One of the best yet lesser known hikes in the Ogden area is the trail up to Hidden Valley. The trail is on the west face of Mount Ogden north of Taylor Canyon and directly south of Ogden Canyon. The trail begins at the 22nd street trailhead. In this area, there are many winding trails around the foothills, including portions of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, the Indian Trail, and a trail that heads north to Rainbow Gardens at the mouth of Ogden Canyon. To make your way up to Hidden Valley, you want to start by following the Indian Trail.
The Indian Trail makes its way northeast along the foothills of Mount Ogden and winds to towards the mouth of Ogden Canyon. As you ascend up above the City you can look down and see the cars heading into the canyon along 12th street near Rainbow Gardens. Far below, you can also see the flume the crosses the mouth of the canyon and the man-made waterfall that cascades down the north wall of the canyon just past the flume.
 |
| The beginning of the Hidden Valley Trail. |
However, after about XX mile from the beginning of the trail, you will come to another trail that breaks off sharply to the south (right if you are going up the trail from the 22nd Street Trailhead). If you're not looking for it, you could easily miss it. The trail is steep, rocky, and almost looks like it is just another deer path. However, this break-off trail is actually the beginning of the Hidden Valley Trail.
After ascending quickly for about 100 yards, the trail flattens out again for a while, and you are treated to your first scenic overlook of Ogden. It won't be the last!
The trail then goes through a pair of switchbacks before winding to the east into a canyon. There is a bit of slippery shale on the trail as it makes its way east before entering a thick grove of Douglas Firs and quaking aspen. At this point, the trail turns again to the south. As you hike through the thick trees, the trail becomes steeper, and you will ascend two or three very steep inclines during this wooded portion.
Through the breaks in the trees you will see an outcropping of rock ahead to the south. When you finally make it out of the trees, you will come up to this flat area that many familiar with this trail call the "Halfway Point". This is a good point to take a break, and many hikers who don't want to make the entire trek up to Hidden Valley choose to turn around here. The view (see the photo below) is incredible!
 |
| View of Ogden from the "Half-Way Point". |
Those who decide to push on, however, still have quite an ascent ahead of them. Beyond the half-way point, the trail turns east again. The original trail went several hundred yards up a very steep grade composed of loose dirt and rocks. You almost couldn't get up this section of the trail without using your hands to help pull you up. A few years ago, this section was blocked off and a new, long sweeping switchback was opened in order to bypass it. It takes longer to hike up this new switchback, but it's much easier and definitely safer than the old trail was.
After the new switchback rejoins the old trail, you will enter yet another stand of thick trees and start heading south once again. Much like the first heavily vegetated portion of the trail, this alternates between very steep sections and short reprieves. This section is much longer than the first vegetated section, and it is usually around here that you start to wonder if this trail is really worth it. Also, if you hike this trail too early in the Spring, you may find the trail covered in snow, which can make for a very difficult ascent if you don't have the proper gear.
Much like the last vegetated section, the trail finally comes out on top of another rocky outcropping. At this point, the trail again turns east, and now you (finally) start to head into the Hidden Valley itself. The photo below shows the view looking back toward Ogden from the last portion of the trail before you enter the valley.
 |
| Looking back to the west from the entrance of the Hidden Valley. |
At this point, the trail becomes MUCH friendlier; almost completely level. As soon as you enter the valley, you will find yourself in the thickest forest thus far. Douglas Firs and aspen again dominate the vegetation, but there are some Spruces and plenty of Junipers around as well. When I hiked this trail in May of 2012, it had snowed lightly the day before. There wasn't any snow on the trail itself, but when I got into the valley many of the tree branches were still dusted.
 |
| Trees lightly dusted with snow in Hidden Valley. |
 |
| Huge Rock Cairns mark the end of the trail! |
After making your way through the valley for about a quarter mile or so, the trail will again curve to the south and you will start to ascend again, one more time. The trail is not steep, but you still have almost 1/3 of a mile to go. You will pass plenty of vegeaataion, and plenty of excellent looking campsites before finally you will come out of the trees onto the north rim of Taylor Canyon. One of the largest rock cairns you (or at least I) have ever seen marks the end of the trail.
In this photo (taken 2012) there were actually two cairns. Both the year before and the year after there was only one... I am curious to find out what will be there in 2014.
The real reward for making this journey through the Hidden Valley is the view of Allen Peak and Mt. Ogden across Taylor Canyon. Allen Peak is the prominent peak in the photo below. Mt. Ogden is slightly higher, but from this perspective doesn't look as tall. You can see Mt. Ogden slightly below and to the right of Allen Peak. The Downhill Skiing events in the 2002 Winter Olympics were held right on the other side of the peak you can see from here.
I have very seldom had to share this overlook with other hikers. The trail isn't very well known, so if you're looking for solitude, this is a great place to find it. The sounds are as incredible as the view; if you get there early enough in the springtime, you can hear the rushing runoff of Taylor Creek in the canyon far below.
Trail Stats:
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Total Length: 4.9 miles
Total Vertical Feet: 2,100
Average Slope: 16.1%
