A beautiful view rewards a muddy hike to White Pine Lake
The White Pine Lake Trail is a moderate hike up Logan Canyon that ends up at White Pine Lake. To get to the trail, go 19 miles up U.S. 89 and turn left at the Tony Grove turnoff, then turn left again following the road toward Tony Grove Lake. It is seven miles from the turn off to the trailhead.
The drive up to that lake is worth the time, but the adventurous who want to go on to White Pine Lake need to know what they are getting into. Hikers will need good shoes, warm clothing, water and food. The distance of the hike is not completely clear. Different books and Web sites say it is anywhere from three miles to 7.8 miles round-trip, but on the trail, a sign says 3.8 miles from the trailhead to the lake.
Tony Grove Lake is southwest of the parking lot, where the toll is $3 to park. From there, the trailhead is on the north side.
The hike is not extremely steep, but right now it is snow-covered and muddy. The trail goes through meadows and a few groves of pine trees. It gives you a great view of the mountains to the west. Hikers should plan for enough time to get in and out before dark, especially this late in the year. It gets really cold after the sun goes down. It takes a good two hours to get in – longer in the snow – and another two hours to get out.
There will be a fork in the trail about a mile in, but the sign is broken and doesn’t say which way to go. Go right, the Naomi Peak Trail is to the left.
The hike curves around and comes to the high point about 2.9 miles in. The elevation there is approximately 8,800 feet. There it then drops into the White Pine Basin and from that point, there is a great view of Mount Magog.
The trail into the basin is very steep with switchbacks down to the lake. Once again, the trail is snow covered and difficult to pass this late in the season. It will be much easier to hike in the late spring and summer. However, the adventurous and well-prepared can make it.
The lake is situated between Mount Magog and Mount Gog. The elevation at White Pine Lake is 8,320 feet, and the view is worth the time. After getting down to the lake, you have to come back out the same way – a steep uphill climb. There is a campsite by the lake as well.
-hollyadams@cc.usu.edu