THE GREAT OUTDOORS — When you have the better part of a day to spend in the mountains, hiking to the summit of Mount Ogden via Beus Trail is a rewarding adventure.

Mount Ogden is the prominent peak with the visible radio towers east of Ogden. The best time to hike the Beus Trail route is from June to October. Depending on the year, the very top may still have some snow into June and early snow in October.

How to get to the trailhead

From any direction, travel as if you are going to Weber State University. Get on Harrison Boulevard and turn east on 46th Street just south of the Dee Event Center. Follow 46th Street east and look for the trailhead parking area to your left. The trailhead area offers parking for about 10 cars. The area is maintained by the U.S. Forest Service and has a small kiosk with a map and sometimes updated information about trail use.

The GPS coordinates for the trailhead are 41.1773-111.929., and the GPS coordinates for the summit are 41.1999-111.882.

The trailhead has no bathroom and no water, so make sure you are prepared as you begin the hike. The Beus Canyon Trail is 6.5 miles one way and the elevation gain is about 4,500 feet, which places it in the strenuous category.

What to expect on the hike

From the trailhead, you start up a few switchbacks through Gambel oak, maples and some aspen and enter Beus Canyon. The trail then follows a small creek and then splits about the .05 mile mark. The trail to the left takes you to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The trail to the right is the trail that will take you to the summit.

This trail will take you into a nice fern-covered area some call Fern Valley. At the top of the fern-covered area, the trail veers to the right and starts to climb a little ridge. The trail stays below the ridgeline in the oak brush and then pops out on the south-facing side of Burch Creek Canyon. From this vantage point, you can look over to the north-facing slopes of Burch Creek Canyon and see dense stands of fir trees mottled along the canyon wall and hear the gurgling water of Burch Creek."

As you continue, the trail stays in the low-growing brush and you are pretty exposed to the sun. Be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat to protect you. The trail continues east and gains in elevation. You will see the tops of the barren mountains, but Mount Ogden to the north is not visible yet. The trail eventually takes you to the base of the barren peaks and is difficult to find as you enter more rocky terrain. Look for the faint trail and for the small rock cairns to stay on course.

The trail will turn back west for a bit and you will come out on the top of a ridge that will give you the first view of Ogden and the surrounding area. From this vantage point, you can look out to the west and see the Great Salt Lake, Antelope, Fremont and Gunnison Islands, and a variety of mountains ranges including Promontory, Stansbury and Oquirrh.

Views and wildlife

After taking in the view and munching on some trail mix and taking a drink break, the trail turns back to a northeast direction and follows a long ridgeline all the way to the summit. As you hike the ridgeline, you can now see your destination — Mount Ogden and the radio towers.

The views to the north are wonderful. You can see Lewis Peak and Ben Lomond Peak. This view gives you a sense of how high in elevation you have come. You will marvel at the mountains as they rise up out of the valley and look like islands floating on the valley floor.

Be alert and you might see mule deer, moose, grouse, red fox and maybe even a rattlesnake or two.

The ridgeline is a continuous steady climb until you come to a service road, which is part of Snowbasin Ski Resort. For some, coming to the service road is a bit of a disappointment and makes them feel that they didn't really leave civilization behind. Follow the service road until you come to the rocky summit. You will have to do a little scrambling up the rocks to get to the summit.

At the top of Mount Ogden Peak, there is a small building, a helicopter landing pad and the radio towers, which are all reminders that you are not in a wilderness area. Also at the summit is a geological marker and two plaques, placed there by Weber State University alumni detailing the history of the hike as experienced by members of past student bodies.

From the summit, you have a 360-degree view and this view is what makes the hike so rewarding. To the west, you can see clear out to Nevada, to the east is the Ogden and Morgan valleys, to the north, you can see all the cities along the Wasatch Front clear to Salt Lake City.

The summit is 9,572 feet and is often windy and chilly in the early summer and fall months. In the summer, the summit is typically about 10 degrees cooler than the valley floor.

To hike out and back, you need to be in decent shape. Plan your time wisely to make sure you will not be hiking in the dark. The other alternative would be to have a shuttle car or someone meet you at Snowbasin Ski Resort. You can hike down to the resort parking and then drive back to the trailhead on 46th Street.

Robert Williamson is a graduate of Weber State College and the author of "Creative Flies: Innovative Tying Techniques."

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