128 acres near Snowbasin protected from future development

Conservation easement preserves forested Ogden Canyon property near Pineview Reservoir

OGDEN CANYON, Utah — Nearly 129 acres of forested land near Snowbasin Resort and Pineview Reservoir have been permanently protected from residential and commercial development through a partnership between Summit Land Conservancy and Ogden Valley Land Trust.

The 128.6-acre property rises above State Route 39 along the Ogden River Scenic Byway, approximately 2 miles from Snowbasin and half a mile downstream from Pineview Reservoir. Known as the Keith and Belinda Rounkles Ogden Canyon Conservancy, the land includes wooded slopes, high-elevation ridgelines, rock formations and four seasonal streams.

A conservation easement removes development rights from the property while allowing Keith and Belinda Rounkles to retain ownership and use the land as family open space, according to an Aug. 13 announcement from the two land trusts.

The easement comes as residential and resort-oriented development moves farther into Ogden Valley, increasing the value of undeveloped land near Snowbasin and Pineview Reservoir, the organizations said.

“This is exactly why partnerships like this matter,” Summit Land Conservancy CEO Cheryl Fox said. “Ogden Valley Land Trust knows this landscape and these landowners incredibly well, and Summit Land Conservancy brings additional capacity and expertise to help get projects across the finish line.”

The property provides habitat and travel corridors for mule deer, moose, turkeys, California quail, dusky grouse, and other wildlife. Its proximity to U.S. Forest Service land helps connect it to surrounding habitat, the release said.

Four seasonal streams carry snowmelt and stormwater through the property toward the Ogden River. The land trusts said the property’s forested slopes and intact soils help filter runoff, limit erosion and protect water quality in the Ogden River and the larger Weber River watershed.

The conservation project grew from a July 2024 agreement between the Park City-based Summit Land Conservancy and Ogden Valley Land Trust. Under the partnership, the organizations pursue and jointly hold conservation easements in Ogden Valley.

The arrangement combines Ogden Valley Land Trust’s relationships with local landowners and Summit Land Conservancy’s legal, fundraising, conservation, and stewardship experience.

“Working with Summit Land Conservancy allows us to bring more resources to the table and help landowners turn their interest in conservation into permanent protection,” Ogden Valley Land Trust trustee Kirk Langford said. “This project is a great example of what we can accomplish together.”

A property tied to Ogden Canyon history

The protected land has been connected to the Rounkles family and The Oaks restaurant for decades.

The Oaks was established in 1907 as one of several small resort businesses created after transit lines brought visitors into Ogden Canyon for fishing, recreation, and lodging. After repeated flooding, the business moved to its current location in 1933.

Keith and Belinda Rounkles purchased The Oaks and the surrounding property in 1981. They operated the restaurant for 44 years.

Although lower portions of the larger property were developed for commercial and overnight lodging, the 128.6 acres covered by the conservation easement remained undeveloped. The family used the land for hiking, camping, and other low-impact recreation.

“Ogden Canyon has been our home for nearly 50 years and a defining part of our lives,” the Rounkles said in a joint statement. “Stewardship of this land, river and wildlife is a duty our family carries deeply.”

The family said the easement will protect the property’s natural character and preserve opportunities for future generations to learn from and experience the landscape.

“Nature has taught us invaluable life lessons, and we believe preserving this terrain creates vital learning opportunities for generations to come,” they said.

The easement is the first conservation project announced through the formal partnership between the two land trusts. Another Ogden Valley property is nearing permanent protection, according to the organizations, though they did not provide its location, acreage, or anticipated completion date.

Fox said completing a conservation easement can require extensive fundraising, legal work and technical expertise.

“Saving land is a team sport,” she said. “It takes willing landowners, local partners, funding, expertise and a lot of patience.”

Summit Land Conservancy was founded in Park City in 1998 and holds 65 conservation easements, the organization says. Ogden Valley Land Trust, also established in 1998, says it holds easements covering approximately 8,000 acres in the valley.