Tag: Logan Canyon

Camp, Kayak and Hike in Logan Canyon, Utah

This summer we had some fun adventures that I never got to share with all of you. Here’s my chance!
When I look back at the photos from this camping adventure in Logan Canyon, Utah I can’t believe how warm we all look. The weather now has turned chilly and the thought of tubing the Logan River now sends shivers down my spine, but in the heat of the summer sun it was a welcome respite.

The family camped at Preston Valley Campground, a small 9-site spot right off the main drag. All the campgrounds in Logan Canyon are right off the main road which leads to a lot of road noise at night, but the benefit is that it’s also right by the river which allowed us some short fun kayaking runs. With our young children kayaking or tubing can be tough so we took turns on the water with the other parent watching Baby L.
In addition to kayaking the Logan River we took a hike around Tony Grove Lake. The tots and I hiked there before and really enjoyed it, so now it was Mountain Dad’s turn.  
A high altitude lake, Tony Grove has some of the best wildflowers I’ve ever seen. Many people camp at the nearby Tony Grove Campground and bring their canoes and fishing poles to play with on the lake. It can get busy in the summer, especially on the weekends because it’s such a beautiful place to be. There’s a day use fee of $6.00 for Tony Grove but it’s worth it. It’s a beautiful place. 
Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway connects the city of Logan with Bear Lake on the Utah/Idaho border. It’s a beautiful drive of about an hour with no stops, however there’s so much to stop and look at I would suggest not rushing through. There are 31 destinations on the route from Logan to Bear Lake. Caves, hiking trails, overlooks and campgrounds are all marked and worth exploring. Check out www.logancanyon.com for a more detailed guide. 
The camp out in Logan Canyon, Utah was a great adventure this summer, and Baby L did great (so much better than her first camping trip).
Directions to Logan Canyon:
From Salt Lake City Drive North on I-15 to Box Elder County. Take exit 362 toward US-91/US-89, Follow signs for Brigham City/Logan. Continue approximately 30 miles on US – 91/ US-89. The road becomes Main Street in Logan. Turn Right on 400 North in Logan to continue on US-89. This road goes up the canyon. 
Enjoy these photos of Tony Grove and Logan Canyon.
  

Aquabot Review and Camping in Logan Canyon, Utah

This post is part of a series of weekly gear reviews. Check back most Wednesdays for reviews of cool gear for outdoor families.

The whole mountain family headed up to Logan Canyon, Utah for an end of summer campout. Along for the ride were cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and lots of fun. We tubed the river a bit, hiked Tony Grove Nature Trail and of course had a fire and played cards in the tent. That last activity is the real reason my kids go camping. Forget about nature, let’s play Go Fish!

Next to the cards my tots’ favorite activity was spraying each other with water. What made that easy was a nifty water bottle attachment we received from Lunatecgear.com. The Aquabot.

Convenience and function are the top criteria I use when I’m packing for an outdoor adventure. The Aquabot filled those requirements and was really fun to boot. It changes a regular water bottle into a squirt gun, mister and hose all in one. With a few quick pumps you can pressurize the water in your bottle, making your drinking container double as a sprayer. This is especially convenient trying to clean sand off of feet or dirt off of hands as we found while camping in Logan Canyon, Utah.

How does Aquabot work exactly? I’ll leave that to Big E and little g to explain.

Big E especially liked Aquabot because of its high powered spray. I can’t blame him, who wouldn’t be impressed with 25 ft of soaking ability? The only problem there was that he liked it so much he sprayed the water out before even hitting the trail and had to drink from my water bottle instead.

The three settings – stream, spray, and mist – are controlled by a variable trigger and can even function upside down. The Aquabot fits any standard wide mouth water bottle (nalgene, camelbak, lifestraw) and includes attachment points for a lanyard. The cost on their website is $20 per unit, $27 with the bottle. 
Pros:
  • Fits water bottles I currently own.
  • Can spray, mist and stream making a water bottle multi-use.
  • Really fun for kids (and adults)
  • Lightweight – 4oz
  • BPA free
Cons:
  • Kids sprayed it out before drinking from it
  • When pressurized it can be hard to remove top (just release the water stream)

At times it felt like the Aquabot was little more than a glorified squirt gun and if I didn’t have kids I probably wouldn’t get one unless I was frequently at a beach or needed to clean off in a hurry. Since I do have kids, I do like it. I just can’t think of it like a water bottle, at least not until Big E learns what rationing is.

Tony Grove Lake, Logan Canyon, National Scenic Byway, Utah

What made our trip to Logan Canyon, Utah so amazing was spending the day at Tony Grove Lake. 

Wildflowers ranging from cerulean to coral festooned the area. Little g and I meandered around the self guided nature trail and through some tall pine forest for a little over a half mile, enjoying the many colors all around us.

 Buzzing bees and hummingbirds whizzed around, and the high mountain temperatures were perfect for a summer day. 

Tony Grove Lake itself is calm and beautiful, surrounded by grand cliffs and tall trees. 


 This high altitude lake is located over 8,000 feet and is fed by snow runoff, making it cold. But Big E and his cousins didn’t seem to mind the chill, spending hours splashing, swimming and floating. We brought an inflatable kayak and loved the freedom of gliding across the water.

If you’re planning a trip to this area, be aware there is a parking fee for Tony Grove Lake. The parking lot is located at the end of a winding seven mile paved road, three quarters of the way up Logan Canyon. It was a great place to explore and the scenery was breathtaking.

Rating: 5 stars during wildflower season (June/July)
Length: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Tips: Expect to walk at a toddler’s pace unless you have the strength to wrestle a screaming, uncooperative almost two-year-old into a pack and then listen to her cry all the way along the trail.

Logan Canyon, Utah, National Scenic Byway, Guinavah-Malibu Campground

In the heat of the summer, I love heading up in the mountains to enjoy the cooler temperatures. My most recent excursion was a camp out with the tots and their cousins in Utah’s beautiful to Logan Canyon. 

Logan Canyon has been designated a National Scenic Byway and as such as many interesting sections. The winding Logan river has some beautiful sections that are perfect for floating. The geological features, such as Wind caves and Logan cave, provide refuge for wildlife, including sensitive Townsend big eared bats. 


Big E’s cousin Tyler

This National Scenic Byway winds through the mountains between the city of Logan, Utah and Bear Lake, which is situated on the border of Utah and Idaho. Just driving through the canyon is a great activity, but stopping along the way for camping, hiking or boating is what makes Logan Canyon truly fun.

The tots and I spent the night at Guinavah-Malibu Campground, which is situated directly on the Logan river. It was fun to play in the water, then head back to camp for a homemade dutch oven dinner.  Logan Canyon visitors buereu describes this campground as a “soothing landscape of willows, big-tooth maples, and grassy meadows.” I have to agree, the place was beautiful and the campsite spacious.

We spent the evening around the campfire, telling stories, making s’mores and enjoying one anothers’ company. The tots enjoyed the multicolored glow sticks their uncle gave them, and I enjoyed being able to see exactly where they were at all times thanks to their florescent beacons. It was a great addition to our camp evening, and I plan on bringing glow sticks again in the future.

The campground was great, with flush toilets and easily accessible water. My only complaint was hearing the noise from passing cars on the highway. 

Over all, our stay at the Guinavah-Malibu Campground in Logan Canyon, Utah was a great adventure.