Ben Lomond

There are multiple routes, but the three main ones are the North Skyline Trail starting at the North Ogden Divide, The Ben Lomond Trail in North Fork Park starting at the Horse Corrals at the Loop B Campground, and the Cutler Basin Trail in North Fork Park starting on Cutler Ridge.

The North Ogden Divide is the most popular route and gets a lot of traffic from mountain bikes and motorized dirt bikes. It is 25 km round trip trail (with just shy of 1100 m of elevation gain) that climbs steadily at a 9-10% grade for the first 7 km before leveling out to a 4-5% grade for the next 3.5 km to the Saddle where the other main trails meet. From the saddle the trail becomes steeper, climbing a series of switchback to the peak. In the spring and early summer, many of the switchback and snow can be bypassed by cutting over to the ridge after the first 6 switchbacks.

The Ben Lomond Trail starts on the Northeast side of Ben Lomond and is 24 km round trip (with just over 1200 m of elevation gain). It climbs at around a 10% grade for 9.5 km to the Ben Lomond Saddle, and then follows the previously described route to the peak.

The Cutler Basin Trail also starts on the Northeast side of Ben Lomond, about 3 km north of the Ben Lomond Trailhead. It is the shortest of the main routes (15 km roundtrip), but also the steepest (just over 1100 m of elevation gain). It climbs steadily at around a 17% grade for 5 km to the Saddle and then follows the previously described route to the peak.

The North Fork Trails get less traffic than the Skyline Trail (particularly the Cutler Basin Trail), and it is common to see moose in this area. The two trails can be connected at the bottom with the connector trail, Mule's Ear Trail, or Mule's Shoe Trail.

Josh Coon

September 17