Weber State University is nestled at the foot of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains in Ogden, Utah, a vibrant city that has earned a reputation nationally for being one of the “best places to live,” one of the “best places to do business,” a place with a “stable economy and high ethics from its work force” and a “playground for adrenaline junkies.”

Ogden is the largest city in Weber County – the fourth largest county in Utah, with a population of more than 230,000 people. Elevations range from 4,000 to 10,000 feet at the summits of Ben Lomond and Mount Ogden, providing unique opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.

Perhaps most known for winter recreation, Utah has 14 ski resorts to choose from, with three premier venues located in Weber County – Snowbasin (home to several events at the 2002 Winter Olympics), Powder Mountain and Nordic Valley. Weber County also offers a number of other winter activities, including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing.

Recreation doesn’t stop in the summer. There are 38 recreational parks in Ogden and Weber County, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails and rivers and lakes for water adventures. Horseback riding, bird watching and even hot air ballooning and parachuting are available. And golf courses abound, with 16 that are five to 30 minutes from downtown Ogden.

The area also offers an assortment of restaurants, shopping opportunities and cultural events. The Junction, located in the heart of downtown, is Ogden’s shopping, entertainment and residential complex, with restaurants, indoor surfing and flying, a Megaplex theater and gym. Also downtown is Historic 25th Street. Recently named one of the 10 Great Streets in America by the American Planning Association, the street is notorious for its one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants, art galleries and clubs. Nearby is Peery’s Egyptian Theater, a historic landmark and venue for performances.

For the sports enthusiast, the Ogden Raptors minor league baseball team call downtown Ogden home. On WSU’s campus, the Weber County Sports Complex is the ideal place to watch Junior-A Ogden Mustangs hockey games. Just 40 miles south in Salt Lake City, even more sports await, including the NBA’s Utah Jazz, MLS’ Real Salt Lake and the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim farm team.

In between Ogden and Salt Lake City is the state’s third largest county, Davis County. The area is home to Weber State University Davis, a campus growing both in physical size and learning opportunities; Hill Air Force Base, the state’s largest employer and one of Utah’s most popular state parks, Antelope Island, which offers spectacular views of the Great Salt Lake.

While state parks are plentiful, five national parks are also located in Utah – Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion – each within a five-hour drive. Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in northwest Wyoming are also just a five-hour drive away.

Getting around in Utah is easy with public transportation, including a bus system, a light rail system in Salt Lake City that extends to the Salt Lake City International Airport and a commuter rail that connects Salt Lake City, Davis and Weber counties with stops from Ogden to Provo. Each commuter rail station has connections to UTA’s bus or light rail system and park and ride lots. 

Beyond the state, Los Angeles is an 11-hour drive to the southwest, Las Vegas seven hours south. To the northwest, Boise is five hours and Denver is eight hours to the east.

Sources: Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce, Davis Chamber of Commerce and Visit Ogden