Ogden Canyon is the dramatic gorge carved by the Ogden River through the Wasatch Range, beginning almost at the city's doorstep and climbing about eight miles to Ogden Valley. The canyon walls rise several hundred feet on either side, with the river threading through the bottom and the highway clinging to one wall. In autumn the canyon is spectacular — maples, oaks, and aspens turning orange, red, and gold against grey limestone cliffs.
The drive through the canyon takes about 20 minutes and is one of the easiest mountain escapes from any Utah city. Pull-offs at the lower end let you park and walk down to the river. Pineview Reservoir at the top is popular for boating, swimming, and camping in summer, and the canyon itself is a reliable spot for fly fishing in the river below. In winter the road ices up but is ploughed; ski traffic to Snowbasin and Powder Mountain keeps it busy.