‘We just want to be alone’
The locals have their secrets.
Ted Kyriopoulos would not divulge his number one spot for romantic seclusion, but only said the best part is being able to drink the fresh spring water there. Kyriopoulos, a senior in marketing, said Cache Valley is full of secret spots to go with a significant other.
The most important thing to remember, Kyriopoulos said, is to be creative. Rather than just hike or drive to a location, he said to come prepared with something more such as a guitar for playing, snacks for a picnic, or even a book of poetry to share aloud.
The Green Door at the mouth of Logan Canyon is one spot Kyriopoulos said was the top of his list. Located about 100 yards east of First Dam, a path leads up to a tunnel built into the side of the mountain. A green door used to be at the end of the tunnel, leading the way into what Kyriopoulos said is a must-see.
“The reason the Green Door brings so much intrigue is that what is on the other side of the door is truly the mystery,” he said. “The anticipation buildup, the darkness, all these things contribute to girls really having to put their trust in you. I don’t know if I dare divulge the mystery and secret of what lies on the other side of the door, but let’s just say it’s a good place to see the stars.”
Not all romantic ideas work out, though. Kyriopoulos said he took one girl up to the Green Door who was “scared to death” of the dark. Because she wouldn’t walk through the dark tunnel to get to the door, he said his plan of looking at the stars from a unique location fell through.
“Avoid [this spot] during the new moon because it may be a little too dark, too dark even for you as a tour guide to find your way through the dark unless you are an experienced traveler,” he said.
Kyriopoulos said although it may take away from the adventure, he suggests bringing a flashlight to help the situation.
Kyriopoulos also said hiking to the top of the Wellsville Mountains to the Wellsville Cone offers the unique view of seeing Cache Valley and Brigham City on opposites sides of each other. An artesian spring is also piped through this location, and Kyriopoulos said it’s entertaining to drink artesian water from a mountain and have a picnic there in the middle of the day.
Melissa Anderson, a senior in exercise science, said she is a big skier, so her favorite place to spend time as a couple is Beaver Mountain.
“Views like that take your breath away,” she said.
Being on the top of a mountain help take you out of the busy world, and Anderson also said the setting helps the focus to be only on the couple and the conversation.
In fact, Anderson said being on top of the Beaver Mountain or the Wellsville Mountains just before dusk is best when it is just one couple.
“Nature is surreal, and it makes conversation easy,” Anderson said. “When you’re in a double-date setting, you don’t get to know the person as well,” Anderson said.
Lisa Hansen, a senior in physical education, said a nostalgic spot for her is “Spirit Bridge.” Located at the edge of Logan High campus behind the baseball field, Spirit Bridge serves as the spot to become a true Grizzly during Homecoming. Since the only busy time for this area is Logan High’s Homecoming Week, Hansen said most days serve as a private nook where there is room to set out a blanket, look at the stars and not be bothered.
A spot where Hansen said she has only been to once is the bottom of Cliffside bench in Logan. Although Hansen said this spot right off Center Street offers a great view of the valley, the one bench is always taken and too many people can drive by. Since she can see the bench from her house, Hansen said it provides her with good entertainment.
“I always see different couples sitting there either making out, sharing a blanket, looking at the stars, and my favorite thing to do is to yell, ‘Yeah, get some!'”
While First Dam at the mouth of Logan Canyon offers room for walking or star-gazing, Hansen said the outings are often interrupted by cops patrolling the area or by extra traffic driving by.
A spot that offers less traffic is above Hyrum Dam, and Hansen said the best view of the valley can be seen from there.
“Bring a sweet CD and possibly a blanket,” Hansen said. “Just make sure you know the person and don’t get caught in a bad situation.”
-britg@cc.usu.edu