20 Things To Do Ogden

North of Salt Lake City in Utah at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, Ogden is an excellent city to visit for outdoor adventures but there are also plenty of urban activities as well. Mormon settlers founded the city in 1847 and it grew from strength to strength, largely because of its location along the First Transcontinental Railroad track. A wander through the city’s historic 25th Street is a step back into history. Once home to opium dens, speakeasies and brothels, these days, the street is a happening hub filled with galleries, eateries and boutiques. 

From nearby ski resorts and hiking to museums, gardens, parks and historic buildings, there are plenty of things to do in Ogden. The city was a venue for alpine skiing during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Interested in finding out more? Check out these things to do in Ogden. 

Ogden, Utah

20 Things To Do In Ogden

1- Visit Historic Union Station

Union Station showcases the city’s railroad history and is no longer used as a station. 

Most people visit Union Station to take a look around the John M. Browning Firearms Museum as well as the Utah State Railroad Museum/Eccles Rail Center.

The latter has two of the largest locomotives ever made on display for train enthusiasts to appreciate.

There’s also a variety of other things to see including boxcars, cabooses, and a rotary snow plow.

The Browning Firearms Museum is named after American firearm designer John Moses Browning who was born in Ogden back in 1855.

The museum showcases an array of sports rifles, automatic firearms, shotguns, pistols, and military firearms.

If you like history and want to learn about Ogden then Historic Union Station is a good place to start.

Historic Union Station is at 2501 Wall Ave, Ogden, UT 84401.

2- Stroll Down 25th Street

Downtown Ogden is a charming collection of quintessentially American box shaped shop fronts with the Wasatch Mountains in the background.

During prohibition, 25th Street was home to many speakeasies but now it’s popular for its shopping and dining.

You will find Union Station at the western end of the treat with plenty of things to do along the way.

Where you are shopping for souvenirs, art, looking for dinner or simply just taking in the atmosphere of Ogden, 25th Street is a great place to visit.

3- Visit Hill Aerospace Museum

The Hill Aerospace Museum is just 15 minutes outside of downtown Ogden.

This military aviation museum is at Hill Air Force Base and it’s a must-visit for aviation enthusiasts.

The museum is open between Tuesday and Saturday from 9 am to 4pm and admission is free.

The museum covers an array of aviation eras from the Wright brothers’ invention of the first successful motor-operated airplane to WWII aircrafts and 21st century planes.

There are more than 70 aircrafts on display at this museum.

Hill Aerospace Museum is at 7961 Cottonwood St Building 1955, Hill AFB, UT 84056.

4- Enjoy The Views At Ogden Canyon Scenic Drive

The Ogden Canyon Scenic Drive will take you anywhere between 45 minutes and 1 ½ hours.

The route starts at 12th Street in Ogden heading east.

From the canyon you will head into the beautiful Ogden Valley where you will see views of Pineview Reservoir and the hamlet of Huntsville.

There are also wonderful views of the Monte Cristo Mountain Range as you head further along the scenic drive.

There are plenty of pullovers along the way to soak in the incredible views.

5- Hike The Waterfall Canyon Trail

The Waterfall Canyon Trail is a 2.4 mile (3.9 km) moderately challenging out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 1105 feet (337 m).

This may be a bit of a steep and rocky hike but the views of the waterfall are well worth the effort.

There are actually a couple of hikes in the area which you can follow once you are there.

If you visit in fall then be prepared for beautiful foliage and bring your camera.

6- Relax In Fort Buenaventura Park

Fort Buenaventura Park is a 26-acre space where you can enjoy a whole host of outdoor recreational fun.

The fort was built back in 1846 and then bought by Mormon settlers in 1847.

You can camp at the park, enjoy fishing, play disc golf on their 18-hole course, and explore the historic fort.

You can also rent canoes to take out on the river as well.

Fort Buenaventura also hosts a number of events throughout the year including the Ogden Music Festival.

Fort Buenaventura Park is at 2450 Ave, Ogden, UT 84401.

7- See A Show At Peery’s Egyptian Theater

Peery’s Egyptian Theater opened in 1924 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The theater gets its name because it was designed to replicate the courtyard area between two Egyptian temples.

It seats 800 and is an architectural jewel in Ogden offering live theater, dance, choral, multimedia and symphonic performances.

There are also film series and it’s a screening venue for the Sundance Film Festival.

Peery’s Egyptian Theater is at 2415 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401.

8- Admire The Flowers At Ogden Botanical Garden

Their mission at Ogden Botanical Garden is to “promote inner-city beauty” and they certainly achieve that.

There are several gardens to explore, including the Collections Garden which is home to irises and peonies.

There’s the Conifer Collection, the Cottage Garden, the Edible Garden and the Asian Garden to name a few.

With 11 acres of garden there’s plenty to see.

You can also bring food and enjoy a picnic in the grounds.

With mountains surrounding the garden this really is the perfect place to escape the city.

Ogden Botanical Garden is at 750 Monroe Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401.

9- Channel Your Inner Cowboy/Cowgirl At Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo

Ogden Pioneer Days is Utah’s largest and best statehood celebration.

If you want to experience what Utah was like a long time ago when people headed through the state to the wild west, then you are in the right place.

The organization hosts a variety of events throughout the year from concerts to firework shows and art exhibits.

However, the biggest draw is certainly the Ogden Pioneer Days rodeo.

It is ranked as one of the top five outdoor rodeos in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

If you plan on visiting on a busy night then be sure to book your tickets well in advance.

Check out the rodeo and you can expect to see bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling and bull riding!

This historic event has been held at the Ogden Pioneer Stadium since 1934.

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo is at 668 17th St, Ogden, UT 84401.

10- Go Winter Camping At Ogden Nordic Center

Technically in Liberty but only 35 minutes’ drive outside of Ogden, the Ogden Nordic Center is a wonderful place to head to in winter.

At Ogden Nordic there are 20 miles (32 km) of groomed trails for classic skiing and 10 miles (16 km) for snowshoeing.

There are also 10 miles (16 km) of fat baking trails that are regularly groomed.

Something really cool you can do at Ogden Nordic Center is go winter yurt camping.

The yurts have both double beds and bunk beds and are 1.06 miles (1.7 km) uphill from the Nordic Center’s main entrance.

The yurts can only be accessed by snowshoe or fat bike.

Ogden Nordic Center is at 4150 5950 N, Liberty, UT 84310.

11- Take The Kids To George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park

George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park is a super fun Ogden attraction that kids will love for its more than 100 dinosaur sculptures.

This 8.5-acre park has a playground and an epic outdoor dinosaur dig as well as an abundance of dinosaurs.

From life size dinosaurs like T-Rex and the Brachiosaurus, the exhibits at the park are informative and impressive.

Be sure to utilize the paleontologists and educators that work at the park.

They are always happy to answer your questions and love sharing their knowledge.

George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park is at 1544 Park Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401.

12- Ski Powder Mountain

Another of the top skiing areas near Ogden is Powder Mountain.

This ski resort is less than 40 minutes’ drive from downtown Ogden and has 154 runs.

Around 25% of these runs are for beginners, 40% intermediate and 35% advanced, so there’s plenty to be getting on with for the whole family.

With nine chair lifts and 8,464 acres of space the mountain never feels overly crowded.

There’s a great snow sports school and four lodges where you can grab a bite to eat after a long skiing or snowboarding session.

Powder Mountain is at 6965 E Powder Mountain Rd, Eden, UT 84310.

13- Dive Into Ogden’s Music Scene

If you are a music fan you may want to consider organising your Ogden trip around the Ogden Twilight Concert Series.

Ogden’s music scene is growing year after year and it’s set to be one of the best places for good music in Utah.

Starting in June this twilight series is hosted at the Ogden Amphitheater.

Each year the venue hosts an array of musical talents.

There’s also the Ogden Music Festival which takes place at Fort Buenaventura usually at the start of June.

There’s also the ‘Music on The Plaza’ event which is hosted between June and July at The Junction.

This event features local artists as well as exhibitions and art demonstrations.

Ogden Twilight Concert Series is at 343 25th St, Ogden, UT 84401.

14- Ski Like An Olympian At Nordic Valley Ski Resort

For skiing less than 30 minutes from Ogden head to the Nordic Valley Ski Resort.

This resort covers 900 acres in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains.

It’s a great resort to go to as you can be at the restaurants, bars and shops of Ogden in just a short amount of time.

One of the best things about Nordic Valley is the ski school.

There are plenty of intermediate and advanced slopes that will suit the whole family.

There are 40 runs (8 green, 12 blue, 15 black, 5 double black) serviced by five ski lifts.

The Austrian downhill ski team even used Nordic Valley Ski Resort for their training venue before the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Nordic Valley Ski Resort is at 3567 Nordic Valley Way, Eden, UT 84310.

15- Follow The Ogden Outdoor Art Trail 

The Ogden Outdoor Art Trail is a fab way to explore Ogden and see some beautiful art pieces.

On the first Friday of the month from 6 pm to 9 pm there’s a lively Art Stroll.

Also known as the Ogden Art Trail you can follow the art stroll map and head to different places in the city.

The map follows exhibit openings, art receptions, and live music.

It is not only a great way to see arty things around the city but it’s also a good way to get to know Ogden a little better.

16- Take The Kids To Treehouse Children’s Museum

If you are travelling to Ogden with kids, be sure to check out the Treehouse Children’s Museum.

The museum’s focus is on engaging children through stories, literacy, the arts and imaginative play.

There are a variety of exhibits to enjoy at the museum.

There’s a tree at the center of the museum with different themed galleries branching off from the main trunk.

There’s a Science Circus, a Subaru Gravity Race Track, a Laser Table, a Rodeo Arena, a Walk in the Woods trail and an unmissable Art Garden.

Kids between the ages of two and early teens will love this museum.

Treehouse Children’s Museum is at 347 22nd St, Ogden, UT 84401.

17- Visit Snowbasin Resort

Another of the best ski resorts to check out in winter when you visit Ogden is Snowbasin.

Snowbasin Resort is 20 miles (32 km) east of Ogden and is a fantastic place for a day of skiing before heading back to Ogden for the evening.

This mountain resort has 12 lifts to access 118 trails.

They’ve got you covered on all the snowboarding and skiing rentals and you can book lessons if you need them.

Snowbasin is a really gorgeous resort especially on a bright blue-sky day.

You can also visit Snowbasin Resort in summer as well.

In summer when the snow has well and truly gone Snowbasin Resorts is a haven for mountain bikers.

There are 26 miles (41 km) of trails that lead from Needles Gondola that are open on the weekend and suitable for hiking and biking.

There is also the Wildflower Mini-Golf Course which is an 18-hole course at the base of the mountain.

Snowbasin Resort is at 3925 East Snowbasin Road Huntsville, UT 8431.

18- Enjoy The Ogden Nature Center Trail

The Ogden Nature Center Trail is a 1.6 mile (2.6 km) circular route with beautiful views of the mountains surrounding Ogden.

It only takes around 30 minutes to complete this walk but it’s an excellent spot if you are in search of nature less than 10 minutes away from Ogden’s downtown.

Families with kids will also love this nature center trail as there’s a play area and sand.

Keep an eye out for birds and an array of macrofauna who flourish in the nature reserve.

Ogden Nature Trail is at 966 W 12th St, Ogden, UT 84404.

19- Try Social Axe Throwing

Not that you should be feeling any anger on vacation but if you are feeling some tension head on down to Social Axe on Lincoln Avenue for some axe throwing fun.

Social Axe Throwing started off as a coffee shop idea until the owners saw a video of Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa having an absolute blast throwing an axe and drinking beer.

The café quickly changed into Social Axe Throwing, which has axe throwing lanes, arcade games, darts, a merchandise shop and a bar.

You will get a safety lesson on the best axe throwing technique before you start and then it’s time to get competitive.

Social Axe is at 2581 Lincoln Ave, Ogden, UT 84401.

20- Flowrider Utah

Lovers of the ocean and surfing will not be surprised to find there are only lakes in Utah.

Utah is landlocked by Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming.

Flowrider Utah is an exhilarating water center where you can experience the thrill of surfing or knee boarding on a fast-moving wave simulator.

An engine powers 10,000 gallons (37,800 liters) of flowing water.

Some people will take to this activity in a matter of moments and others may experience some hilarious leg flailing but either way it’s a skill you can get better at, especially if you go a couple of times.

Flowrider Utah is at 2261 Kiesel Ave, Ogden, UT 84401.