HomeUtahLayton › Fernwood Recreation Site

Fernwood Recreation Site

4.7 ★★★★★ 376 Google reviews · Running trail in Layton, Utah · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Fernwood Recreation Site's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ShadedScenicDog-friendlyHillyRestroomsWaterTrailhead parking

Trails lead up the hills to a picnic site overlooking the city at this public recreation area.

What runners say about Fernwood Recreation Site

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (376 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 14 mentions

“Beautiful shady picnic areas with a trailhead accessing the shoreline trail and other beautiful shady trails that cross Creeks in multiple different places.”

🏃 great for running 3 mentions

“One of my favorite trails to walk, jog or run on.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Beautiful shady picnic areas with a trailhead accessing the shoreline trail and other beautiful shady trails that cross Creeks in multiple different places.”

👟 good for all levels 3 mentions

“Great views, intermittent shade, and easy trail.”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 3 mentions

“Dog-friendly, you can hike, bike, or even snowshoe (from what I understand.”

This is a very nice trail but you have to time it right when there are not a lot of people and dogs around if you want peace and quiet. I love this trail.

★★★★★ — Joan , Jun 2023

Fyi, there is a single stall bathroom and a drinking fountain in the parking lot if that is important to you. Lol. Great views, intermittent shade, and easy trail. Some parts are uneven and v shaped/ steep sides as you walk. Small river and bridge if you go the right way.

★★★★☆ — Jodi , Jun 2017

What a great hike! Easy enough that just about anyone can do it, yet enough of a challenge to keep it fun! It's beautiful any time of year! Dog-friendly, you can hike, bike, or even snowshoe (from what I understand. I've never personally gone snowshoeing)

★★★★★ — Hayley , Mar 2023

Great place for beginners looking to TRY hiking!! Easy beaten paths and lots of winding trails!

★★★★☆ — Dominique , Apr 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 376 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 24 mentions

“Beautiful shady picnic areas with a trailhead accessing the shoreline trail and other beautiful shady trails that cross Creeks in multiple different places.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 8 mentions

“This is a very nice trail but you have to time it right when there are not a lot of people and dogs around if you want peace and quiet.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 7 mentions

“You get a mix of down hill and up hill, and there are several streams and small waterfalls!”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 6 mentions

“Beautiful shady picnic areas with a trailhead accessing the shoreline trail and other beautiful shady trails that cross Creeks in multiple different places.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“Beautiful shady picnic areas with a trailhead accessing the shoreline trail and other beautiful shady trails that cross Creeks in multiple different places.”

More trails like this →

🚻 Restrooms

“Fyi, there is a single stall bathroom and a drinking fountain in the parking lot if that is important to you.”

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🚰 Water fountains

“Fyi, there is a single stall bathroom and a drinking fountain in the parking lot if that is important to you.”

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Plan your run at Fernwood Recreation Site

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitefs.usda.gov
  • Phone+1 801-451-4150
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 7 am–10 pm
Tuesday 7 am–10 pm
Wednesday 7 am–10 pm
Thursday 7 am–10 pm
Friday 7 am–10 pm
Saturday 7 am–10 pm
Sunday 7 am–10 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Fernwood Recreation Site

3333 Fernwood Cir, Layton, UT 84040

Get directions

Running trails near Layton

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 51 reviews

Layton, UT

Scenic

Popular and wildlife-rich hiking trail running from Salt Lake City to Ogden.

under a mile away

Fernwood trail

4.9 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Layton, UT

under a mile away

Great Western Trail / Bonneville Shoreline Trail

4.9 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

Layton, UT

under a mile away

Kays Creek Parkway

4.6 ★★★★★ 300 reviews

Layton, UT

PavedScenic

This 100-acre area includes 2.5 mi. of paved trail, 4 trailheads & wildlife-information placards.

1.5 miles away

Adams Canyon Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,211 reviews

Layton, UT

Natural surfaceShadedScenicDog-friendly

Challenging outing on a sandy-and-rocky trail to a waterfall and other cascades.

1.5 miles away

Adams Canyon Lower Falls - Access by Adams Canyon main trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 350 reviews

Layton, UT

1 miNatural surfaceShadedScenic

Kid-friendly hiking area featuring a waterfall and a mix of wide and narrow paths.

1.6 miles away

All running trails in Layton, UT →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.