The Ogden River Byway by motorcycle
SR-39 climbs out of Ogden through narrow Ogden Canyon, runs along Pineview Reservoir past Huntsville, then keeps climbing through national forest to Monte Cristo Summit at 9,017 ft before dropping to the ranch town of Woodruff (UDOT Ogden Valley). The canyon part is the Ogden River Scenic Byway (Wikipedia); the high part east of Huntsville is the Monte Cristo Highway.
The route at a glance
- Road: SR-39, a paved two-lane state highway (UDOT Ogden Valley).
- Start: US-89 (Washington Boulevard) in Ogden. End: SR-16 in Woodruff (Wikipedia).
- Length: about 61 miles from US-89 to Woodruff by the mileposts (6.4 to 67.7) (Wikipedia). UDOT gives 44 miles for the byway from the canyon mouth to the forest boundary and about 60 to Woodruff (UDOT Ogden Valley).
- Height: about 4,400 ft at the canyon mouth, 9,017 ft at Monte Cristo Summit, about 6,300 ft at Woodruff (UDOT Ogden Valley).
- Time: about 2 hours one way (UDOT Ogden Valley).
- Season: the road closes for winter between about milepost 37 (east of Huntsville, near Ant Flat Road) and milepost 56 (near Woodruff). In 2024 it closed on November 27 and was due to reopen in May, conditions permitting (Standard-Examiner). Visit Utah says the high section is usually closed from about December through April (Visit Utah). Check UDOT before you go.
- Fees: none of our sources list a fee for the road.
Mileposts
| Milepost | Place |
|---|---|
| 6.4 | US-89 (Washington Boulevard), Ogden |
| 7.7 | SR-203 (Harrison Boulevard); Ogden Canyon starts east of here |
| 13.8 | SR-158 north to Pineview Dam, Eden and Liberty |
| 17.5 | SR-167 (Trappers Loop) south toward Snowbasin and Mountain Green |
| about 37 | Winter gate east of Huntsville |
| about 56 | Winter gate near Woodruff |
| 67.7 | SR-16, Woodruff |
Mileposts from Wikipedia's junction list; winter gates from the Standard-Examiner.
Ogden Canyon
The canyon is narrow, with fast traffic and blind curves (UDOT Ogden Valley). Keep your speed down and watch for cyclists.
Pineview and Huntsville
SR-39 runs along the south edge of Pineview Reservoir; SR-158 crosses Pineview Dam toward Eden (Wikipedia). The reservoir's two campgrounds fill up fast on weekends (Visit Utah). Huntsville is about 1.5 miles off the highway near the Trappers Loop junction, and its Shooting Star Saloon dates to 1879 (Visit Utah).
Up to Monte Cristo
East of Huntsville the road passes a string of campgrounds; Causey Reservoir is a turnoff past the last of them (Visit Utah). The East Fork Overlook is a paved pullout on SR-39, and the Monte Cristo Overlook near the summit is busiest in late September for the aspen colors (UDOT Ogden Valley). Monte Cristo Peak, at 9,148 ft, holds snow into June (Visit Utah).
Down to Woodruff
From the summit the road drops about 2,700 ft to Woodruff in the Bear River valley (UDOT Ogden Valley). Woodruff to I-80 is about half an hour (Visit Utah).
Before you ride
- Fuel: gas in Huntsville and Woodruff (and Mountain Green on Trappers Loop); nothing in between (Visit Utah).
- Cell service: limited in places (UDOT Ogden Valley).
- Cattle and wildlife: the Monte Cristo section is open range; watch for cattle and wildlife, and stay in your lane on the curves (UDOT Ogden Valley).
- Cold: 9,000 ft is cold even in summer mornings. Bring a warm layer.
- Rules for visiting riders (helmets, eye protection, lane filtering): Riding in Utah.
Join it up
- A short loop from Ogden: up Ogden Canyon to Huntsville, then Trappers Loop (SR-167) south to Mountain Green and back on I-84. Visit Utah puts the Trappers Loop side trip at 30 to 45 minutes (Visit Utah).
- From Salt Lake City: Ogden is the next city north on I-15. Salt Lake City by motorcycle.
- More northern Utah canyons: Logan Canyon to Bear Lake and the Mirror Lake Highway.
Rent a bike
Booking opens soon. Until then, use the ride guides to plan your trip.