Fall trails plentiful for outdoorsy Aggies
As summer ebbs into fall – the muggy heat giving way to cool, fresh breezes – Cache Valley’s surrounding mountains burst into color, lending students the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities on the many trails through the colorful fall landscape painted in the trees.
Ron Vance, the recreation staff officer at the Logan District Ranger Station for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, said there are just fewer than 300 miles of these trails available for use on land in the district’s national forest area alone.
Due to their close proximity and easy access from USU’s campus, Vance said the Green Canyon Trail, as well as Logan Canyon’s Wind Caves and Riverside Trails, are popular routes for students looking to get outdoors without having to stray too far from home or school.
Jordan Stuart, a senior at USU studying communications, said he often uses these and other trails in the area to run and mountain bike.
“The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is really fun for running, but it is a little more difficult,” Stuart said. “Green Canyon is by far my favorite for biking.”
The Bonneville Shoreline Trail can be accessed by trailheads – both north and southbound – located at First Dam in the mouth of Logan Canyon. Green Canyon lies approximately two miles north of Logan Canyon.
Stuart said the roughly three-and-a-half-mile-long Riverside Trail – which can be accessed from the Logan Canyon pullout for the Stokes Nature Center or via the newly-established Gateway Trail near First Dam – is his preference for hiking or jogging with his wife and dog because of it’s easy access and well maintained structure.
Due to their popularity, Vance said these trails can often become overrun with people. He said there are numerous options in the area to circumvent overcrowded areas.
Vance said the loop, which includes the Crimson and Riverside Trails, is a scenic and moderate in difficulty and is a good addition to the Riverside Trail if parts become congested. Beginning at the Spring Hollow Campground in Logan Canyon, the path is four-and-a-half miles in length and hooks southeast, connecting with the Riverside Trail, then back to the campground.
For optimal viewing of the fall colors, Vance said he recommends trails near the Tony Grove area, especially the trail to White Pine Lake.
“It is a nice little alpine setting,” Vance said of the trail to White Pine Lake. “There is a lot of variety of color
in the aspens up there.”
The Jardine Juniper, a juniper tree determined to be approximately 1,500 years old, lies at the end of the five-mile long Jardine Juniper Trail. Vance said the tree is a noteworthy destination in the area and the trail, beginning at Logan Canyon’s Wood Camp Hollow turnoff, makes for an enjoyable day hike.
For those looking for additional solitude, Vance said there are miles of trails throughout the Logan Ranger District’s wilderness area that seldom see traffic and are a great choice for anyone who wishes to get away from the crowds.
It is important to be well prepared when heading into these secluded areas, Vance said. Notifying somebody of your location and expected time of return may be the most important thing to remember when going out to use the trails, he said. If something should go wrong, help can quickly and effectively be summoned.
Vance said trail users must always bring adequate water, food and clothing to deal with unexpected issues that may arise. He also said staying mindful of hunting season, which begins in the end of September and goes into October, is important so as to avoid hiking into dangerous areas.
“The opening day of the elk hunt is probably not the best time to go out on a hike in these areas,” Vance said.
Due to a lack of signage on these trails, which Vance said can sometimes see periods as long as five years between maintenance work, having done the proper research on the planned route and bringing adequate reference material on the hike is crucial to avoid getting disoriented and lost, Vance said.
Jim Sinclair’s guidebook “Cache Trails” is available for rent at USU’s Outdoor Recreation Program. The cost to rent this guide, which provides detailed descriptions and maps of the county’s trails, is $1 for a two-week period.
Stuart said the trails and outdoor-recreation options have provided him a release in times of stress with school and work. He said the escape he feels is an important part of his life in Cache Valley.
“When I get out of class, I feel like I’ve got to get out and do something,” he said. “I can’t just sit around. It gives you a huge place to get some stress relief and and just some peace and quiet.”