A Cache Stash of Trails
As some locals might say, “It’s gonna be colder than a well-digger’s belt buckle soon.” And “soon” is a relative term.
A Cache Valley winter morning can have students walking to school in 8 degrees below zero. And for those students who are new to Logan and have yet to experience the cold, the best way to survive winters up here is to soak in the good weather right now.
So, how do USU students soak in the sunshine?
Paul Bowman said to hike.
“Hiking into the woods, it’s kind of a centering activity for me,” said Bowman, Outdoor Recreation Center supervisor. “It helps to clear my mind and gives me an overall feeling of well-being.”
According to the Hiking Trail Guide pamphlet, there are about 16 hikes located in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and each hike offers unique features. The Old Juniper hike, for example, offers a terrain for mountain bikers. Another hike, called Temple Fork Sawmill Trail, shows remnants of an old saw mill road first used in 1877 that provided lumber for buildings in Logan. Another unique feature, according to the pamphlet, is more than one trail in Logan Canyon leads to Old Ephraim’s grave, a giant grizzly bear from Cache Valley area.
Connie McCaughey, natural resource manager at Logan Ranger District Office, said the hike she considers one of the most breathtaking is the hike to Naomi Peak, which is a little more than three miles each way.
“Oh my gosh,” she said. “You can see from Smithfield all the way to Providence.”
Since Naomi Peak’s high elevation does not end until reaching 9,979 feet, McCaughey said she actually walked through snowfields during her hike at the end of June. She said this serves as a reminder to always be prepared when hiking. Examples of being adequately prepared, she said, are to wear the right kinds of shoes and bring at least two quarts of water per person.
“I recommend boots for (Naomi Peak) hike,” she said. “But I have passed hikers before without anything except their dog. Sometimes they don’t even have water.”
McCaughey said there is probably only one more month left to hike Naomi Peak before wet and slippery conditions become more apparent. And since those conditions can endanger hikers, McCaughey said to use common sense when deciding the time of year to go.
CRIMSON TRAIL
The distance of the Crimson Trail hike, according to the pamphlet, is three miles one way. Before 1926, this hike was called “Senior Walk” due to Brigham Young College’s graduating class walking this hike. After the school shut down, the school colors of crimson and gold were used to create a new name for the hike. Crimson Trail follows the China Wall located on the south side of the canyon and looks down 600 feet on the Guinavah Campground. The hike is shaped like an upside-down U and can be accessed on either side. The trail is also steep, so McCaughey said she recommends wearing shoes with tread.
“I’ve been on worse than Crimson Trail,” she said. “But there are steep portions, and there’s a straight dropoff. So if you have a fear of heights, make sure you think about that.”
McCaughey even said she once heard of a woman sliding down part of the trail on her butt due to her fear of heights.
WIND CAVES
The Wind Caves Trail begins at an elevation of 5,100 feet and is two miles one way. The destination is a natural cave and triple arch created by wind erosion through the years.
“During the summer, we easily have 50 people per day hike this,” McCaughey said.
Since this trail is used so much, McCaughey said a lot of time is spent working on the trail. Shoes with tread are best for this hike, she said. And since this side of the canyon is warm, rattlesnakes are often seen on or around the trail. The pamphlet states to remind hikers to leave wildlife alone and to not cut through any of the trail’s switchbacks. The pamphlet also offers more instruction on being prepared such as by bringing a water filter for longer hikes and making sure to tell a friend before leaving about how long the hike should typically take.
OLD JUNIPER (COMMONLY CALLED JARDINE JUNIPER TRAIL)
Bowman said one of his personal favorite hikes is Jardine Juniper Trail because of the “easy access and nice view.” The end of the hike offers a view of the Jardine Juniper tree next to a sign that states the tree’s age at 3,200 years old.
McCaughey, however, said some sources differ in how old the tree actually is.
“No one really knows if (3,200 years) is fully accurate,” McCaughey said. “They are giving their best guess.”
McCaughey also said hiking the Jardine Juniper Trail may be easier in the morning.
“There are some exposed slopes that have no shade on them so if it’s late in the day, it can get uncomfortable.”
As a good hiking rule, McCaughey said she recommends planning about an hour per mile for any hike. Since each hike differs in terrain and because hikers normally stop for food or rest, she said not being rushed is important. Planning that much of a “buffer zone,” she said, can buy hikers time in case they run into anything unexpected. And since the Jardine Juniper Trail is 5.8 miles one way at an ending elevation of 7,200 feet, and can take about four hours to complete on average, planning is essential.
The Hiking Guide Trail pamphlet is free and can be picked up at the Logan Ranger District Office. The pamphlet lists all available hikes, the distances and features of each hike, elevations, and trail information on where to start hiking.
For more information, contact the Logan Ranger District Office at 755-3620. For any maintenance problems with trails, please call 755-3626. For information concerning the ORC, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., call 797-3264.
“If you’re studying indoors, with your head in a book, it’s imperative for proper brain function to take a break,” Bowman said. “And when you’re thinking of an issue, hiking gives you clarity of mind.”
-brittny.jo@aggiemail.usu.edu
BEFORE REACHING THE CLIFFS on the Crimson River Trail, a view of Logan Canyon can be seen through the trees. This hike is known for its steepness so bringing shoes with tread will help hikers be more comfortable and be safe.