Cycling the Centennial Trail: A Scenic Loop Along the Banks of the Ogden River

All in all, the Centennial Trail forms a loop around Ogden and the surrounding towns, linking together the greenbelts along the Ogden and Weber rivers, a portion of road riding through several Weber County towns and scenic mountain biking in the foothills of the Wasatch Range. Along the way, this network brings cyclists to some of Ogden’s main attractions, offering a unique way to build a custom tour with stops at various points of interest. While it’s possible to ride the Centennial Trail in its entirety, most cyclists prefer to select portions of the trail that suit their abilities and interests, whether that be lung-busting mountain bike climbs or cruising around city parks on gentle asphalt paths.

To help plan your route, here’s the lowdown on the four main sections of the Centennial Trail and what they have to offer.

Approaching the confluence with the Weber River, Ogden’s 21st Street Pond provides a short but scenic detour from the Centennial Trail. An easy, 1.2-mile paved path loops around the pond, bringing you closer to vibrant willow groves and plenty of ducks, turtles and birds.

At the confluence of the Ogden and Weber rivers, the Centennial Trail begins heading south on the Weber River Parkway. A large picnic pavilion marks the junction between the two parkways. Following along the banks of the beautiful Weber River, this 12-mile path travels through the towns of Marriott-Slaterville, West Haven and Riverdale.

Though parts of the trail include road crossings and more urban settings, these short sections only help to make the stretches of natural greenbelt beside the river feel all the more peaceful. While cycling this portion of the Centennial Trail, take your time to appreciate the diverse ecosystem of willows, cottonwoods, reeds and wildflowers coming alive with the songs of sparrows and chickadees to the steady flow of the river. Along the way, stop and take in some of the highlights.

Shortly after turning onto Weber River Parkway, you might notice the river taking on a slightly different character. That’s how you know you’ve reached Ogden Kayak Park, where boulders have been purposefully placed in the Weber River to create a practice run for whitewater kayakers. A spacious viewing platform with picnic tables and grills makes this a great spot to take a refueling break while watching kayakers test their skills in the rapids below. A convenient bike Fixit station is right by the viewing deck, in case you need any repairs by this point.

This historic park has ties to the American mountain men of the fur trapping era as well as Mormon settlers. Today, the 84-acre park stretches along the Weber River with several walking and biking trails, a campground, an 18-hole disc golf course and a canoe pond. The Centennial Trail crosses the main park entrance, and shortly thereafter, a bridge over the Weber River offers another route into the park.

Still within the bounds of Fort Buenaventura Park, Kingfisher Wetlands is a natural estuary right beside the Centennial Trail. For a quick glimpse at the wetlands and a chance to spot unique birds like kingfishers, red-winged blackbirds and flickers, walk up the steps to the viewing platform adjacent to the trail. A mostly flat, 0.6-mile gravel loop travels around the wetlands and makes for a peaceful ride with more bird viewing opportunities before bringing you back to the Centennial Trail. Only the thinnest of road bike tires would have trouble cycling this loop.

While the Ogden and Weber River Parkways offer easy cycling on asphalt, the portion of the Centennial Trail that coincides with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (6.5 miles) and the Beus Canyon Trail (0.5 miles) is best suited for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers. There are several trailheads for accessing the Bonneville Shoreline Trail throughout Ogden. Those looking to ride this section from north to south can start at the Rainbow Gardens Trailhead near the mouth of Ogden Canyon, while those cycling south to north can start at the Beus Canyon Trailhead.

These trails feature several steep climbs, technical rocky sections, and full-value descents as they follow along the east bench of Ogden on the flanks of the stunning Wasatch Mountain Range. Those who choose to take on this challenging trail will be rewarded by riding in a pristine mountain setting across several rugged canyons.

Connecting the Centennial Trail between the end of Weber River Parkway and the trailhead for Beus Canyon Trail requires a bit of road riding. The most direct route through this section involves cycling east through the towns of South Weber and Uintah on 6600 South, then heading up to Washington Heights Church on 1770 E. 6200 S. in Ogden. From there, use the pedestrian tunnel that crosses under U.S. 89 and then head north up Skyline Drive, cycling through quiet residential neighborhoods for about 1.5 miles to reach the Beus Canyon Trailhead. When in doubt, follow the intermittent signs for the “Bonneville Shoreline Connector Trail Bike Route.”

• Difficulty: Varies from easy to difficult, depending on the section of trail
• Distance and elevation gain: 27 miles; elevation gain is about 458 feet, according to Weber Pathways
• Trail type: Varies, depending on the section — gravel, paved trail and natural singletrack
• Multi-use: Biking, hiking, walking, running
• Dogs: Yes, on-leash
• Fees: George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park fees are $7 for adults, $5 children 2-12
• Seasonality: Accessible year-round
• Bathroom: Restrooms at Eccles Dinosaur Park, Fort Buenaventura Park

Written by Jenna Herzog for RootsRated in partnership with Utah Office of Tourism.