Go outside and play: The Jardine Juniper
Even if you’re ugly, if you’re old, you deserve a little respect.
The same could be said of the famous Jardine Juniper up Logan Canyon. The tree is estimated to be 1500 years old, according to the Wasatch-Cache National Forest Web site, and not surprisingly, the juniper has begun to show signs of its age.
For perspective, 1500 years ago, King Arthur was still fighting battles around northern England and Southern Scotland. According to the Roman Catholic Patron Saints Index, St. Patrick converted to Christianity about 1500 years ago in Ireland.
And right around that same time, Jardine Juniper started to grow. The tree is believed to be the oldest tree in the Rocky Mountains, the Forest Service claims.
Despite the age-induced wilting of Jardine Juniper, it still stands more than 40 feet tall and 25 feet wide and ranks as one of the biggest junipers in the U.S, according to the Cache Valley Visitors Bureau.
The trail up to Jardine Juniper is in full fall colors, with maple and aspen trees lining the trail. Throughout the hike, impressive views of Mt. Elmer can be seen to the northwest. In the spring, various wildflowers dot the landscape, as well.
To get to Jardine Juniper, drive 11 miles up Logan Canyon until you arrive at the Wood Camp Hollow turnoff (near mile marker 384). Turn left and drive another 0.2 miles to the end of the road. The trailhead begins there and is easy to find.
The trail starts at an elevation of nearly 5,500 feet and quickly ascends another 1,870 feet. Most attempt the trail by foot, but mountain bikers are known to ride along it as well. Either way, be prepared for a steady climb. Round trip, the trail lasts around 10 miles.
A Utah State student, Maurice Linford, discovered the Jardine Juniper in 1923. They named the tree in honor of William Jardine, a USU graduate, and U.S. secretary of agriculture under President Calvin Coolidge. No word on whether Jardine ever actually visited the tree that bears his name today.
-jcox@cc.usu.edu