There are hundreds of hiking trails in the Ogden area and right now is prime time for climbing those mountains. Everything is so green and lush—we can thank the enormous amounts of rainfall for bringing in color earlier this spring.
Saturday, June 22, I decided to hike to the top of Lewis Peak. Of course, I didn’t go alone. I brought along my husband, oldest daughter, and her boyfriend. We began our ascent at 5:00 a.m. while the parking lot at the top of the North Ogden Divide was still dark, but the moon shone brightly.
The beginning of the Lewis Peak trail was filled with steep switchbacks and loose rock. Also, the trial has been widened using a small backhoe, which was a bit disappointing to see so many trees uprooted and a few roots poking out—we had to watch our step!
Further up the trail we finally came to a ridge. Yes! Relief from the hard hills! Not so fast…there were plenty more slopes to climb! I hadn’t realized just how challenging this particular hike was! And yet, there were a handful of trial runners galloping past us like wild horses--more power to them! I like to make sure I didn’t trip and sprain an ankle so I tended to make it a methodical, even paced process. Plus, I had to stop and take pictures!
Our hearts were beating hard going up the steep terrain and yet we let out a breath of fresh air upon seeing the wildflowers flocking the hillside. Beautiful yellows and purples speckled throughout the dirt trail. A gorgeous sight!
I was grateful when the trail leveled out and allowed us to walk upright without hunching over to gain momentum. I loved seeing the valley down below and all the clouds above.
Lewis Peak takes you up 8,031 feet in elevation. It’s no small feat to get there! Absolutely worth it in the end, for sure! As soon as I reached the top, I called my Dad and let him know where I was standing. He had a plan to surprise me, like he had once before, when I ascended to the top of Ben Lomond Peak last year.
Without telling me, my Dad drove up to Weber High School and faced Lewis Peak with a handheld mirror. He caught the sun’s rays as they reflected back towards me and I saw the glimmer shining back at me. It was awesome! Another amazing moment where I knew my Dad loved me and cared enough to send me a signal from down below.
It took our crew 5 total hours to hike to the top of Lewis Peak and back down again. It is just about 11 miles round trip and definitely a hike for older kids and adults—dogs too! Bring your families out to enjoy this spectacular trail. Start at the top of the North Ogden Divide (on the south side) and head up from there. Be sure to wear the proper foot wear, bring water, sunscreen and snacks. And don’t forget to pack a mirror in case you want to shine that love down on someone below!
