Ogden Valley Trails & Camping

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest land wrapping around the Ogden Valley serves as a world-class playground for summer recreation. In the summer, expect to find fellow boaters, paddleboarders, backcountry hikers, and mountain bikers. Accessing the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in the Ogden Valley area is predominantly free for general hiking and trail access, but specific fees apply to highly developed campgrounds.

• Monte Cristo Complex
• Monte Cristo Campground
• South Fork Complex
• Anderson Cove Campground

Accessing the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and the broader Ogden Valley requires traveling via one of three primary state-maintained roads managed by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).

• SR-39: most direct route into the valley from I-15, bringing you straight to Pineview Reservoir and up to Monte Cristo Highway
• SR-167:  accessed via I-84 (Weber Canyon, Exit 92), a smooth climb over the mountain ridgelines into the south end of Huntsville.
• SR-158: branches off SR-39 near the Pineview Dam lining the western and northern arms of the reservoir through Eden.

Local favorite: North Ogden Divide – this steep county road connects North Ogden directly to Liberty. It is highly discouraged for large vehicles due to its narrow layout, blind switchbacks, steep drop-offs, and frequent rockfall hazards. Use SR-167 instead.

The large paved lot at the winter closure gate on SR-39 remains open in the summer as an excellent, wide staging area for large trucks hauling flatbeds full of ATVs and side-by-sides. 

Parking here is free for day-use, and vault restrooms are available. If you are staying at the official Monte Cristo Campground, your site fee covers your primary tow vehicle. Extra vehicles or standalone utility trailers will require an additional daily fee and must fit completely on the designated campsite spur without encroaching on the campground road.

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest land wrapping around the Ogden Valley serves as a world-class playground for summer recreation. In the summer, expect to find fellow boaters, paddleboarders, backcountry hikers, and mountain bikers. Accessing the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in the Ogden Valley area is predominantly free for general hiking and trail access, but specific fees apply to highly developed campgrounds.

Parking

North Fork Park offers free day-use parking via three entrances off North Fork Road in Liberty. 

• South Gate: The main access point for mountain bikers and trail runners, featuring a large gravel lot. In winter, this lot is plowed to serve as the primary staging area for Ogden Nordic’s groomed cross-country, snowshoe, and fat-tire biking trails.
• Middle & North Gates: These entrances lead to campsites and pavilions. Small pullouts near trail crossings allow users to access higher-elevation loops without climbing from the South Gate.

No Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs), ATVs, and UTVs are not permitted inside North Fork Park.

As an International Dark Sky Park, night riding is popular. Please respect campers by keeping noise minimal and using lights responsibly.

The park features three main campgrounds: South Gate, Middle Gate, and North Gate. Sites can be booked online through the Weber County Parks recreation system.

The non-motorized trail networks in the Ogden Valley area are fantastic for both hikers and mountain bikers, featuring interconnected loops that span from low valley canyons to high alpine ridges. 

The world-class trail network exists due to a collaborative effort between the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) and the Trails Foundation of Northern Utah.

Where to visit

The Ogden Valley is home to many trails including:

• Sardine Peak Trail 
• Icebox Canyon Loop
• Pineview West Trail 
• Ogden Canyon Overlook Trail 
• South Skyline Trail 
• Lewis Peak 
• Pineview Loop Pathway

For information about these trails, visit the Trails Foundation of Northern Utah website at https://www.tfnu.org/

Ultimate Trails Guide

Managed strictly by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the Middle Fork Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a public sanctuary nestled into the mountain foothills just northeast of Huntsville. 

Middle Fork is a wildlife sanctuary acquired primarily to protect vital winter feeding grounds and migratory corridors for Northern Utah’s big game herds. While wildlife conservation is the number-one priority, Middle Fork offers unique, primitive recreational access for the public during its open seasons.

Why visit?

The Middle Fork WMA provides many activities 

• Backcountry Hiking & Trail Running
• Horseback Riding 
• Birdwatching & Photography
• Primitive Dispersed Camping

Good to know: Anyone 18 or older accessing the area for any form of recreation (hiking, bird watching, etc.) must possess a valid Utah hunting/fishing license or a free digital WMA Access Permit (available through the Utah DWR website).

How to get there and where to park

From Huntsville, head north on 7800 East. Where 1900 North connects from the west, you will see the official Middle Fork WMA entrance sign. Follow the access road north and then east into the main parking lot.

Keep in mind: Motorized vehicles are only permitted on explicitly marked, designated public access roads (like the main entrance road to the parking lot).

The interactive map below highlights the locations of the campgrounds that are located in the Ogden Valley.