Cache Valley Must-see scenery in for incoming students

by Samantha Isaacson

Moving to a new town when starting college can be scary, especially if you don’t know the area well. This guide will help new students coming to explore Cache Valley and see everything it has to offer. Here are some of the sights Cache Valley locals recommend:

For the outdoorsy types, the valley has multiple lakes and hiking trails with beautiful scenery. The most well-known nearby hikes are the Wind Caves and the Crimson Trail.

The Wind Caves is a moderately easy hike just a few miles into Logan Canyon. Just shy of 4 miles long, it has an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet and takes about 2 hours to complete. The entire trail is surrounded by beautiful views of the forest scenery and stunning rock formations.

Amber Cox, a Cache Valley local, said the hike is great for everyone.

“The Wind Caves hike is a good hike for people of any skill level and is definitely a must-do trail in the valley — at least once,” Cox said.

At the top, hikers get to see the caves, which were formed from water erosion of the limestone through the large rocks. The caves show a great view of the canyon below. It’s a great hike for incoming students who want to get a quick view of what the scenery is like in the valley.

The Crimson Trail is a slightly harder hike, with a 4.5-mile loop trail and an elevation gain of 1,200 feet. The trail takes about 2.5 hours to complete. This hike displays the foliage of the valley.

John Cox, a Cache Valley local, said this is a great hike for incoming students during the fall season.

“I would highly recommend that incoming students go during the fall when the leaves change,” John said. “The view is already amazing during the summer, but it is unbelievable in the fall.”

The hike starts with a steep initial climb and then levels out at the top of the limestone cliffs. The trail goes along the cliffside in multiple spots, allowing hikers to see the beautiful scenery of the canyon below.

Those who prefer the water and enjoy a day on the beach can visit Cache Valley’s many lakes. The most well-known are Tony Grove Lake and Bear Lake.

Tony Grove is a glacial lake located in Logan Canyon, with beautiful forest scenery surrounding. It has a campground nearby and lots of opportunities to canoe, swim and fish.

There are multiple nature trails in the area. Because it’s a glacial lake, it;s on the colder side, so the best time to visit and swim is between July and August.

John said the lake is a great place for people to visit and do all sorts of activities.

“Tony Grove Lake is a little hidden gem in Logan Canyon. You can go up and camp or just go up for the day,” John said. “On the south side of the lake, there is a cluster of trees, and it’s a great spot to have a picnic, and the small lake is fun because you can paddleboard and kayak on it.”

Bear Lake, split between the boarder of Utah and Idaho, is a bit farther of a trip, taking about 50 minutes by car. The south and north sides of the lake offer the best beach spots with soft sand and bathrooms. The lake is a popular place to swim, fish and rent a boat.

A myriad of activities and places to eat in Garden City and nearby towns around the lake make for an appealing daytrip. ”We call it the ‘Caribbean of the Rockies’ because it is just so blue. When you come out of Logan Canyon, that first look just takes your breath away,” Amber said. “It is a bit colder than most people probably like, but you get used to it and can have a lot of fun.”

For those who enjoy history, Cache Valley has multiple historical locations. The American West Heritage Center, located just outside of Logan, teaches about the diverse cultures that shaped Cache Valley and the surrounding regions from 1820 to 1920.

The museum hosts multiple events throughout the year. The most well-known ones are the Baby Animal Days in the spring and the Corn Maze and Haunted Hollow in the fall.

“The heritage center does really well at putting on events,” John said. “Whatever events they have, they always make it super fun and really engaging.”

The Ellen Eccles Theatre is a historical sight located on Main Street in downtown Logan. They show multiple plays, concerts, ballet performances and film annually.

”There is always something for everyone at the Ellen Eccles Theatre, so you really can’t go wrong,” Amber said. “They are most wellknown for their opera performances.”

These are just a few of the many activities incoming students in the fall can participate in to help acclimate to Cache Valley.