Living and Climbing in Ogden/SLC Area

It is very likely that I will be moving to Ogden or SLC in the next few weeks. Does anyone have information on a good place to live and which areas to avoid? Also which climbing gyms in the area are worth checking out?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

note: this may be irrelevant but being close to skiing is always a plus!

If you're in SLC, Momentum is the gym to join. Living in Holladay, Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek area would put you close to the climbing. Anywhere west of I-15 will be cheaper but farther away from climbing and possible a little ghetto. Sandy\Draper areas are more family-friendly. Sugarhouse has a funky vibe and is close to good restaurants. PM me if you want more info.

SLC is preferable to Ogden if you have a choice. Calling Sugarhouse a funky vibe is a stretch - it feels more like an average neighborhood in a normal city. If you like urban amenities like restaurants and bars, the occasional person walking on a sidewalk, etc. think Sugarhouse, Avenues, Capitol Hill/Marmalade, Liberty Park, and downtown. The rest of the city is an endless suburb distinguishable only by how close you are to either the mountains or freeway exits. Where you want to live depends a lot on where you work since the city does really sprawl.

There is no better large city to live in in the United States than SLC for skiing. Ogden isn't bad since Snowbasin is really good and right there, but you can't beat the Cottonwood Canyons and Park City access in SLC.

Momentum is a really great gym, but it is on the very south end of the valley - not convenient at all if you live near downtown. If you don't mind bouldering only, the Front is a good option near downtown - I go there since I just won't drive for more than 5-10 minutes to go to a gym.

Andrew Gram wrote: Calling Sugarhouse a funky vibe is a stretch - it feels more like an average neighborhood in a normal city.

I probably should have clarified...Sugar House has a funky vibe FOR SALT LAKE. It's about as close as you can get to funky.

There are a lot of factors for one to consider (price of real estate, crowds at resorts, crowds at crags, etc.) before deciding between the two. There are people living in Ogden that wouldn't move to, or back to, SLC if they could help it.

Well it appears that salt lake is a little more lively than Ogden, although my work would be in Ogden area. Is the commute horrible to get from SLC to Ogden? Keep in mind im used to LA/OC traffic, but long commutes are always a bummer :(.

I was also looking at the Front in Ogden, I can't really tell much about the gym. They claim to have 40' walls while Momentum claims to have 40' + walls.

Since I would be working in Ogden, is it worth the drive down to Momentum? or is the Front a worthy opponent.

Thanks again for the replies!

note: and by the Front I am referring to Ogden front :)

No. Why would you want to waste valuable climbing time commuting? Just live in Ogden if that's where you're working. There's plenty to do there.

The commute is ~45mins both ways. The Front Ogden is a great gym and I doubt you'd drive to Momentum too many times.

The front is an awesome gym, newer than momentum and way kick ass. there is plenty to do in Ogden, lots of climbing, so white water, plenty of trails and backcoutry skiing and easy access to great skiing. I know SLC has the rep for skiing but lets face it, the olympic downhill and moguls were down at snowbasin which is an Otown mtn.... as far as local real rock climbing I have yet to wait in line to get on a climb in Ogden where in slc I do nothing but wait.

scott cooney wrote:as far as local real rock climbing I have yet to wait in line to get on a climb in Ogden where in slc I do nothing but wait.

Sounds like a personal problem and that you are doing it wrong. No reason to wait.

I used to live in SLC, and my sister lives in Logan, so I have some experience with the area. I'm currently considering a move to Ogden, so I've been looking at the area as well.

If you are a single guy from CA, moving to Ogden will be culture shock (unless you are Mormon - not that there's anything wrong with that). SLC/Sugarhouse not so much, but that commute to Ogden will suck. More options for climbing/skiing in SLC, but you may have to deal with the crowds. Ogden is a reasonable distance from COR, American Fork, Maple, LCC, BCC for weekend climbing. Ogden foothills look great for local climbing, and Logan Canyon is about 45 minutes.

Snowbasin and Powder mountain are not Snowbird/Alta, but they are excellent ski areas.

If you work in Ogden, live in Ogden. No sense spending your life in the car.

Just what Andy said! Each has it's advantages and disadvantages but commuting....no thanks. I would do what I could to avoid it.

Sounds like its going to have to be Ogden, are there any neighborhoods I should avoid?

Im curious what you mean by culture shock, I am not mormon, but I am also the type that only goes out (restaurant, bars, etc) about once a week which it seems like the drive to SLC might be reasonable.

Also I've been wondering if you get alot of door to door Mormon converters? or do they figure that most in the area are already Mormon and dont come-a-knockin? in california, id say that 1/2 the strangers knocking on the door are either Mormons or candy bar/magazine subscription salesmen.

if you can afford it, anywhere on the east bench is the best part of town and closer to the hiking/climbing/biking. you don't want to live anywhere near the historic parts of town, they do tend to be a bit run down. pretty much when you go to see a place you'll know right away if its a decnt area or not. as far as door to door mormons, I've lived in ogden since 09 and the only door to door I've suffered have been baptists, but there are mormon missionaires here so there is always the chance of them stopping by. for the culture shock I've found Ogden to be a lot less culture shock than I did salt lake when I lived there, here most people mormon or not are just like any other people and nothing to be afraid of.

Yep, Scott's right, anything up against the bench will give you the best access to the crags & trails, and is probably your best bet. Downtown isn't too bad either, but the area between (~Harrison Blvd. to Washington Blvd.) is what you'll want to avoid. Mormons, believe it or not, are not all too concerned with non-Mormons. I get a lot more Jehova's Witnesses coming 'round my place leaving the Watchtower for me to clean up.

More on Ogden's demographics: Here

Andrew - I already sent your picture in to LDS Church headquarters. The minute you hit the Utah state line you'll have missionaries on you like white on rice.

Austin Baird wrote:Andrew - I already sent your picture in to LDS Church headquarters. The minute you hit the Utah state line you'll have missionaries on you like white on rice.

There is a section on the Mormon church's website where you can "order" a free Book of Mormon, delivered to your front door by missionaries. Now, I'm not condoning this activity, but it is definitely possible to put friends' information there as a joke, and "sick the missionaries on them." Really fun drunken party activity prank.

Andrew:

I previously lived in SLC and commuted to school In Ogden two days a week. The commute would really suck if you had to do it five days a week during rush hour traffic. That being said there's a light rail system connecting SLC and Ogden. One could potentially ride their bike (during non-Winter months) to central station and take the train to Ogden. And the trains are supposedly wi-fi equipped.

rideuta.com/mc/?page=FrontR…

I really miss living in SLC and having such easy access to diverse climbing (Big, Little, AF, Maple, Uintas, etc) and amazing skiing. IMHO Sugarhouse is a great place to base yourself. Tons of good food options and a Whole Foods within easy biking distance. And Momentum is pretty much a straight shot down I-15.

For me the one big negative was the poor air quality during the Winter.

Austin Baird wrote:Andrew - I already sent your picture in to LDS Church headquarters. The minute you hit the Utah state line you'll have missionaries on you like white on rice.

Did you at least put the travelling stopper in with that?