Autumn color glorious in Utah’s Logan Canyon

Carved from limestone by the Logan River and its many tributaries, beautiful Logan Canyon in northeastern Utah provides access to the forested heights of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest east of the city of Logan.

A 41-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 89 follows the canyon to a summit and down to the Idaho border through the middle of bright blue Bear Lake. This outstanding route is designated a National Scenic Byway. Many travelers prefer it as the most scenic southern route through Jackson Hole to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

The byway starts north of Salt Lake City in Logan on U.S. 89 at Main Street and 400 North St. Stop at the Logan Ranger District's visitor center at the Lady Bird Park overlook for more information. Ask about scenic trails and overlooks along the route. The Cache Valley visitor center at 199 North St. is also a good source of recreation information, especially for off-highway enthusiasts.

The route attracts admirers all year. In winter, they head for the Beaver Mountain Ski Resort, just north of U.S. 89, or use snowmobiles, snowshoes or cross-country skis on groomed trails in the national forest. When springtime finally arrives and winter snows melt away, naked trees soon bear tender green leaves, and grasses and flowers decorate the meadows along the river near high, vertical cliffs. Summer brings heavy use by picnickers, campers, hikers, horsemen, mountain bikers, rock climbers, fishermen and kayakers.

Autumn might offer the best that nature has to offer along this route, for fall color there is simply gorgeous. The canyon and mountains are heavily covered with bigtooth maple, Gambel oak and quaking aspen interspersed with tall evergreens. When frosts arrive, the change of seasons paints brilliant splashes of red, orange, bronze and gold along the scenic byway and high up the mountainsides.

Maples, oaks and aspen are the most conspicuous, but plenty of other plants add to the show, including shrubs that have both colorful leaves and bright berries, such as mountain ash, hawthorn and serviceberry. Aspen dominate at higher elevations early in the season, and maples and oaks are show-stoppers at midrange and remain showy longer.

Timing an autumn color trip in the area can be tricky, as frosts this far north often occur by early September, and most of the show will be over by mid-October. Keep an eye on regional weather and check online for fall color reports. Because the season begins earlier in northern Utah and gradually moves south, follow the color to lower elevations and desert areas for enjoyable outings at least through November.

Take your time to enjoy the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway. New colorful views await around every bend. The highway twists through the river canyon as it climbs 3,000 feet to the 7,800-foot summit. Dams along the Logan River create appealing spots for fishing and launching small watercraft. There are many turnoffs to picnic areas, campgrounds and trailheads. Several scenic turnouts provide panoramic views, including the Bear Lake overlook.

Bear Lake extends for more than 18 miles along U.S. 89, straddling the Utah-Idaho border. The Utah portion constitutes the second-largest freshwater lake in the state. Lodges and cabins dot the hillsides and shorelines around this popular vacation spot. Both Utah and Idaho have established state parks on Bear Lake, catering to campers, boaters and fisherman, especially during the summer. Winter brings fogs and temperatures cold enough to freeze much of the lake.

Shoshone inhabited the valley when the lake was first seen by white fur trappers in 1818. Its south end was the site of the annual western fur trading gatherings of mountain men in 1827 and 1828. Each August, the Bear Lake Rendezvous re-creates this event with an encampment, black powder shooting, knife and tomahawk throwing and Native American dancers. After Labor Day, the lake draws crowds for Heritage Day with a fishing derby, gun raffle and Dutch oven supper.

— Margo Bartlett Pesek's Trip of the Week column appears on Sundays.