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- A Local’s Guide to Logan: Northern Utah’s Outdoor Adventure College Town
Logan might seem like a sleepy stopover town, but scratch past the surface and you’ll find this little city is teeming with some of the best arts, food and outdoor adventure opportunities in the state.
Written By Arianna Rees
Downtown Logan | Amy Jensen
Tucked against the Wasatch Mountains in the northeastern corner of Utah and surrounded by a checkerboard of crops and rivers, Logan is a small city that the hurried traveler might zip by without a care. Crack it open and take a look inside, however, and you’ll find that this college town is teeming with good eats, a thriving arts and cultural scene, a summertime magic that gets in your bones, and some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the country.
Whether you’re passing through or just looking for new places to explore, here are some of the best ways to experience Logan.
Tour downtown by foot or by bicycle
Logan’s historic downtown is a bit quieter than those you’ll find in other Utah cities, but that makes it a great place to wander and window shop. One of my favorite places to shop downtown is Global Village Gifts, a non-profit, fair-trade retail store that features beautiful handcrafts made by artisans around the world. If you’re exploring downtown in the heat of the summer, tour the historic Logan Tabernacle. On weekdays between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you can peek inside the main room, sit in the creaking pews and see the Tabernacle’s Opus 620 pipe organ, which was installed in 1908 and has just over 2,800 pipes. History buffs hungry for more Cache Valley relics can visit the Cache Pioneer Museum. Entry is free during operating hours and you can pick up a pioneer-era gift on your way out.
Historic Logan makes for a nice walk, but one of my favorite things to do is see it by bike, especially during golden hour on a June night. Rent a road or tandem bicycle from The Sportsman, then pedal west from Main Street to see ivy covered, pioneer-era mansions. For a more natural scenic ride, go further south to the Logan River trailhead at Willow Park, which takes hikers, dogwalkers and cyclists on a leisurely winding path along the river.
"Historic Logan makes for a nice walk, but one of my favorite things to do is see it by bike, especially during golden hour on a June night."
Construction of the historic Logan Tabernacle began in 1864 and it took 27 years for early pioneers to complete the building.
Photo: Scott Markewitz
Visit the ‘spot where the sagebrush grows’
Travel + Leisure once ranked Utah State University the most beautiful campus in Utah, and as a very biased Aggie alum, I couldn’t agree more. USU’s main campus is nestled in the foothills at the mouth of Logan Canyon, and when you’re approaching it from the west, you can see the sky’s reflection shimmering in the windows of the historic Old Main clock tower. The best time to see it is around sunset when a full moon is rising over the mountains behind it.
Visitors to Utah State can take the daunting steps or sidewalk leading up Old Main Hill to picnic on the Quad or on the hillside, where you can get stunning views of the Wellsville Mountains and the Logan Latter-day Saint temple in the distance. Venturing to the east end of campus to get a few scoops of famous Aggie Ice Cream is a must — Utah State students have been perfecting and selling it on campus since 1888! My personal favorite and the most popular flavor is Aggie Blue Mint, a swirl of chocolate cookies, white chocolate, and mint. If you’re in Logan during basketball or football season, grab a ticket to watch the game or just to watch USU’s student section. Dubbed “The HURD,” it’s consistently ranked one of the best student sections in the country for it’s electric, belligerent and creative school spirit.
"You’ll find that this college town is teeming with good eats, a thriving arts and cultural scene, a summertime magic that gets in your bones, and some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the country."
Embrace your inner foodie
Logan’s food scene has come into its own over the past few years, and it’s an exciting time to visit the city if you’re a foodie. If you’re starting your day downtown, grab a bite to eat in Logan’s theater district, which has some of the best breakfast restaurants in the valley. I enjoy The Crepery or Stacked. If you’re closer to Logan Canyon, make sure you visit Herm’s Inn, a restored petrol station from the early 1900s that offers a cinnamon swirl pancake the size of a full pizza.
To expand your food adventure, factory hop across the valley to sample some of the best dairy and food products in the country (Cache Valley is famous for its dairy heritage, as celebrated by the annualCache Valley Cheese & Dairy Festival). Grab some natural honey atCox Honeyland (Read: Utah Food Trails), or visit theGossner Foodfacility to sample squeaky cheese and buy a whole crate of flavored Gossner’s milk. Dip your toe into the wild side with their Gossner rootbeer milk — you’ll either hate it, or you’ll love it. (Read: Utah's Dairy Dynasty)
When I’m looking to eat out in Logan, my favorite place to go is Tandoori Oven, arguably the best Indian food restaurant in the state of Utah. I love the chicken tikka masala and chicken coconut kurma. If you’re looking for classic American fare, check out Morty's Cafe, which makes a mean burger and delicious sweet potato fries. Morty’s also has an awesome rooftop view of Cache Valley.
To finish off your day like a true local, make sure you “clean the sink” at Angie’s Restaurant for dessert, or opt for a classic malt shake at Charlie’s Supreme Ice Cream on Main Street.
"Logan’s food scene has come into its own over the past few years, and it’s an exciting time to visit the city if you’re a foodie."
Immerse yourself in the fine arts
When in Logan, gallery walk down Main Street to appreciate the work of local artists and musicians, or visit the Nora Eccles Harrison Muesum of Art on campus. One of the best times to be in Logan is during the Summerfest Arts Faire in mid-June. The annual festival celebrates the arts in Cache Valley with a three-day gathering of visual and performing artists, music and food.
Logan can get sleepy after sundown, but that’s when its art experiences come alive. Dubbed the “Crown Jewel” of entertainment for Northern Utah, Logan’s Ellen Eccles Theater (built in 1923) offers full-production plays, musical performances, ballets and comedy sketches year round, and it makes for a great nighttime excursion (Read: 5 Utah Theaters Reviving Art, History and Architecture). If you’re looking for something a little more chill, visit the historic Utah Theatre right around the corner, which has a fun retro feel and plays classic movies on most Friday and Saturday nights. (Read: )
Logan’s Utah Theatre has a fun retro feel. In addition to live performances, the theater plays classic movies on most Friday and Saturday nights.
Photo: Nicole Morgenthau
Find adventure on the outskirts
While Logan might be the bustling hub of Northern Utah’s Cache Valley, there are also plenty of exciting and interesting things to do outside of it. Trust me — you won’t want to limit your adventures to downtown. One of my favorite activities is to visit the American West Heritage Centerin Wellsville. Wander around the grounds to see a variety of baby farm and forest animals during Baby Animal Days in April, delve into the shoes of a pioneer or mountain man during the summertime, or twist your way through corn mazes in the fall.
Drive to the opposite end of Cache Valley to stand at the Bear River Massacre site, a sobering and important part of Cache Valley’s history (Read: Nourished by the Land: A Shoshone Perspective). If you’ve got kids, visit Zootah, a small zoo that gives you the chance to see a variety of local wildlife up close. If you’re in Logan in October, a great sundown activity is to wander through artistic pumpkin displays at the North LoganPumpkin Walkwith a cup of hot cocoa in hand.
"Logan’s downtown is a charming stroll. Logan’s backyard is a four-season high adventure."
Enjoy the great outdoors
Logan’s downtown is a charming stroll. Logan’s backyard is a four-season high adventure. Boaters and kayakers can hit the water at Hyrum Reservoir or meander through the bird-filled marshes of the Bear River west of Logan. Drive further south to cliff-jump into glassy green water at Porcupine Reservoir, or visit Porcupine in September for a rare opportunity to watch schools of red-bellied salmon swim upstream to breed.
Off the water, the outdoor opportunities in Logan are countless, with dozens of canyons and side canyons lacing the edges of the valley and winding deep into the Wasatch Range (Read: Logan Canyon Mountain Biking). Rent a mountain bike from Al’s Sporting Goods, the oldest full-line sporting goods store in the state of Utah, and hit the trails up Green Canyon, or, in the wintertime, drive up Blacksmith Fork Canyon to take a sleigh ride through elk feeding ground at Hardware Ranch.
Logan’s showstopper is Logan Canyon, which connects Cache Valley to the shores of Bear Lake and is filled with castle-like cliffs and miles of forest (Read: Logan Canyon Trail Guide Roundup). Logan Canyon has dozens of shared-use areas for hikers, ATV drivers, and horseback riders and a large system of trails to explore. Take a quick overnight camping trip next to the Logan River, or go fishing for the Big One at Tony Grove Lake. Put on your hiking boots to cross the tops of the cliffs at Crimson Trail, or don your climbing shoes to puzzle out over 400 bolted routes, including one of the hardest climbing routes in the country. If you’re here when there’s snow in the mountains, spend a morning on the slopes at Beaver Mountain Resort for some of the most affordable and fun powder in the state.
Logan offers ample opportunities to live on the edge, or slow down and feel at home.
About the Author – Arianna Rees
The best place to spot Arianna Rees is in the mountains making a TikTok that won't do the view any justice. Arianna is a social media manager at the Utah Office of Tourism and a writer living in Salt Lake City. When she isn't hurriedly typing away at her computer, Arianna can be found hiking, paddle boarding, or neck deep in a good book.
Logan is a great stopover on trips to Bear Lake State Park, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. But you'll want to linger to sample the city's excellent art galleries, specialty shops, Mormon pioneer architecture, community festivals, local food and live performances.
Explore Logan
What's Nearby
- Bear Lake State Park Garden City, UT Bear Lake is a 20-mile long and eight-mile wide natural lake with beautiful, placid waters that perfectly match the tranquil pace of the quaint towns that dot the shore. The northern half is located in Idaho and the southern half in Utah with the state lines dividing it.
- Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Brigham City, UT This is the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, an eye-opening stop along Utah's populous Wasatch Front for any traveler and a top destination for any serious birder with gaps on their life lists.
- Beaver Mountain Resort Garden City, UT Beaver Mountain Resort sits in the northeast corner of Utah with 828 acres of prime mountain terrain. This is a great ski resort near Logan, Utah and Idaho.
- Cache Valley Cache Valley, UT About 80 miles north of Salt Lake City, the Cache Valley features a welcoming mountain atmosphere year-round. Hikers can explore the scenic trails in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and some of the state’s best fly fishing is on the Logan River. In the winter, the trails are transformed into a mecca for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
- Hyrum Lake State Park Hyrum, UT Willow, box elder and maple trees surround Hyrum Reservoir providing shade as well as habitat for waterfowl and wildlife.
Read the Stories
- Hiking the Jardine Juniper Trail to the Oldest Rocky Mountain Juniper Tree in the World Written By Matcha 4 minute read Enjoy this scenic hike up Logan Canyon through aspens with mountain vistas along the way to an ancient juniper tree. All abilities are welcome.
- Paddling the Caribbean-Blue Waters of Bear Lake Written By Matcha 3 minute read At nearly 6,000 feet of elevation, temperatures at Bear Lake stay cool in the summer, making the basin a welcome respite from the heat and a great destination to enjoy water sports in a serene mountain setting.
- A Stroll Up Bear Lake's Limber Pine Trail: A Quick-Hit Classic Written By Matcha 4 minute read The Limber Pine Nature Trail is an easy, 1.2-mile loop is perfect for families and beginner hikers. This short hike is one of the best ways to get expansive views of the Bear River Range.
- Bear Lake Monster Winterfest Written By Ben Whisenant 8 minute read It all started decades ago with the “Cisco Disco” and has grown to include a polar plunge, chili cookoff and winter festival known as the Bear Lake Monster Winterfest.
- Logan Canyon Trail Guide Roundup Written By Arianna Rees 6 minute read Logan Canyon in Logan, Utah beckons all to put on their hiking, biking, or climbing shoes. Here's a list of some of the best places to adventure on your trip through the canyon.
- Discover the Shape of Utah's Coffee Community Written By Austin Wright 7 minute read See coffee shops in Salt Lake City on this short video tour of some of the best coffee shops in Utah.
- Tour de Farmtown: A City Slicker’s Guide to Cycling Cache Valley Written By Arianna Rees Northern Utah's Cache Valley is small enough that you can cross its width and strike out six to seven farm towns in a single afternoon. At each point on the compass, there’s a new community to explore, all with rich pioneer histories. Perched in the north are the cow-dotted hills of Clarkston and Richmond. Ride to the center of the valley, and you’ll find yourself looping around the Bear River with a stellar view of the Wellsvilles and an occasional pelican or sand crane flapping overhead.
- Beyond the Lake Written By Ben Whisenant 4 minute read From snowmobiling to skiing, snowshoeing to sledding and fishing, Bear Lake in the winter is everything you’ll want from your next winter vacation.
- Fishing Northern Utah's Logan River Written By Matcha Why do serious fly fishers flock to Northern Utah’s Logan River? Fishing spots with rainbow and brown trout in our freestone dream streams. Plan your adventure!
- Five Best Hikes In Bear Lake Valley Written By Matcha 3 minute read Follow your Bear Lake hike with a refreshing dip in the lake. Which of these five excellent hiking trails in Bear Lake Valley is your favorite?
- 11 Utah Scenic Byways for Leaf Peeping Written By Visit Utah 7 minute read Explore 11 Scenic Drives in Utah for some serious leaf peeping. Utah is one of the best places to see fall foliage, visit great attractions, events and festivals.
- Northern Utah Adventure Gateway Towns Written By Visit Utah Looking for outdoor adventures in The Beehive State? These northern Utah cities are perfect spots to set up base camp. Start planning today!
- The Art of Supporting Utah Artists Written By Lindy Blanchette 5 minute read Here’s a look at six local artists whose work draws upon Utah’s diverse environments as inspiration.
- 8 Utah Hikes for Leaf Peeping and Natural Splendor Written By Austen Diamond 6 minute read When the leaves change, road trips through Utah’s mountains and forests take on a colorful new glow. Unlike their well-trodden counterparts on the East Coast, Utah’s fall foliage and trails are less well known among the broader leaf-peeping community.
- Bear Lake for History Buffs: Top 5 Don't-Miss Sites Written By Matcha Bear Lake’s charms are pretty apparent for anyone interested in the outdoors, water sports, cute small towns or fresh-picked raspberries. But beyond a lovely azure freshwater lake surrounded by cool hiking trails and berry stands, the area has a few special historic sites that you might miss if you didn’t know better.
- How to Visit Utah’s Most-Visited Forest Written By Brett Prettyman The Wasatch Front mountain range offers endless amounts of recreational activity. Learning how to visit responsibly will enhance your overall experience.
- Staying Safe in Wildfire Country Written By Melissa Fields 3 minute read As you’re packing your bags for that Utah camping or river trip you’ve been looking forward to all winter, take a moment to brush up on some fire safety tips.
- A Journey Through Utah’s Contemporary Artscapes Written By Tiffini Porter 11 minute read Consider visual art attractions as you’re planning your Beehive State travel itinerary.
- Nourished by the Land: A Shoshone Perspective Written By James Goldberg 5 minute read Darren Parry learned from his grandmother about the plants, places and worldview that sustained their Shoshone ancestors.
- Get Your Spook On: Northern Utah's Most Haunted Places Written By Brett Prettyman 4 minute read Looking for a different kind of adventure? One seemingly outside the realms of possibility? Here are some of Utah’s most haunted places.
- 5 Utah Theaters Reviving Art, History and Architecture Written By Taylor Hartman 4 minute read Utah has a rich catalog of beautiful and historic buildings, each telling the unique story of its former inhabitants. But for history buffs and architecture lovers, few buildings can rival the drama and lore of old picture palaces and opera houses.
- Top Ski Towns in Utah Written By Andrew Dash Gillman 5 minute read The best ski towns in Utah tout easy access to The Greatest Snow on Earth®, along with lively culture, fine dining and off-mountain activities.
- Sunrise Hikes to City Lights: Day-to-Night Adventures in Utah’s Mountain Towns Written By Kristen Pope 5 minute read Easy access between Northern Utah’s mountains and towns presents visitors and locals with the best of both worlds: outdoor adventure by day and city culture at night.
