Cache Valley, Utah, has numerous places to visit for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, heritage buffs and festival goers. Known for its stunning scenic views and landscapes, the area encompasses a valley about 50 miles long and 20 miles wide on the Utah-Idaho border. One of the highlights is the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway (U.S. Highway 89) surrounded by majestic peaks and a favorite drive to see fall colors. Cache Valley was named after the practice of early fur trappers to cache -- or hide -- their furs in the area.
Lakes
- Boating, camping and fishing are the main attractions at three lakes in the Cache Valley. Discover Bear Lake State Park, 41 miles east of Logan, on the Utah/Idaho border, where you'll enjoy boating, scuba diving, fishing, swimming and kayaking in the summer. The popular lake is nearly 20 miles long and eight miles wide with resorts and campsites around the entire lake. Visit the glacier-formed Tony Grove Lake in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, off of U.S. Highway 89 in Logan Canyon. Bring your camera for the summer wildflower explosion and wildlife sightings. Pack your fishing pole for your visit to the 450-acre man-made lake at Hyrum Lake State Park, 15 minutes from Logan. Boating, camping and swimming are also popular pastimes.
Caves
- Visitors are welcome at two of the three caves in Cache Valley, but Logan Cave, while visible 12 miles up Logan Canyon, is closed to protect bats that live in the interior. Lace up your hiking boots for the climb to Wind Caves; parking is 5.2 miles up Logan Canyon, off U.S. Highway 89. You'll discover the triple arch and natural cave at the top of your 2-mile trek. Minnetonka Cave is probably the most popular place to go where you can take a self-guided or guided half-mile tour through rooms of stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is nine miles up St. Charles Canyon, north of Bear Lake and west of St. Charles, Idaho.
Bear River Heritage Area
- The Bear River Heritage Area of Cache Valley straddles the Idaho-Utah border and has a variety of natural, historical and cultural places to explore. Historically this valley is the ancestral home of the Northwest Band of the Shoshone, joined later by mountain men and Mormon pioneers in the 1860s. Highlights of the Cache Valley, Utah area include downtown Logan with its historic homes, churches and buildings that can be seen on a 45-minute downtown walking tour. Other interesting places to visit include the Chesterfield ghost town, the mining town of Soda Springs, Idaho and The Dansante. The historic Dansante Building has come full-circle from its roots as a dance hall, hosting as many as 3,000 people in the mid-1800s. It fell into disrepair but was renovated by the Utah Festival Opera Company that operates a recital hall, practice rooms, rehearsal halls, costume and scene shops in the 45,000-square-foot facility.
Community Events and Festivals
- Take your pick of year-round community festivals and events in Cache Valley. For foodies there's Providence's Annual Sauerkraut Dinner, Bear Lake Raspberry Days, and Paradise Trout and Berry Days. Summer brings concerts and art exhibits to Logan, as well as heritage or historical days in Clarkston, Providence and Millville. On the 4th of July you can enjoy fireworks in Logan or Lewiston, or participate in Hyrum’s Star-Spangled Week. Other places to go include Preston’s Famous Night Rodeo, Cache County Fair and Rodeo, and Martin Harris Pageant.
