, and icy.
Also: This trail is mostly on private property, and the owners have continued to allow people to use the trail. Please respect their wishes and keep out of the signed areas they wish to keep private. Also, please help all of us to continue having access to this trail. Treat is as you would want people to treat your own yard. Don’t litter, pick up after your dogs, don’t graffiti, etc.

To Get Here:

From the south, the easiest route is to take i15 north to i89 in Farmington. Take i89 all the way through Davis County into Ogden and turn right onto Harrison Blvd. Take that to 30th St and turn right. Take the 1st left onto Tyler Ave. Then right on 29th st. Follow that up to the top and turn right into the 29th St. Trailhead.

Or take i15 to 31st st. turn left onto Harrison Blvd. Take that to 30th St and turn right. Take the 1st left onto Tyler Ave. Then right on 29th st. Follow that up to the top and turn right into the 29th St. Trailhead.

From the north, take i15 to 21st S. Take that to Harrison Blvd. turn right. Take a left on 28th St. Turn right on Tyler Ave. Left on 29th St. Follow that up to the top and turn right into the 29th St. Trailhead.

Progress on the east Davis project (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP).

Another roadside chicken on HW89 (PSP).

The South Ogden water towers (PSP).

The Trail:

Malan’s Peak.

The trailhead kiosk. We decided that more trailheads should be designed like this. Offer a bench under a covered area so that people have a dry place to sit and put on/take off micro spikes or other gear.

There is a little mess of trails here. Follow signs for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST). Or, keep left until you start climbing.

Moody skies. There is a storm approaching, but it is not supposed to start dumping until tomorrow.

Micro spikes were definitely needed to get us up this far, and even further.

Before long you will reach the BST. You will want to head right, and continue the climb.

This trail is tough when dry, add trudging through snow and hoo boy is it a bit rough.

Entering the TR Guest Ranch. They have generously continued to allow the public to access the popular trails on their land. However some poor trail etiquette has caused them to react a little oddly in the past. So, please, do us all a favor and treat the private property with absolute respect, and please follow all signage. Lets keep these trails accessible to the public for future generations.

The trail dips in and out of these small hollows along the way.

I love seeing the leaves melt their way down into the snow.

The Weber Valley.

Panoramic.

Ben Lomond.

Approaching the old water towers.

The valley again.

Another panoramic.

The old water towers again. This means you are about to swing into Waterfall Canyon.

Rounding the last curve.

Now in the canyon.

Gnarly juniper tree.

View up canyon again.

Almost to the top where we get a short break from the climb.

Into the canyon proper.

The lower bridge.

4 way trail split. You want to go left here. Right keeps you on the BST and down the other side of the canyon. Forward is private property that they do not want the public accessing.

Neat old wooden pipe, that has a lot of ice on and around it.

Big block of ice.

Middle bridge. After this bridge the climb gets a little more intense.

The creek.

Back to the climb. Oi.

It’s kind of hard to see, but I took a ride back down here about 15-20 feet on my butt. I was already down low so I didn’t fall, just slid.

I went back and forth for a minute about whether we should keep going. On the one hand we already put in so much work to get here, and only had another ~half mile or so. But on the other hand this isn’t the steepest part and the micro spikes were not enough in these conditions. They have gotten us to the falls in winter before, but not today. I decided to go the safe route and call it quits. We’ve seen it before, and it’s cool, but it’s not worth the possibility of getting hurt. We talked about possibly upgrading our spikes on the way down.

Looking up canyon.

Neat hollowed tree.

View down.

Back to the middle bridge.

The big ice block again.

Old waterway.

Back to the 4 way split. You want to head right.

The lower bridge.

The creek.

Trail split. Left heads back down to the trailhead, right is the BST Scenic Route. Where around Christmas time you can find the Ogden BST Christmas Tree. You can also make a loop back to the trailhead that way, but I am not sure how much longer that is.

View down.

Again.

Back down to the old water towers.

Ben Lomond.

Looks like the sun is trying to come out.

Another panoramic.

Heading down the BST.

View down again.

Interesting rocky ridge.

Ben Lomond again.

Downtown Ogden is kind of… meh. It got me to thinking how tall is the tallest building. Turns out it is the old First Security Bank Building, at a whole 12 stories tall.

Leaving the TR Guest Ranch property.

The split off to return to the trailhead, left. Right will take you to the 27th St Trailhead.

Back down to the trailhead.

Not a bad sunset.

It’s a shame our winter gear wasn’t good enough for the trail conditions today and we did not make it to the waterfall, but it is a pretty trail so it was not a complete loss. It wasn’t terribly busy, we passed quite a few people but not too bad. I don’t think I will rate it, but will say you need some really solid spikes, or heavy duty snowshoes to safely make it. Stay safe out there my friends. And remember, there is no shame in turning around for safety!

As for difficulty, with the snow I kind of what to bump this up to a DR5, but will retain the DR4.

Dogs are allowed, leased. Please clean up after your furry friends.