Hiking to Willard Peak & Ben Lomond Peak via Willard Basin
Ben Lomond Peak is the prominent peak above Ogden, Utah in the Northern Wasatch Mountains and sits at an elevation of 9,711 ft! About Ben Lomond Peak can be access from four different trails - North Skyline Trail (this blog post), Willard
Naomi Peak (9,983 ft) is the highest point in the Bear River Mountains, in Northern Utah.
Hiking to the paper airplane at Powder Mountain Ski Resort is a fun hike for all ages and the pups on-leash! This super easy trail leads you to a giant metal airplane structure, acting as both a sculpture and obstacle for bikers riding the trails. The trail gradually descends roughly 150ft before reaching this 20 ft long "paper" airplane. The surrounding views of the ski resort and Wasatch Mountains are hard to beat - on a clear day you can see all the way to Mt.Timpanogos to the South, and into Idaho to the North! This trail is only accessible in Summer months.
Lewis Peak (8,031 ft) is located in North Ogden, Utah and sits on the mountain between Ben Lomond to the North and Mt. Ogden to the south. This peak is usually forgotten due to its popular neighboring peaks but it is actually a very scenic summit.
The Willard Fin (6,579 ft) is a prominent feature along the foothills above Willard, UT.
The Skull Crack Trail at the Causey Reservoir, is located 45 minutes East of Ogden, Utah. This 142 acre reservoir sits at an elevation of 5,700 feet and is surrounded by steep, forested, valley terrain, which extends into three small canyons. Most of the reservoir is best explored by kayak, canoe, or paddle board, however, hiking along the Skull Crack Trail also provides jaw-dropping scenery. The Causey Reservoir was built during 1962-1966 as a way to provide water to the Northern Wasatch front.
Bridger Peak (9,225 ft) is the Rich County High Point, but also the lowest in elevation of all Utah County High Points (CoHPs)! Bridger Peak was Unnamed Peak until 1999 when the Tribune ran a contest for someone to name the peak. Briger Peak won for Jim Bridger who was an early explorer of Utah and the Yellowstone area, Now Yellowstone National Park. He was a great mediator between the Native American tribes and European-American settlers, and was in excellent shape aiding him to explore the West.
The Jardine Juniper Tree is location in Logan Canyon, Utah, and is 1,500 years old! It is close to 40 feet tall, and 23.6 ft in circumference. The Jardine Juniper was discovered in 1923 by Maurice Linford, who was a student at Utah State (then called Utah State Agricultural College), and the tree was named after the former US Secretary of Agriculture William Marion Jardine.
The Wellsville Cone (9,356 ft) is the 2nd highest point in the Wellsville Mountains, the highest being Box Elder Peak. Wellsville Cone is only 16 feet lower, and if you must bag the tallest peak of the mountains go for it, but the views will be the same. There are several routes to reach either summit and all require bushwhacking, and are long, steep hikes.
The Crimson Wall Trail (originally called the China Wall Trail) is located in Logan Canyon, and was referred to as such because of the long wall-like formation that lines both sides of Logan Canyon. The wall itself is mainly composed of limestone and quartzite, and offers a few challenging climbs for rock climbers. What attracts hikers to the Crimson Wall is its gorgeous views of Logan Canyon. The best time to hike this trail is in Summer or Fall when the snow is gone and the trail is dry. The trail is mainly north-facing, and therefore the snow and ice remains well into Spring.
Tony Grove Lake is a popular summer hang out and camping area in Logan Canyon, Utah, about and hour and half drive from SLC. Not only is it dog friendly (off leash) and kid friendly, you can take your kayak or SUP on the lake, there's camping on the southern end of the lake or at the official campground, there's picnicking, hiking, fishing, and will definitely offer something for everyone in the family. Many people head for for just the day to explore Naomi Peak and White Pine Lake as well, or bring a camp chair and enjoy nature along the lake.
The Wind Caves Trail is located in Logan Canyon about 1.5 hours northeast of SLC. Our plan was to make a day trip of it, and hike this trail and one across the road called The Crimson Trail, which gets you above the China Wall.