Projects
Since its founding in 1995, Weber Pathways and its partners have constructed
over 51 miles of non-motorized trails and preserved over 300 acres of open space in Weber County, Utah.
The Weber River Parkway (WRP) is a 12-mile non-motorized trail along the Weber River that will extend upstream from the confluence of the Weber and Ogden rivers to the Fisherman’s Trailhead in South Weber and eventually to the mouth of Weber Canyon. This trail is part of the Centennial Trail, a planned 27-mile loop around Ogden that also includes the Ogden River Parkway and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
To date, over 6 miles of the WRP have been completed from the confluence of the Weber and Ogden rivers in West Haven, south to the end of Riverdale’s Parkway. Partners in this project have been Weber Pathways, Ogden City, West Haven City, and Riverdale City with Weber County’s RAMP supplying major funding.
Weber Pathways is currently working with our partners to complete the final 6 miles between Riverdale City and the mouth of Weber Canyon, where the Parkway will join the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The 2-mile corridor extending from the Riverdale Parkway to the Uintah Bridge has been acquired. With a pedestrian bridge crossing the river near the Riverdale City limits, the trail will continue on the south side to the Adams Avenue Parkway. From there, it will follow along Cottonwood Drive to the Uintah Bridge. Major funding has come from RAMP, the State Trails fund, the Utah Division of Wildlife Services (UDWR), and Weber Pathways. Land purchases were made possible by a grant from the Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation. Our partners include UDWR, Weber County, Uintah, South Weber, and Davis County. Construction of this section should be complete in 2012. Efforts to acquire the trail corridor between the Uintah Bridge and Fisherman’s Trailhead will then continue.
In 2000, Weber Pathways purchased the Rail Trail corridor in northwest Weber County, and soon after opened the Weber Pathways Rail Trail. This trail starts at the County Line Trailhead (on 4000 North, about 1 mile west of the Smith and Edwards store) and extends for about 8.5 miles to the southwest and 1.5 miles to the northeast. The Harold Crane Trailhead also provides access to the trail and is located on the north end of 6700 West.
Weber Pathways is continuing to make improvements to the Rail Trail. The County Line Trailhead has been fenced and gravel put down to improve the parking area, new signage has been added, trees have been planted, and fencing and gates have been installed to restrict motorized travel on the trail. Brush has been cut back where it was blocking the pathway, and loose rock has been removed from over a mile of the trail surface. This spring, we plan to install decking and side rails on the Willard Canal bridge, to make it safer for trail use and open up the trail extending north into Box Elder County.
The Weber Pathways Rail Trail began its life as the Little Mountain Branch Railroad, built by the Union Pacific in 1971 to compete with the Southern Pacific hauling salt and other minerals from the Great Salt Lake. After the UP-SP merger, the line became redundant, and Weber Pathways purchased the railroad corridor to save it for trail use, preserving 231 acres of wildlife habitat in the bargain. The trail, dedicated June 1, 2002, is Utah's second "Rails-to-Trails" conversion (the first is near Park City). This project has been made possible by major funding from the Dumke Foundations, the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, the Diana S. Ellis Foundation, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Pacificorp, the Ralph Nye Charitable Foundation, and the Harris Family Foundation.
This trail doesn't offer any mountain slopes or alpine forests, just miles of level, easy riding and a panoramic vista of the Wasatch Range rising above the wetlands and farmlands. Other things to see include the old railroad mile markers and warning symbols, plus a seasonal abundance of wildlife, including ducks, geese, white pelicans, black-necked stilts, American avocets, white-faced ibis, and yellow-headed blackbirds. You'll enjoy this trail best in the cooler months or early in the morning. Don't forget the insect repellent! The last 3 miles of the trail, west of 6700 West, are closed from March 1 to September 1 to protect the bird nesting habitat.
The Pineview Loop Pathway (PLP) is a non-motorized trail planned to encircle Pineview Reservoir in the Upper Ogden Valley of Weber County, Utah. When complete, the trail will be 16 miles in length and will provide a safe route for students, residents, families, recreationists, and tourists walking or cycling to school, to the local library, to restaurants and shops in Huntsville and Eden, and to a wealth of camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, and other recreation spots along the trail. As of 2011, Weber Pathways and its partners have completed approximately 5 miles of this trail and are working to complete the remaining 11 miles.
Weber Pathways is partnering with Weber County and the U.S. Forest Service to complete this trail. Weber County is providing its right of way over most of the northern and eastern section of the loop and is the project manager for design and construction. The U.S. Forest Service is working with Weber Pathways to complete the necessary analyses and acquire associated permits to secure the corridor through Forest Service land. In addition, the Forest Service is providing materials for trail and trailhead construction.
Geertsen Bay is the most recently finished portion of the the PLP. It completes a missing piece of the PLP that runs along 1900 N where it crosses over Geertsen Bay in Pineview Reservoir. Many thanks to Weber County for managing this project. Major funding came from Ogden Valley Pathways, Weber County and the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation.
The Pineview Loop Pathway was a project championed by Ogden Valley Pathways (OVP) between 2005 and 2009. This non-profit trail group created important momentum by acquiring funding to build the first sections of the trail. OVP broadened its mission and became the Community Foundation of Ogden Valley in 2009/2010. This new organization has continued to provide support for the project.
In 2011, the Board of Weber Pathways has ranked the PLP as the organization’s top priority.
North Fork Park utilizes Weber County public space in the North West end of Liberty in Ogden Valley. The area is accessed from 3300 E to North Fork Road by way of two separate entrances: South Gate and Middle Gate.
In the summer, there are many non-motorized trails that take advantage of this beautiful alpine park. Several of the trails also provide access to U.S. Forest Service trails on the backside of Ben Lomond Mountain. In total there are approximately 14 miles of trails in the park, and another 12 miles on Ben Lomond
Don't be misled by the term "Park". Instead of lawns, you'll find campgrounds, corrals, and natural groves and alpine meadows. In the winter, the park is closed to traffic and becomes a great place to cross-country ski. Ogden Nordic, a local non-profit, maintains the cross-country ski trails for the public. Ogden Nordic depends on volunteer labor and raises all of the funds necessary for equipment and fuel.
There is a trail fee for winter use that helps pay for the cost of maintaining the venue and trail system. The Winter Trail fee is $5 per day or $10 for a family. Season passes are available from the Ogden Nordic website, www.ogdennordic.com. There is a collection box at the Nordic Center trailhead at the Middle Gate entrance. Please direct questions concerning cross country skiing to Ogden Nordic at www.ogdennordic.com, or P. O. Box 643, Eden, UT 84310.