WHEELER CREEK TRAIL
Great Western Trail
Access: Wheeler Creek Trailhead at Pineview Reservoir, Art Nord Trailhead on Snow Basin Road, or Maples Trailhead near Snowbasin Ski Area
Elevation: Beginning: 5,000-feet Ending: 5,600-feet
Length: 1.2 miles one-way (lower portion); 3.6 one-way (upper portion)
Use: Moderate- Hiking, Horses, Mountain Bike
Difficulty: Easy. Part of the Great Western Trail
Season: Four season
USGS Map(s): Snow Basin, Huntsville
| Lower Wheeler Trail/Art Nord Drive Directions: The Art Nord Drive section of this trail follows Wheeler Creek from the south side of Highway 39 (Ogden Canyon) just below the dam at Pineview Reservoir. Park at the gate and follow the abandoned dirt road. Respect the privacy of the homeowners in Wheeler Canyon, especially the dog kennels. |
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About one mile from the dam you reach a narrow canyon on the right. This is the main fork of Wheeler Creek. Art Nord continues along the east fork of Wheeler Creek to where it meets Highway 226, the Snowbasin Road. Art Nord was a Forest Service employee who worked on the design and construction of the roads into the Snowbasin area. |
| The Wheeler Creek Trail is a popular because of it's close proximity to the Ogden area. It is an easy trail built to avoid steep climbs and with a wider trail tread for sharing the trail with bikes and horses. Wheeler Creek Trail connects to Maples campground just north of Snowbasin Ski Area. The trail travels across the hillside through a variety of trees, shrubs, and mountain wildflowers. At the trails end, Wheeler Canyon opens to reveal distant views of Mt. Ogden and Snowbasin Ski Area. |  |
Since the route is relatively short, it's ideal for a quick hike or mountain bike ride after a hard day's work. There are three small parking areas provided for access to different parts of this trail. Equestrians frequently travel the trail along with hikers and mountain bikers. Please be courteous to other trail users.
Snowbasin has a very interesting history. During the Depression Era, the Civilian Conservation Corps' efforts in Utah provided recreationists with the ski lodges at Alta and Snowbasin. The ski area known today as Snowbasin received its name in 1940 from Mrs. C.N. Woods, wife of a Regional Forester. This was a result of a contest sponsored by the Ogden Chamber of Commerce.
Upper Wheeler Trail
Directions: The Wheeler Creek Trail connects Maples Campground with the mouth of Wheeler Canyon. Travel up the Snowbasin Road to it's lower parking area. A dirt road branches from the lot (west) and become the access road leading to Maples Campground. Either park at the lower parking lot, off to the side since heavy equipment often works in the area, or where the trail and the road meet.
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Just beyond the steel gate that marks the entrance to the campground, you will find an information bulletin board and a small parking area. Turn right onto a single track that descends quickly. The trail crosses grass-filled meadows and passes a small pond. Watch for wildlife around the pond. It is an easy decent all the way to Ogden Canyon. It is an excellent shuttle hike or ride. Park a car at the top and another at the bottom and spend three to four hours enjoying one of the prettiest trails in the area. |
This trail presents many difficult obstacles which may sometimes be tough to pass on a mountain bike. Walking your bike will sometimes be a must. The trail is can be used by children or the novice riders but use extreme care.
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