Unit 157 Ogden, Willard Peak
Steep Wasatch front country above Ogden — roadside general-season deer with a hard-earned public-land elk hunt.
Northern Utah — Ogden Front / Wasatch Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
180
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
4,300–9,764
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Ogden, Willard Peak unit rides the rugged northern Wasatch Range directly above Ogden and the Weber/Box Elder valleys, crowned by Willard Peak (9,764 ft) and Ben Lomond (9,712 ft). It is a Front Range unit — trailheads and canyon roads climb fast into the high country, but the lower and mid slopes are heavily subdivided into private ground, so hunters concentrate on Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest above the valley towns. General-season mule deer draws the crowds; the elk hunt is limited-entry and hard-won, with animals holding in steep, timbered pockets that demand real hiking.
Terrain
Abrupt Wasatch front rising ~5,000 vertical feet from valley floor to peaks in just a few miles; steep canyons (Ogden, Weber, North Fork), knife-ridges and cirques near Willard Peak and Ben Lomond.
Cover: Oak brush, maple and sagebrush on the lower benches; dense conifer, aspen and mountain mahogany on mid slopes; subalpine fir, meadows and rockfields near the summits.
Landmarks: Willard Peak (9,764 ft) · Ben Lomond Peak · Pineview Reservoir · Ogden Canyon · North Fork Park · Snowbasin area
Access
The high country is national forest and generally open, but valley benches and canyon mouths are dominated by private homes, farms and ranchettes. Access is via canyon roads and established trailheads — much of the best elk ground requires long climbs from limited access points. Respect private inholdings; posted subdivisions ring the base of the range.
Managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, private, SITLA
Access points: North Fork Park / Ben Lomond trailhead · Ogden Canyon (SR-39) · Pineview / Trappers Loop area · Willard Basin road (seasonal, rough) · North Ogden Divide
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityGeneral-season unit with solid deer numbers but heavy hunter pressure given its proximity to the Wasatch Front population centers. Mostly young bucks with occasional mature deer in the roughest, least-accessed pockets.
- →Hunt the oak-brush and maple benches at first and last light where deer feed at the private/public edge
- →Push higher and steeper than the crowd — the far basins off Willard Peak and Ben Lomond hold older bucks
- →Glass north-facing timber pockets and aspen stringers midday
- →Late-season storms shove deer down toward the winter range on the benches
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityLimited-entry bull elk unit. Numbers are modest and much of the public land holds few animals, so success rewards hunters willing to hike deep into steep, timbered canyons. Bulls can reach quality class for patient tag-holders.
- →Scout the dense north-facing conifer and aspen pockets where elk bed away from roads
- →Work the high basins and meadow edges at dawn during the rut
- →Be prepared for long, steep pack-outs — access is the limiting factor, not elk
- →Glass the transition between forest and the private benches at dusk
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose occur in the wetter drainages and aspen/willow bottoms of the northern Wasatch; once-in-a-lifetime limited-entry opportunity.
- →Focus on willow-lined creek bottoms and beaver ponds
- →Check aspen and mixed-conifer benches near water in the early season
Cougar
common opportunityHealthy cougar population following the deer herds through the canyon country.
- →Hunt after fresh snow along canyon rims and deer wintering benches
- →Focus on rugged, brushy terrain where deer concentrate
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the oak-brush and berry-rich mid slopes; densities are lower than in the state's premier bear country.
- →Glass oak-brush and serviceberry slopes in late summer and fall
- →Check aspen and creek bottoms near food sources
Pro tips
- →Beat the crowds by out-hiking them — the roadside benches are hammered, the far basins are not.
- →E-scout the private/public boundary carefully; the valley edge is a patchwork of subdivisions.
- →The extended-archery deer program brings lots of bowhunters to the front country all fall.
- →Water and shade dictate animal location in the early season heat.
- →A landowner-permission plan for edge parcels can unlock deer that live half on private ground.
Watch out for
- !Extensive private land at the base of the range — posted subdivisions and ranchettes
- !Heavy hunter pressure from the nearby Wasatch Front metro
- !Steep, unforgiving terrain and long pack-outs from the elk pockets
- !Seasonal, rough high-country roads that close with snow
- !Early-season heat and limited water on exposed slopes
Logistics
Full services in Ogden and Brigham City minutes from the trailheads — this is one of the most accessible units in the state for lodging, fuel and gear. That accessibility cuts both ways: expect company on the mountain, especially opening weekend and on the extended-archery front. High roads like Willard Basin are rough and seasonal.
Nearest towns: Ogden, North Ogden, Willard, Huntsville, Brigham City
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Utah Hunt Planner · Utah Wildlife Forum — Ogden unit access & elk discussion · Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 157 in Utah?
- Unit 157 (Ogden, Willard Peak) covers about 180 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,300 to 9,764 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 157?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF, private, SITLA. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 157?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose, Cougar, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 157 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.