Logan canyon sites

Here's what and where in Logan Canyon - starting from the west side (Logan) and going to the east (Bear Lake side). There are obviously more things to do/see than are listed here, but these are things that caught my eye. (There's not room to list everything anyway.) This long list should convince you to never complain about that "long" canyon road again. In fact, just knowing what's in the canyon and where it has made the drive seem a lot shorter for me.

All mileage should be considerd approximate with the Lady Bird rest stop being the starting point. R.S. and L.S. are abbreviations for right and left side road locations.(Some non-tourist locations are listed as reference points only.) - Lynn Arave

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1. Lady Bird rest stop (0 miles, R.S.) Clean restrooms, a nice water fountain, a bird's-eye view of the River Heights area of Logan and a smart pre-canyon stop if you've already driven a long way.

2. First Dam (.5 miles, R.S.) Small park and fishing.

3. Hydro Park (.5 miles, L.S.) Small park.

4. Logan canal. (1.8 miles, L.S.) The most popular entry point for tubing participants. (Starts near a green pipe.) The ride is slow out of the canyon, and the water is very cold, but the canal is open with no tunnels to go through.

5. Second Dam (2.5 miles, R.S.) Fishing.

6. Logan City power plant (2.6 miles, R.S.).

7. Xanadu Lodge (3.0, R.S.) This historic structure was converted to a restaurant but is now up for sale and not in use.

8. Bridger Campground (3.3 miles, R.S.) A great lower elevation/early season (May-October) site for picnics or camping (11 units) at 5,000 feet above sea level. (Some summer homes are close by, too.)

9. Geological sign (4.0 miles, L.S.) Tells about ancient Lake Bonneville and points out the old lake's shoreline across the canyon in the Spring Hollow area.

10. Third Dam (4.0, R.S.) Fishing.

11. Spring Hollow Campground Area (4.4 miles, R.S.) Camping (16 units)/picnic area. Fishing is very popular off the narrow bridge at the entrance.

The three-mile Crimson Trail starts in this area and continues along some steep cliffs, ending near the amphitheatre in the Malibu-Guinavah campround (located a mile up the canyon).

Several other nearby trailheads lead on long hikes to Logan Peak, Providence Canyon and Millville Canyon.

12. Logan City drinking water supply (5.0 miles, R.S.). Just a clearing with visible concrete sections, but it's a good parking place for Wind Cave trail hikers.

13. Wind Cave (5.0 miles, L.S.) This cave, high above the canyon floor, can be seen from the DeWitt Campground. A rugged 1.5-mile trail, improved in 1977, provides access. The cave is actually a triple arch, part of the "China Wall" rock formation, a cavernous rock formed by wind and water erosion.

The Wind Cave trail continues on to North Logan, to Green Canyon or Mount Jardine.

14. DeWitt Campground (5.0 miles, R.S.) Has camping (five units) and picnic facilities, too. At 5,200 feet above sea level, the sign for this campground was taken by vandals. Only the two support posts remain.

15. Malibu-Guinavah Campground (5.3 miles, R.S.). This is the MOST heavily used lower-elevation camping area. It has 48 units. It also contains an amphitheatre, picnic areas and hiking access.

16. Brown's Roll Off Picnic Area (6.8 miles, R.S.) has three picnic-only areas.

17. Card Picnic Area (7.1 miles, R.S.) has two picnic units at 5,400-foot elevation.

18. Card Canyon (7.3 miles, R.S.) A dirt road that leads to Canyon Spring and also a trailhead to Blacksmith Fork Canyon.

19. Card Ranger Station (7.3 miles, L.S.) is an old station where two rangers live. (The station is NOT continually manned.)

20. Pine Bluffs summer home area (7.7 miles, R.S.)

21. Chokecherry Picnic Area (7.8 miles, R.S.) Three picnic sites at 5,400-foot elevation.

22. Preston Valley Campground (8.2 miles, R.S.) Has nine campground-picnic areas.

23. Geological sign (8.9 miles, L.S.) Describes the "fucoidal quartzite" found to the left of the sign - a 400 million-year-old seaweedlike structure left by ancient marine worms.

24. Right Fork (9.2 miles, R.S.) No. "047" road (this number corresponds to Forest Service Maps). A paved road leads past "Tea Pot" Rock. This rock formation is about one-half mile off the main highway and can be found by looking through a "spotting scope" on the right side. The "Lion's Head" rock formation is reportedly in this same area but is not easily found.

The road forks after another half-mile and neither fork is paved. The No. 055 road dead ends quickly, while No. 047 heads past a girls' camp and also "Lodge Campground" (10 units). It then travels to Crowley Canyon and eventually leads to Blacksmith Fork Canyon (10 miles) and Temple Fork access.

There are many hiking trails and other dirt roads in this area, also a popular snowmobiling location.

"Old Ephraim's Grave," a 4.5 ton native stone (9 feet 11 inches tall), marking the final resting spot of one of the biggest grizzly bears ever, is also found along an unpaved side road between Logan and Blacksmith Fork canyons.

Ephraim roamed the area for many years killing cattle, sheep and wildlife until he was shot by Frank Clark of Malad, Idaho, in August 1923.

The marker represents the bear's true height, but his actual weight was believed to be 1,100 pounds. (The bear's skull is found in the Smithsonian Institiute.)

The grave marker was erected by Logan area Boy Scouts in 1966 and includes a poem about the infamous bear.

Portions of the road are packed with clay and so caution is advised in wet weather.

25. China Row Campround (10.0 miles, R.S.) Four camping/picnic areas at 5,600 feet above sea level.

26. Wood Camp (10.2 miles, L.S.) Is found to the right of the Juniper Jardine Road and only a few hundred yards off the Logan Canyon Highway. Has six camping-picnic units.

27. Juniper Jardine Trailhead (10.3 miles, L.S.) Take the middle fork dirt road that goes 100 yards past Wood Camp and leads to an unmarked trailhead with a horse loading area.

A rugged 1.5-mile-long hike starts here that zigzags up 2,000 vertical feet to the great, 3,200-year-old "Juniper Jardine" - believed to be the oldest and largest of its kind. It was discovered in 1923. It is named for William T. Jardine, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (1925-29) and a Utah State graduate. It's more than 44 feet high and almost 27 feet wide.

(The trail to the tree can be difficult to follow and confusing side trails lead to Tony Grove, not the tree!)

28. Logan Cave (11.9 miles, L.S.) A deep, 2,000-foot-long cavern that can just barely be seen from the highway. Parking is a real problem, with sites available for only two cars on the right side of the road (across where the cave's water output crosses the road) and one car spot on the left across from the cave itself. (More parking is available 300 yards up the canyon on the left side near a small bridge.)

The Forest Service is aware of the cave's parking problem and is awaiting the outcome of proposed improvements for U.S. 89 prior to any work being done.

The cave entrance can be seen from the highway. It's a 150-yard hike (50-foot climb) to the cave entrance. The cave itself varies from 5-10 feet wide with a ceiling height between 30 and 100 feet. It has three levels and in normal water years has a stream flowing out of it that can be knee-deep in spots. (It was dry at the cave entrance last summer.)

The cave was formed by the seepage of water through limestone and has a year-round temperature of about 50 degrees.

Allow five hours for a round trip to all three cave levels. The walk is not smooth. There are many big boulders to cross over or slide by.

Most geological features in the cave have been destroyed by vandals, and litter and graffiti have been cave problems too.

29. Temple Fork (14.9 miles, R.S.) is a dirt road (No. 007) named after pioneers got wood from here to help build the Logan LDS Temple. The road is almost exactly halfway up the canyon and is good enough in the summer for an average car. It leads to the Temple Springs trailhead, to "Chicken Guzzler" and "Mud Flat" and connects with Right Fork road and also Blacksmith Fork Canyon. A good snowmobile area, too.

30. "The Dugway" (13.2 miles, L.S.) Referred to by many the spot in the canyon where the Logan River flows more than 100 feet below the road. The highway is steep and narrow in this stretch, too.

31. Ricks Spring (15.4 miles, L.S.) There's no sign here thanks to vandalism. There's also no drinking water or restroom, but it's still a pretty midcanyon stop with a small cavern.

However, Ricks Spring is NOT really a spring. It is mainly a diversion of the Logan River with a little mountain snowmelt mixed in.

The Forest Service hopes to develop this area in the future as more of a tourist attraction.

32. First cattleguard (17.1 miles). Speed limit also increases from 35 to 55.

33. Utah State Management Development Center (9.5 miles, R.S.)

34. Tony Grove Side Road (19.2 miles, L.S.) A 7-mile paved but winding road that climbs 2,300 feet (and passes through several cattle grazing areas) to beautiful Tony Grove Lake (8,100-foot elevation) and a very busy campground (36 units).

The road en route passes by a fork to the USU Forestry Field Station and also to the Lewis M. Turner Campground (10 units).

Tony Grove is only open July-September. It is also a popular snowmobile area.

There are several small caves above the lake and trailheads lead to the Mount Naomi Peak Wilderness Area, to Smithfield and even to Franklin, Idaho, as well as many other Logan Canyon locations.

35. Red Banks Campground (20.2, L.S.)

36. Second cattle guard (20.8 miles).

37. Beaver Mountain Ski Road Junction (24.2 miles, L.S.) No. 110 road goes to the ski resort and also connects with the Sink Hollow dirt road and Beaver Creek Road.

38. Dirt roads (24.2 miles, R.S.) Stump Hollow, Amazon Hollow and North Sink dirt roads. (Crosses some private land.)

39. Dirt road (27.9 miles, R.S.) Leads to Middle Sink. Also snowmobile area. (Also, a UDOT storage shed, yard, L.S.)

40. Middle Sink (29.7 miles, L.S.) Popular snowmobile area.

41. Bear Lake Summit sign (30.2 miles, L.S.) is at 7,800-foot elevation and marks the entrance into Rich County.

42. Lumberpine Trailhead (30.3 miles, R.S.) is usable from July-September with plenty of parking and restrooms available. Has a 12-station, 30-minute, loop nature/forest walk. Pick up a pamphlet at the start of the trail on the right-hand side. Trail returns on the left side.

43. Sunrise Campground (31.0 miles, R.S.) Has 27 units and is heavily used all summer.

44. Bear Lake Overlook (31.1 miles, R.S.) A loop turnoff that offers the first bird's-eye views of Bear Lake from a 7,568-foot meadow. Good parking with new signs that explain the history and geology of the lake.

45. Bear Lake, (37.1) about 5,900-foot elevation. This lake is almost 20 miles long, from 4 to 8 miles in width and is as much as 208 feet deep on the east side. Half the lake in Utah.

Utah has Rendezvous State Park Beach on the south end, just past the rest stop, while Idaho has North Beach State Park.

Great for fishing, boating and swimming. The lake contains "cisco" fish, found nowhere else in the world.

Here is a link to a map of hikes in Logan Canyon.

Wood’s Ranch Recreation Area & Kids Pond

Open late May through September. Located 12 miles east of Cedar City on Hwy- 14. Two pavilions are available for groups. A nice area for picnics, volleyball and hiking (Virgin River Rim Trailhead). The Kids Pond is available to kids 12 and under for free and must be accompanied by an adult with a valid Utah fishing license.

Old Irontown

Old Iron Town, located about 25 miles west of Cedar City, tells the incredible story of southern Utah’s historic mining industry.  During the 1850’s, Mormon pioneer leader Brigham Young sent several families to the Cedar City area to establish an iron works.  During the 1870’s, Iron City (Old Iron Town) was established as Iron County’s second attempt at mining iron.  The establishment had a schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, a foundry and charcoal kiln.  While Iron City seemed prosperous at the time, it only operated for seven years, closing due to the lack of sufficient transportation for the iron ore and the money panic of 1874.

While visiting the park, one can tour the ruins of the iron works and a preserved beehive shaped charcoal oven and stroll along the nature trail.  Before embarking on your journey to Old Iron Town, visitors are strongly encouraged to first stop by the Frontier Homestead State Park Museum in Cedar City to obtain a better understanding of the area and to pick up a self guided tour brochure.

Hiking
There are two easy hikes through the Old Iron Town ruins. Also, several hiking trails can be found in the nearby Pine Valley section of Dixie National Forest.  A list of Pine Valley hikes can be found at  www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie

Old Iron Town Ruins
A short ¼ mile trail with interpretive plaques describing the significance of the ruins including the kiln, furnace and foundry area and the Erastra (grinding stone).

Nature Trail
A short ¼ mile trail that includes information about the area’s vegetation and leads to the remnants of a pioneer cabin.

Fishing
Newcastle Reservoir is just 10 miles west of Old Iron Town along Hwy 56 (follow the signs). The lake is stocked with trout and bass. There is also unimproved camping areas and a boat ramp.

Mountain Meadow Historic Site
An interesting side trip for history buffs. Mountain Meadows is a memorial site for a massacre that occurred on September 11, 1857 between The Fancher Party Wagon Train and local settlers.  To get there, head west on Hwy 56 to Hwy 18 and proceed south on Hwy 18 for about 10 miles to the site.

Getting There
From Cedar City head west on Hwy U-56 for approximately 20 miles. Turn south onto Old Iron Town Rd. Travel this gravel road for approximately five miles to the ruins located on the left hand side.
Distance From Cedar City
25 miles

Entrance Fees
Free. Open all year, daylight hours only.

Season/ Operation Hours
Old Iron Town is open year-round but use caution getting there in the winter months. Old Irontown is only open to the public during daylight hours.  No staff are on the premises.

Camping
Old Iron Town has restrooms and a small, covered picnic area. There are no campgrounds however, primitive camping is available at Newcastle Reservoir further west and developed campgrounds are available in Cedar City.

More Info

Frontier Homestead State Park Museum
635 N. Main
Cedar City, UT 84720
435-586-9290
www.frontierhomestead.org

Aspen Mirror Trail

This short but scenic trail brings you to Aspen Mirror Lake, a small mountain lake. The lake is surrounded by Aspen trees, making this a spectacular destination in the fall. Cameras are a must! Though the lake is not very large it is stocked with rainbow trout providing some fishing opportunities.

Directions: Directions from Cedar City -Take Highway 14 east for 29.5 miles. One-half mile after mile marker 29 turn left at the Aspen Mirror junction sign on FS Road # 30057. The trailhead is located at the end of the road. (Coming from the cabin, just past Duck Creek Village on the right)

Bountiful Lake

1.3 mi loop
easy
spring, summer , fall

Bountiful Lake truly has something for everyone. This easy, paved path follows the shoreline of the lake and features interpretive signage, fishing docks, and plenty of shady spots to sit and take in the beautiful scenery. With the exception of a short section on the north side of the lake, the entire trail is paved and accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.

Trailhead

Bountiful Lake is located just west of Legacy Parkway near Bountiful, Utah:

From Legacy Parkway, take Exit 4 for 500 South.
Turn west and then immediately north onto the frontage road.
Continue on the frontage road for 2.1 miles.
Turn east into the signed parking area for Bountiful Lake (40.907115, -111.920646).
There are restroom facilities and a non-motorized boat launch ramp at the parking area.

The Hike

From the parking area, begin walking down the paved path heading south around the shore of the lake. This area is beautifully maintained and features numerous benches and spots along the shore to sit down and fish or just take in the scenery.

Fishing docks are located along the east and south shores. Continue hiking past the docks as the path winds along the shore through tall stands of pampas grass. After about 0.8 miles, the trail reaches a metal footbridge over the outlet of the lake on the far west end (40.907054, -111.929395). Beyond the bridge, the paved trail ends.

You may continue along the unimproved path that passes several more benches by the lake; however, it can sometimes be muddy and wet. If you want to keep your feet dry, you may follow the paved trail onto a gravel road that follows the north side of the lake. Walk east on the gravel road for about a quarter mile until you reach a gate on the right that reconnects to the paved path and returns to the parking area. Alternately, if you wish to stay on paved trails, you can simply turn around at the foot bridge and return the way you came.

Walking distance for the loop is about 1.3 miles, or 1.8 miles to the bridge and back the same way.

Rules & Regulations

Keep dogs on leash.
Clean up after pets.
No littering.
No camping.
No motorized watercraft.
No fires.
A valid Utah fishing license is required if you plan to fish.
Closed from 10 p.m.-6 a.m.

Special Considerations

During warmer weather, bugs can be a problem. Wear appropriate clothing or use insect repellent as needed.

USU Botanical Center (Kaysville)

easy
year round

The USU Botanical Center in Kaysville is home to a network of family friendly walking trails in a beautiful wetland environment. The botanical center is home to several large ponds that are rich with wildlife and surrounded by tall grasses and beautiful gardens.

This hike is suitable for children and adults of all skill levels.

Trailhead

875 South 50 West
Kaysville, UT

(41.019761,-111.940473)

From I-15, take Exit 328 for 200 North.
Drive east a few blocks on 200 North and turn right onto Main Street.
Turn right onto 50 West and continue one mile to the parking area on the right.
Restrooms are located near the pavilion at the north end of the parking area.

The Hike

The route options at the botanical center are plentiful. You can basically choose a path and just start walking. All but the south pond have trails around their perimeters, making it easy to put together loops and cover more ground. Most of the trails are wide, well-graded gravel paths. Combined distance of all trails is roughly 1.5 miles.

Be sure to walk through Garden View Pavilion at the north end of the parking area where you will find extensive information about the wetlands and the role these ponds play in the larger Great Salt Lake ecosystem. There is also a beautiful 9/11 Memorial near the pavilion. You can find more information on the botanical center on the west side of the ponds at Wetland Discovery Point, the large structure on the north end of the botanical center.

Fishing

Fishing is popular here as well. You can fish from one of the many docks, benches, and shore access points. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources stocks the ponds with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish and Rainbow Trout. Largemouth bass should be voluntarily released to help improve this community fishery. Be sure to check current fishing regulations before heading out.

Rules and Regulations

Park hours are sunrise to sunset.
Open to foot traffic and bicycles only.
No motorized vehicles.
No swimming.
All pets must be on leash.
Clean up after pets.