Outside of Logan, U.S. 89 shoots straight into Logan Canyon, passing a Forest Service Information Center (Logan Ranger Dist. +1 435 755 3620) on the right. Beyond the building to the right, the gently sloping terraces are embankments left over from ancient Lake Bonneville, which once covered 19,500 square miles [50,504.8 square kilometers] of northwestern Utah. The first 4 miles [6.4 kilometers] pass three small dams, popular with fly fishermen. At the Spring Hollow Campground Area, the pleasant, 1-mile [1.6-kilometer] interpretive Riverside Nature Trail skirts the Logan River’s rich riparian habitat; you can see beavers and their lodges. For spectacular views, skilled hikers can head up the precipitous, 4-mile [6.4-kilometer] Crimson Trail to the top of the limestone cliffs.
Continue along U.S. 89 about 15 miles [24.1 kilometers] to a good side trip. It begins on Tony Grove Road and winds up nearly 7 miles [11.3 kilometers] through aspen groves to Tony Grove Lake at 8,100 feet [2,468.9 meters]. The tranquil, pristine 25-acre [10.1-hectare] lake nestles against steep rock cliffs—a glacial basin formed more than 10,000 years ago.
Back on U.S. 89, the route continues to climb, passing the Beaver Mountain Ski Resort (+1 435 753 0921), until it reaches 7,800-foot [2,377.4-meter] Bear Lake Summit and then drops down to an overlook for Bear Lake. The 20-mile-long [32.2-kilometer-long] lake sparkles a blue-green reminiscent of the tropics. Some 8,000 years ago, earthquakes isolated the lake from the Bear River, creating an unusual water chemistry and eventually nurturing four unique fish species.
Down by the lake, Garden City contains a marina and numerous shacks selling local raspberry jam and delicious raspberry shakes. Wide, sandy swimming beaches line the lake along the road southeast to Laketown.
