As the oldest town in Utah, Ogden is home to some amazing hiking activities, fascinating history and it is a destination that is thriving at a rapid rate. The town is all about outdoor adventure in the Wasatch Mountains during the day and checking out the urban city life by night; there are so many epic things to do in Ogden Utah. Get the heart rate up with hiking and adrenaline-pumping rock climbing and finish off with a big scoop of ice cream at sunset.
Steph Ridhalgh
If you climb high enough on the Via Ferrata, Ogden this is the view you will be rewarded with. Image © Steph Ridhalgh
5 Epic Things to do in Ogden Utah
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Climb Via Ferrata
Via Ferrata in Italian translates to Iron Road and was essentially designed as a way for soldiers to carry heavy items with them through the mountains during the war. Now it’s used as a way to rock climb without the use of ropes and knots and still safely scale to great heights of the mountains.
Start the day early to beat the heat. It gets hotter the higher you go. You are always locked into an iron cable, but the scaling of rock faces is very real. It is a very rewarding experience when you get to the top and see the whole view of Ogden and the Great Lake, especially if heights are not your friend.
Between a rock and a hard place climbing Via Ferrata, Ogden, Utah. Image © Steph Ridhalgh
Union Station, the junction for the Transcontinental Railway, Ogden Utah. Image © Steph Ridhalgh
Zip Line in Front of a Waterfall
After a short hike up the mountain you will reach the waterfall, which by that time, the mist coming off the falls is exactly what you need. The zip line goes directly in front of the falls, so the views are not too bad. The first zip is always the hardest, but after that, it’s just like riding a bike. Utah Adventure Center
Chasing waterfalls after a massive hike at Via Ferrata, Ogden, Utah. Image © Steph Ridhalgh
Take a walk down Historic 25th Street Ogden
Built quite a history with the opening of Union Station, which served as a major junction on the Transcontinental Railroad and with that came debauchery. On the surface, 25th Street was retail, ice cream parlours, hotels, and laundries but behind closed doors illicit activities such as prostitution, drug sales and gambling took place.
There were also tunnels created from Union Square all the way up the street as a way to move alcohol during prohibition, some of which still exist today.
The Mountains encapsulate the city in Ogden, Utah. Image © Steph Ridhalgh
Check out a Speakeasy
Taking inspiration from Ogden’s illicit past, 225 Zucca is a speakeasy on par with those in the likes of New York, London, and Hong Kong. Entering through a nondescript entry, only those in the know will find the entry down in the basement behind the ‘maintenance’ door. It’s like stepping into the 1920s from the décor and lighting, cocktail menu, and bartenders.
225 Underground, a nod to Ogden’s past during prohibition. Image © Steph Ridhalgh
Take a Trip Back in Time for Ice Cream
Cool down with Farr Better Ice Cream. An Ogden institution, this place serves more ice cream flavours than days in the year and come served big enough for the whole family. Get a cone to go or sit up at the old-style parlour bar.
More Flavours than you can count at Farr’s Ice Cream, Ogden, Utah. Image © Steph Ridhalgh
The Fit Traveller was a guest of Visit Utah for this trip. As always, the opinions, words and images are authentically our own.
Find more information to help plan your trip to Northern Utah on Visit Utah
Farr’s Ice Cream Parlour, Go in for that old school feel and sit up at the bar for a sundae. Image © Steph Ridhalgh
Hailing from ‘down under’, Steph Ridhalgh is a journalist, producer and blogger who suffers a serious case of geographic schizophrenia. Currently fulfilling her dream of living in New York, you can usually find her wandering the city streets, camera in hand.
Steph is the founder of STEP(h) ABROAD, a travel and lifestyle resource sharing her experiences as she gallivants around the globe.
