Discover Logan Canyon

Beautiful Logan Canyon is an excellent family-friendly destination for adventure and fun, with several great hiking opportunities perfect for young hikers. Many popular hiking trails are located near Stokes Nature Center, in the heart of the Logan Canyon Children’s Forest.

The Logan Canyon Children’s Forest is dedicated to educating children and adults of all ages by connecting them to their national forests. Public awareness is enhanced through education and resources offered by Stokes Nature Center. Located one mile up beautiful Logan Canyon on the Logan River, this 3,000 square-foot lodge was constructed in 1924, and has been in continuous operation since 1997 as a non-profit environmental education and public interpretive center. Stokes Nature Center provides programs to help visitors of all ages discover the wonders of nature. As the only nature center in Cache Valley, Stokes Nature Center offers a variety of high-quality, hands-on programs for school children, community groups, families, and the general public. These programs provide information, discovery, and exploration of the natural world. Logan Canyon offers a wide variety of trails all located within the canyon walls, from short hour-long hikes to all-day experiences.  

One of the best trails for young families is the 5.4-mile River Trail which follows the Logan River and provides access to Stokes Nature Center. It’s a gentle grade, stroller friendly, and has several access points so families can tailor their hike to the distance they’d like. Limber Pine, an easy 1.3-mile loop trail near the Bear Lake Summit, is a great kid adventure. The Temple Fork Sawmill trail is relatively easy, and is 2.5 miles (one-way) to the site of the sawmill built in 1877. For families with older children looking for more adventure, the 3.5-mile (one-way) hike to Wind Cave offers a little more challenge, but is rewarded with spectacular views.  

Tony Grove is an adventure enthusiast’s summer paradise. This high elevation lake sits at 8,050 feet. The area offers many hiking options, including Naomi Peak and White Pine Lake. Naomi Peak is a 3.3-mile (one-way) hike and is the highest peak in the Bear River Range with an elevation of 9979 feet. The views from the peak are well worth the trek. The 3.8-mile (one-way) White Pine Lake Trail leads to a beautiful lake nestled in a cirque between Mt. Magog and Mt. Gog. There are several lakeside backcountry campsites perfect for a quick overnight backpack adventure.  

The Jardine Juniper is approximately 1,500 years old, which makes it the oldest tree in the entire Rocky Mountain range. The hike to this juniper is just under six miles one way, but the journey to this grandmother tree is extravagant and full of majestic beauty. Meadows full of color lie between trees that are obvious descendants of Jardine. The Jardine Juniper didn’t make this hike easy by any means. It rises 1,800 feet, but is spread over six miles, the climbing is dispersed well and the reward at the end is experiencing the mighty tree.  

Camping is brilliant in Logan Canyon and is ideal for multi-day adventures. Spring Hollow Campground offers family-friendly fishing access, a beautiful spring to visit, and access to several trails right from the campground. Sunrise Campground offers excellent views of Bear Lake, close proximity to the Limber Pine Nature Trail, and it’s just a short drive to Bear Lake for an afternoon swim or a raspberry shake. 

Bear Lake is a must-do destination on your summer adventure list! Often referred to as “The Caribbean of the Rockies” due to its aqua-blue color, this natural freshwater lake gets it color from limestone minerals suspended in the waters. Bear Lake is often a week-long destination for families as a multitude of water activities abound including boating, water skiing, standup paddle boarding, fishing and more. Cisco Beach is known for its steep, rocky scuba diving adventures in summer and midwinter Bonneville Cisco fishing. The sandy beaches on the northern side are family favorites. Access depends on water level, and with the recent big snow year, many of the beaches may be limited. Rendezvous Beach State Park on the south end offers day use, water recreation rentals and camping.  

Whether you’re renting a cabin or covered wagon (Conestoga Ranch), pitching a tent, or driving an RV, there are plenty of places to hike, bike, OHV and golf right out your front door!  

Near Bear Lake on the Utah/Idaho border, the Minnetonka Caves are the largest limestone rock caves in the area. In the heat of the summer, this cool, cavernous is the perfect hour-long respite from summer heat. Tours involve a fully guided walk and are suitable for most families. Just down the road, Bloomington Lake, is a great spot for an afternoon of swimming, fishing and hiking. This high-elevation (8,200 ft), crystal-clear, glacier-fed lake is the perfect spot to cool off mid-summer. The hike is under a mile, and winds through meadows of wildflowers and a smaller lake before reaching the final destination.  

LoganCanyonHiking.com ~ ExploreLogan.com  ~ BearLake.org  

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Logan Canyon’s trails are located on National Forest System lands, and maintenance of the trails plays an essential part in guaranteeing everyone receives the most out of their visit. If your family is looking to give back and mix some service into your adventure, volunteer opportunities are endless within the canyon during the summer season. From trail clearing to building a fence, opportunities are available through the Logan Ranger District. 435-755-3620 -  Lisa Thompson is the Volunteer and Partnership Coordinator for the Logan and Ogden Ranger Districts