The great outdoors
It is a commonly accepted fact that college students are cheap and most students jump on the opportunity for anything free. Be it free food when attending an activity or a free lava lamp for signing up for a new bank account, if there is no price tag attached, students will come.
Most free things are offered on campus, but what if students want to get off campus? Movies are expensive, eating out will break the wallet and window shopping usually turns into a personal pity party. What many people don’t realize is the abundance of free things there are to do within 10-20 miles of campus.
Logan Canyon, in particular, is bursting with things to do. For students who only live in the valley during the school year, the obvious things to do usually involve skiing at Beaver Mountain, but what do you do before the snow rolls in? Hiking, mountain biking, swimming, fishing and many other activities are available as well.
Hiking trails are abundant here in Cache Valley, said Mike Sweeney, head of the department of journalism
“There are more trails and side trails in [Logan] Canyon than you can imagine,” he said.
There are trails around the valley for every ability. The River Trail is a flat, paved trail that passes the Stokes Nature Center and has five different trailheads.
According to the Cache Valley Hiking Trail Guide available from the Cache Valley Visitors Bureau, the trail is 3.7 miles one way, but sections aren’t more than a mile and a half, and the trail only climbs 400 feet in elevation. For more serious hikers, the Green Canyon to Tony Grove trail is 12 miles and climbs 2,000 feet.
Kim Kitchen, junior majoring in social work, said the Wind Caves Trail is one of her favorites. It’s not just the hiking she appreciates.
“I really like to challenge myself with a good hike and then reward myself by water coloring the scenery at the top,” she said.
According to the Hiking Guide, the Wind Caves just over five miles up Logan Canyon and the 2-mile trail climbs 900 feet in elevation.
The Guinivah-Malibu campground is right across the street from the trail head and is an excellent place to camp if you want to watch the sunrise from the caves at the end of the trail. Sweeney said he enjoys the amphitheater at the campground and said it is a “nice place to just sit and enjoy nature.”
The Hiking Guide gives information on 14 other trails around the valley, including the 3-mile Crimson Trial and Naomi Peak trail, the 4.5-mile White Pine Lake Trail and the 5-mile Wellsville Ridge Trail.
The Cache Valley Hiking Trail Guide is a great resource for anyone looking for new trails in the valley. The Hiking Guide is free and available at the Cache Valley Visitors Bureau, located at 190 Main Street in Logan. You can also access the brochure online at http://tourcachevalley.com.
With a sand volleyball pit, docks to fish off of and plenty of grass to lounge, First Dam is a great place to spend time with friends, or alone.
Located less than one mile east of campus at the mouth of Logan Canyon, First Dam is easily within walking distance of most apartments. Nick Foust, sophomore majoring in civil engineering, says one of his favorite things to do is jump off the bridge into the dam.
Motorized boating is not allowed at First or Second Dam, but most days there are canoes or rafts out in the water. Canoes can be rented starting at $13 from the Outdoor Recreation Center on campus.
For those who want to row around the water without renting any equipment, rowing around in a cardboard box wrapped in duct tape is a fun activity and almost free.
Jordie Rowher, sophomore majoring in art history, says she enjoys boating out on Hyrum Dam, another popular aquatic option in the valley.
“The water makes everything more fun, and getting sun is the best,” Rowher said
Parks are plentiful in Cache Valley. Whether students want a large grassy area to play soccer or a pavilion for a large picnic, it’s easy to find just about any amenity in Logan.
Willow Park, located at 419 W. 700 South in Logan, is full of fun things to do for people of any age. The Willow Park Zoo has many different animals, from wallabies to bald eagles, and has a suggested admission donation of $1. The zoo is open from 9 a.m. until dark, seven days a week. The park also has a playground, sand volleyball pits, baseball diamonds, a small pond, batting cages and plenty of open grassy spaces. While strolling through the park it’s not uncommon to see people rolling around on rollerblades, lying in the shade sleeping or playing ultimate frisbee. Willow Park is a great place to get friends together and have a good time, there’s always something to do.
Tennis courts, basketball courts, a playground and the stream running through the middle of the park are just the beginning of what you’ll find at Merlin Olsen Park, located at 100 S. 200 East in Logan.
From April to October the park is home of the Cache Valley Gardner’s Market. According to the market’s Web site, www.gardnersmarket.com, the market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If the weather is right during the winter months, the northeast corner of the park is flooded and an ice rink is created.
“We haven’t had the weather for the last six years,” said Ed Stephens, parks superintendent for Logan. For those who have lived here for more than six years, every year that goes by without the ice-rink is disappointing.
With plenty of options in Logan, students should take advantage of the outdoors while they still can.
–kandice.crompton@aggiemail.usu.edu