Three Great Hikes in Logan Canyon

Logan, a moderate-sized town of around 45,000 in Utah’s Cache Valley, is conveniently located to offer a variety of out door activities. There are quite a few hikes available in the area, and Logan Canyon, just east of Logan, offers a great deal on the way of hikes. Many of them are intermediate hikes, but there are some easy hikes as well as some difficult hikes. Here are three great hikes in Logan Canyon, one for each skill level.

Riverside Trail. This trail is one of the easiest hikes in the canyon. It offers a beautiful look at the lush plant growth that makes its home in Logan Canyon. The Logan River is the river that cut the canyon from solid stone over millions of years, and this is the river the trail follows. The hike is especially enjoyable during late September and early October, when the leaves are turning and add a great deal of color to the canyon. The trail is often close to Highway 89 (which runs through the canyon), but because of the thick plant growth, it is barely noticeable. The trail begins at the canyon’s mouth and then follow up to Guivanah-Malibu Campground. There are access points at Spring Hollow Campground and Bridger Campground.

Jardine Juniper. For an intermediate hike of close to nine miles, the trail to the Jardine Juniper provides a great workout among beautiful scenery. The trail not only affords the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful foliage (and, again, the fall foliage is especially nice), but it also provides a look at the beautiful Bear River Range mountains. The Bear River Range is so-named due to the Bear River, which flows through the Cache Valley in addition to the Logan River. The trail ends at the Jardine Juniper, a twisted and tenacious tree, which has lived to the venerable age of three thousand years. The tree is well-worth seeing, and the hike is worth the trouble. The trail is accessed at the Wood Campground turn-off, ten miles up the canyon from Logan.

Naomi Peak. This is a challenge for most hikers, but one that is more than worth over coming. The trail is only about six and a half miles long (shorter than Jardine), but it has elevation changes of 1,920 feet. Naomi Peak is the highest point in the Bear River Range, and is a very rugged mountain. There are a variety of views available during the hike, and the most interesting peaks in the Bear River Range can be seen from Naomi’s summit. July and August offer a beautiful crop of wildflowers to enjoy while you climb, including paintbrushes, lupines, geraniums, mountain sunflowers, daisies, and columbines. The trail can be accessed at Tony Grove Lake, and it is important to bear left at the fork that appears shortly after you begin the hike. For an interesting side trip, head from the peak two and a half miles to High Creek Lake (take the right-hand fork at the split a mile in).