Blake Walsh

15 Free Things to Do in Logan, UT

  • Published 2023/02/03

Logan is in Cache County and is settled 36 miles north of Ogden in Utah and 384 miles west of Denver in Colorado.

Mormon settlers founded the city in 1859, and it got its name from the early fur trapper in Cache Valley, Ephraim Logan.

Known as “College Town,” this is where you’ll find the main campus of Utah State University.

The city offers a plethora of fascinating attractions.

Because of the city’s beautiful topography, hiking, cycling, fishing, and mountain biking are some of the popular activities.

Check out these free things to do in Logan, Utah.

Enjoy Panoramic Views at Logan Canyon Scenic Drive

The road of Logan Canyon Scenic Drive

Earl D. Walker / Shutterstock.com

Explore the Logan Canyon Scenic Drive and see magnificent places such as the Beaver Mountain Ski Resort and Bear Lake.

The Cache Valley and its adjoining canyons and mountains are more mesmerizing when the leaves change colors between seasons.

During winter, you can enjoy downhill skiing on Beaver Mountain.

Meanwhile, Logan Canyon offers cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing from its prime terrain.

You’ll be delighted to see the checkered board farms, glowing with golden color, indicating that the bountiful crops are ready to harvest.

Logan Canyon hosts both summer and winter recreations that keep locals and visitors coming back for more.

Logan Canyon Scenic Drive runs about 41 miles between Logan and Garden City across US Highway 89.

Hike the Wind Cave Trail

Wind Cave Trail is one of the most well-known trails in Logan Canyon, about 5.3 miles up the canyon opposite the Guinavah Campground.

The cave’s formation started underground as water penetrated through the cracks deep inside layers of limestone rocks, dissolving it eventually, producing large ground caverns.

It offers a moderate hike with huge bends and a constant elevation gain of 1,030 feet which is more progressive than perpendicular.

While hiking, you’ll see picture-perfect views of the surrounding canyon, including the 200-foot cliffs across the so-called “China Wall.”

Wind Cave Trail measures 3.5 miles (roundtrip) and is open to the public year-round.

You can take your dog along the trail as long as it is always on a leash.

Feed the Ducks at First Dam or Canyon Entrance Park

Located along US-89 is First Dam or Canyon Entrance Park, which is a stop at the canyon’s gateway.

It’s the river’s shallow area where you can wade, kayak, picnic, and even fish.

Large trees keep you shaded from the hot sun while you enjoy various activities.

Your kids will also enjoy paddleboarding and feeding the ducks.

First Dam or Canyon Entrance Park has boardwalks, allowing you to stroll over the river.

Explore Hobbit Caves

It might not be the real ones from the famous “The Hobbit” movie, but you and your kids will love to explore these caves of Logan.

The Hobbit Caves has a nice small stream that flows through the spot.

It’s a collection of small caves, with five caves that soar to 10 feet high.

To reach Hobbit Caves, turn up Right Hand Fork Canyon and track that road for roughly half a mile.

You’ll see a passing place on the right side of the road or a parking spot a little beyond.

Cross the river and follow the short trail down the canyon for about a hundred yards.

Stroll along the Riverside Nature Trail

The Riverside Nature Trail runs from the mouth of Logan Canyon, passing the Stokes Nature Center and abreast with the Second and Third Dam.

The trail isn’t that far from Highway 89, however, it’s mostly secluded by heavy vegetation.

It starts across from the national forest sign at the canyon’s entrance but is accessible from numerous points along the way.

It heads East from Spring Hollow Campground’s entrance, first crossing a small creek to the East where the Guivanah-Malibu Campground is located.

Riverside Nature Trail is a 4.5-km out-and-back trail that is an easy route, taking an average of one hour and 18 minutes to complete.

This trail joins Bridger Trail, which is popular for mountain biking.

You can bring your dog along, but it should be always on a leash.

Hike Logan Peak

Fall trees at Logan Peak

Stephen Pfeiler / Shutterstock.com

Logan Peak is an 8.0-km out-and-back trail and is a fairly challenging route, taking an average of two hours and 17 minutes to finish.

This trail is an incredible place for mountain biking, camping, and hiking, where dogs on leashes are welcome.

It’s the best place to take your ATV or jeep to get breathtaking views of Cache Valley.

Most commonly known as Mount Logan to Cache Valley residents, it’s Utah’s 39th highest prominence and is easy to access.

At the summit is a telecommunications tower, that’s why there’s a road that runs to the top.

Logan Peak is family-friendly and is one of the most interesting summits in the Bear River Range due to the biggest congregation of high peaks that lie inside or close to the Mount Naomi Wilderness Area.

Get Closer to Nature at Stokes Nature Center

The Stokes Nature Center is a local nature center located on East US Highway 89.

Hike with friends or loved ones along the Crimson Trail, feast your eyes on the colorful wildflowers at Tony Grove, or fish at the Second Dam.

The center helps students discover their natural skills, passions, and talents by participating in outdoor field trips and interactive classroom activities.

You’ll be amazed at the one-of-a-kind animals and plants you’ll find here.

Stokes Nature Center is a proud official educational permittee of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and Logan Canyon Children’s Forest.

Try to Climb the Date Wall

Up for a different adventure that will test your patience and endurance?

Try climbing the Date Wall in Logan, whether you’re an amateur or a professional.

The climbing wall extends above Hwy 89 and is a great practice area for novices.

Climb in the afternoon or early evening to avoid direct sunlight.

Date Wall is open all year round for sport climbing and lead climbing.

Trek the Crimson Trail

Compared to Wind Caves, Crimson Trail is less trekked but more exciting to explore.

Hikers will have to deal with the rocky plateaus of the China Wall’s rock formation, including its up-and-down rolling hills, close cliff edge, and fields of thick woods.

You’ll have scenic bird’s eye views of the Third Dam area, including the Cache National Forest.

Crimson Trail got its name from the leaves of the trees that change color during autumn.

This enchanting 7.6-kilometer trail is a challenging route, taking an average of two hours and 46 minutes to finish.

You can camp, hike, and snowshoe with your loved ones here, including your dog.

See the Oldest Juniper Tree on Jardine Juniper Trail

Oldest tree at Jardine Juniper Trail

Danielle Philli, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Want to see the world’s oldest Rocky Mountain Juniper tree?

Hike to the top of the Jardine Juniper Trail to come face to face with the over 1,500-year-old Jardine Juniper tree.

The trail passes through meadows and woods and is great for biking and hiking during summer.

In winter, the area is open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

You’ll find the trailhead at the Wood Camp junction, approximately 10 miles up Logan Canyon, on the road’s western side.

Visitors are asked not to carve anything on the majestic tree while on a hike at the Jardine Juniper Trail.

Climb the Fucoidal Quartzite in Logan Canyon

Quartzite forms when quartz-filled sandstone withstands metamorphic processes and changes over a long period into a new state.

Fucoidal Quartzite makes the best climbing walls in the canyon.

“Fucoidal” refers to an old term meaning fossil.

It has 40 routes, allowing beginners and experts to test their climbing prowess.

The Fucoidal Quartzite climbing wall is a few hundred feet from the parking area.

Huge tree canopies provide shade, shielding climbers from the sun.

Visit Old Ephraim’s Grave

Ephraim was a legendary and the last known grizzly bear in Utah.

The animal was infamous for killing sheep and several other livestock.

Killed in 1923 by Ward Clark Sheep Company co-owner, Frank Clark, the giant bear was unearthed, with its skull sent to the Smithsonian Museum.

A stone marker indicating Old Ephraim’s Grave was placed at the exact spot where the animal succumbed to its wounds.

The great bear’s grave stands nearly as tall as it is.

You’ll find the trailhead at Lodge Campground, on the Right Fork in Logan Canyon.

You can reach Old Ephraim’s Grave by a long hike to the Right Fork or riding your mountain bike via a rough dirt road.

Picnic at White Pine Lake

Enclosed between the jagged peaks of Mt. Gog and Mt. Magog lies White Pine Lake, a sister lake to Tony Grove.

The watershed area is perfect for a day hike or overnight camping trip.

The lake is surrounded by mountains and granite ridges.

You can put up a hammock, camp, or picnic around the lake with your loved ones.

However, you cannot bring your dog nor swim in the blue-colored lake, but you can set up a campfire.

The 7.8-mile long White Pine Lake Trail has an elevation gain of 1,332 feet and takes around 2 1/2 hours from the trailhead to get you to the enchanting White Pine Lake.

White Pine Lake is extraordinarily beautiful during summer because of the different blooming wildflowers.

Reach the Summit of Mount Naomi

Naomi Peak, or Mount Naomi, is the highest mountain in the Bear River Mountain Range, nestled on the main pinnacle of the Bear River Range.

Its summit is 9,828 feet with an impressive prominence of 3,159 feet and possibly the most accessible and climbable because of its closeness to the main trailhead at Tony Grove Lake to the end of a well-kept paved road.

The fields become a palette of dazzling colors during summer with the addition of a pretty alpine landscape.

Once your reach the summit, you’ll be rewarded with the captivating views of Cache Valley, parts of Wyoming and Idaho, and the Tetons to the north.

Mount Naomi is also teeming with wildlife, such as moose, deer, and beavers.

Naomi Peak is situated on the main roof of the Bear River Range.

You can also enjoy primitive camping at the Mount Naomi Wilderness area.

Camp at Tony Grove Lake

The waters of Tony Grove Lake

Drew Michael Hill / Shutterstock.com

Tony Grove Lake is a well-known summer playground in the Uinta-Wastach-Cache National Forest, shrouded by exquisite aspens and limestone cliffs.

A Scenic Wildflower Viewing Area, it creates a meadow bursting with the different vibrant colors of daisies, geraniums, lupine, paintbrush, mountain sunflowers, and columbine.

From the parking area, you can enjoy a relaxing stroll around the lake along with loved ones or your dog.

The primitive campground offers 36 camping sites with available water, electricity, or sewer hookups.

Tony Grove Lake also offers fishing to visitors who may catch rainbow trout.

It’s worth noting that roads leading to the campground are a bit narrow, so bringing a large recreational vehicle is not recommended.

Final Thoughts

Logan offers numerous attractions and activities that allow you to enjoy the beauty of nature.

The good thing is most of them don’t come with a fee.

Discover the fascinating and free things to do in Logan, Utah, by keeping the list above handy on your trip.

© All rights reserved.