Hiking The Bonneville Shoreline Trail, home to new O-Sho 5K series coming in April

NEWS | REVIEW

Trail sign near the 27th Street Trailhead on June 19, 2024. Deann Armes

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail started in the 90s to preserve trails in Salt Lake City and has become a massively popular trail in the northern part of Utah. It has since been proposed that the trail go from the Idaho border to Santaquin, placed along the shoreline bench of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville. Ogden City and nonprofit groups ensure the care of the trail here in Weber county and countless others along the Wasatch Front do the same.

The trail is currently a little over 100 miles, and when it’s completed it will be about 280. But for Ogdenites, let's focus on the 23 miles of trail from slightly north of the Pleasant View area to South Ogden. This year, I’ve had the pleasure of hiking all 23 miles and definitely learned a thing or two. All of this information is current as of March 2026.

This year Trails Foundation of Northern Utah (TFNU) is hosting races on the Bonneville, calling it the O-Sho Trail Series. Runners will start at the new pavilion on 27th Street and head north, using the service road and Rainbow Trail to create an easy turn around so you finish the 5K back at 27th Street. There are three 5K races in the series on April 4, June 4, and September 17, all starting at 6:15 p.m. All proceeds will go toward  maintaining and building our local trails. You can find more race info at tfnu.org.

Popular Jump-On Points

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail intertwines with many other trails and trailheads (not surprising for Ogden), so thankfully there are a lot of access points and you don’t have to do all 23 miles in one go if that’s not your style. Most, if not all, of these can be found on Gaia, PeakVisor, Maps, and AllTrails, so you have your pick of navigation. 

Some things to note: 

• There are more than 14 trailheads in Ogden that give access points to The Bonneville. I chose nine to share based on parking, ease of getting on the trail, and popularity. 

• Most of these access points can take you about half a mile to a mile to get on the actual Bonneville, so the mileage will change based on what you choose.

• I am not writing these as out-and-back hikes. I am writing them as A-to-B points, going North to South.

• Hazards vary by times of year and other factors. Please be aware of your surroundings.

• The Bonneville Shoreline Trail has a lot of mountain bikers on it; please practice right-of-way when you are hiking.

Pleasant View Trailhead 20+ Parking Spaces, No Restroom

The northern-most parking spot for the Bonneville gives great views of the valley with little to no crowds. In the summer you may see rattlesnakes due to it being a low traffic area. From here to North Ogden Divide it’s downhill for most of the trek. This is the biggest uninterrupted section so prepare yourself for eight miles of deer and silence. You also go through the burn scar from the Willard Peak Fire of 2025.

2750 N Trailhead - 30+ Parking Spaces, Seasonal Restroom 

With this section, when I say uphill, I mean it. From the beginning you are climbing until you get through Coldwater Canyon completely. (This is Coldwater Canyon, not Cold Water Canyon trail in Ogden Canyon) Panoramic views of Ogden and the towering rocks of Coldwater, plus the appearance of the Major for a few weeks in November, makes this to me one of the most scenic parts of the trail, which makes up for the climb. After getting through the canyon you cruise downhill in a way that makes your knees want to take a permanent vacation, but who needs them when you have stunning views? 

Ogden Nature Center North Trailhead - 15 Parking Spaces, No Restroom 

I could be biased, but this spot of the trail is my absolute favorite. A slow climb takes you up the mountain and makes you feel like you are genuinely on the side of it with not much between you and the valley below. It’s a great spot for scenic lunches and there’s never too many people on this portion, mainly because just below it is the canal trail that most people go on instead. For those that love multi-purpose outings, there's rock climbing and the Ogden Bike Park nearby.

Canyon Trailhead - 15 Parking Spaces, Seasonal Restroom

This one I’ll talk about in a north-heading way since it’s off 12th Street at the mouth of Ogden Canyon. If you like incline, head north from this spot and that’s all you’ll get. The trail is pretty narrow at points so if you hear a mountain biker, you’re going to have to step to the side and pray. Because of the trail being so narrow, snow on this section is not the best element for hiking.

Rainbow Trailhead - 50+ Parking Spaces, Restrooms (for customers) at The Greenery and Shops 

This spot of trail will be the most tree-covered since the connecting trail is Birdsong at Rainbow Gardens. There’s some incline but it’s pretty gentle and has a lot of good spots to stop and rest should you need it. The old car, the birds, and Fairy Glen make this a worthwhile part of the trail.

22nd Street Trailhead - 15 Parking Spaces, No Restroom

This trailhead is the one where people get the most confused about which trail is which, lots of intersections and paths to follow so definitely one of the parts to make sure you’re studying the signs or have your favorite trail map open and ready. Beautiful sunsets and wide trails make it an easy spot to hike and it’s a good place to sit down with a packed lunch. Hiking in the snow from here to 29th Street is the easiest winter spot you’ll get if that’s something that interests you.

27th Street Trailhead - 20+ Parking Spaces, Restrooms in planning stage

Due to the new parking lot, this trailhead has been getting a lot of attention lately. It’s the most dog-heavy part of the Bonneville Shoreline and generally the most busy, but don't let that stop you from enjoying a few bridges, and in the spring, a cute little creek that you can stick your toes in. There’s also a bench you can sit on that overlooks the city and some great birdwatching spots in the cliffs above the trail. As previously mentioned, this is where the O-Sho Trail Series will start on the dates listed above.

29th Street Trailhead - 30+ Parking Spaces, Seasonal Restrooms

This area is the best for night hikes and star gazing. Once you get past the incline, there’s a nice wide trail to enjoy, and you can even slip into Waterfall Canyon if you have the time. This is another hotspot for rattlesnakes but thanks to the previously mentioned wide trail, you’re a little safer than you would be otherwise. (But still keep an eye out!)

Beus Canyon Trailhead - 10 Parking Spaces, No Restroom

Since this is the end of the Bonneville Shoreline trail in the Ogden area, this part will also be talked about in a north going manner. One of the smallest parking lots of these trailheads, but trailside creek is worth it, dropping the temperature and ensuring that even at rush hour in Ogden, you can’t hear a thing other than running water. 

The Bonneville Trail is a stunning and worthwhile trail to be on, even for five minutes. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!