BY NATHANIEL LOOMIS
PHOTOS BY KENDAL RAE JENSEN, ANN PARK & ADAM PHILLIPS
We wanted to make this year’s summer bucket list all about activities that scream Western living. We’re going to cover beautiful trails you actually want to get lost on, the best fishing spots in Northern Utah, the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo (a must!) and for the kids Junior Posse or 4-H program options. There’s plenty to celebrate this summer and even more fun and amazing activities to choose from, so join us outside and take in some natural splendor!
FISHING
If there was ever an activity designed to help you relax, unwind, and catch up with friends and family, fishing came before it. My grandpa always used to tell me, “You relax yourself into satisfaction, that’s the trick.” I only wondered what he meant until I got my first catch. He’d spent the morning distracting me with stories from his army days as we sat with our bobbers floating on a murky pond I can’t remember, but I do remember the joy and satisfaction of reeling in a catfish too small to turn into a meal. He tricked me into relaxing, not that I minded, but the satisfaction was real, and I wanted more.
If you’re looking to cool down and relax this summer, grab a friend, your family, or just yourself, and head over to one of the many great fishing spots we have. There are some fishing holes at the Weber River on the S-curve off 12th Street, Burch Creek in South Ogden, and I hear you can catch a good variety out at Pineview. You can go fly fishing down at the Ogden River for some brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout or try your hand at bow fishing over at Willard Bay.
TRAILS
Whether you’re riding horseback or on foot, Utah has some of the most gorgeous trails. We have challenging trails like the Ben Lomond Trail and the North Skyline Trail. Trails like the Buffalo Point Trail and the Lake Side Trail Loop are perfect for beginners or relaxing rides. For moderate hikers/riders the Bone Road Trail and Pioneer Trail are perfect.
To access the North Skyline Trail, head to 400 East on Washington and turn left. Drive north for 5 miles, until the street narrows and curves. It enters a residential area where you turn right at 3100 North. Four miles up the canyon will be a parking area on the right side of the road. For Buffalo Point Trail and the Lake Side Trail Loop, take a trip to Antelope Island, keeping in mind the entrance fee. The Bone Road Trail is also found on Antelope Island, however the Pioneer Trail entrance is located at 2750 N. Mountain Road, at the Pioneer Trailhead.
OGDEN PIONEER DAYS
Nothing is more Western than an old-fashioned rodeo, and the best rodeo you’ll find in Northern Utah is at Ogden Pioneer Days. The event not only celebrates the founding of Ogden, Utah, but also serves to highlight the local community on the national level. Harman Peery, as many of you know, held high ambitions for this festival; today, more than 30,000 people swing through each year just to get a taste of who we are, where we came from, and what we’re all about! It’s safe to say our old Mayor’s dreams were successful.
The festival begins on Friday, July 7th with the “Traces of the West” First Friday Art Stroll and doesn’t end and clean up until Tuesday, July 25th. If your spirit is only in it for the rodeo, you’ll find it begins on July 20th and takes place every night through the 24th. Join in for some fireworks, concerts, parades, the art show, or any number of other activities and events. For the full schedule, check out ogdenpioneerdays.com.
JUNIOR POSSE & 4H CLUB
It’s summer and the kids are out of school. This year it’s worth checking out the local 4-H programs or the Jr Posse to not only give your kids something fun to do, but providing an environment where they can take something from it as well. Jr Posse sticks more to the heritage of Northern Utah than 4-H does, but both offer specialized teachings designed to help your child be more successful.
While Jr Posse focuses on barrels, poles, keyhole, four in a row, speed barrels, water race, and grand entry, 4-H has a variety of programs available from agricultural, to youth leadership, and to STEM. Both groups are fantastic options for a productive summer, and both can teach valuable lessons and skills needed for future careers in fun and interactive environments. You can find more information about Jr Posse at wcjp.weebly.com, and more about 4-H at extension.usu.edu/weber/4h.
BIG FISH CONTEST
Want to try your hand at fishing this summer? Send us a photo of your biggest catch and we’ll buy one lucky winner their favorite treat! Send submissions through July 30 to Cindy@connectionpub.com