Just minutes from the hustle and bustle of 12th Street, Ogden’s Birdsong Trail at the mouth of Ogden Canyon provides a welcome return to nature’s sights and sounds.
The trail, dedicated on National Trails Day in 2006, got its name because an abundance of birds can usually be heard singing in the grove just west of the Rainbow Trailhead. Among the birds you will find Yellow-breasted chat, Gray catbird, Virginia’s warbler, MacGillivray’s warbler, Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Bullock’s oriole, California quail, Chipping sparrow, Black-headed grosbeak, hummingbirds and more.
This easy-to-moderate, mile-long trail is popular with families, hikers, mountain bikers and runners. The Birdsong Trail offers wonderful views to the west and north and crosses six springs, a pond and deep forest rich with thick willow, chokecherry, cottonwoods and dense scrub oak. Restrooms and a restaurant are nearby the trailhead at Rainbow Gardens.
A bench about midway along the trail provides a shady spot for mom and dad to rest while the kids explore the nearby spring and pond.
Directions: Take Harrison Boulevard to 20th Street. Turn east onto Valley Drive and follow it to the Rainbow Gardens parking lot. If you are coming by the freeway, take the I-15 exit 344 (12th Street) go east toward the mountains and just before Ogden Canyon turn right on Valley Drive and then into the west parking lot of Rainbow Gardens. The trailhead is in the southeast corner of the parking lot at the Rainbow Trail sign. A second trailhead is at Fillmore Avenue and 20th Street.
Take a Hike is a new feature contributed by Weber Pathways and the Ogden Trails Network. It will appear monthly in Xplore and weekly online at www.xploreutah.net.
Trail facts
- Hiking time: 1 hour
- Length: 1 mile, one-way
- Elevation gain: 230 feet
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Trailhead restrooms: Nearby at Rainbow Gardens
- Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash
- Bikes allowed: Yes
- Kid friendly: Yes
For more information, visit www.weberpathways.org
