Ogden MUD -- BenLomond

4036: Forest Service map taped to boulder at Ben Lomond...

4037: Closeup of bottom-right corner of map showing...

4038: There are two starting points for the Ben Lomond...

4039: This is the southern of the two starting points,...

4040: Interpretive sign near the start of the Ben...

4092: This closed gate usually blocks the road that...

4091: Dyer's woad across the road from the start of the...

4090: Start of the Cutler Basin trail, unmarked. The...

4089: Muddy spot on the Cutler Basin trail (still in...

4088: Another muddy spot on the Cutler Basin trail...

4085: Patch of dyer's woad along the Cutler Basin...

4079: Junction in Cutler Basin, unmarked. The trail...

4077: The Cutler Basin trail turns a switchback to drop...

4078: Looking at the tiny pond in Cutler Basin

4075: View of Willard Peak from the short trail...

4073: Junction of Ben Lomond and Cutler Basin trails,...

4074: Closup of sign at junction of Ben Lomond and...

4041: Motorcycle track through a wet spot near the top...

4070: Braided trail through wet area on Ben Lomond...

4042: Fence, in very poor condition, at the saddle at...

2080: Looking down the Ben Lomond trail from the saddle...

2081: Sign/map at junction of trail to North Fork Park....

4043: The sign/map at the Ben Lomond saddle still...

4044: Dyer's woad at the Ben Lomond saddle

4064: Multiple braided tracks on Skyline Trail just...

4045: Skyline Trail, apparently widened by illegal ATV...

4046: Skyline Trail, apparently widened by illegal ATV...

4058: This portion of the Skyline Trail, about halfway...

4057: Snowmelt flowing down trail on switchbacks...

4056: Widened, braided trail on switchbacks climbing...

4049: Fire ring just below the Ben Lomond summit. ...

Index page for photo group BenLomond

(31 photos)

Master index

This group of photos covers the various trails leading to the summit of Ben Lomond Peak, a very popular destination. Two trails--the Ben Lomond Trail and the Cutler Basin Trail--lead toward the peak from North Fork Park, meeting at a point somewhat south of Cutler Basin. From there the Ben Lomond Trail climbs further to a saddle where it meets the Skyline Trail. Neither of these trails from North Fork Park is open to motor vehicles, though over the years I've seen motorcycles on the Ben Lomond Trail three times. The Skyline Trail, which then switchbacks from the saddle up to the summit and beyond, is open to motorcycles.

Select map type: topographic, shaded-relief, or none. Point at the blue dots to view thumbnails; click to view larger versions.

4036 4-Jul-04 423967 E 4579967 N facing SW

Forest Service map taped to boulder at Ben Lomond trailhead parking area, implying incorrectly that the Ben Lomond Trail is open to motorcycles

4037 4-Jul-04 423967 E 4579967 N facing SW

Closeup of bottom-right corner of map showing motorcycle icon

4038 4-Jul-04 423896 E 4580010 N facing W

There are two starting points for the Ben Lomond trail, a little over a hundred yards apart. Depending on exactly where people park, either starting point might be more convenient. This is the northern starting point. The large sign correctly implies that the trail is closed to motor vehicles, but incorrectly implies that bicycles are not permitted. The carsonite sign with the ATV sticker must be a result of vandalism.

4039 4-Jul-04 423954 E 4579911 N facing SW

This is the southern of the two starting points, with no indication of permitted uses. A motorcyclist who starts here would never know the trail is closed to motorcycles, especially after seeing the map shown in photo 4036.

4040 4-Jul-04 423652 E 4579807 N facing SE

Interpretive sign near the start of the Ben Lomond trail. From here up to the junction with the Cutler Basin trail I didn't take any photos because I was hurrying to catch up with my companions, and there were no particular photo-worthy sites. However, the high brush on both sides of the trail was encroaching on it, probably serving as an effective deterrent to both bicyclists and motorcyclists.

4092 4-Jul-04 423157 E 4581471 N facing NW

This closed gate usually blocks the road that leads up to the start of the Cutler Basin trail, so hikers usually park here and walk the remaining 200 yards to the trailhead.

4091 4-Jul-04 422996 E 4581610 N facing

Dyer's woad across the road from the start of the Cutler Basin trail, in North Fork Park

4090 4-Jul-04 422965 E 4581598 N facing W

Start of the Cutler Basin trail, unmarked. The path around the boulder is too narrow for four-wheelers, but not for motorcycles.

4089 4-Jul-04 422636 E 4581540 N facing W

Muddy spot on the Cutler Basin trail (still in North Fork Park)

4088 4-Jul-04 422371 E 4581334 N facing W

Another muddy spot on the Cutler Basin trail (still in North Fork Park)

4085 4-Jul-04 421786 E 4581269 N facing N

Patch of dyer's woad along the Cutler Basin trail, now on National Forest land. (There was also some dyer's woad below this point, but I didn't see any between here and the Ben Lomond saddle.)

4079 4-Jul-04 420627 E 4580169 N facing E

Junction in Cutler Basin, unmarked. The trail from North Fork Park comes up from the left; the connection to the Ben Lomond trail heads off to the right; behind is the short spur to the Cutler Basin pond and campsite.

4077 4-Jul-04 420489 E 4580050 N facing W

The Cutler Basin trail turns a switchback to drop down to the small pond

4078 4-Jul-04 420476 E 4580013 N facing N

Looking at the tiny pond in Cutler Basin

4075 4-Jul-04 420830 E 4580155 N facing NW

View of Willard Peak from the short trail connecting Cutler Basin to the Ben Lomond trail (coordinates are approximate)

4073 4-Jul-04 420730 E 4579722 N facing S

Junction of Ben Lomond and Cutler Basin trails, with sign lying on the ground

4074 4-Jul-04 420730 E 4579722 N facing

Closup of sign at junction of Ben Lomond and Cutler Basin trails. The mileages are wrong no matter how the sign is interpreted.

4041 4-Jul-04 420835 E 4579247 N facing W

Motorcycle track through a wet spot near the top of the Ben Lomond trail

4070 4-Jul-04 420764 E 4579256 N facing E

Braided trail through wet area on Ben Lomond trail, just below saddle

4042 4-Jul-04 420693 E 4579248 N facing N

Fence, in very poor condition, at the saddle at the top of the Ben Lomond trail

2080 20-Jun-03 420658 E 4579221 N facing E

Looking down the Ben Lomond trail from the saddle where it meets the Skyline Trail

2081 20-Jun-03 420658 E 4579221 N facing

Sign/map at junction of trail to North Fork Park. This is the only sign in the area and it gives no indication that the trails to North Fork Park are closed to motorcycles.

4043 4-Jul-04 420666 E 4579215 N facing N

The sign/map at the Ben Lomond saddle still displays no information on permitted uses. Thus, motorcyclists have no way of knowing that the Ben Lomond trail is off-limits.

4044 4-Jul-04 420650 E 4579228 N facing N

Dyer's woad at the Ben Lomond saddle

4064 4-Jul-04 420516 E 4579301 N facing SE

Multiple braided tracks on Skyline Trail just above Ben Lomond saddle

4045 4-Jul-04 420377 E 4579265 N facing SW

Skyline Trail, apparently widened by illegal ATV use, climbing toward the Ben Lomond summit

4046 4-Jul-04 420282 E 4579276 N facing SW

Skyline Trail, apparently widened by illegal ATV use, climbing toward the Ben Lomond summit

4058 4-Jul-04 420159 E 4579290 N facing W

This portion of the Skyline Trail, about halfway up the switchbacks between the Ben Lomond saddle and the summit, is in very poor condition due to the persistence of snow into early July. Users going around the snow have created multiple braids, and snowmelt on the trail has created muddy conditions leading to erosion, as shown here. While all users contribute to the problem, a motorcycle will do much more damage than a pair of hiking boots at a spot like this.

4057 4-Jul-04 420145 E 4579271 N facing N

Snowmelt flowing down trail on switchbacks climbing Ben Lomond

4056 4-Jul-04 420134 E 4579216 N facing NE

Widened, braided trail on switchbacks climbing Ben Lomond

4049 4-Jul-04 419723 E 4579345 N facing

Fire ring just below the Ben Lomond summit. Because wood is so scarce up here, fires should be prohibited.

4036	4-Jul-04	423967 E	4579967 N	facing SW
Forest Service map taped to boulder at Ben Lomond trailhead parking area, implying incorrectly that the Ben Lomond Trail is open to motorcycles
4037	4-Jul-04	423967 E	4579967 N	facing SW
Closeup of bottom-right corner of map showing motorcycle icon
4038	4-Jul-04	423896 E	4580010 N	facing W
There are two starting points for the Ben Lomond trail, a little over a hundred yards apart. Depending on exactly where people park, either starting point might be more convenient. This is the northern starting point. The large sign correctly implies that the trail is closed to motor vehicles, but incorrectly implies that bicycles are not permitted. The carsonite sign with the ATV sticker must be a result of vandalism.
4039	4-Jul-04	423954 E	4579911 N	facing SW
This is the southern of the two starting points, with no indication of permitted uses. A motorcyclist who starts here would never know the trail is closed to motorcycles, especially after seeing the map shown in photo 4036.
4040	4-Jul-04	423652 E	4579807 N	facing SE
Interpretive sign near the start of the Ben Lomond trail. From here up to the junction with the Cutler Basin trail I didn't take any photos because I was hurrying to catch up with my companions, and there were no particular photo-worthy sites. However, the high brush on both sides of the trail was encroaching on it, probably serving as an effective deterrent to both bicyclists and motorcyclists.
4092	4-Jul-04	423157 E	4581471 N	facing NW
This closed gate usually blocks the road that leads up to the start of the Cutler Basin trail, so hikers usually park here and walk the remaining 200 yards to the trailhead.
4091	4-Jul-04	422996 E	4581610 N	facing
Dyer's woad across the road from the start of the Cutler Basin trail, in North Fork Park
4090	4-Jul-04	422965 E	4581598 N	facing W
Start of the Cutler Basin trail, unmarked. The path around the boulder is too narrow for four-wheelers, but not for motorcycles.
4089	4-Jul-04	422636 E	4581540 N	facing W
Muddy spot on the Cutler Basin trail (still in North Fork Park)
4088	4-Jul-04	422371 E	4581334 N	facing W
Another muddy spot on the Cutler Basin trail (still in North Fork Park)
4085	4-Jul-04	421786 E	4581269 N	facing N
Patch of dyer's woad along the Cutler Basin trail, now on National Forest land. (There was also some dyer's woad below this point, but I didn't see any between here and the Ben Lomond saddle.)
4079	4-Jul-04	420627 E	4580169 N	facing E
Junction in Cutler Basin, unmarked. The trail from North Fork Park comes up from the left; the connection to the Ben Lomond trail heads off to the right; behind is the short spur to the Cutler Basin pond and campsite.
4077	4-Jul-04	420489 E	4580050 N	facing W
The Cutler Basin trail turns a switchback to drop down to the small pond
4078	4-Jul-04	420476 E	4580013 N	facing N
Looking at the tiny pond in Cutler Basin
4075	4-Jul-04	420830 E	4580155 N	facing NW
View of Willard Peak from the short trail connecting Cutler Basin to the Ben Lomond trail (coordinates are approximate)
4073	4-Jul-04	420730 E	4579722 N	facing S
Junction of Ben Lomond and Cutler Basin trails, with sign lying on the ground
4074	4-Jul-04	420730 E	4579722 N	facing
Closup of sign at junction of Ben Lomond and Cutler Basin trails. The mileages are wrong no matter how the sign is interpreted.
4041	4-Jul-04	420835 E	4579247 N	facing W
Motorcycle track through a wet spot near the top of the Ben Lomond trail
4070	4-Jul-04	420764 E	4579256 N	facing E
Braided trail through wet area on Ben Lomond trail, just below saddle
4042	4-Jul-04	420693 E	4579248 N	facing N
Fence, in very poor condition, at the saddle at the top of the Ben Lomond trail
2080	20-Jun-03	420658 E	4579221 N	facing E
Looking down the Ben Lomond trail from the saddle where it meets the Skyline Trail
2081	20-Jun-03	420658 E	4579221 N	facing
Sign/map at junction of trail to North Fork Park. This is the only sign in the area and it gives no indication that the trails to North Fork Park are closed to motorcycles.
4043	4-Jul-04	420666 E	4579215 N	facing N
The sign/map at the Ben Lomond saddle still displays no information on permitted uses. Thus, motorcyclists have no way of knowing that the Ben Lomond trail is off-limits.
4044	4-Jul-04	420650 E	4579228 N	facing N
Dyer's woad at the Ben Lomond saddle
4064	4-Jul-04	420516 E	4579301 N	facing SE
Multiple braided tracks on Skyline Trail just above Ben Lomond saddle
4045	4-Jul-04	420377 E	4579265 N	facing SW
Skyline Trail, apparently widened by illegal ATV use, climbing toward the Ben Lomond summit
4046	4-Jul-04	420282 E	4579276 N	facing SW
Skyline Trail, apparently widened by illegal ATV use, climbing toward the Ben Lomond summit
4058	4-Jul-04	420159 E	4579290 N	facing W
This portion of the Skyline Trail, about halfway up the switchbacks between the Ben Lomond saddle and the summit, is in very poor condition due to the persistence of snow into early July. Users going around the snow have created multiple braids, and snowmelt on the trail has created muddy conditions leading to erosion, as shown here. While all users contribute to the problem, a motorcycle will do much more damage than a pair of hiking boots at a spot like this.
4057	4-Jul-04	420145 E	4579271 N	facing N
Snowmelt flowing down trail on switchbacks climbing Ben Lomond
4056	4-Jul-04	420134 E	4579216 N	facing NE
Widened, braided trail on switchbacks climbing Ben Lomond
4049	4-Jul-04	419723 E	4579345 N	facing
Fire ring just below the Ben Lomond summit. Because wood is so scarce up here, fires should be prohibited.