Welcome to Utah. Where did you come from? Utah is over 70% public land so there is lots of Forest Service, BLM and State lands to ride on. Northern Utah has more private land than public because of the population density. But there is still lots of access. Check with the Back Country Horsemen group. The State President lives in Hooper. They do monthly rides that will help you find new trails. A couple of easy ones to get to for you are the Railroad right a way out in Plain City. I've not ridden that trail, but folks tell me its OK ride in cooler weather. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail in East Layton, Kaysville. Start at either the trail head near the Davis County Animal Control building or at the Fernwood trail head. the Dog pound is located just above hiway 89, go to the traffic light at 400N and turn east, and make a left trun and follow the road up. The parking lot is across the street from the animal control and county shops. You wil see it on the left. This is a fairly level trail that folows the shoreline of the ancient Lake Bonneville. It has bridges and streams to cross, lots of hikers with dogs, mountain bikers etc. So it's good experience for the horses to learn to deal with things along the trail ![](http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/2009/Dogpound/dogpound.jpg)
Its on the bench above all the homes looking back at toward Antelope Island. It's west facing so it's a better morning ride during the summer. And I ride it a lot in the spring and fall. ![](http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/2009/Dogpound/Dogpound4.jpg)
Another trail I ride a lot in the summer is Snow Basin. This used to be strictly a horse trail, but in the last 10 years it has become very popular with mountain bikers. I find the bikers are very courteous and will stop and wait while you pass. My only complaint with the bikers,is that so many have starting using this area that they have taken all the parking areas that I used to park my trailer in. Best bet is to drive all the way to the Snow Basin parking lot. Continue past the lodge and go into the lower parking area ( located to the north of the lodge) Lots of parking there. The trail will head north out of the parking area. There are several trails here. The trail up to Cold Canyon Overlook is a pretty good climb up a long set of switchbacks. At the top you will be looking out over Ogden. The other trail heads down hill to Art Noord Trailhead ( another place to park) This can be a 7 mile out and back or a 10 mile loop trail. Lots of bridges and a few stream crossings. And during the evening you should see some Moose and deer. ![](http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/2008/Cold%20Canyon/ColdCanyon021.jpg)
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In the Ogden Valley are numerous trails. You can check on the Ogden Valley Pathways. http://www.weberpathways.org/trails_map.asp Middle Fork, Centenial trail, Cuttler Flats trail, Ben Lommand Skyline trail are all located in the Ogden Vally around Pineview. These are all close to your home and easy to trailer up for an afternoon ride. And if you want to venture a little farther from home. I can recommend some other neat rides in Utah that would be more like an ALL day or weekend trip. ![](http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/2008/Strawberry/Strawberry014.jpg)
![](http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/2009/Bryce/Bryce-Canyon-2009-015.jpg)
Edited by Painted Horse 2009-05-31 10:30 AM
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