Insider's Guide to Ogden

From the days when it served as “Junction City” and transcontinental railroad passengers filled the streets, to its days as a venue for the Olympic Winter Games, Ogden has always had a diversity and a vibe that led the New York Post to proclaim it, “The OTHER Utah.” Even today, its historic downtown is devoid of big box stores and chain restaurants while bustling with dozens of independent restaurants, bars, galleries, shops and brewpubs. In fact, Ogden’s trademarked tagline is “Notoriously Independent,” and it delivers on its promise with absolute authenticity.

Nestled right against the stunning Wasatch range, Ogden offers one of the most unique “mountain-to-metro” experiences found anywhere in the world. The warming temperatures of late spring and early summer force the nearby resorts of Nordic Valley, Powder Mountain and Snowbasin to let go of their winter snowpack, triggering Utah’s spring run-off…and “Utah’s Spring Run-Off.” The mid-May event is the Beehive State’s largest one-day running event, consisting of the Ogden Marathon, half-marathon, 5k and Kids K races, as well as the newly added Sunrise Bike Ride down the closed course ahead of the races. From that point on, Ogden’s “notoriously eventful” year gets underway.

The marathon traces the winding path of the Ogden River along its south fork, through scenic Ogden Valley and down stunning Ogden Canyon before entering historic downtown Ogden City. High flows invite experienced kayakers, and runners will pass several of the area’s popular trailheads that access hundreds of miles of single-track trails.

As runners cross the finish line at Grant Avenue and Historic 25th Street, they’re standing at the epicenter of all things Ogden. Every Thursday in June, the Ogden Amphitheater hosts the Twilight Concert Series where music lovers have the opportunity to see the top touring names in progressive music. This year’s line-up includes The Shins, OK Go, Mike Snow, Oh Land and more. Complete information is available at ogdentwilight.com.

Just a few blocks west of downtown, Historic Fort Buenaventura hosts the Ogden Friends of Acoustic Music (OFOAM) Festival. This annual 3-day festival puts top bluegrass & acoustic musical talent from around the country on the main stage and also hosts the Utah State Instrument Championships, clinics, campfire jam sessions and more. More information is available at ofoam.org.

June also kicks off the Ogden Farmers Market which takes place every Saturday morning through the end of September. In addition to produce, coffee, baked goods and other food items, local artists and artisans offer a myriad of crafts, live music and more. A newly added “Fall Market” continues through October to take advantage of the autumn harvest of great local produce. Find out more about the market at farmersmarketogden.com.

August welcomes back top-tier athletic events such as a Tour of Utah finish at nearby Snowbasin Resort, the Utah Super Spartan race at Nordic Valley, and a stop on the Rocky Mountain Wake Surf Open tour at Pineview. These events provide the perfect ramp-up to the XTERRA Pan-Am Championships in September where off-road triathletes from around the world compete in their final chance to earn their spot at the World Championships in Maui.

September also offers the “Mountain-to-Metro” trail run in conjunction with the Harvest Moon Celebration on Historic 25th Street as well as the final shows of the season for Snowbasin’s “Blues, Brews and Barbecues” free concerts.

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